[Official] Sanctuary | Sanctuary

[johannhowitzer]

Or indeed any quantum-changing effects.  This explains the relegation of Sanctuary to its current role as a poor man's Shard of Gratitude, for shardless tournaments and such.

[Ryli]

Or indeed any quantum-changing effects.  This explains the relegation of Sanctuary to its current role as a poor man's Shard of Gratitude, for shardless tournaments and such.

Not entirely true. Alot of rushes can make use of discord, whether it be mono entropy, or nova-bows.

What about no healing, but immateriality? It's a possibility, but it could be considered OP, with the amount of decks it counters.

[coinich]

The three primary cards that trigger quantum changes are Black Hole, Discord, and Devourer.  Those elements also represent three major sources of PC - Pulverizer, Butterfly Effect, and Steal respectively.  Two of those are renewable, and the third actually reverses the situation, turning Sanctuary against its owner.  I think Sanctuary would be a little more powerful were it not so easily counter-able by the elements it tries to counter.

In an unupped format however, many decks cannot summon a Sanctuary in time to withstand the very denial thats keeping it from play.  Thats where Sanctuary falls through IMO; most opening hand Discords or Devourers will beat an opening hand Sanctuary.

[johannhowitzer]

In an unupped format however, many decks cannot summon a Sanctuary in time to withstand the very denial thats keeping it from play.  Thats where Sanctuary falls through IMO; most opening hand Discords or Devourers will beat an opening hand Sanctuary.

Depends who wins the coin toss.  Light-elemental with Light mark gets three pillars and a Sanctuary, plays three pillars; Entropy-elemental marshals enough quanta to play Discord next turn; Light elemental plays Sanctuary; Discord is played but fizzles.  The only disadvantage Sanctuary has is one extra cost.

The main problem with Sanctuary (like Purify) is that it depends on metagame to fulfill its intended purpose.  Sure, Sanctuary is a killer card if you know you'll be facing someone who uses quantum disruption... that's why the 4HP healing is there: to make its purpose broad enough to be a practical card for matchups where the metagame is an unknown.  Most cards have this to some degree - Otyugh is worthless against Immortals, Gravity Shield is worthless against most Fire decks - but when a card's intended niche depends on the metagame as much as Sanctuary's does, some compensation is necessary - and that compensation may become the main drive behind the card's use.  I believe we're seeing just that, everywhere but in places where metagaming is possible, like in War and other special events, such as the current Metamorphosis tournament.

[freemod1espilon]

if you decreased casting cost by -1 it would be 1 more expensive 4- -1=5

[furballdn]

I...don't understand the argument. If anything, sanctuary is much stronger than normal cards. 3 for 4 healing per turn, stacks, and counters nightmare, black hole, discord, silence, and devourer.

[thanata]

When I looked at the original post in a certain way, it kinda made sense to me.
Sanctuary's stackable healing ability can be overpowered in stall decks like firestall, but the quanta protection portion's practically useless against devourer decks that pack steal anyways.
I dunno...maybe lowering the healing rate or making it unstackable, but making it immaterial might take care of those issues?
On the other hand, it seems most people that posted here see Sanctuary as fairly balanced already.

[Marsu]

Don't even understand the post. But no, it's not UP.

[bogtro]

Well, this was originally posted quite a while ago when there were still certain arguments for Sanctuary being UP, such as SoG still healing 5/turn. Now, it's one of the most powerful healing cards in the game, as well as countering denial. Certainly needs no buff currently.

[freemod1espilon]

I...don't understand the argument. If anything, sanctuary is much stronger than normal cards. 3 for 4 healing per turn, stacks, and counters nightmare, black hole, discord, silence, and devourer.

if you take 1 from 2 it is 1 if you add -1 to 2 it is 1 if you take away -1 from 2 it is 3 does that help?

[russianspy1234]

was about to start a topic about sanctuary... heres my idea: make it protect the deck as well (so it counters reverse time)  reverse time is already really powerful and often used, which would make sanc far more used, which would indirectly make denial less used. seems like a good change thematically as well.

[Cheesy111]

was about to start a topic about sanctuary... heres my idea: make it protect the deck as well (so it counters reverse time)  reverse time is already really powerful and often used, which would make sanc far more used, which would indirectly make denial less used. seems like a good change thematically as well.

We need more indirect counters to denial IMHO.  Cards like Sanctuary work as a stopgap, but I'd rather have more indirect counters, stuff like how novae are a big indirect counter to Devourer and EQ denial types.