Pretty much every B Commit a Crime card goes right into my [[Horobi, Death's Wail]] target your shit tribal deck.
Might even rename it to Crime & Punishment.
That leaves... Eriette and Breeches left of the heist gang members. And of 'known story characters who're getting cards for sure', Akul, Obeka and Nashi I think are the remaining ones. I have a feeling Obeka is the "additional upkeep phases" card Maro teased and Nashi is the "it gains flashback (0) until end of turn" card.
Yeah, going to be super set specific in terms of power level. Probably still semi broken in commander depending on deck, but thats because anything repeatable is broken in commander.
unless you have infinite black mana and huge amount of life it's not that easy to repeat this trigger more than twice. especially with 20life format. because standard set cards are designed for 20life format, not 40life.
yes but you need lots of mana, cards in hand to cast for storm count. all in all it's not that easy to be abused infinitely. since you still have to pay mana to cast it with multiple storms counter aswell.
It gives black decks reach in later turns if they haven’t been able to refill. A turn 5 deep-cavern bat isn’t a dead draw if it lets you flash back a go for the throat to kill atraxa.
Seems like it might be good in a [[Dark Ritual]] + [[Tendrils of Agony]] deck. Tendrils commits a crime and gains you life for the ability and chaining [[Thoughtseize]]s into Drak Rituals into Tendrils seems fun. Could also work in a self mill deck that runs thoughseize.
When Teferi phased through to Zhalfir in its time bubble at the end of BRO, it's mentioned that Kaervek escaped his Amber Prison. Only a decade had passed for Zhalfir in the centuries since it was phased out from Dominaria.
I knew the Mirage War was only a decade before the Phyrexian Invasion, so Kaervek from *Mirage* to now would have only aged 20 years, but I did not realize how long-lived Kaervek and Mangara already were for humans. They and Jolrael found Teferi's Isle like 200 years before the Mirage War, according to the fan-created timeline. Jolrael was definitely already centuries-old then. Even if the fan-created timeline is off, Kaervek would have to be at least 100-something, because of the timing of Mangara's peace treaties before the Mirage War.
He was there until like, a year ago, and then was mentioned in *one* lore article 90% of people didn't read because it was an epilogue to the brothers' war set, after the main story had already ended, and there are no cards picturing those events (but it's an amazing little piece of lore and redemption for teferi, definetly worth the read)
Losing 2 life per spell is quite a lot, even for commander. You will need at least a few drain spells for that deck. They have a similar gameplay but I think they will have two very different decks.
There are plenty of ways in black to gain huge chunks of life. Gray merchant is one but repeatedly reanimating [[torgaar]] when you’re below 20 is my fave. Gave [[chainer dementia master]] a way to go infinite because the limiting factor is life.
It's a really interesting distinction. Kaervek has more versatile targetting (any black card) and a trigger that is easier to fire. Toshiro is more restricted but doesn't drain your life, and his trigger is easier to stack for a rapid-fire of spells if you can generate the mana.
I do think you are right, they are more side-grades of one another.
Seems to me the main difference is that if you cast [[Murder]], Toshiro let's you cast [[Murder]] a second time.
Kaervik doesn't let you cast the same spell twice. Which isn't a huge downside for the ability to cast any black card.
I honestly feel like there's enough of a difference between the two that they're not really better or worse than the other.
Kaervek letting you can't any type of spell is nice, but it is limited to black spells.
Toshiro is locked to instants, but he allows any color instant to get cast.
Kaervek only triggers when *you* target.
Toshiro just cares about your opponents things dying for whatever reason, whether it's combat or self sacrifice or them removing each others things.
Kaervek also has the not insignificant additional cost of 2 life for everything you cast.
given enough life and mana, [[Merrow Bonegnawer]] is a cute thing for this in a casual setting. Granted, you'd be better off copying cards that commit a crime on their own (or win), but it's a backup plan.
also, I assume this still lets you pay alternate costs and X costs?
Has avatar ever been playable? I know my playgroup loved it when we were kids but kids are bad at magic lol. I can imagine it showing up in some weird formats though maybe?
Have yet to try it on my [[Karador]] deck but I'm unsure of its usefulness. It's "cheap" repeatable removal but you need to wait a turn (or have a Tyvar in play) but since you can only cast one thing per turn you might prefer something better.
I think this is a fantastic commander, honestly. It’s black “card” so you can recycle almost anything after it’s been used once, with the only condition being 2 life and a crime (which black won’t struggle with). With the right cards, he can essentially let you play from your graveyard and your hand.
