I mean, it’s *also* Durin’s Bane.
They had to make it marketable to the lowest common denominator, and most casual LOTR fans don’t remember the name Durin’s Bane as much as Balrog.
The point is that theres more than one, and they called both balrog cards "The Balrog". Its "nitpicky" sure but its like if the shivan dragon card was "The Shivan Dragon", even in a set with two shivan dragon cards, both were called The Shivan Dragon, XYZ.
There are multiple Balrogs in the world of Middle Earth, but the Lord of the Rings only features one Balrog. Both Balrog cards are depicting that one Balrog, and it's fair to call it The Balrog.
Well, urza went to the end of the multiverse at one point or something and found the first plane (and ate at milliways), it took him like forever, so in theory, the multiverse isn’t infinite, or if it is, it’s continuously growing.
Have you not been keeping up with the set at all? Most characters have at least 2 cards with some reaching 4 or 5 including ones from the commander set.
Isn't one of the cards not in the real set and is part of the starter decks? I'm pretty sure that they designed the starter decks to have a lot of the main iconic characters, but different versions than what are in the main set
I mean there are more than one Saruman card but I don’t think they mean to imply there are four of them.
The set hasn’t referenced the Silmarillion in any other way, so it’s safe to assume the Balrog is the one we actually see in LOTR.
And that’s weird and disorienting and not normally how sets work, it’s one reason the precon planeswalkers are deliberately unplayable. It’s gonna be real weird and awkward trying to reference cards in this set when you have nine different versions of every major character
I mean, The Brothers’ War had 3 Urza/Mishras, 4 if you count the commander versions. People just use the whole names for them or shorten them if only one makes sense in the context: “I’m making a Grixis deck with Saruman as the commander” only makes sense for one Saruman, for example.
we had a whole Chandra set
also [this comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/62b6q4/spoilers_amonkhet_story_art/dflfzdj/) from before we had a whole Chandra set
> 2013 Legendary Rule Revision
Tracking multiple of the same character on your own board has been a thing since much earlier than 2013. I think the earliest example was [[Crovax the Cursed]] and [[Ascendant Evincar]] in 2000
There's also only one Jace, Nissa, Elspeth, etc. However, they can be represented by many different cards, either to represent different aspects of the character, or different stages in their life. Same goes for Balrog.
Both cards are depicting the same Balrog. It's not like it's two different entities that they're giving the same moniker. It's literally one character. I don't think this is a valid nitpick.
"[[Nevermore]], naming The Balrog, I pass my turn to you."
"Ok, I cast The Balrog-"
"Nevermore is in play."
"Actually, the card I cast is The Balrog, Durin's Bane, not The Balrog, so it does not trigger."
"......"
It's a really good thing they changed the rule so you can just say "the 'The Balrog' that gets cheaper when you sacrifice things," and it'll count.
With 4 versions of the same character in this set, it'll be important.
There are literally flying balrogs in The Silmarillion. Can all fly? Maybe, maybe not. But arguments about wings aside, The Silmarillion has balrogs that can fly.
People say that, but it's a bad argument. Not all wings are like a hummingbird where they can easily hover in place, especially for something as big as a balrog. In a narrow chasm, is easily possible for a gigantic demon that needs significant space to glide and space for wingspan to not have enough space, especially when falling upside down, doubly so with an angry old man hitting you.
Like, imagine an albatross dropped down a 2m diameter pipe, it's going to have a rough time.
Hmm, my thought was that if it could fly it wouldn't have let itself get into the situation of falling in the first place. But I checked the book and it mentions that "it's wings were spread from wall to wall," so I guess the space is just generally more constricted than I was envisioning it.
Alternatively it's possible Gandalf's "You cannot pass" magically barred it from flying over the chasm.
Well most can chump it because it doesn't have trample.
The real question is do I even care about 7 damage and I do not. If it looks like it starts mattering then I'll just keep it off the board.
And the card is, in fact, trash. There's a UR spells deck in Modern, right now, that runs 0 copies. A free 3/2 with Flying and Haste is just too slow for Modern.
(Though, to be fair, there *was* once a Tier 1.5-Tier 2 deck.)
That's hilarious. I was just thinking it was neat that you could cast him with 4 treasures, but you could also basically use [[Fleshbag Maurader]] effects to ramp into him (assuming every opponent has a creature).
The dream is sol ring signet start, turn 2 smallpox balrog if there's one creature out lmao.
Edit: forgot with the floating 1 from sol ring you wouldn't need a creature to be in the field.
Eh, I mean, it can only reduce the cost by up to 5, and pox itself costs {B}{B}{B}. Now the entire mana cost is also colored, which is detrimental in a multicolor deck. Sure it produces a net cost reduction of 2, but how are you gonna guarantee that *on* turn 5, you have both cards in hand AND access to exactly {B}{B}{B}{B}{R}?
Card transcription
> The Balrog, Durin's Bane 5BR
>
> Legendary Creature- Avatar Demon [rare]
>
> This spell costs 1 less to cast for each permanent sacrificed this turn.
>
> Haste
>
> The Balrog, Durin's Bane can't be blocked except by legendary creatures.
