Is it just me or does Star Spring seem a bit OP? I’d be willing to pay 2 mana for its effect in a scars deck without even the possibility of it just winning me the game. Also, this card could encourage players to not attack or block, similar to how the Healing Quest in HS caused players to not attack the opponent to prevent healing. However, I do think that the amount of self-damage present in LoR is high enough that a player could win without the opponent ever killing their units. Plus, drawing the Star Springs early will require some luck (although the Tutor card helps a lot).
I think that Divergent Paths could also be problematic because it’s like a 3 Mana Deny for Landmarks. Hopefully it won’t oppress the meta and stop Landmark decks from being successful.
I agree with you completely about this card being the kind of design that made me dislike Hearthstone. This is probably a very balanced card (I don’t anticipate something like the Yogg meta because of this) but very few cards like this should be printed. Hopefully this card will create some good highlight reels and moments (like when Kripparian Unstable Portal’ed into a Nefarian into a Sacrificial Pact against Jarraxus) but sees no serious play.
Hmm yeah that is pretty good. But for that amount of mana you can play They Who Endure + Atrocity much more reliably (sure it's only in one deck, but still). I feel like there are more reliable and faster win conditions. It isn't necessarily unplayable, but it definitely isn't OP. Also, it can be countered by a single vengeance on the Sejuani.
I like how many Keyword granting cards are being added in the CotM expansions, it allows for big bodies to be at least somewhat viable. This card seems like it'd be used mainly for either Star Shepherd or Vi. It also provides a non-support body for support decks, which could make it better in that deck than Zenith Blade.
Sure this is kind of infinite value, but it is infinite value of random champions. Because of that, if the opponent has any way to finish the game the Infinite value won't matter. I also calculated it and the average cost of a champion is 4.33 mana (58% of champions cost 4 or less and 79% of champions cost 5 or less), so the champions you get from Howling Abyss likely won't be able to compete with something like an Infinite Mindsplitter, Warmother's Call, or Celestials for late-game power. Having only 5 unit slots also limits the power of the ability by a lot (because in the late game you might have a full board and your 4/4 Fiora in hand becomes really useless). Not all infinite value is necessarily bad (for example, a card that filled your hand with 1 cost Poros every round would be a fine card). Howling Abyss isn't even a win condition, it's a meme condition.
P.S. I'm not trying to call you out or anything, I just wanted to show you my thought process from "I hate this" to "this is probably fine"
I assume you're talking about the Howling Abyss. I think that it's probably a fine card (it doesn't activate the "When I Level Up" champion abilities, so it doesn't have insane highrolls like Maokai) but it signals a willingness to sacrifice LoR-appropriate card design for LoL references. Rather than going with something that reflects the Lore or Freljord's mechanics, they went with a LoL reference, sacrificing the ability to give Freljord a Landmark that could actually create new decks. I would be more fine with this if it were just a meme epic like Pursuit of Perfection, but it is taking up the Landmark spot for this expansion and using an important lore location. All that being said, meme RNG cards do have a place in LoR (as long as they aren't competitively viable or represent a large part of the meta) so I'm excited to try this card out and have some fun games. 7 Mana for "Round Start: Create a slightly better than average card in hand" is extremely easy to punish with any deck that isn't super grindy control, so it really shouldn't be problematic to deal with.
I think that Taric and Karma are both dangerous champions in that they are awful without support, but with proper support they can be insanely powerful. Karma has also been good in previous metas, but given that ASol is now a thing, she doesn't seem very viable. In terms of buffs, I think that lowering her cost would be a bit too scary. My preferred buffs would be:
Taric: Gains "Play: Create a Gem in hand" and the Tough Keyword (so he's better as a blocker and less reliant on drawing buff spells)
Karma: Gains Attune and her Level 1 Round Start effect becomes "Play or Round Start" (This is a minor change, but would make her less awful when removed the round she's played)
This plus the undying seems so great! The problem with undying decks is that they get a big undying, but their opponent just blocks it and they lose because they don't have the blockers to stop the opponent. However, with Bayou brunch you can buff up a Hecarim really big by capturing an undying and win the game with Overwhelm+ Spectral Riders! You can also use this card to buff up a big elusive for a final push.