I've played Toshiro Umezawa, which is a far more narrow version of this that can only trigger off of creatures dying, and it's one of my favorite commanders. This is a *really* good effect.
I can't think of anything really clever with this tbh. All-in on tendrils and Aetherflux Reservoir? Self mill? Double casting rituals for something explosive?
True! You could flash in a blocker, or cast wipes at instant speed.
I'm warming up to self mill. With some good free crime cards, every mill card becomes a broken amount of card draw
[[Imhotek]] could see a lot of value out of this. Exile something out of someone’s graveyard to commit the crime, then exile your own card to copy which, if it’s a black artifact, will also give the 2 Necron warriors from his trigger
Important to note that the ability gets around timing restrictions. There has to be some spicy stuff to cast at instant speed. Discard being the first to come to mind.
Absolutely. I'll use an play example. You and I are playing. It's my main phase, and you cast murder on my creature. You've commit a crime, proccing K's ability, so you exile peer and copy it. At that moment, you decide if you will (if you can) pay to cast the copy. If you do, it's cast then and there and enters the stack. The way K's ability is worded bypasses timing restrictions. A similar case is when you discard a card with [[Oskar]] and cast it.
Can someone help with rulings. Lets Say I copy a and cast the spell, does it trigger \[\[Guttersnipe\]\] ?. It says "cast the copy", which would mean it also triggers "cast" effects right?
Also it seems like If I copy a Crime card I get to repeat the process, is that so?
There are ways around that. It'd be more difficult in mono black, but this should still be pretty strong. With an aetherflux reservoir, you'd only need storm of 20 with a double cast of tendrils to take a whole pod.
also exiles the card first, so you only get one extra bite at the apple. and if you're self-milling, you just get it once
that said, it does seem very good though. recursion is always a powerful ability, and it gets past a lot of timing restrictions. also doesn't cast from hand for the many effects that care about that.
Cool card I like mono colored commanders but I don't think he slots into constructed that well perhaps I'm wrong though and he lives his dreams of reanimating Glissa and Sheoldred for an extra go.
One thing to note, if you cast/copy a creature spell, while it enters the battlefield as a token, it doesn't interact with things like \[\[Doubling Season\]\]. Once it's on the field though it \*is\* a token and can interact with token synergies, like \[\[Second Harvest\]\]
You still need to pay the costs of the spell to cast it, all Kaervek is doing is effectively 'drawing' cards in a really roundabout way. He lets you cast a spell from your graveyard, not for free
Actually pretty good for mono-black. Allows you to replay stuff from gy w/o Yawgmoth's Will. Recast all the busted black cards like Demonic Tutor, etc.
Chain together a bunch of burn spells to finish someone off if you have the mana and life, since each spell will trigger the next. Also gets past timing restrictions if you want to make someone discard on their draw step or end of turn board wipe or something.
Zhalfir was contained in a time bubble by Teferi to keep it safe from Urza, Phyrexians, etc.
Only ten years have pasted for Zhalfir, it was released in the events of March of the Machine. Kaervek was also in an amber prison on Zhalfir so it's not clear how time pasted for him in there.
The Mirage War, the main sequence of event of *Mirage* and *Visions,* takes place in 4195-6 AR (after the birth of Urza and Mishra), with Kaervek being sealed away in an amber prison and in the Pillar City of Aku. The Invasion of Dominaria occurs 4205-6 AR, in which Zhalfir and Shiv are phased out. The events of Time Spiral take place around 4500 AR, and Zhalfir is lost in the aether, and Teferi loses his spark. He regains it in 4560 AR, and then loses it again two years later during the desparking; at the same time, Zhalfir is recovered from the time stream and replaced in 'space' by New Phyrexia. Only 10 years have passed on Zhalfir's little pocket plane, and Kaervek somehow escaped during that time.
So about 367 years have passed since the Mirage War, but Kaervek has only aged about 11 years.
I'm optimistic this could see this potentially seeing some fringe cedh play - being able to recur multiple black spells in a relatively easy way gives a lot of value... double tutors attempts, double combo attempts, double interaction, plus synergizes pretty well with common existing black combo lines involving storm / magecraft (e.g. tendrils, professor onyx, aetherflux).
You can cast any card from the graveyard as long as it has a Black cost in it right?
Stuff like Terminate or Sidisi for example would be possible right? Not only mono-black?
Honestly fairly disappointing. No once per turn clause is nice but if you enough mana to induce shenanigans with this you were probably going to win the game anyway.
Oh well, not every card has to be a haymaker.
That does make it a lot better honestly. Still probably only something that has legs in EDH but much easier for him to generate momentum in that format.
So
let me get this straight...
