Archmage | Archmage

[Drake_XIV]

NAME: Archmage ELEMENT: Aether COST: 5 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 3 | 3 TEXT: If a creature is targeted by a spell or ability, Archmage's attacks deal spell damage for a turn and it gains +1/+1.	NAME: Archmage ELEMENT: Aether COST: 6 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 5 | 5 TEXT: If a creature is targeted by a spell or ability, Archmage's attacks deal spell damage for a turn and it gains +1/+1.

ART: IDEA: Drake_XIV NOTES: The spell damage is temporary The +1/+1 is permanent SERIES:

[Marsu]

The wording is slightly off. 'Archmage's attacks deal spell damage for a turn and gain +1/+1' means "[...] attacks [...] gain +1/+1', which doesn't make sense.

The current wording also implies that the +1/+1 is a stacking permanent bonus. If that's the case, this is too strong.

[Drake_XIV]

The +1/+1 is permanent.  Why do you feel that is too strong?

[Marsu]

It can also happen more than once a turn, right? At least the card and the explanation don't say anything different.

(I'd like to wait with my reasoning until I know that)

[Drake_XIV]

Yes, it can trigger multiple times a turn.  I'd like to think that's offset by the high cost for subpar stats.

[Marsu]

If only spells triggered it, this might be balanced (even though still on the strong side imo), but the fact that it is triggered by abilities is easily abusable. Just take Lobotomizer for instance.
With it, Archmage is effectively a 3/3 with spelldamage and '2  : All your Archmages gain +1/+1' which additionally gains +1/+1 for every Lightning you play and for every spell or ability the opponent plays.

One of quite some examples:

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58p 58p 58p 58p 58p 58p 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61q 61q 61q 61q 61q 61q 61u 61u 61u 622 622 622 63a 63a 63a 63a 63a 63a 8pu

Another one:

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58p 58p 58p 58p 58p 58p 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61t 61t 61t 61t 61t 61t 61u 61u 61u 61u 61v 61v 63a 63a 63a 63a 63a 63a 8pu

Antlion = Archmage

[Drake_XIV]

And that's saying you have the quanta to get enough Archmages out.  You are still paying for the skills and spells as well.

[Marsu]

The Fractal example was probably bad because my main concern has nothing to do with Fractal. Even if you only have 2 Archmages out, they have permanent spelldamage due to Lobotomizer (1/2  ... and it also lobotomizes a creatures, which is great often enough. Oh, and the cost doesn't increase if you have more than one Archmage.)
Also, the opponent increases their stats as well. I imagine this against a Grabbow. Nova, Graboid evolve, Forest Spirit growth. +3/+3 for 2 creatures with spelldamage. In your opponents turn...

[Drake_XIV]

That's also a continuous upkeep for spell damage.  If you just wanted spell damage, you'd be better off with Psions.  This is meant more as a deterrent against CC.

Growth does not target, nor does the abilities Graboid, Lycanthrope, Seraph, Pheonix.  They simply affect themselves.  Targeting is only applied when you see crosshairs.

That being said, Nova wouldn't trigger the ability either.

[Marsu]

Right. That was my mistake. Sorry, I'm at the fourth Gin Tonic now.

Still, I'm quite sure concerning my initial opinion.

When you use Lobo between two or three times, given that you don't target any creature otherwise with a spell/ability and your opponent doesn't either for the whole game (Very unlikely), this card would be about balanced. 5.5/5.5 (with spelldamage for 2.5 turns) for 5  , albeit starting with weaker stats for 2 turns. And the average usage of creature-targetting spells and abilities, even after turn 3-4, is way higher than that.