[Official] Gravity Shield | Gravity Shield

[ColorlessGreen]

If you want to lower the dominance of SoFree in the arena, I think that there are more efficient ways to do that dan a fragile trio. Because it is highy unlikely that this deck is a reliable farmer, you can't use it against the arena. What is the point of making a counter against a deck that you will never play against? (at least not using your specific counter strategy, because you would lose a lot of )

I want to lower the dominance of SoFr in the arena. I also want to make nifty new combos. I don't think warden/gravy is going to become a top tier gold/plat farmer, but I would consider tossing a gravy shield in swallow (for example) in order to let my sop-boosted otys eat the opponents in situations where sofos weren't coming quickly enough to keep up with the dozen SoFrs lots of decks carry, and then I'd try out a gravy/light/earth trio in a lower league or against ai4 or something.

[sathur]

I think the idea of adding -1 damage to the upped version is a great idea, and fits the gravity theme.   Over 5hp to big to move, and smaller than 2 (1hp), to small to overcome the gravity

[andretimpa]

This is far from useless. The correct way of using this shield is with CC, so that you kill the things that can hit you and block the rest. In upped play it goes great with Otys and gives a second use to heavy armor. In unnuped play it is great with lightning and rage pots (that you can also use in your own fat creatures). The worse counter is IMO Steal, since if you are playing mono-gravity your creatures will tipically be blocked, unless you got mommentum (or a SoFo and just blow the shield)

You can counter SoFre rushes with SoFo+GP+Otys (see Swallow for example)

[Higurashi]

While SoFo shield and Oty works comparatively well against SoFre rushes it's far from a counter. Even against normal SoFre rushes I can't say you win a convincing majority of matches, mainly because it takes time to get set up.

I first hesitated to vote for this proposed buff because while Wings blocks all non-airborne, it expires after 5 turns. Gravy Shield doesn't expire. However, the fact the proposed buff would only remove airborne (not block them per se) and only while it's in play, I actually ended up voting for the buff. It's a very aimed buff though in that it only really matters against SoFre decks right now, and that kind of direct counter isn't exactly good design imo.

Nonetheless, the shield needs a small buff. I personally always thought it should block 5 HP and up, not just 6 HP and up.

[Captain Scibra]

To be fair, it does indeed need a buff.  The problem that the shield has is that this requires such a significant combo to work even generally well, and the combo is very fragile, and not always enough even when successful, especially non-upgraded.  I think that it either needs +1 DR for general usability, or cost 3|2.  I support a Gravity effect that removes airborne and that stuff, but that just does not fit a shield.  Shields either reduce damage from attacks, inflict a retaliation effect on damaging creatures, or other defensive ability like Reflective.  To remove airborne from creatures is not (directly) a defensive measure and therefore does not fit as a shield effect.

[serprex]

Mass removal of airborne is necessary to be in a shield to make impossible synergy with Wings

[Captain Scibra]

But it's just not meant for a shield effect.  Wings requires airborne, it doesn't apply or remove it when you play it, just like Gravity Shield requires 5 or less HP.  If Gravity Shield were to chance remove airborne on successful attacks, that would be different.  However, I feel like that would really weaken the purpose.

[serprex]

I'm not disagreeing with your premise that shields should only have on hit effects. I'm asking if you have an alternative method of implementing mass dampening of airborne that isn't OP when combined with Wings. Best I can think is a permanent with a timer, making the combo comparable to Enchanted Dims

[Captain Scibra]

I would agree there needs to be more stipulation than just playing the permanent.  That being said would either be timed as you said, or possibly with an upkeep, like Flooding.