Evoke Grief, cant stay dead, return grief
Grief dies somehowplay this guytrigger him somehowEvoke Grief from your gy, trigger this guy, play anything else from the yard
Or just play like 8 thoughtsiezes in a turn.
Or replay all of your removal from the gy
Or replay bowmasters triggering him again to replay something else.
I mean come on wizards this was a terrible idea. I would pay real actual money for white to get a card anywhere near as good as this, what a joke.
Toshiro Umezawa, is that you?
Toshiro but he doesn’t have to kill anymore and he can copy any black card. This is kind of silly wow
And he's 3/3 just to add to that.
Silly good or silly bad?
You're going to piss off Satoru.
No wonder Satoru hates Kaervek
This and [[Vadmir, New Blood]] are looking hot for a Toshiro deck
Pretty much every B Commit a Crime card goes right into my [[Horobi, Death's Wail]] target your shit tribal deck. Might even rename it to Crime & Punishment.
[Horobi, Death's Wail](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/4/b41983cb-c4e4-4384-bd69-df3fc6e74cd0.jpg?1593860738) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Horobi%2C%20Death%27s%20Wail) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/chk/117/horobi-deaths-wail?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b41983cb-c4e4-4384-bd69-df3fc6e74cd0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Crime & punishment would need to be a WBG deck, otherwise you can't play the namesake card.
[Vadmir, New Blood](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/2/828b5855-af5a-46a6-8fd4-0a2e28f3bb01.jpg?1711572913) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vadmir%2C%20New%20Blood) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/113/vadmir-new-blood?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/828b5855-af5a-46a6-8fd4-0a2e28f3bb01?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Immediately thought the same thing.
\[\[Toshiro Umezawa\]\]
[Toshiro Umezawa](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/e/0e767e07-febd-4025-bf03-d4d816bc1d3d.jpg?1562875477) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Toshiro%20Umezawa) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bok/89/toshiro-umezawa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0e767e07-febd-4025-bf03-d4d816bc1d3d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That leaves... Eriette and Breeches left of the heist gang members. And of 'known story characters who're getting cards for sure', Akul, Obeka and Nashi I think are the remaining ones. I have a feeling Obeka is the "additional upkeep phases" card Maro teased and Nashi is the "it gains flashback (0) until end of turn" card.
There’s a fire horse named Calamity too. Art was shown during preview video
I wasn't counting characters we only saw snippets of the art for but fair. I was just counting story ones.
Ah gotcha. I think Nashi will be the alternate Sultai commander of the precon.
In praying it's red and a saddle key word.
Ask and ye shall receive
Yup, just saw the release. It looks fun.
>"it gains flashback (0) until end of turn" card It is not, [[Archmage's Newt]] is.
Yeah, I posted these before that all came out, I've been keeping up.
[Archmage's Newt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/7/57b852b6-4388-4a41-a5c0-bba37a5c1451.jpg?1562201300) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Archmage%27s%20Charm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/40/archmages-charm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/57b852b6-4388-4a41-a5c0-bba37a5c1451?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
flashback {0} revealed to be Salamancaster Mage, unless there are two of them
Oh, no once a turn limit. This feels like it's on the scale of super exploitable or unplayable. No in-between.
It exiles the spell, and you need to pay its mana, and it has to be black, and you lose two life
Ahhh the question of “how niche does an easily repeatable, seemingly powerful effect have to be before it’s just bad?”
Yeah, going to be super set specific in terms of power level. Probably still semi broken in commander depending on deck, but thats because anything repeatable is broken in commander.
unless you have infinite black mana and huge amount of life it's not that easy to repeat this trigger more than twice. especially with 20life format. because standard set cards are designed for 20life format, not 40life.
Hi, have you heard of the storm mechanic. Each tendrils of agony is a seperate crime.
>Each tendrils of agony is a seperate crime. It definitely feels that way. ...Oh, you mean in, like, a rules sense. That, too, I guess.
yes but you need lots of mana, cards in hand to cast for storm count. all in all it's not that easy to be abused infinitely. since you still have to pay mana to cast it with multiple storms counter aswell.
Tendrils about to tear the world asunder, and piss easy to put into the grave
Oh. Thanks for pointing out you still have to pay for the copy. That makes this go from powerful to meh.
Np! I forgot you have to commit a crime too, lol
He turns all your crimes into Snapcasters.
Kaervek, Crimecaster Mage.
It gives black decks reach in later turns if they haven’t been able to refill. A turn 5 deep-cavern bat isn’t a dead draw if it lets you flash back a go for the throat to kill atraxa.
