Verdant Force gives you a creature as powerful as a Memnite each upkeep, and for the same CMC this card gives you a Lightning Bolt each upkeep. I think this card is much more dangerous than the already-potent Verdant Force.
dulciusEXasperis
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Wow, what an awesome card. This just screams "removal" lol. But if he stays on the board you're going to be a happy camper. Give him Basilisk Collar and you're gaining 3 life and killing a creature every turn. That's nothing to sneeze at.
greg2367
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.7/5.0)(8 votes)
"This creature does some sick sh*t. I'd copy dat a$$. - Riku de dos reflecciones
lorendorky
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(9 votes)
Elemental Tribal called, they love you.
metalevolence
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Hah, as if celestial force didn't look like garbage on its own. This guy is solid.
Atali
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Again, comparing him to Celestial Force directly isn't fair, remember that white has a MUCH easier time defending it's huge beasts, giving you far more time to gain life.
Verdant Force may make 1/1s, but they are a good creature type, and as such have a lot of potential support, making them equivalent to 1/2s or better unless you totally ignored the Saproling connection when you built your deck.
Taking those things into account, the three Forces are roughly equal. I'm just sad we didn't get Blue and Black versions. I'd make the blue a mill effect and the black... I don't know, the iconic black effects all would give you crazy absurd card advantage if you got them every upkeep.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The only reason people scoff at lifegain is they never made it very fast, because it would make the game too slow. EDH is ok with big life gains. read up on Congregate. Celestial Force and Verdant Force seem equal to me. I know there are a couple things you can do with Saprolings, but they're not like Goblins, or Elves, or anything Really Really Tribal. I think that mostly its not so much that they're Saps- they are tokens. Tokens have a lot of not-so-secret tech. Doubling Season for example.
A Black 'Force' does seem frightening. but maybe it could give -1/-1 counters? ....no, broken with Proliferate. still, not as broken as 'sac a creature', 'discard a card' or 'something something graveyard something'. maybe if it was 'Draw a card, lose THREE life' ? is that enough? too much?
you'd want to make it good enough so people want to play, but not broken. and very Black. that's a tall order. probably 'exile cards from grave' is the safest option.
H4yd3n
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Copied it with Riku of Two Reflections in a game today, I was dealing 6 damage on every player's upkeep. In a 5 player EDH game that gets ridiculous fast.
JaxsonBateman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Free Lightning Bolts! Woo!
Could be a decent, inexpensive (money wise) finisher in some sort of GR deck with a bit of ramp. Or an Rx control deck. That 8 mana cost is really inhibitive though.
Used that on a Vigor once. Can't wait to use it on one of these. :)
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Mental Force would mill for 3 each turn, in keeping with the three theme.
Deadly Force would give a creature -2/-2 each turn. -3/-3 would give it better removal than red, and this nicely negates Verdant Force. Also, if there's no other creatures out, it becomes a 5/5 essentially, in keeping with {B}'s suicidal nature.
Don't gloss over the fact that this bad boy says each upkeep. This means that unless someone is carrying instant speed removal when you play it, it will go off at least once.
You're dead in two rounds, sir. Do you have an answer?
Combofriend
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Nice verdant force homeage! A little tough to get out in mono red but still awesome 3.5/5
mdakw576
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Probably the best of the forces when you consider the colors.
Red in EDH doesn't have a whole lot of huge creatures worth playing (most of red's large creatures are dorky dragons), and they also don't have a source of card advantage. What this guy does is totally blank any X/3s your opponents throw out. If no opponent has an X/3, you have a clock.
Most mono red decks will play the heck out of this card. The other four forces in mono X decks, other than the black one, will probably not see the same.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why, TWO pinnacles of utter destructiveness, of course!
Comments (24)
Verdant Force may make 1/1s, but they are a good creature type, and as such have a lot of potential support, making them equivalent to 1/2s or better unless you totally ignored the Saproling connection when you built your deck.
Taking those things into account, the three Forces are roughly equal. I'm just sad we didn't get Blue and Black versions. I'd make the blue a mill effect and the black... I don't know, the iconic black effects all would give you crazy absurd card advantage if you got them every upkeep.
A Black 'Force' does seem frightening. but maybe it could give -1/-1 counters? ....no, broken with Proliferate. still, not as broken as 'sac a creature', 'discard a card' or 'something something graveyard something'. maybe if it was 'Draw a card, lose THREE life' ? is that enough? too much?
you'd want to make it good enough so people want to play, but not broken. and very Black. that's a tall order. probably 'exile cards from grave' is the safest option.
Could be a decent, inexpensive (money wise) finisher in some sort of GR deck with a bit of ramp. Or an Rx control deck. That 8 mana cost is really inhibitive though.
This can go right into any deck that already has Smokebraider and Soulbright Flamekin
Think about it, which Commander deck did this card come in, and which of its generals can make two of any creature?
Celestial Force and Magmatic Force both came out in Commander, which came out in 2011.
Is anyone aware of a cycle that is bigger than 14+ years?
Also, I can't wait for Intellectual Force for upkeep draws and Unearthly Force for upkeep graveyard recursion.
Used that on a Vigor once. Can't wait to use it on one of these. :)
Deadly Force would give a creature -2/-2 each turn. -3/-3 would give it better removal than red, and this nicely negates Verdant Force. Also, if there's no other creatures out, it becomes a 5/5 essentially, in keeping with {B}'s suicidal nature.
when do we see him in standard?
If so, does he answer?
You're dead in two rounds, sir. Do you have an answer?
3.5/5
Red in EDH doesn't have a whole lot of huge creatures worth playing (most of red's large creatures are dorky dragons), and they also don't have a source of card advantage. What this guy does is totally blank any X/3s your opponents throw out. If no opponent has an X/3, you have a clock.
Most mono red decks will play the heck out of this card. The other four forces in mono X decks, other than the black one, will probably not see the same.