I first heard about this card via txt from Mark. He wasn't all to pleased with it, but I think every Planeswalker needs serious evaluation before getting passed off. Let's take a look at the Planeswalkers we have seen so far:
Ajani Goldmane (5)
CMC: 4
Played: Yes, in B/W tokens
+1 rarely used
-1 primary purpose
-6 never used
Ajani Vengeant (6)
CMC: 4
Played: Yes, USA Superfriends
+1 used more to raise loyalty than for ability
-2 used primarily
-7 never used, but only because he never lasts up to 7 loyalty. Used whenever possible
Chandra Ablaze (4)
CMC: 6
Played: No
+1 bad
-2 bad
-7 pretty good, although I have survived it before
Chandra Nalaar (3)
CMC: 5
Played: 1-of in UR Control
+1 used primarily to increase loyalty
-X primary use
-8 used whenever possible, although that doesn't happen often
Elspeth Tirel (14)
CMC: 5
Played: 1-of in UW Control
+2 only used to up loyalty
-2 primary use
-5 rarely used
Elspeth, Knight-Errant (20)
CMC: 4
Played: Yes, UW Control
+1 used heavily
+1 used heavily
-8 used whenever possible, although opponent is often by then
Garruk Wildspeaker (7.50)
CMC: 4
Used: Yes, RUG, Elves
+1 used heavily
-1 used heavily
-4 used heavily
Gideon Jura (20)
CMC: 5
Used: Yes, UW Control
+2 used heavily
-2 used heavily
0 used heavily
Jace Beleran (8.50)
CMC: 3
Used: Yes, U/x Control, Faeries, Pyro Ascension
+2 only used to up loyalty
-1 primary use
-10 never used
Jace the Mind Sculptor (96)
CMC: 4
Used: Yes, U/x Control, Faeries, G-Wave
+2 used heavily
0 used heavily
-1 used frequently
-12 used heavily
Koth of the Hammer (25.50)
CMC: 4
Used: Yes, Red Deck, Valakut
+1 used heavily
-2 used rarely, doesn't fit with red deck plan
-5 primary use
Liliana Vess (4.50)
CMC: 5
Used: No
+1 used to up loyalty
-2 primary use
-8 I only use this in multi-player
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker (15)
CMC: 8
Used: No
+3 Primary Use
-2 Used to close out games
-9 Used whenever possible
Nissa Revane (9.50)
CMC: 4
Used: Yes, Elves, Eldrazi Green
+1 primary use
+1 used only when all Chosen are in play
-7 used whenever possible
Sarkhan the Mad (7)
CMC: 5
Used: No
0 used sparingly
-2 primary use
-4 used to close out games
Sarkhan Vol (8.50)
CMC: 4
Used: No
+1 primary use
-2 used to close out games
-6 used whenever possible
Sorin Markov (12.50)
CMC: 6
Used: I don't think so, but I heard he is now played in UB control and Vampires...
+2 primary use
-3 almost never used
-7 used whenever possible
Tezzeret the Seeker (8)
CMC: 5
Used: Yes, Vintage, Runeflare Trap
+1 used sparingly
-X primary use
-5 never used
Venser, the Sojourner (17)
CMC: 5
Used: Yes, UW Control
+2 used to up loyalty
-1 never used
-8 primary use
I will bet you didn't even read it, and even if you did, you are probably wondering why I just went through all that work. The reason is this: Planeswalkers offer you a toolbox of options that you can use for free every turn. Some options are better than others, and depending on loyalty some may not even exist. There are 2 things I want to draw your attention to on each of the planeswalkers: converted mana cost (CMC for those not in the know) and the number of abilities that are actually used. Then compare these to their price. "Used whenever possible" only appears on ultimate abilities and applies to powerful abilities that are used if possible, but are not the primary function of the planeswalker.
Notice how the cards that offer more abilties that are used heavily (with the best examples being Jace TMS, Garruk, and Gideon Jura) are the ones that are more $$$ expensive. I believe Garruk used to be twice as expensive as he is now, but reprints have pulled down his price. While you can't make a graph and have perfect results to show the relationship between price (which theoretically reflects power) and useful abilities/CMC, you can defenitely see a connection. So from this overanalyzed POV, what do I think of this new Tez? He is awesome!
First, the easy measuring stick: He costs 2UB for a CMC of 4. Lower CMC = better planeswalker. Do you think Jace TMS would be as good is it cost 3UU? But now we have to get into the nitty gritty; are his abilities good?
+1 Look at the top 5 cards of your library. Put an artifact card from them into your hand, rest on the bottom of your library.
Let's start here. I think this is the sole reason to play this Tezzeret. Card draw is always an incredibly powerful tool, as whoever has more and better options typically wins. Not only is this card draw, but it also offers card selection. We can choose what we do and do not draw. 4 lands and an Everflowing Chalice? Probably not what you want to see late game as your top 5, but you can grab the chalice and ship the lands away. Just like with the previous Tez, this guy wants lots of artifacts in your deck. What are some good artifacts?