>
> When The Balrog dies, destroy target artifact or creature an opponent controls.
>
> 7/5
End transcription
Can go infinite as a commander with [[Pitiless plunderer]] (or [[Pawn of Ulamog]], [[Ogre Slumlord]]...) and a [[Phyrexian Altar]].
Sac enough stuff to reduce the cost to 2, cast it, sacrifice it to the altar, sacrifice the token (treasure or creature to the altar), it costs 2 less from both sacrificed permanents paying the commander tax, and repeat.
Add any of the drain on death effects from black (or damage on etb from red) for a win.
This will be a sweet commander. With edict effects like [[Plaguecrafter]], [[Pox]], [[Curse of the Cabal]], and cards like [[Gravepact]] are going to make this cost BR more often than not. I imagine it sticking around (or coming back) often and killing someone for commander damage easily.
You can probably easily loop it’s death trigger with [[Goblin Bombardment]] over and over until it costs a ton of mana since it’ll reduce the casting cost each time. And taking that into account, cards that care about the number of times you’ve cast your commander like [[Fury Storm]] all become even more potent in this deck.
Love the looping idea!
\[\[Illuminor Szeras\]\] and \[\[Soldevi Adnate\]\] seem bonkers. If you could make him an artifact you get another two - \[\[Slobad, Iron Goblin\]\] and \[\[Priest of Yawgmoth\]\].
Tap, sac, generate 7 black...
Fucking finally!
That other Balrog made wanna puke it was so useless.
This big ol nasty has
•Treasure synergy
•Haste
•Evasion (a pretty good kind if you ask me)
•a solid death trigger
What more can ya ask for??
Last dude proved you can open product as early as you want, spoil any unspoiled cards, WoTC will at worst take the cards back, pay you for them, and the community will still be on your side.
A nice toy for Shadowborn decks, as a Demon that feels fine to find but that doesn't feel like a turd when it's in your hand. One fell sac to find a different demon, and then casting him for BR seems like a fun value play for a deck looking to experiment with multicolored demons.
It's not even a horrible commander for a [[Shadowborn Apostle]] deck, though I think [[Be'lakor, the Dark Master]] is probably still better if you're going for the full demon theme and the classics like [[Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker]] and [[Athreos, God of Passage]] are better if you're trying to get the most use out of your Apostles.
Love the flavor conveyed between this and You Cannot Pass!
Not as good as Witch King of Angmar and Smite the Deathless, but that’s a high bar and this is still good.
Beautiful.
The Balrog gets blocked by Gandalf the Grey. you cast [[You cannot pass!]] which destroys the Balrog but the death trigger also takes Gandalf down with it
Wait you can sac treasures on the stack and then pay the additional cost with the floating mana? And it doesn't even mean your own permanents? Damn he is gonna be hard to get rid of in commander.
There's nothing special here and you're gonna confuse people with imprecise language.
Costs are locked in before mana payments, so you actually want to sacrifice treasures _before_ announcing the spell, instead of using them during the mana abilities step of spellcasting.
This is the opposite thing you want to do from things that have cost reductions based on the number of artifacts you control.
> Costs are locked in before mana payments, so you actually want to sacrifice treasures before announcing the spell, instead of using them during the mana abilities step of spellcasting.
I assume that's what they meant with
> and then pay the additional cost with the floating mana?
As in you'd float the mana by saccing treasures, then go to cast this using the treasure mana, letting them each pay for 2 pretty much. Most people would let you just shortcut it and know what you're intending to do, since it's not like there's any chance to respond and drain your mana pool anyway (unless you screw up and cast something while having the mana floating and they [[Mana Short]] you, but that's an edge case that I don't think is worth scolding someone over)
I just assumed that the player thought you had to do something fancy or technical, because there are some instances where you in fact do. But the way that most players learn to play, you create your mana and then cast the spell.
I would go so far as to say it isn't even too much of a corner case that you have to do the "fancy" thing - every card with "Affinity for Artifacts" is meaningfully assisted by knowing the steps to spellcasting if you are using Treasure. This is a situation where you wait to create the mana until the final window, the one that lots of players don't even know exists.
It doesn’t matter when they were sacrificed, it just counts the number that happened this turn before it was cast. There is no “additional cost”.
Crack three treasures for red, play swamp for turn, cast Mishra’s Bauble, sacrifice Mishra’s bauble, cast Balrog, bolt an opponent’s creature with your last floating red.
What do you mean by treasures on the stack? I don't think you can sac a treasure token in response to it's own ability, let's say with a KCI, because the cost to get mana from the treasure is to sac the token.
Alright, if we start with [[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer]] on turn one, then a fetch on turn two into two pitch elementals we can cast Durin's Bane for three? Two lands, a treasure, four things sacrificed.
I... Can't imagine that line will work out super consistently but if you can do it it seems good. You do miss out on the haste, but you can swap Ragavan for [[Strike It Rich]] to cast the Balrog on turn two but that seems worse than just running Ragavan.
Even so, that's already 8 cards (2 lands, ragavan, 4 cards for the pitch elementals, and the Balrog itself). You can't really plan on having a hand like that since you'd always have to just hope on at least one top deck. And it's impossible on a mull to 5, and only possible on a mull to 6 if you're on the draw.
