i wonder why they didn't make use of the keyword ability vigilance in the oracle for this card.
thaviel
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
wasn't around at the time.
GrimGorgonBC
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
so he gives them all vigilance...not bad
Weretarrasque
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Being the main character of the novels, he'd better be one of the better cards in the set. But this is Legends- a "good" card is a relative term.
But I like Johan. I would use him in a Naya deck in a heartbeat- not only can he give your behemoths vigilance, but he also has 5 power. It's perfect!
cplmontana
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Darth Maul much?
http://www.stargods.org/ClintonDarthMaul.jpg
littlebeast
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Wow, what is wrong with this guy's oracle text? ... Okay, I guess it's because if it was as long as he's not attacking, you could declare a bunch of attackers, him last, and the rest wouldn't tap. ... Still, though, that's pretty ridiculous.
PKleck
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Doesn't look like a human to me...
Sironos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
"When you at last draw Johan, reavel him if your opponent if he/she is a jedi, then you shall at last have your revenge"
Is it just me, or does it seem like this guy looks a bit more demonic/infernal than to just give your creatures vigilance?
Love the mundane name for him ^^.
achilleselbow
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
I don't think the concept of the color pie existed in Legends. A bunch of the good/noble-looking Legends are red/black, Dakkon Blackblade is blue, and this guy who looks evil as hell is in Naya colors. And who ever heard of a wizard that isn't even partially blue?
zositmos
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
its darth maul?!
novasun
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
yes darth maul, just like angus makenzie is tim the enchanter,barktooth warbeard is gandalf and axelrod gunnarson is jacob marley characters from monty python,lord of the rings,a chrismas caroel and star wars have leaked in to magic!
JoshuaJustice
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Because Vigilance would involve giving them an ability, and the ability as printed didn't give them the "doesn't tap to attack" ability. The Oracle is written with the philosophy of trying to stick as closely as possible to the original behavior of the card.
Wormfang
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
he currently runs as my Naya EDH general being superior in nearly every way to Myael
bijart_dauth
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The oracle text is a lot more confusing than it needs to be. Rather than saying "you may have Johan gain "Johan can't attack" until end of combat." it could just say "if Johan did not attack" and I don't really see why you need to specify that its during your combat sense it specifies your creatures.
DellamorteDellamore0
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Oracle is so stupid, no way in hell this is a human.
umumwhatshisname
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
How about "At the beginning of combat you may have Johan can defender until ened of turn. If you do creatures you control have vigilance until end of turn"
Moleland
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
In terms of the oracle text why not word it as, 'As long as Johan is not declared an attacker and remains untapped, other creatures you control have vigilance.'
That would work
Tanaka348
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The problem that makes the Oracle text so wacky is that Johan becomes an attacker at the same time everyone else does, and it's during that same time that creatures that are attacking get tapped. Once you know whether or not Johan attacked, it's too late to futz with not-vigilance, so you have to give the rules some lead time with the lock-in clause.
Psychrates
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Just about the best artwork in M:TG ever. Funky CMC, Whips Ass on the field, and is the ultimate commander of your army? Yeah...5/5
thebeardedshuffler
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
How many people with this as a EDH commander called their deck "You Don't Mess With The Johan"?
MindAblaze
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
: Johan gains defender until of turn, other creatures you control gain vigilance. Activate this ability only on your turn before attackers have been declared.
But I suppose the original card wasn't intended to have an activated ability. PS: What would be so wrong with a reprint with more...nayan appropriate art?
syrazemyla
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
He's not Darth Maul.
Look at his forehead. He's obviously evil Aang.
DCAnderson
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yeah, his Oracle text seems like a bit much.
His printed text would work fine under the unwritten "Idiot Rule": The card works because it says it does.
Anybody who'd be trying to game the rules so as to interpret it as Johan being able to attack as long as you assign him first seriously needs to stop playing Magic and go away.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like the idea behind this guy, though since he was printed ages ago he's rather overcosted for what he does.
Why is there red and green in his mana cost, anyways. His effect feels white all the way.
Haelthor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The reason this guy doesn't give your guys Vigilance is because then you can use Muraganda Petroglyphs.
orisiti
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
giving him defender doesn't solve the problem, as creatures with defender can still attack under certain circumstances, and it still doesn't address the "tapped" clause.
