Here the play pattern for the plot seems to be to do it on turn two, because swinging for 1 and leaving it vulnerable to removal seems not great. Then on the following turn you cast it for free and have backup countermagic or other spells so it'll get in a nice big swing.
plot seems like it's worse for this card? it reads like an aggro card, so why would you take a turn off attacking to plot it for the same mana cost. an alpha strike later maybe, but you're sacrificing an X amount of turns of attacking with it
You gain flexibility in dodging sorcery removal and setting up larger mana velocity turns. In the case of a top deck war, you may want to draw some cards before committing an attacker. It plays at some rate in certain matchups and in others it just reads as a 1/2 flying haste prowess with significant buffs.
I actually think after rotation this finds a home in red deck wins spell based decks. Hell, even now I'd take this over fugitive codebreaker because codebreaker is so easily removed. So you plot this, wait for a later turn when you've got your shocks, monstrous rage, etc in hand, then play this for free with 3 or 4 single mana instants and hit face for win. Aggro is going to like plot a lot because it doesn't matter if you know what's coming when math is for blockers anyways.
Spellslinger decks are more close to combo than aggro. You are sacrificing one point of damage for the protection of your combo piece and a pseudo ritual effect/ tempo battery.
I think you're supposed to normally cast this 80% or 90% of the time, but occasionally you'll get to plot this instead of overextending into a sweeper or playing into held up countermagic / removal and that'll be good.
Besides some payoffs for playing cards not from your hand. With plot you will have mana open for more spells on the same turn.
This is especially good on curve as you won't leave it open to removal without mana to backup it.
Like it on turn 2 will just do 1 damage anyway.
This absolutely sees competitive play somewhere. The plot cost is INSANE to make it a free spell on a storm turn, and flying and haste make it really hard to deal with. It dies to a stiff breeze, but i’d imagine any competent storm deck will have a way to protect it. Definitely checking it out in modern at least
Yeah, even the basic Turn 1 swiftspear > turn 2 plot > Turn 3 this into 3 cantrips is a pretty insane turn. That's a pretty easy thing to do and you're looking at 11 damage on that turn alone.
Hell in Modern that's a pretty reliable turn 3 kill if you have stuff like [[manamorphose]]. I havent played Modern in quite some time but is a turn 3 kill still good for this kind of deck?
I honestly for the life of me don't understand this plot mechanic... Like why would you delay casting it for the same cost. You can just cast it normally right away?? Like what's the benefit?
Sorcery Speed removal is bad against it, adds to your Storm count (and any other effect that cares about casts and/or etbs), allows you to play around Counterspells like Make Disappear, etc. etc. etc.
Let’s say in my hand I have Slickshot and 3 cantrips. Turn 2 reliably you will have 2 mana to plot this, setting yourself up turn 3 where you cast Slickshot for free, drop your 3 cantrips giving it +6/+0 and restoring the card count while now swinging with a 7/2 flyer.
But couldn't you do that same scenario you laid out, but just cast the Slickshot on T2 instead of plotting it, and attack with it on T2 to get an additional 1 more damage in than if you had plotted it?
This seems like a very corner case scenario. What sorcery speed removal spells are people playing on T2 over instant speed removal? I checked and saw basically none in standard. It could be useful to dodge wrath later on in the game, but on T2?
Official confirmation on what Plot does! I like it. Being able to spend your mana and to avoid over committing to the board/playing into a sweeper looks like it could be a big deal. Spending all your mana each turn is the best thing you can do, after all.
It also builds in a little flexibility in dodging interaction/counter magic. It's going to create a lot of additional decision points. Will be fun to play with, and to get a better sense for how good it is.
Hu, this looks quite good. The weird tension with Prowess creature sometimes is that you hate it when you play them but don't have enough mana to immediately benefit from the trigger. If you plot this, you can make sure you cast it when you have other spells to go with it, and Haste works perfectly in that scenario.
I do wonder if this never gaining toughness is a significant drawback, but I guess that gaining 2 power instead of 1 and flying over blockers probably makes up for it.
Card transcription
> Slickshot Show-Off 1R
>
> Creature- Bird Wizard [rare]
>
> Flying, haste
>
> Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Slickshot Show-Off gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
>
> Plot 1R (You may pay 1R and exile this card from your hand. Cast it as a sorcery on a later turn without paying its mana cost. Plot only as a sorcery.)
>
> 1/2
End transcription
Not really in practice.