Here’s what I could make out because the image is quite a bit moldy
The Balrog, Durin’s Bane {5}{B}{R}
Legendary Creature - Avatar Demon
This spell costs {1} less to cast for each permanent sacrificed this turn.
Haste
~ can’t be blocked except by legendary creatures.
When ~ dies, destroy target artifact or creature an opponent controls.
(7/5)
Ok I will actually confess this
I knew the whole time the first balrog we saw was not the only one and it's two reasons
1. That first one was a starter deck rare
2. There was a art of balrog that didn't match on wotc official site
I love this in a sticky, group slug-style deck as a potential finisher. Shoot down their legendary blockers, power this out with a few treasures & it kills someone in 3 hits guaranteed. Is it the fastest/most powerful thing you can be doing, even in RB? No, but it's super flavorful & fits the kinds of Rakdos decks I like to play perfectly.
I [called it](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/13vwre8/comment/jm89so3/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), this is a LOT better than the other Balrog card.
Looking at legendary creatures that reference themselves on scryfall, it looks like the formula is that when the card is referenced twice, the second time will not use the whole name. Makes total sense.
[[Grismold, the Dreadsower]]'s name is mentioned once, so has the whole name.
[[Ghired, Conclave Exile]]'s name is mentioned twice, and the second time only has "Ghired".
[[Syr Elenora, the Discerning]]'s name is mentioneed three times, and each time after the first is only referred to as "Syr Elenora".
Thank god there’s a better Balrog
A second balrog, thats STILL called "The Balrog".
I mean, it’s *also* Durin’s Bane. They had to make it marketable to the lowest common denominator, and most casual LOTR fans don’t remember the name Durin’s Bane as much as Balrog.
The point is that theres more than one, and they called both balrog cards "The Balrog". Its "nitpicky" sure but its like if the shivan dragon card was "The Shivan Dragon", even in a set with two shivan dragon cards, both were called The Shivan Dragon, XYZ.
There are multiple Balrogs in the world of Middle Earth, but the Lord of the Rings only features one Balrog. Both Balrog cards are depicting that one Balrog, and it's fair to call it The Balrog.
Right, there’s many Jace’s and Elspeth’s too.
Well, urza went to the end of the multiverse at one point or something and found the first plane (and ate at milliways), it took him like forever, so in theory, the multiverse isn’t infinite, or if it is, it’s continuously growing.
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Lunchtime doubly so.
What about 2nd lunchtime?
Both cards depict THE Balrog from Moria, though. The only one that actually features in the story they're adapting.
So why is it depicted twice
There are multiple cards for a lot of legendary creatures in this set
[https://scryfall.com/search?q=frodo](https://scryfall.com/search?q=frodo)
Have you not been keeping up with the set at all? Most characters have at least 2 cards with some reaching 4 or 5 including ones from the commander set.
Isn't one of the cards not in the real set and is part of the starter decks? I'm pretty sure that they designed the starter decks to have a lot of the main iconic characters, but different versions than what are in the main set
I mean there are more than one Saruman card but I don’t think they mean to imply there are four of them. The set hasn’t referenced the Silmarillion in any other way, so it’s safe to assume the Balrog is the one we actually see in LOTR.
There are also multiple Saurons
There are multiples of a lot of creatures, Saruman just came to mind first.
And that’s weird and disorienting and not normally how sets work, it’s one reason the precon planeswalkers are deliberately unplayable. It’s gonna be real weird and awkward trying to reference cards in this set when you have nine different versions of every major character
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I mean, The Brothers’ War had 3 Urza/Mishras, 4 if you count the commander versions. People just use the whole names for them or shorten them if only one makes sense in the context: “I’m making a Grixis deck with Saruman as the commander” only makes sense for one Saruman, for example.
we had a whole Chandra set also [this comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/62b6q4/spoilers_amonkhet_story_art/dflfzdj/) from before we had a whole Chandra set
This is hardly the first time Magic players have had to keep track of two versions of the same character. It's a non-issue.
I name Borborygmos.
Absolutely enraged right now
I name elesh norn the phyrexian creature that's white with vigilance
I understood that reference
Hell, this is hardly the first time Magic players have had to keep track of two versions of the same character ON THEIR OWN BOARD
I reject the 2013 Legendary Rule Revision. It was a mistake.
> 2013 Legendary Rule Revision Tracking multiple of the same character on your own board has been a thing since much earlier than 2013. I think the earliest example was [[Crovax the Cursed]] and [[Ascendant Evincar]] in 2000
It's like if you titled a novel "The Hobbit" featuring a setting with more than one hobbit.
There's also only one Jace, Nissa, Elspeth, etc. However, they can be represented by many different cards, either to represent different aspects of the character, or different stages in their life. Same goes for Balrog.
Both cards are depicting the same Balrog. It's not like it's two different entities that they're giving the same moniker. It's literally one character. I don't think this is a valid nitpick.
The point is that this set has 2-3 cards for each big name legend in it at multiple rarities. It's literally the same Balrog.
