This looks like a really good and fun card. The fact that it goes face might make a big difference sometimes. It will be hard to set this up for a massive blast (someone mentioned Kirin Tor Tricaster above) and even harder to make it stick for a turn, but solid value nonetheless.
I honestly love this card. I want more sustain to be available for mage specifically but with healing so scarce right now I am open to having it for any class.
Nice, I generally play midrange/control decks so and this seems like a good way to stay alive in the mid game. Also, shaman has better spells for this card than druid.
Let's be honest, how often has mage run spell damage minions or effects? Judged on its own, its basically a Dragonmaw Scorcher plus, and that's what it will be 90% of the time. With only 6 health, it will die the following turn and if it doesn't, you're likely in a commanding position to win anyway.
You might run this along with Bloodmage Thalnos and little else for a sometimes swingy play on 7, but otherwise its not really anyway impressive. There have been decks in the past running synergistic spell damage cards like Ethereal Augmerchant and Arcane Watcher, and mage has access to the very strong Azure Explorer, but in most cases, it has never worked out. For this card to maybe work, it must itself have spell damage, maybe +1, but unfortunately, it doesn't.
Very strong card, but playable perhaps only in control shaman. Druid more often than not have better options at their disposal, whether its Hidden Oasis in quest druid, or as simple as Crystal Power in all others.
And its candidacy in shaman decks is challenged first by the condition to run plenty of 5 mana spells, and competition from cards like Witch's Brew and Walking Fountain, the latter which is an extremely strong 8 drop that no control shaman will be happy to not include. But even if you dont get the healing off, its still a decent yeti with taunt, and that might just be enough for it to see plenty of play.
Ras Frostwhisper is unfortunately a little too expensive for an effect that will usually not kill anything. Its comparable to Dragonmaw Scorcher, but better, tied to a condition that mage unfortunately never runs or considers: spell damage. Whether he will ever find a home will depend heavily on the meta, since more often than not he will only be doing 1 damage of AoE. And the snowbally nature of this card is limited by the fact that he will almost never live to see the next turn. If he does, you're likely to be winning anyway.
But hey, maybe you can discover stuff like Kirin Tor Tricaster for a flamestrike effect or rely entirely on Azure Explorer to somehow just enough reason to justify its existence.
Groundskeeper is basically a shaman card. The healing is small but not insignificant, but druid has plenty of healing cards and unless heal druid comes back this card doesn't really do anything fitting to druid's usual antics of big minions. To shaman however, its very nearly the perfect defensive card in standard, with only a small condition, which is to run more than the usual bevy of expensive spells, a little trickier than it seems. A very strong inclusion into control style decks, but faces some stiff competition in Witch's Brew and Walking Fountain.
Imho I think Spellbreaker is better, because you silence something and have a 4/3 on board. On the other hand, Magehunter will not survive the hit, you can silence, but no minion still on board
Turn 1 with Lightning Blooms if you're lucky enough to get all four cards in your opening hand. You'll see this in a Trolden video eventually, mark my words.
Should probably be easy enough to complete the condition in Shaman, and from what everyone’s saying Druid should do it easily too (I don’t play much Druid at all so I wouldn’t know), so it should be pretty easy to do. Looks pretty decent overall, especially with the taunt. That’ll do a lot for making it more playable
I'm really loving the druid/shaman dual class border. Ras's art reminds me of Unalaq from Legend of Korra.
As for the cards, they both seem pretty strong, and I can see them being used in standard. Wild is a bit questionable though, I don't think they will slot into any current decks.
Both classes have a dragon that gives +2 spell damage, and shaman of course has the totem, so it’s not that difficult to get spell damage for this thing. Kind of weird that it goes face though
The problem is not - how are we gonna meet the condition and get the sweet heal. The problem is - are we gonna have a free slot to include this one? I think if not now, then by the time next rotation hits this will find a place in some deck for sure.
I like it. 6 health is sticky enough and if you combine it with spell dmg, it can provide board clears for ages or until it's dealt with. And both classes has access to enough +spell dmg to make this one a scary threat.
New Mage & Shaman Minion - Ras Frostwhisper
This looks like a really good and fun card. The fact that it goes face might make a big difference sometimes. It will be hard to set this up for a massive blast (someone mentioned Kirin Tor Tricaster above) and even harder to make it stick for a turn, but solid value nonetheless.
Lorekeeper Polkelt
That is a really new mechanic, love when Team 5 innovates in different ways
Comic-Con@Home 2020 - MTG Zendikar Rising Sneak Peek (Art Showcase, New Set Boosters, & More)
Updated with a full recap!
Benchmark Spell Effects
Bookmarked. This is great, thanks a lot for the work you put in there!
Lorekeeper Polkelt
Is a sort algorithm. Usually used among software development. Maybe they put the source code of the mechanic of this card.
Zephrys: the great fails
I set up 6 minions. I played him with 5 mana left. I'm at full health. What in Yogg's name do I have to do for a Bloodlust?!
New Mage & Shaman Minion - Ras Frostwhisper
Really good, even if you don't invest in spell power it seems like a solid threat on the board.
