It's the perfect version of the 'Moat' effect idea: powerful enough and aggressively enough costed (0 drop that goes online turn 2), that it actually can protect you from Zoo and Burn and all the aggro strategies. And, also, not really too broken either- it does cost a healthy bit to keep around, and implies a siege is going on outside your Glacial Fortress. (haha! see what I did there! ^_^ Sac GF to this for the Flava Flaaaav!)- you still lose 2 life a turn, but it's better to sacrifice the lives of your militia than lose your entire city :P
So go ahead and build this Castle in the Ice :) It seems excellently balanced and effective for it's intent, and for some reason the art has me thinking about the Tyrannosaurus Zord from Power Rangers. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
OR DRAGONZORD! :D
Posted By:
DarthParallax
(9/6/2012 5:34:04 PM)
Yeah well this card with zuran orb and crucible of worlds is outrageous.
Posted By:
Oblio
(8/31/2012 12:04:19 PM)
"Yeah well this card with zuran orb and crucible of worlds is outrageous"
@Oblio
The upkeep is cumulative, so each turn it costs more so therefore you would need to sac extra lands each turn to make up the cumulating life cost
Posted By:
Charles_Prefect
(9/22/2012 1:31:31 AM)
People are overcomplicating this. Just use Unstable Frontier. Then you not only don't have to pay the cumulative upkeep cost, but you can also attack as well
Posted By:
JL2736
(6/10/2013 9:44:50 AM)
It's a "Please give me 1 more turn, ok? K Thx Bi"
Although, if you're low on life, you'd only give yourself maybe 2-3 turns to rebound.
That being said, if you built yourself a small army to at least have a fighting chance in EDH, you could stop paying the upkeep and make a last stand.
Either way, the only time you should play it is when you're clearly overwhelmed by your opponents.
Posted By:
Ferlord
(8/31/2012 7:35:19 AM)
Very powerful in EDH, not so much in normal play. When you are loose your creature that was hitting for 16 each tern and you opponent is about to his you for over 20, this can be a life saver while you get another heavy hitter out.
Posted By:
blazestudios23
(11/29/2012 4:46:24 PM)
Pairs well with Ensnaring Bridge.
Remember that Power Conduit exists, and cumulative upkeep is powered by age counters now.
"Pay two life each upkeep. You can't attack. Prevent all damage that would be done to you. Have fun topdecking and casting your burn spells!"
Drop a Pithing Needle naming Wasteland and it's a dead lock against almost every competitive Legacy deck (a little more work and you can even survive Emrakul). It's not quite a tournament-caliber combo yet, but neither was Sneak and Show before Griselbrand got printed.
Posted By:
Salient
(12/22/2012 7:58:27 PM)
pity this doesn't combo with platinum emperion, that would make for hideous lockdown.
Posted By:
Wormfang
(3/16/2013 11:17:48 AM)
One of the better lockouts in Harmful Stranger.
Posted By:
Taudisban
(6/21/2013 1:54:11 PM)
Tinker - Eon Hub - Glacial Chasm. Then sit around with a hand full of counterspells and mill cards and just sit there. Or throw a jace in or something.
Posted By:
bunglefever
(8/1/2013 11:10:11 AM)