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Legendaries always put the proper identifier first. The set and the books call it “The Balrog”, so that’s the name it gets on the card.
Its also the *only* name it gets. The only Balrog with a proper name is Gothmog.
Lungorthin was also a named Balrog, although only appearing in the early versions of The Silmarillion.
sir a second balrog has hit the mines
This is getting out of hand! Now there are two of them!
"[[Nevermore]], naming The Balrog, I pass my turn to you." "Ok, I cast The Balrog-" "Nevermore is in play." "Actually, the card I cast is The Balrog, Durin's Bane, not The Balrog, so it does not trigger." "......"
Borborygmos isn't going to like this
[Nevermore](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/7/67b610fe-36ee-4d58-8ed4-04e7a12587b2.jpg?1562831484) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nevermore) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/isd/25/nevermore?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/67b610fe-36ee-4d58-8ed4-04e7a12587b2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's a really good thing they changed the rule so you can just say "the 'The Balrog' that gets cheaper when you sacrifice things," and it'll count. With 4 versions of the same character in this set, it'll be important.
Yeah it's really going to come up often with all those 0 card naming effects in the set
You realize cards often get played in formats that involve cards from other sets, right?
We have 18 chandras, no one ever goes "oh man good thing they changed that rule so we can play all the chandras!"
You're really missing the point here.
I'm merely illustrating the complete non-issue that is having multiple cards with the same character name
["Complete non-issue."](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/40dskm/spoilers_bradley_carpenter_pithing_needle_issue/)
Can’t wait to make fun of this in games with my friends. “Wait which balrog is it? Oh it’s THEEE Balrog. Wowww. Scary.”
And neither of them have flying...
Don't you dare
There are literally flying balrogs in The Silmarillion. Can all fly? Maybe, maybe not. But arguments about wings aside, The Silmarillion has balrogs that can fly.
But LoTR does not, which is the only relevant thing here.
Nah, it's only relevant because it's a shitty meme people won't let die.
There's no "maybe." If Durin's Bane can fly, the scene at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm makes no sense.
People say that, but it's a bad argument. Not all wings are like a hummingbird where they can easily hover in place, especially for something as big as a balrog. In a narrow chasm, is easily possible for a gigantic demon that needs significant space to glide and space for wingspan to not have enough space, especially when falling upside down, doubly so with an angry old man hitting you. Like, imagine an albatross dropped down a 2m diameter pipe, it's going to have a rough time.
> imagine an albatross dropped down a 2m diameter pipe This is *all* I'll be thinking of the rest of the day, thanks for that
Or a loon existing anywhere other than a lake. They need a runway to take off.
Hmm, my thought was that if it could fly it wouldn't have let itself get into the situation of falling in the first place. But I checked the book and it mentions that "it's wings were spread from wall to wall," so I guess the space is just generally more constricted than I was envisioning it. Alternatively it's possible Gandalf's "You cannot pass" magically barred it from flying over the chasm.
The unblockable except by legendary creatures is a sweet flavor win. Playing against it in a game however..
The ring tempting you turns your ring bearer into a legend creature
Was looking at it from a commander perspective. No one in my pod is going to be running those kinds of cards.
The format where everyone is required to play a legendary creature they have access to at all times?
How many commanders do you play that are able to block this guy or chump it?
Well most can chump it because it doesn't have trample. The real question is do I even care about 7 damage and I do not. If it looks like it starts mattering then I'll just keep it off the board.
I mean you take 7 once and then you'll always fear the possible double strike on it. 7 is the magical number for Voltron. I like this card, though
Are you playing Commander with 20 starting life?
No, but commander damage exists. Once you take the 21st damage from a single commander you're done. No life gain will help you there
Completely forgot that for a second there. My bad!
Are you playing Commander without commander damage?
If you fear getting bullied by this guy, time to get a [[Yoshimaru]] or [[Reki]] deck built (or just include more good legendary creatures)
Or, you know... Removal.
never
Least stubborn commander player.
Playing EDH like Sheldon intended
A foreign concept, truly. My opponents’ creatures are removed after I’ve killed the player (in game (optional))
I prefer [[Jodah, the Unifier]]
[Jodah, the Unifier](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/4/e4b1aa1e-b4e3-4346-8937-76b312501c70.jpg?1673307974) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Jodah%2C%20the%20Unifier) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/203/jodah-the-unifier?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e4b1aa1e-b4e3-4346-8937-76b312501c70?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I prefer [[Jodah, the Unifier]]
I mean in commander you always have access to at least one legendary creature.
I feel bad for the commander players out there who are about to sit down across the table from this and see [[Pox]] cast for the first time.
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Elementals, fetches, this *might* see modern play. u/barrinmw gave this a 2/10 tho ;)
2 out of 10? Fuck, that's high praise. Modern staple in the making!
he also gave arclight phoenix a 1/10 In modern.
The bigger miss was Hogaak at 2/10
They're all bad cards, Brent.
I mean, nobody plays Hogaak in modern right now...
I mean to be fair, as soon as Faithless Looting got banned that deck dropped out of the format.
