One of the most effective components about being a Magic participant is getting concerned within the discussions round new playing cards. Tower Winder is the form of card MTG preview seasons have been made for, producing extra buzz than the vast majority of playing cards from even the principle set. It could be a 1/1 Snake on the floor, however look deeper and also you’ll discover a card with the potential to show Commander on its head.
Naturally, that notion has gamers each nervous and excited, leading to some really heated discussions on-line. It goes past simply being a controversial card, nevertheless, to being a form of drawback baby through the design stage too. All in all, Tower Winder has one of the vital fascinating tales in all of Thunder Junction, and as we speak I’m going to take a seat down by the fireplace and inform it. Slip off your snakeskin boots, get comfortable, and pay attention.
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The Card Itself
Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s check out the little critter liable for all this ruckus. Tower Winder is a 1/1 Snake with Reach and Deathtouch for one and a inexperienced. Solid stats, strong begin. The juice right here lies within the Winder’s enters the battlefield set off, nevertheless.
When Tower Winder enters play, it helps you to search your library and/or graveyard for Command Tower and add it to your hand. We’ve seen results that tutor up particular playing cards previously, they usually are typically on the weaker aspect. Think Bogbrew Witch or Grand Master of Flowers, for instance.
Tower Winder is a distinct kettle of snakes totally. Past tutors like this have put taste over operate, grabbing playing cards that match thematically however weren’t actually playable. Command Tower, alternatively, is likely one of the most-played playing cards in Commander. According to EDHRec, it’s really performed in round 73% of all decks within the format.
This is a staggering determine, however not a stunning one. After all, the cardboard affords good mana fixing in any deck with two or extra colours, which is a lot of the format. Being in a position to seize it at will with Tower Winder, then, is a wonderful deal. To say nothing of the worth having a 1/1 Deathtouch as a deterrent can present.
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The Design Debate
Although they’re nice for gamers, auto-include playing cards are one thing Magic’s designers attempt to keep away from. contemplating Tower Winder grabs one of many most-played playing cards in Commander, there’s a really actual likelihood that the cardboard finally ends up falling into that class. For this motive, the cardboard was the topic of a lot spirited debate all through its design course of.
In a recent episode of Good Morning Magic, Principal Designer Gavin Verhey went over some design tales in regards to the playing cards within the Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander decks. Tower Winder, unsurprisingly, received one in all its very personal.
“This is one of the most hotly-debated cards, not only internally but also externally it seems, in the whole product.” Said Verhey discussing Tower Winder. “There was so much discussion around this card. Is this an appropriate card to print? Is this going to show up in every Commander deck? Will nobody want to put this in their decks?”
According to Verhey, a number of iterations of the cardboard, together with a one-mana model and one the place you needed to sacrifice the Winder a la Sakura-Tribe Elder have been thought of earlier than the crew landed on the ultimate design we see as we speak.
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Commander Controversy
At the tip of his Tower Winder MTG story, Gavin Verhey famous that “In the real world right now, people are having the exact same debate that we were having as we were working internally on this card.” This a lot is evident in case you’ve spent any time on Reddit recently, the place discussions on Tower Winder are in every single place.
Some have welcomed their new Snake overlord, noting that they’ll be including it to all of their inexperienced decks sooner or later. Others have taken the alternative stance, likening it to a ‘Garnet’ from Yu-Gi-Oh! That is to say, a card that does little to nothing when drawn out of order with its supposed synergy items. There are complete Youtube movies slamming the cardboard, and full remark threads defending it. It actually is the wild west on the market.
Ultimately, Tower Winder’s polarizing nature is unlikely to persist lengthy after its launch. As Verhey notes in his video, he expects the cardboard to land “Somewhere in the middle” of the discussions which were raging about it to this point. After due consideration, this actually looks like the most probably end result.
It could also be a pleasant consistency booster, particularly for decks with 3+ colours, however that’s so far as it goes. Tower Winder isn’t an MTG card that may finish video games by itself, or allow any form of wacky combo. It’s only a strong little bit of fixing that’s getting a variety of factors for identify dropping an icon like Command Tower.
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The Ripple Effect
It is probably not an issue energy level-wise, however some gamers are wanting past such considerations of their analysis of Tower Winder. As talked about above, auto-includes are a internet detrimental, each for the value factors of playing cards and for the number of decks within the Commander format. The extra playing cards that you just simply ‘have’ to play exist, the much less attention-grabbing the deck building, and recreation enjoying, course of can be.
Cards like Tower Winder have the impact of primarily taking on two slots in your deck. If you play it, it’s a must to play Command Tower as properly. If one other card that particularly synergizes with Command Tower is printed, out of the blue that’s a three-card package deal, not only one auto-include. Chains like this will have a knock-on impact on deck building that quickly shrinks the likelihood house of any given deck.
Tower Winder is an MTG card that’s more likely to be extraordinarily in style in Commander. It received’t hit Command Tower’s 73%, however it has a really actual likelihood of coming shut, which is as thrilling as it’s scary. Once Wizards sees how well-received it’s been, they could get thinking about comparable designs. Other playing cards that tutor iconic playing cards, or work together with them in highly effective methods.
As any Yu-Gi-Oh! fan will let you know, interactions with particular named playing cards generally is a little bit of headache, each for gamers and designers. Tower Winder could also be a enjoyable design, however for the well being of the sport I hope it isn’t an indication of issues to return. Of course, when you have different ideas on the good snake debate, be happy to share them within the feedback under!
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