I like how the people who write the rules text for oracle spend their days contemplating the rules text to get it to work exactly the way it was intended, and then every one gets on here and presumes they could have done better... and there are so many combos and tricky plays that require small differences in the rulings, i don't think it so much of a stretch that someone would try to use him that way.
also, it can't be an activated ability, those are more easily countered/prevented than triggered abilities such as his are.
Bazooka99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wait, so, if I'm not mistaken, with the new Oracle rules text, if your opponent has Fumiko the Lowblood and you have Johan and _____, you can change _____'s name to Johan each turn and _____ no longer has to attack!
Actually, come to think of it, this card couldn't even get around Fumiko's ability at all before the new Oracle text.
Cyberium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Airbender + Sith...
tpkatsa
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I asked my 9 year old which is easier to understand...the card text or the oracle text. She said, "well obviously the card text, Dad."
Having said this, they could have written, "If Johan is untapped, you may have creatures you control gain vigilance until end of turn. If you do, Johan cannot attack this turn."
I'm not a magic lawyer but I t1hink this wording is much easier to understand than the oracle text. This also passed the kid test. :)
As to the card itself, it's not a bad card, but in most cases I'd rather simply run a Serra's Blessing. Maybe useful in a Naya deck or Legends deck. 5/4 that effectively gives vigilance is not that bad. Would be better at 5 cmc. But Johan was good when we played back in the days of Legends.
Salient
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
tpkatsa, I've never understood why people are upset when the printed card text is easier to understand than the Oracle text. While you're playing Magic, you only see one of the two; isn't it better when the text you see every game is the text that's easier to understand?
Oracle is meant to address all possible rules concerns, etc, so it's going to be somewhat lawyerly. I actually came here to look up rulings and was surprised to find there aren't any.
Comments (30)
But I like Johan. I would use him in a Naya deck in a heartbeat- not only can he give your behemoths vigilance, but he also has 5 power. It's perfect!
http://www.stargods.org/ClintonDarthMaul.jpg
...
Okay, I guess it's because if it was as long as he's not attacking, you could declare a bunch of attackers, him last, and the rest wouldn't tap.
...
Still, though, that's pretty ridiculous.
Is it just me, or does it seem like this guy looks a bit more demonic/infernal than to just give your creatures vigilance?
Love the mundane name for him ^^.
characters from monty python,lord of the rings,a chrismas caroel and star wars have leaked in to magic!
That would work
But I suppose the original card wasn't intended to have an activated ability.
PS: What would be so wrong with a reprint with more...nayan appropriate art?
Look at his forehead. He's obviously evil Aang.
His printed text would work fine under the unwritten "Idiot Rule": The card works because it says it does.
Anybody who'd be trying to game the rules so as to interpret it as Johan being able to attack as long as you assign him first seriously needs to stop playing Magic and go away.
Why is there red and green in his mana cost, anyways. His effect feels white all the way.
I like how the people who write the rules text for oracle spend their days contemplating the rules text to get it to work exactly the way it was intended, and then every one gets on here and presumes they could have done better... and there are so many combos and tricky plays that require small differences in the rulings, i don't think it so much of a stretch that someone would try to use him that way.
also, it can't be an activated ability, those are more easily countered/prevented than triggered abilities such as his are.
Actually, come to think of it, this card couldn't even get around Fumiko's ability at all before the new Oracle text.
Having said this, they could have written, "If Johan is untapped, you may have creatures you control gain vigilance until end of turn. If you do, Johan cannot attack this turn."
I'm not a magic lawyer but I t1hink this wording is much easier to understand than the oracle text. This also passed the kid test. :)
As to the card itself, it's not a bad card, but in most cases I'd rather simply run a Serra's Blessing. Maybe useful in a Naya deck or Legends deck. 5/4 that effectively gives vigilance is not that bad. Would be better at 5 cmc. But Johan was good when we played back in the days of Legends.
Oracle is meant to address all possible rules concerns, etc, so it's going to be somewhat lawyerly. I actually came here to look up rulings and was surprised to find there aren't any.