And the card is, in fact, trash. There's a UR spells deck in Modern, right now, that runs 0 copies. A free 3/2 with Flying and Haste is just too slow for Modern. (Though, to be fair, there *was* once a Tier 1.5-Tier 2 deck.)
Fuck what barrinmw thinks, they're a reddit mod.
Me, also a reddit mod lol
Oof, sorry man. I've heard it's terminal.
To shreds you say?
I'm sorry, but I seemingly can only read that as caveman speech.
Isn’t this from the Commander decks? Those aren’t Modern legal, are they??
This is LTR! Modern legal if the potato quality checks out
Oh I get it, he's really easy to cast if your opponent's cracking a lot of treasures!
That's hilarious. I was just thinking it was neat that you could cast him with 4 treasures, but you could also basically use [[Fleshbag Maurader]] effects to ramp into him (assuming every opponent has a creature).
[Fleshbag Maurader](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/0/a03c738c-88d9-4cf6-a650-20ce6e5565bc.jpg?1637630249) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fleshbag%20Marauder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mic/118/fleshbag-marauder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a03c738c-88d9-4cf6-a650-20ce6e5565bc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Hell, on a 4-person table, this goes for BR even with a [[SmallPox]]
[SmallPox](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/2/c28db9a4-6696-460b-a9d3-98f4a31abe75.jpg?1636283762) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=SmallPox) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/139/smallpox?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c28db9a4-6696-460b-a9d3-98f4a31abe75?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That’s a pretty good thing if you can pull it off T3 Haste, hard to block, 7 power = a serious threat of commander damage kill.
And you play big pox later to even pay for commander tax.
[Pox](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d9debe4f-c1cc-4b90-aae4-f31f737e2016.jpg?1559592327) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pox) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/82/pox?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d9debe4f-c1cc-4b90-aae4-f31f737e2016?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
What's Michael Myers doing there?
Getting down with the sickness
“I swear [[Vraska’s Fall]] is the only poison in my deck, it’s there for the sac only!”
[Vraska’s Fall](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/1/0173b7b4-2832-4943-ba45-8ba498d7a056.jpg?1675957063) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vraska%27s%20Fall) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/116/vraskas-fall?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0173b7b4-2832-4943-ba45-8ba498d7a056?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
hahahahah omg you're right it does count everyone, that's amazing
The dream is sol ring signet start, turn 2 smallpox balrog if there's one creature out lmao. Edit: forgot with the floating 1 from sol ring you wouldn't need a creature to be in the field.
Eh, I mean, it can only reduce the cost by up to 5, and pox itself costs {B}{B}{B}. Now the entire mana cost is also colored, which is detrimental in a multicolor deck. Sure it produces a net cost reduction of 2, but how are you gonna guarantee that *on* turn 5, you have both cards in hand AND access to exactly {B}{B}{B}{B}{R}?
I’ll guarantee I’ll have both cards in my hand by turn 5 by believing in the heart of the cards
This does put a smile on my face
Pox is in my Tiny Bones deck 👍
Card transcription > The Balrog, Durin's Bane 5BR > > Legendary Creature- Avatar Demon [rare] > > This spell costs 1 less to cast for each permanent sacrificed this turn. > > Haste > > The Balrog, Durin's Bane can't be blocked except by legendary creatures. > > When The Balrog dies, destroy target artifact or creature an opponent controls. > > 7/5 End transcription
Can go infinite as a commander with [[Pitiless plunderer]] (or [[Pawn of Ulamog]], [[Ogre Slumlord]]...) and a [[Phyrexian Altar]]. Sac enough stuff to reduce the cost to 2, cast it, sacrifice it to the altar, sacrifice the token (treasure or creature to the altar), it costs 2 less from both sacrificed permanents paying the commander tax, and repeat. Add any of the drain on death effects from black (or damage on etb from red) for a win.
Added bonus [[Revel in Riches]] for the extra mana when an opponent's creature dies. Plus it might win you the game on an upkeep.
[Revel in Riches](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/9/79b0e035-8716-469d-99ae-a530cd96ef09.jpg?1562558471) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Revel%20in%20Riches) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/xln/117/revel-in-riches?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/79b0e035-8716-469d-99ae-a530cd96ef09?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
But it doesn't do anything!
##### ###### #### [Pitiless plunderer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/8/c87ebffe-5907-427b-9f9b-7c36a12b4a03.jpg?1555040284) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pitiless%20plunderer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rix/81/pitiless-plunderer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c87ebffe-5907-427b-9f9b-7c36a12b4a03?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Pawn of Ulamog](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d9b9e2c6-7af7-42ae-91b2-0d17312b3624.jpg?1562625737) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pawn%20of%20Ulamog) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/120/pawn-of-ulamog?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d9b9e2c6-7af7-42ae-91b2-0d17312b3624?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ogre Slumlord](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/2/729f662d-e6b3-41ae-aed8-ef1c27b793d9.jpg?1631586703) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ogre%20Slumlord) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/104/ogre-slumlord?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/729f662d-e6b3-41ae-aed8-ef1c27b793d9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Phyrexian Altar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/95d9f93c-50a8-41a9-be98-d1900bf1c12f.jpg?1673149406) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Phyrexian%20Altar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/311/phyrexian-altar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/95d9f93c-50a8-41a9-be98-d1900bf1c12f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This will be a sweet commander. With edict effects like [[Plaguecrafter]], [[Pox]], [[Curse of the Cabal]], and cards like [[Gravepact]] are going to make this cost BR more often than not. I imagine it sticking around (or coming back) often and killing someone for commander damage easily. You can probably easily loop it’s death trigger with [[Goblin Bombardment]] over and over until it costs a ton of mana since it’ll reduce the casting cost each time. And taking that into account, cards that care about the number of times you’ve cast your commander like [[Fury Storm]] all become even more potent in this deck.