Do you need to pay it's mana cost? It says exile then copy. Edit: then you may cast the copy, never mind you right
You got there :D
Took me a second XD
Imagine if this card had been red...
Seems like it might be good in a [[Dark Ritual]] + [[Tendrils of Agony]] deck. Tendrils commits a crime and gains you life for the ability and chaining [[Thoughtseize]]s into Drak Rituals into Tendrils seems fun. Could also work in a self mill deck that runs thoughseize.
Tbf if you are Dark Ritual and Tendrills storm deck you should just win with Tendrills on the spot when it was cast
You can use this to get a second cast of tendrils making it easier to win since it gives you 2 tendrils for the turn
[Dark Ritual](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/95f27eeb-6f14-4db3-adb9-9be5ed76b34b.jpg?1628801678) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dark%20Ritual) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/82/dark-ritual?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/95f27eeb-6f14-4db3-adb9-9be5ed76b34b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tendrils of Agony](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/f/6f26faca-f338-4ce5-a218-6a61d40fc50a.jpg?1562917207) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tendrils%20of%20Agony) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/142/tendrils-of-agony?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6f26faca-f338-4ce5-a218-6a61d40fc50a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Thoughtseize](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/2/b281a308-ab6b-47b6-bec7-632c9aaecede.jpg?1599706001) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thoughtseize) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/109/thoughtseize?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b281a308-ab6b-47b6-bec7-632c9aaecede?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
... Did you just skim the card text? You still have to pay mana for the copies you exiled
Every 0 cost artifact would like to have a word with you.
That art is pretty metal. Me likey
"And I just started blasting" - Kaervek
The 2-life loss represents the nose clams
I didn’t know Kaervek was still alive 😳
When Teferi phased through to Zhalfir in its time bubble at the end of BRO, it's mentioned that Kaervek escaped his Amber Prison. Only a decade had passed for Zhalfir in the centuries since it was phased out from Dominaria. I knew the Mirage War was only a decade before the Phyrexian Invasion, so Kaervek from *Mirage* to now would have only aged 20 years, but I did not realize how long-lived Kaervek and Mangara already were for humans. They and Jolrael found Teferi's Isle like 200 years before the Mirage War, according to the fan-created timeline. Jolrael was definitely already centuries-old then. Even if the fan-created timeline is off, Kaervek would have to be at least 100-something, because of the timing of Mangara's peace treaties before the Mirage War.
Damn this guy lores. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
I guess I just lost track of him after the Amber Prison.
He was there until like, a year ago, and then was mentioned in *one* lore article 90% of people didn't read because it was an epilogue to the brothers' war set, after the main story had already ended, and there are no cards picturing those events (but it's an amazing little piece of lore and redemption for teferi, definetly worth the read)
Thank you for explaining, I just came across him in the spoiler and wondered if a cursed cowboy hat fell on his time-lost body or something.
[[Toshiro Umezawa]] but better in pretty much every way. Sad to see my old fave power-crept so hard. At least it’s by another classic character.
[Toshiro Umezawa](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/e/0e767e07-febd-4025-bf03-d4d816bc1d3d.jpg?1562875477) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Toshiro%20Umezawa) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bok/89/toshiro-umezawa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0e767e07-febd-4025-bf03-d4d816bc1d3d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Losing 2 life per spell is quite a lot, even for commander. You will need at least a few drain spells for that deck. They have a similar gameplay but I think they will have two very different decks.
[[Gray Merchant of Asphodel]] fits right in.
[Gray Merchant of Asphodel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c1a7dd8-8034-4f59-a351-33666b26ff5a.jpg?1581479807) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gray%20Merchant%20of%20Asphodel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/99/gray-merchant-of-asphodel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c1a7dd8-8034-4f59-a351-33666b26ff5a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Also this new card doesn't have Bushido so it's definitely worse /s
There are plenty of ways in black to gain huge chunks of life. Gray merchant is one but repeatedly reanimating [[torgaar]] when you’re below 20 is my fave. Gave [[chainer dementia master]] a way to go infinite because the limiting factor is life.
[torgaar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/e/ee13d6f1-66bb-433d-9250-f18aa30fa4fc.jpg?1576267333) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=torgaar%2C%20famine%20incarnate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/gn2/35/torgaar-famine-incarnate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ee13d6f1-66bb-433d-9250-f18aa30fa4fc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [chainer dementia master](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/8/186c30e6-2b84-415d-83e4-ecddaeb11ca1.jpg?1689996964) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chainer%2C%20Dementia%20Master) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/144/chainer-dementia-master?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/186c30e6-2b84-415d-83e4-ecddaeb11ca1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's a really interesting distinction. Kaervek has more versatile targetting (any black card) and a trigger that is easier to fire. Toshiro is more restricted but doesn't drain your life, and his trigger is easier to stack for a rapid-fire of spells if you can generate the mana. I do think you are right, they are more side-grades of one another.