Groundskeeper
I honestly love this card. I want more sustain to be available for mage specifically but with healing so scarce right now I am open to having it for any class.
New Druid & Shaman Minion - Groundskeeper
Nice, I generally play midrange/control decks so and this seems like a good way to stay alive in the mid game.
Also, shaman has better spells for this card than druid.
New Neutral Minion - Vectus
Thought the same, also this is neutral so it can be played outside priest.
New Mage & Shaman Minion - Ras Frostwhisper
Let's be honest, how often has mage run spell damage minions or effects? Judged on its own, its basically a Dragonmaw Scorcher plus, and that's what it will be 90% of the time. With only 6 health, it will die the following turn and if it doesn't, you're likely in a commanding position to win anyway.
You might run this along with Bloodmage Thalnos and little else for a sometimes swingy play on 7, but otherwise its not really anyway impressive. There have been decks in the past running synergistic spell damage cards like Ethereal Augmerchant and Arcane Watcher, and mage has access to the very strong Azure Explorer, but in most cases, it has never worked out. For this card to maybe work, it must itself have spell damage, maybe +1, but unfortunately, it doesn't.
Vectus
Can be used on a mid range hunter. The whelps with some Leper Gnome or Kobold Sandtrooper to more face damage
New Druid & Shaman Minion - Groundskeeper
Very strong card, but playable perhaps only in control shaman. Druid more often than not have better options at their disposal, whether its Hidden Oasis in quest druid, or as simple as Crystal Power in all others.
And its candidacy in shaman decks is challenged first by the condition to run plenty of 5 mana spells, and competition from cards like Witch's Brew and Walking Fountain, the latter which is an extremely strong 8 drop that no control shaman will be happy to not include. But even if you dont get the healing off, its still a decent yeti with taunt, and that might just be enough for it to see plenty of play.
Secret Passage
Plot twist sister for Rogue. For aggro can be a nightmare, draw 5 cards, summon any possible minion then recover the previous hand. Nice draw engine
Runeterra Spirit Blossom Festival Quests
Thx. None of the rewards interest me unfortunately.
Two New Scholomance Academy Cards Revealed - Ras Frostwhisper & Groundskeeper
Ras Frostwhisper is unfortunately a little too expensive for an effect that will usually not kill anything. Its comparable to Dragonmaw Scorcher, but better, tied to a condition that mage unfortunately never runs or considers: spell damage. Whether he will ever find a home will depend heavily on the meta, since more often than not he will only be doing 1 damage of AoE. And the snowbally nature of this card is limited by the fact that he will almost never live to see the next turn. If he does, you're likely to be winning anyway.
But hey, maybe you can discover stuff like Kirin Tor Tricaster for a flamestrike effect or rely entirely on Azure Explorer to somehow just enough reason to justify its existence.
Groundskeeper is basically a shaman card. The healing is small but not insignificant, but druid has plenty of healing cards and unless heal druid comes back this card doesn't really do anything fitting to druid's usual antics of big minions. To shaman however, its very nearly the perfect defensive card in standard, with only a small condition, which is to run more than the usual bevy of expensive spells, a little trickier than it seems. A very strong inclusion into control style decks, but faces some stiff competition in Witch's Brew and Walking Fountain.
Magehunter
Imho I think Spellbreaker is better, because you silence something and have a 4/3 on board. On the other hand, Magehunter will not survive the hit, you can silence, but no minion still on board
We're Getting a Collectible Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience! Scholomance Academy is Crazy
Turn 1 with Lightning Blooms if you're lucky enough to get all four cards in your opening hand. You'll see this in a Trolden video eventually, mark my words.
Star Student Stelina
Seems that hand disruption will be a thing on this expansion
New Druid & Shaman Minion - Groundskeeper
Should probably be easy enough to complete the condition in Shaman, and from what everyone’s saying Druid should do it easily too (I don’t play much Druid at all so I wouldn’t know), so it should be pretty easy to do. Looks pretty decent overall, especially with the taunt. That’ll do a lot for making it more playable
Two New Scholomance Academy Cards Revealed - Ras Frostwhisper & Groundskeeper
I'm really loving the druid/shaman dual class border. Ras's art reminds me of Unalaq from Legend of Korra.
As for the cards, they both seem pretty strong, and I can see them being used in standard. Wild is a bit questionable though, I don't think they will slot into any current decks.
We're Getting a Collectible Neutral Weapon - Sphere of Sapience! Scholomance Academy is Crazy
Considering you draw before you start your turn
New Mage & Shaman Minion - Ras Frostwhisper
Both classes have a dragon that gives +2 spell damage, and shaman of course has the totem, so it’s not that difficult to get spell damage for this thing. Kind of weird that it goes face though
New Druid & Shaman Minion - Groundskeeper
The problem is not - how are we gonna meet the condition and get the sweet heal. The problem is - are we gonna have a free slot to include this one? I think if not now, then by the time next rotation hits this will find a place in some deck for sure.
New Mage & Shaman Minion - Ras Frostwhisper
I like it. 6 health is sticky enough and if you combine it with spell dmg, it can provide board clears for ages or until it's dealt with. And both classes has access to enough +spell dmg to make this one a scary threat.