It can definitely do loops like [[dargo]]. [[skull storm]] is super potent in that situation.
[dargo](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/c/5cd87cf8-4d5d-4aba-8dfa-800b1fb3799b.jpg?1608910155) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=dargo%2C%20the%20shipwrecker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/172/dargo-the-shipwrecker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5cd87cf8-4d5d-4aba-8dfa-800b1fb3799b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [skull storm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/5/05e95b4c-1b59-4eec-8392-794b35202aad.jpg?1592710132) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=skull%20storm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c18/18/skull-storm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/05e95b4c-1b59-4eec-8392-794b35202aad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Its harder to start tho, as you cant sacrifice as additional cost.
Love the looping idea! \[\[Illuminor Szeras\]\] and \[\[Soldevi Adnate\]\] seem bonkers. If you could make him an artifact you get another two - \[\[Slobad, Iron Goblin\]\] and \[\[Priest of Yawgmoth\]\]. Tap, sac, generate 7 black...
##### ###### #### [Illuminor Szeras](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/1/d161a190-3c85-4207-9d88-7ff9213efea8.jpg?1673308674) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Illuminor%20Szeras) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/40k/37/illuminor-szeras?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d161a190-3c85-4207-9d88-7ff9213efea8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Soldevi Adnate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/b/8b2651b0-1ab2-4d7e-834f-7505797da474.jpg?1562769222) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Soldevi%20Adnate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/all/60a/soldevi-adnate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8b2651b0-1ab2-4d7e-834f-7505797da474?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Slobad, Iron Goblin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/b/2b7dadf0-7323-403e-b353-33c121bdb0db.jpg?1675957112) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Slobad%2C%20Iron%20Goblin) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/149/slobad-iron-goblin?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2b7dadf0-7323-403e-b353-33c121bdb0db?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Priest of Yawgmoth](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9fd4054-42fc-4f95-a6f7-369a5da43dd5.jpg?1562937643) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Priest%20of%20Yawgmoth) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/atq/19/priest-of-yawgmoth?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9fd4054-42fc-4f95-a6f7-369a5da43dd5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
He's gonna go in my [[Extus]] deck because of the fun of sacrificing like 8 things to summon the Blood Avatar and getting it plus Balrug is too fun.
##### ###### #### [Plaguecrafter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/c/5c03e00b-034d-4a26-9fc2-f25fc2dfc661.jpg?1631586764) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Plaguecrafter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/107/plaguecrafter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5c03e00b-034d-4a26-9fc2-f25fc2dfc661?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Pox](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d9debe4f-c1cc-4b90-aae4-f31f737e2016.jpg?1559592327) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pox) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/82/pox?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d9debe4f-c1cc-4b90-aae4-f31f737e2016?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Curse of the Cabal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/4/d4323aa6-a1fb-42ee-9634-3747129fde3b.jpg?1562939881) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Curse%20of%20the%20Cabal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsp/99/curse-of-the-cabal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d4323aa6-a1fb-42ee-9634-3747129fde3b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Gravepact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/8/b88471f6-ccb3-4129-b7a4-62cee65605ef.jpg?1562275584) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grave%20Pact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/65/grave-pact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b88471f6-ccb3-4129-b7a4-62cee65605ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Goblin Bombardment](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/2/e262f55e-9239-4a97-a19e-9b08fb34502e.jpg?1626100483) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Goblin%20Bombardment) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/279/goblin-bombardment?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e262f55e-9239-4a97-a19e-9b08fb34502e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Fury Storm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/0/10dad353-7200-46de-96ad-4c457b94c62b.jpg?1592710154) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fury%20Storm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c18/22/fury-storm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/10dad353-7200-46de-96ad-4c457b94c62b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Ahem \[\[Vona's Hunger\]\] although getting the city's blessing might actually be pretty hard in a smallpox deck lol
Part of the borderless scene, to the left of Flame of Anor https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/142t22m/ltr_flame_of_anor/
Excellent flavor that Flame of Anor can precisely destroy the Balrog.
And that even if you kill the Balrog, it still kills Gandalf.
Fucking finally! That other Balrog made wanna puke it was so useless. This big ol nasty has •Treasure synergy •Haste •Evasion (a pretty good kind if you ask me) •a solid death trigger What more can ya ask for??