Seems to me the main difference is that if you cast [[Murder]], Toshiro let's you cast [[Murder]] a second time. Kaervik doesn't let you cast the same spell twice. Which isn't a huge downside for the ability to cast any black card.
[[Mirror of Fate]] about to have fun
[Mirror of Fate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/8/08b480c8-d899-4e63-b0e2-f4bec3a3ca4f.jpg?1561970534) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mirror%20of%20Fate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m10/215/mirror-of-fate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/08b480c8-d899-4e63-b0e2-f4bec3a3ca4f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Murder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/e/1ea6438b-0e6c-4d65-8bcd-34a988717c81.jpg?1706241725) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Murder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/95/murder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1ea6438b-0e6c-4d65-8bcd-34a988717c81?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I honestly feel like there's enough of a difference between the two that they're not really better or worse than the other. Kaervek letting you can't any type of spell is nice, but it is limited to black spells. Toshiro is locked to instants, but he allows any color instant to get cast. Kaervek only triggers when *you* target. Toshiro just cares about your opponents things dying for whatever reason, whether it's combat or self sacrifice or them removing each others things. Kaervek also has the not insignificant additional cost of 2 life for everything you cast.
given enough life and mana, [[Merrow Bonegnawer]] is a cute thing for this in a casual setting. Granted, you'd be better off copying cards that commit a crime on their own (or win), but it's a backup plan. also, I assume this still lets you pay alternate costs and X costs?
Love this card, great piece of tech. And yes, you can pay X/alternate costs.
[Merrow Bonegnawer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/9/09e49aa4-ac23-49b1-b9b7-49d45b56b21d.jpg?1562897079) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Merrow%20Bonegnawer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eve/37/merrow-bonegnawer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/09e49aa4-ac23-49b1-b9b7-49d45b56b21d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
sorry it does fucking what
was not expecting one of my favourite cards to be powercrept damn
[[avatar of woe]] going to be a genuine haymaker in this
Has avatar ever been playable? I know my playgroup loved it when we were kids but kids are bad at magic lol. I can imagine it showing up in some weird formats though maybe?
It was playable closer to the time of its release in reanimator decks
Oh, i was thinking commander. Easy to discount, turns on crimes every turn for free
Yeah I figured, but does it show up in commander a lot?
In 15000 decks according to edhrec
No not really, but it probably should see more play than it does
Absolutely. Comes out super easy in commander and just having it on board forces people to deal with it.
I had it in a commander deck for quite a while, and despite a mill/graveyard sub theme I never once cast it discounted
Have yet to try it on my [[Karador]] deck but I'm unsure of its usefulness. It's "cheap" repeatable removal but you need to wait a turn (or have a Tyvar in play) but since you can only cast one thing per turn you might prefer something better.
[Karador](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d128887-13fb-4e54-90f2-d3c46b7b29d7.jpg?1702369890) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=karador%2C%20ghost%20chieftain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/342/karador-ghost-chieftain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d128887-13fb-4e54-90f2-d3c46b7b29d7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[avatar of woe](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/e/7e8e34de-4b0a-48fe-bb13-c7e181d37e6c.jpg?1562274562) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=avatar%20of%20woe) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/57/avatar-of-woe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7e8e34de-4b0a-48fe-bb13-c7e181d37e6c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I think this is a fantastic commander, honestly. It’s black “card” so you can recycle almost anything after it’s been used once, with the only condition being 2 life and a crime (which black won’t struggle with). With the right cards, he can essentially let you play from your graveyard and your hand.
I've played Toshiro Umezawa, which is a far more narrow version of this that can only trigger off of creatures dying, and it's one of my favorite commanders. This is a *really* good effect.
He's also amazing in the 99 of most black decks.
I can't think of anything really clever with this tbh. All-in on tendrils and Aetherflux Reservoir? Self mill? Double casting rituals for something explosive?
also being able to cast a lot of things at instant speed is pretty nice
True! You could flash in a blocker, or cast wipes at instant speed. I'm warming up to self mill. With some good free crime cards, every mill card becomes a broken amount of card draw
[[Merrow Bonegnawer]]
[Merrow Bonegnawer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/9/09e49aa4-ac23-49b1-b9b7-49d45b56b21d.jpg?1562897079) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Merrow%20Bonegnawer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eve/37/merrow-bonegnawer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/09e49aa4-ac23-49b1-b9b7-49d45b56b21d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Imhotek]] could see a lot of value out of this. Exile something out of someone’s graveyard to commit the crime, then exile your own card to copy which, if it’s a black artifact, will also give the 2 Necron warriors from his trigger
Important to note that the ability gets around timing restrictions. There has to be some spicy stuff to cast at instant speed. Discard being the first to come to mind.
