Selecting 8th: Which power artifact?

[Purple_jester]

The next choice for choosing 8th edition is between <GASP> Static Orb and Ensnaring Bridge . Supposedly, R&D needs to free up a slot in the artifact rares (what could the replacement be?!?) and only one of the two artifacts can stay.

My criteria for choosing which one leaves is simple. Which is more annoying? Which one limits the field to a greater degree? Which one prevents more deck types from flourishing? Right now, I'm leaning towards kissing the Orb goodbye.

Comments?

 

[Notepad]

Ensnaring Bridge I have run into a lot more and it is a pain in the wazoo. I'd have to say let Static Orb stay in. At least then I can attack with my big fatties (EVERY time I play a fattie deck, somebody pulls out a bridge...I am tired of 'em).

I wish they'd give more options. I'd personally like to see Bubble Matrix in, because it makes creature-heavy battle circles much more chaotic.

 

[Spiderman]

I have no idea. The few Magic talk here, whether it be casual or tourney, haven't mentioned either cards, so I don't know they're impact (if I'm to base a decision like Rewind vs. Dismiss).

If I have to choose one, I'd say Static Orb just because Winter Orb is gone and if I ever wanted to make my Manabarbs deck Standard, that'd help somewhat.

 

[rkoelsch]

Those Burning Bridge decks can be really annoying. Since I always play white with disenchants in SB at least neither really scares me but I will vote to keep Static Orb. It works well with the does not tap to attack white ability.

ps and for those who saw my quitting magic post. I am only quitting playing. I am keeping my bookmarks for this site and MagictheGathering.com. I will still be collecting angels and need to know what ones come out in future sets and I like the discussions here.

 

[NorrYtt]

I'm voting for Ensnaring Bridge.

I don't like Static Orb's comboness with Icy Manipulator-type cards. Ensnaring Bridge is narrower and provides rogue possibilities that can punish a metagame.

Green, Red, White, and Blue can all deal with Ensnaring Bridge, and Black need only splash, Corrupt over the top, or Haunting Echoes to deck you. However, most decks today don't pack artifact removal because there's no Chimeric Idols, Masticores, or Powder Kegs in standard. If you aren't packing artifact removal, Ensnaring Bridge sometimes reads 'I win'.

I also hate Winter Orb. Winter Orb wrecks most any deck I build. Static Orb is too much like Winter Orb to get any sympathy from me. But still, if I were a set designer for 8th Edition, I'd choose Ensnaring Bridge.

Doesn't seem kinda dumb that an Ensnaring 'Bridge' keeps flyers from attacking?!

 

[EricBess]

I have to be honest, this is a really tough choice for me. I've built decks around both cards and I really like them both. I was really glad to see both of them in 7th edition.

But, then there was a card I wasn't so happy to see: Opposition. Static Orb is a good card. It's a really fun card and you can build decks to minimize it's disability while maximizing the problem for your opponent. I played Static Orb back when Quirion Ranger was T2 legal and It did really well.

But with Opposition in the mix, it becomes abusive. It also takes all of the imagination out of how to get around the disadvantage by completely ignoring it instead.

The thing about locks, which both of these cards are intended to produce in their own way, is that there should be a way around them. The obvious Disenchant will get rid of either card, but with Static Orb, that becomes difficult because when Opposition is in play, you have very limited resources while the player of Orb has pretty much everything every turn.

Granted, they have to get to that point first, but once they do, forget all chances (okay, there are exceptions, but for the most part...)

So, as long as Opposition is in the environment, I have to try to kick the Orb. Chances are, Opposition will go if Orb stays, but regardless, there will probably be some way to tap the Orb, which should have been left without the errata. I say let's go ahead and keep the bridge as a safer choice.

 

[BigBlue]

Could they be making room for Masticore?

Doubtful, but it is good with madness. I've never been a fan of the Bridge. Storage Matrix would be my pick if it were in that pick, but I'll take the orb if that's what I get to pick from.

 

[Chaos Turtle]

I voted to keep the Static Orb. I wouldn't mind losing Opposition, though, so long as some sort of (perhaps less powerful) replacement arrives. If there is no plan to provide some sort of tapping effect to use with the Orb, then I'll end up wishing I'd voted for Ensnaring Bridge, which is at least useable on its own.

 

[Istanbul]

BigBlue - Bite your tongue!

I'm voting to keep Ensnaring Bridge.

Static Orb - Shuts down every deck everywhere with Opposition.
Ensnaring Bridge - Shuts down creature decks if you can't find artifact elimination if they empty their hand if you can't find some way around it if if if.

If WotC had said, "Oh, by the way...we're getting rid of Opposition in 8E, promise!", I might have voted for the Orb. As it is, Ensnaring Bridge is the lesser of two evils.

 

[BigBlue]

I'd like to think Magic is about creatures First. In that case the Bridge is just too darn evil to creature decks. Of course so is opposition. Would you rather be untapped and unable to attack due to lack of cards in opp hand, or tapped every turn? Both very annoying, I don't think either is a good alternative. At least the Orb Combo is 2 cards to completely lock down the board. Storage Matrix is cooler (from this casual players view). (I pride myself on using underused cards btw, though not BAD cards, just the B versions). If I can beat or come close to beating an A deck with B cards I feel good knowing I didn't spend $400 to build a net deck.

Hey, I just thought of another neat (evil) madness use. Looter + search or Logic + Library of Leng. use looter to draw a card, discard and use the madness using LoL to put it back on top of your library. So you get 2 cards for U and get to do it again. Use that with any of those Skip your draw phase cards to good effect.

 

[NorrYtt]

I locked my opponent down with my G/U OBC Madness deck kinda like that.

No library left. Gurzigost puts Call of the Herd and Circular Logic on my library. Draw CotH, make an Elephant. Whenever my opponent plays a spell, activate Cephalid Looter, discard Circular Logic w/ madness to force spike for 34 each turn!

Ensnaring Bridge rules. New Kirby signature is up!

 

[BigBlue]

Just saw the Ensnaring Bridge gets Fliers comment. . .

What frosts my group is that Caltrops and Powerstone Mines do as well. I keep telling them they include Anti-aircraft launchers for the Mines and caltrops, but they don't buy it.

 

[Notepad]

So, now that 8E is out, does anybody wish they had the Orb instead? I know I do...

 

[train]

I'd love to have the orb...

"Control in a non-blue deck!..."

 

[EricBess]

I've always liked Orb. The main reason I voted for Bridge was because I don't think they should have errata'd the Orb and I didn't know if Opposition would be reprinted and Orb and Opposition together are stupid.

 

[Notepad]

Ah yes, Opposition is indeed incredibly annoying. One thing would fix it though: Errata'ing the erratum. Yes, undoing what they did. Let it have an effect uptapped or tapped.

That would kill Opposition decks. Dang I wish they reprinted it with a change.