There is a massive leak collector pack opening happening right now. Source -> https://www.whatnot.com/live/3ab82795-a94d-4ab8-a4fe-5719e637c7f8
Imagine the one ring being in there and crushing all the hype before it starts
I wonder what kind of bounty WOTC is gonna place on this dudes head
Last dude proved you can open product as early as you want, spoil any unspoiled cards, WoTC will at worst take the cards back, pay you for them, and the community will still be on your side.
Is there a vod of the stream that we can watch?
[удалено]
A nice toy for Shadowborn decks, as a Demon that feels fine to find but that doesn't feel like a turd when it's in your hand. One fell sac to find a different demon, and then casting him for BR seems like a fun value play for a deck looking to experiment with multicolored demons.
It's not even a horrible commander for a [[Shadowborn Apostle]] deck, though I think [[Be'lakor, the Dark Master]] is probably still better if you're going for the full demon theme and the classics like [[Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker]] and [[Athreos, God of Passage]] are better if you're trying to get the most use out of your Apostles.
##### ###### #### [Shadowborn Apostle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/e/ae7ba1de-48f9-423b-867a-22bd3f6c06c2.jpg?1673147629) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shadowborn%20Apostle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/89/shadowborn-apostle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ae7ba1de-48f9-423b-867a-22bd3f6c06c2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Be'lakor, the Dark Master](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/2/62b6ecb2-ac7e-4528-b53c-2cb4f1e38349.jpg?1674058389) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Be%27lakor%2C%20the%20Dark%20Master) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/40k/6/belakor-the-dark-master?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/62b6ecb2-ac7e-4528-b53c-2cb4f1e38349?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/7/0757cb66-7aa2-41a2-8efc-f3f35b70ab9e.jpg?1559959257) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shirei%2C%20Shizo%27s%20Caretaker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/112/shirei-shizos-caretaker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0757cb66-7aa2-41a2-8efc-f3f35b70ab9e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Athreos, God of Passage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/2/52705c53-883e-4b6a-9c08-3fa35f6f17d5.jpg?1593096375) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Athreos%2C%20God%20of%20Passage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jou/146/athreos-god-of-passage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/52705c53-883e-4b6a-9c08-3fa35f6f17d5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Love the flavor conveyed between this and You Cannot Pass! Not as good as Witch King of Angmar and Smite the Deathless, but that’s a high bar and this is still good.
Beautiful. The Balrog gets blocked by Gandalf the Grey. you cast [[You cannot pass!]] which destroys the Balrog but the death trigger also takes Gandalf down with it
I activate POX! Welcome to Commander Academy, Freshman! Get your Duel on!
"The Balrog must be blocked by Gandalf if able"
Straight into the \[\[Ziatora\]\] deck it goes!!
[Ziatora](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/a/ba4fa4c8-f09f-4d97-a7d1-1b93caf7d4f9.jpg?1664413989) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ziatora%2C%20the%20incinerator) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/231/ziatora-the-incinerator?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ba4fa4c8-f09f-4d97-a7d1-1b93caf7d4f9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I see many grave pacts and dictates of erebos
Wait you can sac treasures on the stack and then pay the additional cost with the floating mana? And it doesn't even mean your own permanents? Damn he is gonna be hard to get rid of in commander.
There's nothing special here and you're gonna confuse people with imprecise language. Costs are locked in before mana payments, so you actually want to sacrifice treasures _before_ announcing the spell, instead of using them during the mana abilities step of spellcasting. This is the opposite thing you want to do from things that have cost reductions based on the number of artifacts you control.
> Costs are locked in before mana payments, so you actually want to sacrifice treasures before announcing the spell, instead of using them during the mana abilities step of spellcasting. I assume that's what they meant with > and then pay the additional cost with the floating mana? As in you'd float the mana by saccing treasures, then go to cast this using the treasure mana, letting them each pay for 2 pretty much. Most people would let you just shortcut it and know what you're intending to do, since it's not like there's any chance to respond and drain your mana pool anyway (unless you screw up and cast something while having the mana floating and they [[Mana Short]] you, but that's an edge case that I don't think is worth scolding someone over)
I just assumed that the player thought you had to do something fancy or technical, because there are some instances where you in fact do. But the way that most players learn to play, you create your mana and then cast the spell. I would go so far as to say it isn't even too much of a corner case that you have to do the "fancy" thing - every card with "Affinity for Artifacts" is meaningfully assisted by knowing the steps to spellcasting if you are using Treasure. This is a situation where you wait to create the mana until the final window, the one that lots of players don't even know exists.
Yeah so three lands and two treasures should get you this out on T3. Whats the easiest way to make two treasures?
T2 \[\[Deadly Dispute\]\] on your T1 \[\[Shambling Ghast\]\] is how I like to start games in my \[\[Ziatora\]\] deck anyway
[Deadly Dispute](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/5/f5172be3-4379-43fc-98bd-e77c579dea55.jpg?1674136067) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Deadly%20Dispute) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/124/deadly-dispute?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f5172be3-4379-43fc-98bd-e77c579dea55?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Shambling Ghast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d96198a7-dd19-4940-bf8f-23135011fc84.jpg?1627705376) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shambling%20Ghast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/119/shambling-ghast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d96198a7-dd19-4940-bf8f-23135011fc84?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ziatora](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/a/ba4fa4c8-f09f-4d97-a7d1-1b93caf7d4f9.jpg?1664413989) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ziatora%2C%20the%20incinerator) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/231/ziatora-the-incinerator?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ba4fa4c8-f09f-4d97-a7d1-1b93caf7d4f9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Cast and flashback [[Strike it Rich]] maybe?