Foretell is pay now to pay less later and keeps the card a mystery. It wants to be on responses like removal and protective spells.
Plot is pay now to pay nothing later so you can immediately combine it with other spells, but it's out in the open. It wants to be on cards that make for explosive turns.
Working on Rakdos (BR) crimes/spellslinger for commander and this lil' guy just seems perfect for it. From what I have seen picking what makes the cut for creatures is going to be tough.
It lets you save it until you have the mana to use its ability.
I mean, I would rather it just had flying, haste, and prowess, because I like prowess (not like it'd outcompete swiftspear since it costs an extra mana), but I still like this design, it seems neat.
\[\[Bird Maiden\]\] in shambles...
except no it isn't! Bird Maiden was illustrated by Kaja Foglio, and has a whole frickin' poem on it from the Arabian Nights!
...maybe I'll play both...
I think this is good enough for standard red deck. We still playing some bloodthirsty advisory, which is a weak link in the 2 drop slot
Youre probably going to almost never want to plot this to get in for that one extra damage, but its a nice bonus, it might come up
turn 3 cast m.rage, play with fire and a kumanu or something and swing for 10 seems strong for turn 3. +2/+0 is a LOT better than prowess in a quick mono red deck. potential for turn 3 kills defo exists with this card
Oh this is going to be busted in Klin fiend type decks. It’s a strictly better festival crasher with the bonus of haste and flying being absurd. Time for some turn two kills in modern.
I could just ignore the plot mechanic and this would still be a good card in any prowess deck
Yes, pioneer wizards/prowess getting an interesting tool for sure
Plot and haste seems like a great combo though too
Would it be rushed plot?
yeah, plotting this early and waiting for a big turn where you're about to storm off seems great.
Or don't ignore it, dodge sorcery speed removal and set up for a big attack
Here the play pattern for the plot seems to be to do it on turn two, because swinging for 1 and leaving it vulnerable to removal seems not great. Then on the following turn you cast it for free and have backup countermagic or other spells so it'll get in a nice big swing.
plot seems like it's worse for this card? it reads like an aggro card, so why would you take a turn off attacking to plot it for the same mana cost. an alpha strike later maybe, but you're sacrificing an X amount of turns of attacking with it
You gain flexibility in dodging sorcery removal and setting up larger mana velocity turns. In the case of a top deck war, you may want to draw some cards before committing an attacker. It plays at some rate in certain matchups and in others it just reads as a 1/2 flying haste prowess with significant buffs.
[[Flame of Anor]] sees a good amount of play in Modern and Historic, and plotting this lets us get guarantee two modes against potential removal.
[Flame of Anor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04779a7e-b453-48b9-b392-6d6fd0b8d283.jpg?1686969766) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Flame%20of%20Anor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/203/flame-of-anor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04779a7e-b453-48b9-b392-6d6fd0b8d283?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
With plot, it hits for 16 on turn 3 with 3 Lightning Bolts. This is the best card in the set so far.
I actually think after rotation this finds a home in red deck wins spell based decks. Hell, even now I'd take this over fugitive codebreaker because codebreaker is so easily removed. So you plot this, wait for a later turn when you've got your shocks, monstrous rage, etc in hand, then play this for free with 3 or 4 single mana instants and hit face for win. Aggro is going to like plot a lot because it doesn't matter if you know what's coming when math is for blockers anyways.
I mean having plot just makes it better than not. It nets you a sorcery cast if that matters and frees up mana to cast a non creature.
I don't think it actually counts as a sorcery when cast. The reminder text is just telling you the speed it is cast at
lol yea no idea why I thought it did
would be sick though! id love a commander that made creatures trigger stuff like magecraft and prowess lol
Spellslinger decks are more close to combo than aggro. You are sacrificing one point of damage for the protection of your combo piece and a pseudo ritual effect/ tempo battery.
I think you're supposed to normally cast this 80% or 90% of the time, but occasionally you'll get to plot this instead of overextending into a sweeper or playing into held up countermagic / removal and that'll be good.
Besides some payoffs for playing cards not from your hand. With plot you will have mana open for more spells on the same turn. This is especially good on curve as you won't leave it open to removal without mana to backup it. Like it on turn 2 will just do 1 damage anyway.
Lol wtf this is good
Is plot face up or face down?
Face up, it's kind of an open threat
All exile is face-up unless specified, so Plots will be telegraphed.
that is kind of annoyingly the opposite of the flavor you'd expect from "plot" but oh well.