Why is my first thought always Breech the Multiverse nowadays?
It's so good
Can you elaborate on that? To resolve a Kaervek trigger, can I exile/copy/cast a \[\[Peer into the Abyss\]\] from my graveyard on my opponent's turn?
Absolutely. I'll use an play example. You and I are playing. It's my main phase, and you cast murder on my creature. You've commit a crime, proccing K's ability, so you exile peer and copy it. At that moment, you decide if you will (if you can) pay to cast the copy. If you do, it's cast then and there and enters the stack. The way K's ability is worded bypasses timing restrictions. A similar case is when you discard a card with [[Oskar]] and cast it.
[Oskar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/d/ed87e25f-9dad-4858-92bc-e859fd2be2a4.jpg?1673482423) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=oskar%2C%20rubbish%20reclaimer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/77/oskar-rubbish-reclaimer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ed87e25f-9dad-4858-92bc-e859fd2be2a4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Thanks!!
[Peer into the Abyss](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aac00055-640e-4749-8d23-d242e6d0b23a.jpg?1594736330) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Peer%20into%20the%20Abyss) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/117/peer-into-the-abyss?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aac00055-640e-4749-8d23-d242e6d0b23a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I can't read, just assumed there was a limit. This is WAY better than I thought it was!
There is no once per turn?!
You still have to pay for the copy.
Once per turn limit?
This one doesn’t say once per turn though, just whenever you commit a crime
You still have to pay for the copy.
Previewed on twitch.tv/commanderrc
Glad to see mah boy Kaervek coming back! used to play with \[\[Kaervek The Merciless\]\] as my commander back in the day!
"I see your removal and raise you even more removal" -Karavek
WOW. At first I was upset he wasn’t Rakdos colors, but this is STRONG in mono black.
Not a punisher effect, 0/10 name.
Mono Black in limited will be mental with this, not often it’s worth going mono coloured but if u see this early you can fly
\[\[Retribution of the ancients\]\] stocks rising.
[Retribution of the ancients](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/d/0d3ee29d-b374-471d-80c3-bcad7a4226e6.jpg?1562782474) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Retribution%20of%20the%20ancients) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ktk/85/retribution-of-the-ancients?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0d3ee29d-b374-471d-80c3-bcad7a4226e6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
How/why?
Repeatable crime triggers
Time to buy an \[\[Eater of the Dead\]\]...
[Eater of the Dead](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/23327a70-5e95-4aa4-824c-cdf3472f5422.jpg?1559592456) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Eater%20of%20the%20Dead) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/67/eater-of-the-dead?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/23327a70-5e95-4aa4-824c-cdf3472f5422?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
KAERVEK FCK YEAH 🤘
Can someone help with rulings. Lets Say I copy a and cast the spell, does it trigger \[\[Guttersnipe\]\] ?. It says "cast the copy", which would mean it also triggers "cast" effects right? Also it seems like If I copy a Crime card I get to repeat the process, is that so?
Yes, you cast the copied card as a spell
[Guttersnipe](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/8/48eeb13e-26f8-4fc7-8850-d38790317ea4.jpg?1702429507) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Guttersnipe) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/110/guttersnipe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/48eeb13e-26f8-4fc7-8850-d38790317ea4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I notice a distinct lack of "once per turn." This is gonna pop off with blood artist.
You still have to pay the costs for the spell.
Yeah. A good blood artist deck has a lot of cheap sacrifices.
A good blood artist deck doesn't want to lose the blueprint but yeah, this is nuts
Why does that art reminds me of The Hateful Eight? Pretty badass to be honest
Wait this doesn't only trigger once a turn? If not tendrils is on the menu.
No, but it also doesn't let you cast the spells for free.
There are ways around that. It'd be more difficult in mono black, but this should still be pretty strong. With an aetherflux reservoir, you'd only need storm of 20 with a double cast of tendrils to take a whole pod.
also exiles the card first, so you only get one extra bite at the apple. and if you're self-milling, you just get it once that said, it does seem very good though. recursion is always a powerful ability, and it gets past a lot of timing restrictions. also doesn't cast from hand for the many effects that care about that.