Yeah that's true, but he doesn't provide any payoff for damaging allies (and Vlad is so bad that he can't act as that payoff). Right now Scarmother Vrynna is still the best payoff for self-damage, which feels really weird flavor-wise. However, it's probably best that Tahm Kench gets his own archetype instead of being created to justify a preexisting one that needs buffs. And Tahm Kench's support cards work really well with Vlad, so I might make a Noxus/Bilgewater crimson deck anyway (without Tahm Kench).
I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t go in the self-damage synergy direction. Sure Tahm Kench takes a lot of damage himself, but he doesn’t work with Vladimir or the crimson units very well.
I think that you could making it move up 2 or even 3 when you cast a spell to make it easier to play. Also, you can phrase it “Starts at the bottom of your deck. After you cast a spell, this moves up 2.”
@Linkblade91
This version seems way too good, it loses 1 Health from a vanilla stat line for +2 Spell Damage and a powerful mana refill effect. Compared to other spell damage cards it seems way too good. Maybe a 4/4 or 5/3 Stat line would make more sense.
The problem is that the opponent could respond with a Vile Feast and counter your entire 5 mana spell. Because of that, you would have to think a lot about which unit to sacrifice
My personal prediction is that he’ll have “Support: Deal 2 to my supported ally” and some ability that relates to units being damaged (maybe granting Acquired Taste?).
This seems rather good even without synergy. It's a 3 Attack Elusive that is almost unkillable the turn it is played (and it counts for 6 noncombat damage for Swain)
Is it just me or does Star Spring seem a bit OP? I’d be willing to pay 2 mana for its effect in a scars deck without even the possibility of it just winning me the game. Also, this card could encourage players to not attack or block, similar to how the Healing Quest in HS caused players to not attack the opponent to prevent healing. However, I do think that the amount of self-damage present in LoR is high enough that a player could win without the opponent ever killing their units. Plus, drawing the Star Springs early will require some luck (although the Tutor card helps a lot).
I think that Divergent Paths could also be problematic because it’s like a 3 Mana Deny for Landmarks. Hopefully it won’t oppress the meta and stop Landmark decks from being successful.
@Thazud
I agree with you completely about this card being the kind of design that made me dislike Hearthstone. This is probably a very balanced card (I don’t anticipate something like the Yogg meta because of this) but very few cards like this should be printed. Hopefully this card will create some good highlight reels and moments (like when Kripparian Unstable Portal’ed into a Nefarian into a Sacrificial Pact against Jarraxus) but sees no serious play.
@sto650
Hmm yeah that is pretty good. But for that amount of mana you can play They Who Endure + Atrocity much more reliably (sure it's only in one deck, but still). I feel like there are more reliable and faster win conditions. It isn't necessarily unplayable, but it definitely isn't OP. Also, it can be countered by a single vengeance on the Sejuani.
As long as they keep the RNG on meme cards I’m fine. I feel like Howling Abyss is honestly far less of a problem than Celestials or Bilgewater.
Is this skill burst speed? It doesn’t have the little eye icon but it could be a visual mistake
I like how many Keyword granting cards are being added in the CotM expansions, it allows for big bodies to be at least somewhat viable. This card seems like it'd be used mainly for either Star Shepherd or Vi. It also provides a non-support body for support decks, which could make it better in that deck than Zenith Blade.
@FortyDust
Sure this is kind of infinite value, but it is infinite value of random champions. Because of that, if the opponent has any way to finish the game the Infinite value won't matter. I also calculated it and the average cost of a champion is 4.33 mana (58% of champions cost 4 or less and 79% of champions cost 5 or less), so the champions you get from Howling Abyss likely won't be able to compete with something like an Infinite Mindsplitter, Warmother's Call, or Celestials for late-game power. Having only 5 unit slots also limits the power of the ability by a lot (because in the late game you might have a full board and your 4/4 Fiora in hand becomes really useless). Not all infinite value is necessarily bad (for example, a card that filled your hand with 1 cost Poros every round would be a fine card). Howling Abyss isn't even a win condition, it's a meme condition.