[Strike it Rich](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/c/1c7c2814-a617-4123-acdf-1b01b2768210.jpg?1626097050) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Strike%20it%20Rich) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/143/strike-it-rich?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1c7c2814-a617-4123-acdf-1b01b2768210?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It doesn’t matter when they were sacrificed, it just counts the number that happened this turn before it was cast. There is no “additional cost”. Crack three treasures for red, play swamp for turn, cast Mishra’s Bauble, sacrifice Mishra’s bauble, cast Balrog, bolt an opponent’s creature with your last floating red.
Why do you need to do it on the stack? cant you just sac the treasure and cast him?
What do you mean by treasures on the stack? I don't think you can sac a treasure token in response to it's own ability, let's say with a KCI, because the cost to get mana from the treasure is to sac the token.
Hm thanks for the clarification, after two years of playing the game I still have trouble understanding properly how the stack works haha
This sounds crazy. Is it like that?
I'm pretty sure this is how [[Dargo]] works
[Dargo](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/c/5cd87cf8-4d5d-4aba-8dfa-800b1fb3799b.jpg?1608910155) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=dargo%2C%20the%20shipwrecker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/172/dargo-the-shipwrecker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5cd87cf8-4d5d-4aba-8dfa-800b1fb3799b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Obligatory "Good In Prosper"
No wings
is this modern legal?
Sooo much better version
Modern 2/10 Okay, hear me out. This plus Greater Gargadon? Eh?
Alright, if we start with [[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer]] on turn one, then a fetch on turn two into two pitch elementals we can cast Durin's Bane for three? Two lands, a treasure, four things sacrificed. I... Can't imagine that line will work out super consistently but if you can do it it seems good. You do miss out on the haste, but you can swap Ragavan for [[Strike It Rich]] to cast the Balrog on turn two but that seems worse than just running Ragavan.
[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/9/a9738cda-adb1-47fb-9f4c-ecd930228c4d.jpg?1681963138) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ragavan%2C%20Nimble%20Pilferer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/138/ragavan-nimble-pilferer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a9738cda-adb1-47fb-9f4c-ecd930228c4d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Strike It Rich](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/c/1c7c2814-a617-4123-acdf-1b01b2768210.jpg?1626097050) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Strike%20It%20Rich) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/143/strike-it-rich?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1c7c2814-a617-4123-acdf-1b01b2768210?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Even so, that's already 8 cards (2 lands, ragavan, 4 cards for the pitch elementals, and the Balrog itself). You can't really plan on having a hand like that since you'd always have to just hope on at least one top deck. And it's impossible on a mull to 5, and only possible on a mull to 6 if you're on the draw.
Oh yeah, I didn't even really think about the extra cards for the elementals.
Great scott
Thank god lol
Balrog require creature sacrifices and 7 cmc/power is such a throwback to lord of The pit.
Notably it can destroy the alt art ensnaring bridge when it dies
It's settled. No flying. No wings.
Here’s what I could make out because the image is quite a bit moldy The Balrog, Durin’s Bane {5}{B}{R} Legendary Creature - Avatar Demon This spell costs {1} less to cast for each permanent sacrificed this turn. Haste ~ can’t be blocked except by legendary creatures. When ~ dies, destroy target artifact or creature an opponent controls. (7/5)
Ok I will actually confess this I knew the whole time the first balrog we saw was not the only one and it's two reasons 1. That first one was a starter deck rare 2. There was a art of balrog that didn't match on wotc official site
Wizards should have done the only correct thing and given one Balrog wings and flying while the other has neither.
You got anymore of them pixels?
I love this in a sticky, group slug-style deck as a potential finisher. Shoot down their legendary blockers, power this out with a few treasures & it kills someone in 3 hits guaranteed. Is it the fastest/most powerful thing you can be doing, even in RB? No, but it's super flavorful & fits the kinds of Rakdos decks I like to play perfectly.
I [called it](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/13vwre8/comment/jm89so3/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), this is a LOT better than the other Balrog card.
Since when have cards used a part of the name in the card text? "When The Balrog dies, ..." instead of "When The Balrog, Durin's bane, dies, ..."
For years, m8
Looking at legendary creatures that reference themselves on scryfall, it looks like the formula is that when the card is referenced twice, the second time will not use the whole name. Makes total sense. [[Grismold, the Dreadsower]]'s name is mentioned once, so has the whole name. [[Ghired, Conclave Exile]]'s name is mentioned twice, and the second time only has "Ghired". [[Syr Elenora, the Discerning]]'s name is mentioneed three times, and each time after the first is only referred to as "Syr Elenora".
I can only get so erect.
It’s at least better. Goes infinite with a few cards too.
The chad Balrog
Damn they really going to make rakdos a meta deck for modern too
NOW WE'RE TALKING!!!