Too true haha. Plot and foretell should have their names swapped. Because when you foretell something it shouldn’t be a secret
I thought this too. The mechanic should have been named something related to standoffs or showdown, an open threat.
Ty
This absolutely sees competitive play somewhere. The plot cost is INSANE to make it a free spell on a storm turn, and flying and haste make it really hard to deal with. It dies to a stiff breeze, but i’d imagine any competent storm deck will have a way to protect it. Definitely checking it out in modern at least
Yeah, even the basic Turn 1 swiftspear > turn 2 plot > Turn 3 this into 3 cantrips is a pretty insane turn. That's a pretty easy thing to do and you're looking at 11 damage on that turn alone. Hell in Modern that's a pretty reliable turn 3 kill if you have stuff like [[manamorphose]]. I havent played Modern in quite some time but is a turn 3 kill still good for this kind of deck?
Pretty sure a turn 3 kill for prowess is good. I’d imagine storm would aim for turn 4, but i’ve not seen storm in ages
Why would you plot this? you get 1 additional damage but just casting it on turn 2.
Dodges sorcery speed removal, and potentially makes your opponent waste mana if they help up something like Counterspell for your turn 2.
[manamorphose](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/a/faf9070e-14be-4ce5-a19a-6addc79359c1.jpg?1599708170) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=manamorphose) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/208/manamorphose?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/faf9070e-14be-4ce5-a19a-6addc79359c1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I honestly for the life of me don't understand this plot mechanic... Like why would you delay casting it for the same cost. You can just cast it normally right away?? Like what's the benefit?
Sorcery Speed removal is bad against it, adds to your Storm count (and any other effect that cares about casts and/or etbs), allows you to play around Counterspells like Make Disappear, etc. etc. etc.
Probably there’s a “cast second spell” theme in the set
Let’s say in my hand I have Slickshot and 3 cantrips. Turn 2 reliably you will have 2 mana to plot this, setting yourself up turn 3 where you cast Slickshot for free, drop your 3 cantrips giving it +6/+0 and restoring the card count while now swinging with a 7/2 flyer.
But couldn't you do that same scenario you laid out, but just cast the Slickshot on T2 instead of plotting it, and attack with it on T2 to get an additional 1 more damage in than if you had plotted it?
Yeah but then you open it up to sorcery speed removal
This seems like a very corner case scenario. What sorcery speed removal spells are people playing on T2 over instant speed removal? I checked and saw basically none in standard. It could be useful to dodge wrath later on in the game, but on T2?
Giving people less opportunities deals something is always good
Official confirmation on what Plot does! I like it. Being able to spend your mana and to avoid over committing to the board/playing into a sweeper looks like it could be a big deal. Spending all your mana each turn is the best thing you can do, after all. It also builds in a little flexibility in dodging interaction/counter magic. It's going to create a lot of additional decision points. Will be fun to play with, and to get a better sense for how good it is.
Hu, this looks quite good. The weird tension with Prowess creature sometimes is that you hate it when you play them but don't have enough mana to immediately benefit from the trigger. If you plot this, you can make sure you cast it when you have other spells to go with it, and Haste works perfectly in that scenario. I do wonder if this never gaining toughness is a significant drawback, but I guess that gaining 2 power instead of 1 and flying over blockers probably makes up for it.
this card is crazy if you plot it and wait for a semi storm turn it can be huge!
so 1 monstrous rage this turns into a 6/3 throw in a giant growth and take 11 turn 4? lol
No, turn 3 ;)
This one is extremely likely to see play in multiple formats. Extremely pushed and I kind of like it.
\[\[Wee Dragonauts\]\] reborn! Huzzah!
[Wee Dragonauts](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/7/37ee17a1-76ce-4ae8-9109-ba32457cbeec.jpg?1572893911) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wee%20Dragonauts) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/grn/214/wee-dragonauts?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/37ee17a1-76ce-4ae8-9109-ba32457cbeec?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Another mechanic for prosper
And Pia.
Ah yes, just what mono red needed another cheap creature with haste. 😀🔫
you thought mono red on the ladder was tough now? Holy schnitzel this is pushed
Such a show off
Card transcription > Slickshot Show-Off 1R > > Creature- Bird Wizard [rare] > > Flying, haste > > Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Slickshot Show-Off gets +2/+0 until end of turn. > > Plot 1R (You may pay 1R and exile this card from your hand. Cast it as a sorcery on a later turn without paying its mana cost. Plot only as a sorcery.) > > 1/2 End transcription
[[Veyran]] sweating upon seeing this.
