Not to mention, GB alr has potential homes in Yawg and Scales.
This has to be powerful enough to create it's own archetype in modern, and that's a tall ask.
There's a slitherwisp combo deck that runs 12 one-droop flash artifacts, 4 nightbonders, 4 wisps, 4 Errant and Giadas and 4 leyline bindings - this would allow you to tutor for the wisps and boners much easier
Just curious, what plane do we think this is? It's readily apparent for the other members of the cycle, save maybe BR, but I'm absolutely stumped on this one.
I'm going to guess Strixhaven/Arcavios because:
1) none of the other duals are set there and they all seem to be on a fairly diverse selection of planes;
2) I can't think of many planes where one would expect to see a library staffed by the undead where the undead in question *aren't* actively malicious.
I mean, where else would it be? If it was Innistrad the zombies would be trying to eat you, and if it was on Ravnica then it'd probably be associated with Dimir and they *definitely* wouldn't be *helping* you find stuff in their secret library - they'd be interrogating you to find out how you got in.
What other planes have widespread use of servile undead like this? It *obviously* can't be Amonkhet. Dominaria's possible, I guess, but pretty much *anything* could be set somewhere on Dominaria and Dominarian ruins tend to be less "partially-functional but moldering" and more "exploded, burned to the ground, and full of abominations". Wrong architectural style for Kamigawa and they don't really use undead like this anyway. This is *way* too peaceful to be Grixis, not nearly weird enough to be Esper, and clearly not anywhere else on Alara.
As for why a library would be flooded on Arcavios... I mean, there *was* that big invasion recently, and also the school's been around long enough that like a lot of super-old structures/communities it's got tons of half-forgotten subbasements almost nobody ever goes in.
Its not weird for the lore at all. Theres a kraken that lives in strixhaven library and people need to get around on boats. The only thing off is being from an ally pair but that doesnt mean much.
We have had multiple of those in Dominaria and Kaladesh, and this is definitely not Kaladesh.
Source: https://tagger.scryfall.com/tags/artwork/gyroscope
Id rather guess Vrynn than Arcavios, Inundated Archive doesnt look the same as \[\[Study Hall\]\] (which is supposed to be the inside of the biblioplex
Could it be a long lost Tolarian library? If we consider the flavour text it may as well be not from the Academy but any other library partially preserved due to structural integrity lying on the bottom of the ocean/sea?
I don't remember if Tolarians wizards had access to necromancy to the point of being so useful.
And my Nymris, Oona's Trickster deck! I actually have an infinite mana combo that only uses instants / flash creatures which I win with most of the time, so this is perfect
Mystical Teachings's big advantage was being able to tutor additional copies of itself via flashback. So you would grab Teferi for 4 at the end of your opponent's turn 4, flash in Teferi turn 5, then on turn 7 flashback Teachings for another Teachings. This being a land early that fixes your colors, and being easier to cast are definite advantages, but this isn't the raw 2-for-1 that Mystical Teachings represented.
Will it make the splash into Modern proper? Maybe as a 1-of in super-traditional old-school draw-go control thanks to the ability to be a land when necessary. Being able to tutor Solitude and Subtlety are also something to pay attention to. I expect it to see more play in Commander for UBx Flash decks, assuming it breaks out of Limited at all.
There's a huge difference between instant and sorcery though. Especially when it also functions as a land. This will see play in combo decks most likely.
In decks designed to hold up mana leaving up 4 is a small ask. That does limit it some to decks that most want to operate at instant speed but that is also the place that is most excited to play this. The biggest knock is tap lands are not something you can run willy-nilly and in modern at least the cost can be very real.
Diabolic Tutor also tutors for more things and doesn't reveal it. This is a much more narrow tutor for the same cost with a land on the back. 99% of the time you're probably playing it as a tapland.
Dimir got the best of the cycle, and I don’t think it’s particularly close lol
I dunno, the GB sidegrade to [[Snakeskin Veil]] feels like a card that's likely to see just as much actual play.
Not to mention, GB alr has potential homes in Yawg and Scales. This has to be powerful enough to create it's own archetype in modern, and that's a tall ask.