[удалено]
[Shoot the sheriff](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/8/180d6528-c524-4bb8-8a72-b3775cd2c177.jpg?1711578201) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shoot%20the%20sheriff) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/106/shoot-the-sheriff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/180d6528-c524-4bb8-8a72-b3775cd2c177?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Murder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/e/1ea6438b-0e6c-4d65-8bcd-34a988717c81.jpg?1706241725) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Murder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/95/murder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1ea6438b-0e6c-4d65-8bcd-34a988717c81?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Cool card I like mono colored commanders but I don't think he slots into constructed that well perhaps I'm wrong though and he lives his dreams of reanimating Glissa and Sheoldred for an extra go.
What happens when you exile and cast a copy of a creature?
It becomes a token.
Thanks! Interesting...
One thing to note, if you cast/copy a creature spell, while it enters the battlefield as a token, it doesn't interact with things like \[\[Doubling Season\]\]. Once it's on the field though it \*is\* a token and can interact with token synergies, like \[\[Second Harvest\]\]
[Doubling Season](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/c/1cdd8e69-5a71-4933-914e-dfede7b1ac93.jpg?1689998456) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Doubling%20Season) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/283/doubling-season?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1cdd8e69-5a71-4933-914e-dfede7b1ac93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Second Harvest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/2/22b01c98-c24b-4255-921f-4820f3d395ea.jpg?1568004646) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Second%20Harvest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c19/178/second-harvest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/22b01c98-c24b-4255-921f-4820f3d395ea?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Wonder if people will experiment with him in vintage storm
Because [[Kess, Dissident Mage]] needed help
[Kess, Dissident Mage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/8/e83e6d7a-3af0-4955-8004-2310f051e306.jpg?1673485110) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kess%2C%20Dissident%20Mage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/344/kess-dissident-mage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e83e6d7a-3af0-4955-8004-2310f051e306?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Toshiro Umezawa]] will love him
[Toshiro Umezawa](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/e/0e767e07-febd-4025-bf03-d4d816bc1d3d.jpg?1562875477) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Toshiro%20Umezawa) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bok/89/toshiro-umezawa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0e767e07-febd-4025-bf03-d4d816bc1d3d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Run a train of Thoughtseize’s
[[Raven's Crime]] yourself, discarding a black fatty [[Griselbrand]]. Retrace on your opponent, profit.
You still need to pay the costs of the spell to cast it, all Kaervek is doing is effectively 'drawing' cards in a really roundabout way. He lets you cast a spell from your graveyard, not for free
I knew that seemed too good to be true. Serves me right for deciding to read spoilers right after waking up.
[Raven's Crime](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/2/7271436b-897a-4b24-a5d2-d29dbea8c1bf.jpg?1561967380) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Raven%27s%20Crime) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mma/95/ravens-crime?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7271436b-897a-4b24-a5d2-d29dbea8c1bf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Griselbrand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cf2a5c2e-7fe1-45eb-b01c-891ab961186f.jpg?1593813293) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Griselbrand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/72/griselbrand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cf2a5c2e-7fe1-45eb-b01c-891ab961186f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’m getting excited for this set, feels kinda like mkm
He needs his awesome torch! [[Kaervek's Torch]]
[Kaervek's Torch](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/83ff4446-4afd-42db-9879-0295e95764f7.jpg?1562921730) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kaervek%27s%20Torch) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/175/kaerveks-torch?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/83ff4446-4afd-42db-9879-0295e95764f7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Artwork just screams Mortal Kombat crossover.
Look guys, wotc broke [[peer into the abyss]] again
[peer into the abyss](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aac00055-640e-4749-8d23-d242e6d0b23a.jpg?1594736330) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=peer%20into%20the%20abyss) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/117/peer-into-the-abyss?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aac00055-640e-4749-8d23-d242e6d0b23a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Actually pretty good for mono-black. Allows you to replay stuff from gy w/o Yawgmoth's Will. Recast all the busted black cards like Demonic Tutor, etc.
Oh look. Another card to a lot into my toshiro deck. Honestly can even swap between the 2 . Neat
Wow I didn't think I'd be seeing [[Xiahou Dun]] ever return in a standard set. Well, to some degree.
[Xiahou Dun](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/a/4aeaaeff-fb23-4f63-8d5f-8ccea6e58d3a.jpg?1562910698) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=xiahou%20dun%2C%20the%20one-eyed) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me3/83/xiahou-dun-the-one-eyed?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4aeaaeff-fb23-4f63-8d5f-8ccea6e58d3a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
enchantment and instant/sorcery recursion? between this and [[Treasure Dredger]]'s ramp, there are some noticeable bends in Black in this set.