P.S. I'm not trying to call you out or anything, I just wanted to show you my thought process from "I hate this" to "this is probably fine"
I assume you're talking about the Howling Abyss. I think that it's probably a fine card (it doesn't activate the "When I Level Up" champion abilities, so it doesn't have insane highrolls like Maokai) but it signals a willingness to sacrifice LoR-appropriate card design for LoL references. Rather than going with something that reflects the Lore or Freljord's mechanics, they went with a LoL reference, sacrificing the ability to give Freljord a Landmark that could actually create new decks. I would be more fine with this if it were just a meme epic like Pursuit of Perfection, but it is taking up the Landmark spot for this expansion and using an important lore location. All that being said, meme RNG cards do have a place in LoR (as long as they aren't competitively viable or represent a large part of the meta) so I'm excited to try this card out and have some fun games. 7 Mana for "Round Start: Create a slightly better than average card in hand" is extremely easy to punish with any deck that isn't super grindy control, so it really shouldn't be problematic to deal with.
I think that Taric and Karma are both dangerous champions in that they are awful without support, but with proper support they can be insanely powerful. Karma has also been good in previous metas, but given that ASol is now a thing, she doesn't seem very viable. In terms of buffs, I think that lowering her cost would be a bit too scary. My preferred buffs would be:
Taric: Gains "Play: Create a Gem in hand" and the Tough Keyword (so he's better as a blocker and less reliant on drawing buff spells)
Karma: Gains Attune and her Level 1 Round Start effect becomes "Play or Round Start" (This is a minor change, but would make her less awful when removed the round she's played)
This plus the undying seems so great! The problem with undying decks is that they get a big undying, but their opponent just blocks it and they lose because they don't have the blockers to stop the opponent. However, with Bayou brunch you can buff up a Hecarim really big by capturing an undying and win the game with Overwhelm+ Spectral Riders! You can also use this card to buff up a big elusive for a final push.
Yeah that's true, but he doesn't provide any payoff for damaging allies (and Vlad is so bad that he can't act as that payoff). Right now Scarmother Vrynna is still the best payoff for self-damage, which feels really weird flavor-wise. However, it's probably best that Tahm Kench gets his own archetype instead of being created to justify a preexisting one that needs buffs. And Tahm Kench's support cards work really well with Vlad, so I might make a Noxus/Bilgewater crimson deck anyway (without Tahm Kench).
I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t go in the self-damage synergy direction. Sure Tahm Kench takes a lot of damage himself, but he doesn’t work with Vladimir or the crimson units very well.
@TheHoax91
I think that you could making it move up 2 or even 3 when you cast a spell to make it easier to play. Also, you can phrase it “Starts at the bottom of your deck. After you cast a spell, this moves up 2.”
@Linkblade91
This version seems way too good, it loses 1 Health from a vanilla stat line for +2 Spell Damage and a powerful mana refill effect. Compared to other spell damage cards it seems way too good. Maybe a 4/4 or 5/3 Stat line would make more sense.
Here’s my Viktor Idea:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CustomLoR/comments/j5pezk/viktor_card_set_using_augment_keyword_augment_x/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
I feel like Lee Sin just needs to be nerfed because he's overplayed, just like how Deep was nerfed even when it wasn't very good.
This also has really good synergy with Legion Veteran.
The problem is that the opponent could respond with a Vile Feast and counter your entire 5 mana spell. Because of that, you would have to think a lot about which unit to sacrifice
My personal prediction is that he’ll have “Support: Deal 2 to my supported ally” and some ability that relates to units being damaged (maybe granting Acquired Taste?).
It's nice to see that they're adding Landmark removals to lots of regions, even if they're a bit overpriced.
This seems rather good even without synergy. It's a 3 Attack Elusive that is almost unkillable the turn it is played (and it counts for 6 noncombat damage for Swain)