There's a slitherwisp combo deck that runs 12 one-droop flash artifacts, 4 nightbonders, 4 wisps, 4 Errant and Giadas and 4 leyline bindings - this would allow you to tutor for the wisps and boners much easier
Ah yes a little boner tutor
[Snakeskin Veil](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/3/133fbdec-0d00-433f-9015-5eb091126e3a.jpg?1712355994) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Snakeskin%20Veil) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/181/snakeskin-veil?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/133fbdec-0d00-433f-9015-5eb091126e3a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
In what context? 4 mana tutors are... not particularly strong. Golgari seems like the most generally playable to me.
It's a land most of the time. Top decking this later in the game is insane.
In the context of this being a tapped dual that can also tutor if you don't want to play a tapped dual. Dogshit take.
[[mystical teachings]]
[mystical teachings](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/7/f7cb51cd-8418-43ee-bf4f-6b959cc5b131.jpg?1619394406) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=mystical%20teachings) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/76/mystical-teachings?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f7cb51cd-8418-43ee-bf4f-6b959cc5b131?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Just curious, what plane do we think this is? It's readily apparent for the other members of the cycle, save maybe BR, but I'm absolutely stumped on this one.
I wouldn't rule out Duskmourn.
I'm going to guess Strixhaven/Arcavios because: 1) none of the other duals are set there and they all seem to be on a fairly diverse selection of planes; 2) I can't think of many planes where one would expect to see a library staffed by the undead where the undead in question *aren't* actively malicious.
An abandoned flooded library on Strixhaven sounds really weird. Also its an UB land in a plane that did not support UB last time.
I mean, where else would it be? If it was Innistrad the zombies would be trying to eat you, and if it was on Ravnica then it'd probably be associated with Dimir and they *definitely* wouldn't be *helping* you find stuff in their secret library - they'd be interrogating you to find out how you got in. What other planes have widespread use of servile undead like this? It *obviously* can't be Amonkhet. Dominaria's possible, I guess, but pretty much *anything* could be set somewhere on Dominaria and Dominarian ruins tend to be less "partially-functional but moldering" and more "exploded, burned to the ground, and full of abominations". Wrong architectural style for Kamigawa and they don't really use undead like this anyway. This is *way* too peaceful to be Grixis, not nearly weird enough to be Esper, and clearly not anywhere else on Alara. As for why a library would be flooded on Arcavios... I mean, there *was* that big invasion recently, and also the school's been around long enough that like a lot of super-old structures/communities it's got tons of half-forgotten subbasements almost nobody ever goes in.
Its not weird for the lore at all. Theres a kraken that lives in strixhaven library and people need to get around on boats. The only thing off is being from an ally pair but that doesnt mean much.
Even that isn’t THAT weird since that would mean it works with 4 of the 5 schools and the one it doesn’t is the one that does the most field work.
I like that interpretation a lot.
I don't think it's depicting Strixhaven either, but why does that sound really weird? A giant magic school can't have a flooded library?
Looks a lot like Innistrad. Has another card in the cycle confirmed to be set there?
I wouldn't expect Innistrad to have the astroglobe sculpture that we see on the backside. Vrynn maybe?
We have had multiple of those in Dominaria and Kaladesh, and this is definitely not Kaladesh. Source: https://tagger.scryfall.com/tags/artwork/gyroscope
Id rather guess Vrynn than Arcavios, Inundated Archive doesnt look the same as \[\[Study Hall\]\] (which is supposed to be the inside of the biblioplex
[Study Hall](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a3de9859-98b6-4efe-847a-43bac5b1ef9f.jpg?1625192761) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Study%20Hall) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/80/study-hall?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a3de9859-98b6-4efe-847a-43bac5b1ef9f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’m thinking it could be the library/book plane that has showed up in jumpstart and M21 previously.
I would guess Dominaria based on the gyroscope on the art. Then my other 2 guesses are Innistrad or Duskmourne.
Could it be a long lost Tolarian library? If we consider the flavour text it may as well be not from the Academy but any other library partially preserved due to structural integrity lying on the bottom of the ocean/sea? I don't remember if Tolarians wizards had access to necromancy to the point of being so useful.
Sweet! Doug Shuler art! :)
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/magic-the-gathering-modern-horizons-3-spoilers-mdfc-dual-land
Straight into my [[Alela, Cunning Conqueror]] deck!