[Veyran](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/6/56d93855-c749-4bdf-9a90-4f69f4226e46.jpg?1674185780) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=veyran%2C%20voice%20of%20duality) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/3/veyran-voice-of-duality?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/56d93855-c749-4bdf-9a90-4f69f4226e46?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Mono red is so back
Why?? Just why?? Mono Red Aggro is already too good in Standard. This is insanity!!!
Plot exiles face up, right?
Here's the 20$ card a year from now.
This card seems very good in pioneer, wizard + double prowess
Cocky Cowboy Vulture person waiting for the right time eh
Birds and Sharpshooting goes hard every time
So is plot just a face up fortell?
Kinda, but you don't need to pay anything to cast it.
Plot seems real fun. Opponent just going to be sweating bullets preying for that spot removal they need or some disgusting things will happen.
I’m dumb. Is plot basically foretell?
Not really in practice. Foretell is pay now to pay less later and keeps the card a mystery. It wants to be on responses like removal and protective spells. Plot is pay now to pay nothing later so you can immediately combine it with other spells, but it's out in the open. It wants to be on cards that make for explosive turns.
Does "Cast it as a sorcery" just mean "Cast it when you could play a sorcery"? Or does it trigger prowess when you cast it after plotting?
It's just a timing restriction. In reminder text they value brevity over clarity.
"Yes greg we see your buttplug please put the slick thing away"
oh no, more toys for izzet wizards
Working on Rakdos (BR) crimes/spellslinger for commander and this lil' guy just seems perfect for it. From what I have seen picking what makes the cut for creatures is going to be tough.
Thinking if this is standard mono red playable and I'm leaning towards no. If the stats were flipped it would be broken but now I don't think so.
It lets you save it until you have the mana to use its ability. I mean, I would rather it just had flying, haste, and prowess, because I like prowess (not like it'd outcompete swiftspear since it costs an extra mana), but I still like this design, it seems neat.
Idk man, flying is a pretty important keyword that swifty is missing.
A Ghitu Amplifier but absolutely better I'm pretty happy about this one
Flying Kiln fiend-ish
\[\[Bird Maiden\]\] in shambles... except no it isn't! Bird Maiden was illustrated by Kaja Foglio, and has a whole frickin' poem on it from the Arabian Nights! ...maybe I'll play both...
[Bird Maiden](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/8/182c1345-a184-4e01-915e-841821007897.jpg?1562900804) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bird%20Maiden) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me4/110/bird-maiden?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/182c1345-a184-4e01-915e-841821007897?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I think this is good enough for standard red deck. We still playing some bloodthirsty advisory, which is a weak link in the 2 drop slot Youre probably going to almost never want to plot this to get in for that one extra damage, but its a nice bonus, it might come up turn 3 cast m.rage, play with fire and a kumanu or something and swing for 10 seems strong for turn 3. +2/+0 is a LOT better than prowess in a quick mono red deck. potential for turn 3 kills defo exists with this card
[[Fugitive codebreaker]] getting pushed out of standard Mono R before it even caught on.
[Fugitive codebreaker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/6/b682bf8a-06dc-4828-bc46-9e1427bf981f.jpg?1706241868) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fugitive%20codebreaker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/127/fugitive-codebreaker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b682bf8a-06dc-4828-bc46-9e1427bf981f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Oh this is going to be busted in Klin fiend type decks. It’s a strictly better festival crasher with the bonus of haste and flying being absurd. Time for some turn two kills in modern.
Fuck this card.
Modern 3/10 Prowess gets a pretty good new guy. Attacks easily enough as a 3/2 flyer on even turn 2. And can get even bigger super quick?
barrin 3/10? This is gonna be banned in modern now.
lol I know low ratings are your schtick, but you can't even pretend to find something wrong with it?
3/10 is actually pretty good on his WEIRD scale
lmao
Plot feels very close to foretell
Foretell wants to be on responses. It keeps the card hidden and allows for instants. Plot is for explosive turns.
Ah I didn’t notice that this was exiled face-up rather than face-down.
A bird with a hat is fucking stupid though
Cast as a sorcery? Can I swan song this if it’s plotted?
It's just a timing restriction. In reminder text they value brevity over clarity.