Finisher - Wurmcoil Engine, Steel Hellkite, Myr Battlesphere, Mindslaver, Molten-Tail Masticore
Removal - Ratchet Bomb, Lux Cannon, Brittle Effigy, Phyrexian Revoker, Tumble Magnet
Mana - Everflowing Chalice, Mox Opal
Powerful Stuff - Eldrazi Monument, Lodestone Golem, Mimic Vat
This is the Phyrexian Revoker. You can find a great review of it here
This is a fantastic toolbox of options! With Tez in play, you can fetch whatever card you may need. Fast! After playing with Lim-Dul's Vault, I can tell you that checking out 5 cards at a time is INCREDIBLY fast. Oh, did I mention that when you have Jace TMS in play you can draw 5 cards a turn? Draw for turn, Brainstorm with Jace, then +1 Tez to look 3 cards deeper than the 2 you put back from the Brainstorm, get an artifact card into your hand, and then get rid of the cards you don't want from your Brainstorm so you draw all fresh cards next turn!
-1 Target Artifact becomes a 5/5 artifact creature
First thing I want to point out about this card is that it makes it a 5/5 permanently. I don't think this ability will get played at a professional level, but this is an insanely complex ability! "No, it just makes an artifact a dude in addition to being an artifact, what's tough about that?" Let me add another card to the equation: Liquidmetal Coating. Now things can get seriously stupid. I already talked about using Liquidmetal Coating + Shatter to destroy anything you want, but now we have more diverse options. If you don't have Shatter, you can Doom Blade or Turn to Slag it (you can animate your opponent's artifacts). Also, you can make your lands or any permanents into creatures, you can even have Tezzeret turn himself into a creature! Imagine your opponent feeling all cool because they have man lands and Gideon and Chimeric Mass all able to survive through your Day of Judgements. Then you slap them with the Tez + Liquidmetal combo and blow up everything with DoJ! With that being said, I think this is Tezzeret's worst ability which will see the least amount of use.
-4 Target player loses X life and you gain X life where X is twice the number of artifacts you control
I really really like this ability! I feel this can be a complete blowout, and a Mark mentioned, it's an instant win with Sanguine Bond in play if you have 5 artifacts in play. That is a lot of ifs, but I can definitely see myself dealing 6 or 8 damage to my opponent with this card in the near future. Obviously it was designed this way, but I like how it synergises with his +1 ability. You can fetch a ton of artifacts, then blast your opponent's face with them. Just imagine yourself dropping Myr Battlesphere and then draining your opponent for 10 or more!
So that is me letting my spike pour out, let's go hang out with Johnny for a bit. Hello Blightsteel Colossus!
11 power, trample, AND infect!!!!?!?!?!?! This guy is INSANE!!!!! Costs 12 mana.... Well hey, Eldrazi cost an insane amount too, but that never stopped anyone before! Let me say this right now, this guy is going to see play from the say he is printed in Vintage. Turn 1: Black Lotus, Mox, Tinker Mox into Blightsteel Colossus, GG (this is why I don't like Vintage). If this guy attacks once you win. How crazy is that!?!?! He kinda feels like Emrakul in terms of how he ends games by himself. Yeah, I went there.
In my legacy deck, I play a single Show and Tell in case my ideal reanimation target is in my hand. However, this guy can't be reanimated, so it has to be dropped into play with the Show and Tell. This obviously requires a very different deck, which I feel would be UG, splashing green for Worldly Tutor. In terms of standard, there is really no way to cheat guys into play, or else we would still be staring down Emrakuls. Maybe we can make a ramp deck with Everflowing Chalice + Proliferate? Maybe we can go GW, using the white for Wall of Omens and Priests of Norn to buy some time and maybe even get a counter or 2 on the opponent to proliferate with. In extended, we could GW Trap into it, but the deck isn't losing because it lacks good targets. Here is a GW Standard list I just came up with on the spot:
4x Wall of Omens
4x Priests of Norn
3x Blightsteel Colossus
4x Explore
4x Cultivate
3x Summoning Trap
3x Day of Judgement
2x Khalni Heart Expedition
4x Everflowing Chalice
2x Contagion Clasp
4x Razorverge Thicket
4x Stirring Wildwood
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Tectonic Edge
9x Forest
2x Plains
Basically you use walls to buy time while you mana ramp with Chalice, Explore, Cultivate, and Khalni Heart Expedition. When needed you can Day of Judgement to reduce pressure. If you ever get the chance, you can try your luck with Summoning Trap to ultimately get the big boy on the table and kill in one swing! The 2 plains are there in case you for some reason never draw 1 of your 12 duals and you have Day of Judgement needing to go off. You can Cultivate or Expedition for 2 plains and get there.
That is all for today, until next time, stay classy!
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