General Commander 2017 Spoilers

Kess... is extremely good. A Karador for instants an sorceries with flying... yeesh. Almost assuredly trying out, but definitely immediately going on watch list for being too good. Sweet grixis spells anchor!
 

Chris Taylor

Contributor
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It's worth mentioning you do need the right colors of mana to cast whatever you get, like Nightveil Specter, so you'll need to hit a few lands before you start getting the mondo value
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
Kess... is extremely good. A Karador for instants an sorceries with flying... yeesh. Almost assuredly trying out, but definitely immediately going on watch list for being too good. Sweet grixis spells anchor!
Yeah, that was my first comparison as well. Karador is good though, but nowhere near oppressive, even though the threats he brings back stick around, and can be resurrected repeatedly (see Bone Shredder every turn). Three colors is a real cost, so I think Kess is going to be strong but okay.
 
I certainly hope that's the case! And definitely why I'm testing. She's also more thought-provoking than I thought at first glance, because she can do some cool stuff with certain types of spells:
  • Flicker effects allows you to cast another spell that turn, according to one judge at least
  • Buyback spells can be bought back to your hand from grave! So fire off that Mystic Speculation T1, and get it back later to start the engine
  • Draw-discard suites get much better, because they are centered in these three colors, and being able to discard gas and still use it is so great for a spell deck.
  • Turn all reanimation spells into Unburial Rites!
Card is neato. I've been looking for a Grixis spell that fits my environment and is used by my drafters, and she may be just the ticket.
 

Laz

Developer
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Have we ever seen these spectacular Rebecca Guay lands before?

In fact, so many of the basic lands in this product are gorgeous.
 
So I got some pre-release testing in of a Kess EDH deck this weekend, and my hopes are very high that's she's just about right for power-level. She was strong, very strong even, but she feels fair. Casting only on your turn is a very real restriction that effectively means she can't flash back countermagic, and casting an instant from your grave on your turn can open you up on their next turn.

Trying her out for sure now!
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
Boneyard Scourge, Patron of the Vein, Vindictive Lich and Shifting Shadow didn't make the cube after all. First cube night with the new Commander cards that did make it in is scheduled for the 30th this month! I have been playtesting on Forge though, and Taigam is amazing! Curse of Opulence has been very fun as well, especially with Makeshift Munitions from Ixalan. Mirri is good, and a cat, which has somehow grown into being a relevant creature type (I'm looking at you Heirloom Blade and Pride Sovereign!). Heirloom Blade is solid, so far it's at a power level that has proven to be very hard to find for WotC. Not every deck wants it, but in the decks that do, it offers a significant aggressive boost without making the cards too big to deal with, and the draw power makes sure you keep the pressure on, but because the card goes to hand it's not overbearing. Kess I have only drafted once, but she was very good. Very comparable to Karador, Ghost Chieftain actually. Qasali Slingers is a replacement for Acidic Slime. I like the 3/5 reach body better than the 2/2 deathtouch, and killing lands is irrelevant in my cube. Khery Mind-Eater varies from cool (with equipment, when you play your opponent's colors) to feeling rather inconsequental (when you don't play your opponent's colors, when your opponent ran out of cards), but I guess it still exiles a card when it hits. I need to see it in action some more before I can pass a verdict. Scalelord Reckoner is pleasant. It's a good evasive threat that takes something with it when they deal with it.

The coolest cards for me so far have been Taigam, Sidisi's Hand and Curse of Opulence. Both have played much better then I expected from them!
 
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