one step closer to foiling my Azusa EDH deck...this made me soooo happy, and the art is amazing!
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I frankly find it wrong that they didn't make this card look more like Rivendell, or at least Lorien. The interpration I have OF the original art makes me think they could have done it in a way that would have worked. This is like....Fangorn or something..or those tiki dudes from Muppet Treasure Island...and I'm just thinking 'what'?
Good card. Just sayin :P
pedrodyl
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Probably the only card along with Scroll Rack that makes buying this box set even remotely worth it
Mode
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Great to see this card in a new frame and with a new art - although the bright sky in this artwork makes it look far less mysterious than Harold McNeil's original artwork, where you instantly felt why you had to pay so much life:
To me it delivered the impression that the library was located in a hidden area deep in the woods, within this big, gnarly, dead tree, which had its entrance at its peak, accessible by climbing up the roots, where this ancient building emitted a magical beacon, which for the most part was the only source of light to brighten up this dim-lit, misty location around the library, only accessible for the chosen elder druids that are in close touch with nature.
Haha, but probably that's just me :D Yeong-Hao Han's artwork also has something timeless and mysterious, it's just not as dark and gloomy.
uhm, what happens if this pairs with Abundance on my draw phase?
Muffintaminator
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
@ sanctumaviara; You get to have 3 lands or non-lands, without discard or paying any life. And that, is awesome.
Since Abundance replaces the draw, and you didn't 'draw' those two cards, there's no reason for you to carry on with the rest of the card's abilities. The last (on 9/16/2007) card ruling speaks to it: "If you choose to draw two cards, then replace one or more of those draws with some other effect, the rest of Sylvan Library's ability still happens. If you've actually drawn only one card that turn, you must choose that card and either pay 4 life or put it on top of your library. If you haven't actually drawn any cards that turn, the rest of the ability has no effect."
You haven't actually drawn any cards with abundance, so the rest of the ability has no effect.
So, yeah, @MANABURNWASGOOD, Abundance + Sylvan Library is grrrrreat! As is this card on it's own.
Continue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@Muffintaminator: It's actually better than that. You can choose land or nonland with each draw and end up with any combination.
RotBear
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Now I've got a question about this card and it's interaction with dredge. Can you dredge twice instead of the two draws from this enchantment without having to pay the life? I think this works because dredge is a replacement effect.
don_miguel
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i think they should make a functional reprint of this card. they might also introduce "green loot" as "draw a card, then put a card from your hand on top of your library"
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Even just seeing 2 more cards and putting 2 on top you dont need is a sick advantage. Digging 2 deeper reduced the chance of getting landlocked by significant amount, and great odds seeing that removal spell or combo piece you need.
jollyreddragon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@RotBear - that's correct. This card is fantastic with Dredge, and is one of the most groan enducing cards at the table when I drop it with my Jarad EDH.
Wait... two ADDITIONAL cards? So it's like a Brainstorm every turn, but I can choose to pay life to keep more cards?
(not exactly since I must put back cards I drew this turn, but still...)
Even without card draw replacements, this is so powerful I can't understand it. I'm but a lowly Standard player. I'm used to playing with assault rifles, this is an unblockable death ray from an alien civilization.
Teferi's Puzzle Box could be fun though, since suddenly you're entire hand is "drawn this turn" and you can just pitch any 2 cards you don't need that turn. It also has the added benefit of making your coatl stupidly powerful. Could also use psychosis crawler as a win con.
Nigeltastic
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I feel like this could be pretty amazing as a dredge engine in that you get 3 dredge timings and have to put 0 cards back, but I don't know how tight the legacy dredge deck is to see if it could fit this.
Comments (17)
The interpration I have OF the original art makes me think they could have done it in a way that would have worked. This is like....Fangorn or something..or those tiki dudes from Muppet Treasure Island...and I'm just thinking 'what'?
Good card. Just sayin :P
To me it delivered the impression that the library was located in a hidden area deep in the woods, within this big, gnarly, dead tree, which had its entrance at its peak, accessible by climbing up the roots, where this ancient building emitted a magical beacon, which for the most part was the only source of light to brighten up this dim-lit, misty location around the library, only accessible for the chosen elder druids that are in close touch with nature.
Haha, but probably that's just me :D
Yeong-Hao Han's artwork also has something timeless and mysterious, it's just not as dark and gloomy.
Carry on.
Since Abundance replaces the draw, and you didn't 'draw' those two cards, there's no reason for you to carry on with the rest of the card's abilities. The last (on 9/16/2007) card ruling speaks to it: "If you choose to draw two cards, then replace one or more of those draws with some other effect, the rest of Sylvan Library's ability still happens. If you've actually drawn only one card that turn, you must choose that card and either pay 4 life or put it on top of your library. If you haven't actually drawn any cards that turn, the rest of the ability has no effect."
You haven't actually drawn any cards with abundance, so the rest of the ability has no effect.
So, yeah, @MANABURNWASGOOD, Abundance + Sylvan Library is grrrrreat! As is this card on it's own.
they might also introduce "green loot" as "draw a card, then put a card from your hand on top of your library"
I'm pretty sure that's more of a blue effect than a green one.
(not exactly since I must put back cards I drew this turn, but still...)
Even without card draw replacements, this is so powerful I can't understand it. I'm but a lowly Standard player. I'm used to playing with assault rifles, this is an unblockable death ray from an alien civilization.
Teferi's Puzzle Box could be fun though, since suddenly you're entire hand is "drawn this turn" and you can just pitch any 2 cards you don't need that turn. It also has the added benefit of making your coatl stupidly powerful. Could also use psychosis crawler as a win con.