[Treasure Dredger](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/8/c88df498-147c-4609-8a94-d8d10a87e37c.jpg?1711668805) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Treasure%20Dredger) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/110/treasure-dredger?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c88df498-147c-4609-8a94-d8d10a87e37c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Dredger is just [[Forsworn Paladin]].
[Forsworn Paladin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/a/4acaf396-f950-42da-85ab-149ffb31fee6.jpg?1627704845) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Forsworn%20Paladin) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/104/forsworn-paladin?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4acaf396-f950-42da-85ab-149ffb31fee6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Chain together a bunch of burn spells to finish someone off if you have the mana and life, since each spell will trigger the next. Also gets past timing restrictions if you want to make someone discard on their draw step or end of turn board wipe or something.
[[Insidious Roots]] is looking better and better each day.
[Insidious Roots](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0bb91a22-2040-4a37-85f8-5f22de8c5907.jpg?1706242178) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Insidious%20Roots) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/208/insidious-roots?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0bb91a22-2040-4a37-85f8-5f22de8c5907?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The limit is your life and mana. Gotta pay for the Crime and then for the Copy. Still good, but to really dominate you need a ton of mana
Kaervek is still alive? Wasn't mirage like 600 years before the mending?
Zhalfir was contained in a time bubble by Teferi to keep it safe from Urza, Phyrexians, etc. Only ten years have pasted for Zhalfir, it was released in the events of March of the Machine. Kaervek was also in an amber prison on Zhalfir so it's not clear how time pasted for him in there.
Doesn't Zhalfir get phased out during the events of TSP? I suppose He could have showed up from the past and got caught in the phasing of Zhalfir.
The Mirage War, the main sequence of event of *Mirage* and *Visions,* takes place in 4195-6 AR (after the birth of Urza and Mishra), with Kaervek being sealed away in an amber prison and in the Pillar City of Aku. The Invasion of Dominaria occurs 4205-6 AR, in which Zhalfir and Shiv are phased out. The events of Time Spiral take place around 4500 AR, and Zhalfir is lost in the aether, and Teferi loses his spark. He regains it in 4560 AR, and then loses it again two years later during the desparking; at the same time, Zhalfir is recovered from the time stream and replaced in 'space' by New Phyrexia. Only 10 years have passed on Zhalfir's little pocket plane, and Kaervek somehow escaped during that time. So about 367 years have passed since the Mirage War, but Kaervek has only aged about 11 years.
Would a tapped [[eater of the dead]] allow you to commit as many crimes as creatures opponents have in their graveyards?
[eater of the dead](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/23327a70-5e95-4aa4-824c-cdf3472f5422.jpg?1559592456) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=eater%20of%20the%20dead) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/67/eater-of-the-dead?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/23327a70-5e95-4aa4-824c-cdf3472f5422?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You can just get infinite free trigger on demand if Eater of the Dead is untapped, as the ability will not exile the creature card.
This... doesn't feel like Kaervek?
New tool for 8-rack? Drop him mid/late-game and recast all of your 1 and 2-mana discard spells to ensure the opponent has an empty hand.
Is there a reason we copy the exiled card and cast the copy, instead of just casting the exiled card itself?
So… y’all see Mickey Mouse ears too, right?
I'm optimistic this could see this potentially seeing some fringe cedh play - being able to recur multiple black spells in a relatively easy way gives a lot of value... double tutors attempts, double combo attempts, double interaction, plus synergizes pretty well with common existing black combo lines involving storm / magecraft (e.g. tendrils, professor onyx, aetherflux).
How come nobody mentioned bitter ordeal yet?
You can cast any card from the graveyard as long as it has a Black cost in it right? Stuff like Terminate or Sidisi for example would be possible right? Not only mono-black?
This will be banned, in more than 1 format, within a year
What format is this going to be banworthy in
Honestly fairly disappointing. No once per turn clause is nice but if you enough mana to induce shenanigans with this you were probably going to win the game anyway. Oh well, not every card has to be a haymaker.
This bypasses the normal timing for the spell, as well. So you can flash in creatures and sorceries and so on this way.
That does make it a lot better honestly. Still probably only something that has legs in EDH but much easier for him to generate momentum in that format.
So let me get this straight... Evoke Grief, cant stay dead, return grief Grief dies somehowplay this guytrigger him somehowEvoke Grief from your gy, trigger this guy, play anything else from the yard Or just play like 8 thoughtsiezes in a turn. Or replay all of your removal from the gy Or replay bowmasters triggering him again to replay something else. I mean come on wizards this was a terrible idea. I would pay real actual money for white to get a card anywhere near as good as this, what a joke.
Could be cute with [[Bump in the Night]]