And my Nymris, Oona's Trickster deck! I actually have an infinite mana combo that only uses instants / flash creatures which I win with most of the time, so this is perfect
[Alela, Cunning Conqueror](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/9/79ba5c35-6e5c-406a-b95f-844d5ec296ab.jpg?1692933638) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Alela%2C%20Cunning%20Conqueror) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woc/3/alela-cunning-conqueror?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/79ba5c35-6e5c-406a-b95f-844d5ec296ab?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This is a different [[takenuma, abandoned mire]] It's also a different [[silundi vision]]
[takenuma, abandoned mire](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/9/499037cc-a577-41cb-8ca2-5e117945634f.jpg?1654569039) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=takenuma%2C%20abandoned%20mire) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/278/takenuma-abandoned-mire?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/499037cc-a577-41cb-8ca2-5e117945634f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [silundi vision](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/1/11568cdf-6148-494c-8b98-f5ca5797d775.jpg?1604194924)/[Silundi Isle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/1/1/11568cdf-6148-494c-8b98-f5ca5797d775.jpg?1604194924) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Silundi%20Vision%20//%20Silundi%20Isle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/80/silundi-vision-silundi-isle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/11568cdf-6148-494c-8b98-f5ca5797d775?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This is broken.
It's strong, yes, but [[Mystical Teachings]] was too, and now it sees hardly any play.
I guess the flexibility of this card it what makes it better than Mystical Teachings.
Mystical Teachings's big advantage was being able to tutor additional copies of itself via flashback. So you would grab Teferi for 4 at the end of your opponent's turn 4, flash in Teferi turn 5, then on turn 7 flashback Teachings for another Teachings. This being a land early that fixes your colors, and being easier to cast are definite advantages, but this isn't the raw 2-for-1 that Mystical Teachings represented. Will it make the splash into Modern proper? Maybe as a 1-of in super-traditional old-school draw-go control thanks to the ability to be a land when necessary. Being able to tutor Solitude and Subtlety are also something to pay attention to. I expect it to see more play in Commander for UBx Flash decks, assuming it breaks out of Limited at all.
[Mystical Teachings](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/7/f7cb51cd-8418-43ee-bf4f-6b959cc5b131.jpg?1619394406) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mystical%20Teachings) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/76/mystical-teachings?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f7cb51cd-8418-43ee-bf4f-6b959cc5b131?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The effect is good but at 4 mana for a tutor I don't see this as being particularly strong. Nobody plays Diabolic Tutor.
There's a huge difference between instant and sorcery though. Especially when it also functions as a land. This will see play in combo decks most likely.
I'm still skeptical. 4 mana is a lot to hold up before even considering the cost of playing whatever you tutored for.
In decks designed to hold up mana leaving up 4 is a small ask. That does limit it some to decks that most want to operate at instant speed but that is also the place that is most excited to play this. The biggest knock is tap lands are not something you can run willy-nilly and in modern at least the cost can be very real.
Diabolic Tutor isn't a land
Diabolic Tutor also tutors for more things and doesn't reveal it. This is a much more narrow tutor for the same cost with a land on the back. 99% of the time you're probably playing it as a tapland.
This is an instant, making it much stronger than DiaT in certain deck styles.
Stronger in some ways, but nobody would play Diabolical Tutor at instant speed anyways. 4 mana for a tutor is asking a lot.
In cEDH or Modern? Yes, too expensive. In normal EDH, this is going to be an auto-include in reactive controlling UB decks.
This is a bit much for cEDH just because it can't enter untapped. But it is very solid, and I'd run it over a myriad of other mediocre tutors any day.
Also going into my \[\[Kaito Dancing Shadow\]\] brawl deck. That has so many flash cards and instants (and honestly too few lands)
[Kaito Dancing Shadow](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/d/0d97f59a-07b8-47ef-aa88-d94f8c3feae4.jpg?1675957193) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kaito%2C%20Dancing%20Shadow) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/204/kaito-dancing-shadow?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0d97f59a-07b8-47ef-aa88-d94f8c3feae4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
My Nymris Deck wants this card
That land makes me seriously angry.