Stolas | Stolas

[blarp]

is that a 4 other cost? dammm

That's one good card. I'd spam those, feral bonds, and epi any day but that is a little cheap there fur

actually i'd just use monoaether or something or anything really doesn't matter it's just too good sorry   it really can't be elementless imo

[furballdn]

To fractal this, you'd need 4 QTs for 3 Stolas. With 4 towers, you could produce 2 frogs, a much better choice (10dmg as opposed to 4). If you wanted lots of creatures, use aflatoxin. Why would you fractal this over SoFo or frog or cockatrice? Why not use mitosis or aflatoxin? Fractalling these for a whole buttload of quanta for protection of all your permanents isn't worth it.

[ndclub]

Big nono to upgrade having other casting cost. Other than that I love the card as well as mechanic and I think it would bring great things to the game and another dimension of strategy.

[OldTrees]

Big nono to upgrade having other casting cost. Other than that I love the card as well as mechanic and I think it would bring great things to the game and another dimension of strategy.

Why?

[ndclub]

Not only does animate weapon have only 1 casting cost, something that does not gain that much benefit from being in a rainbow compared to mono, but its mechanic is far less game changing in my mind. Other cost is a HUGE draw to rainbows even if the little owls did not have a skill they would be able to spam them like nothing. Rainbows would also have a greater amount of flying creatures to draw from and easier ability to put those out as well.

Overlooking the fact that it is overpowered with "other" cost in the rainbow, the simple fact that it would be more powerful than in a mono or duo is a rich get richer situation. Also this is a mechanic that could be unique to air but instead if every deck has it then air loses tons of uniqueness, something avoided in the past with elements development. Let me ask you this then: give me an argument why it should be "other cost".

[Trollinator]

I like Stolas, maybe reduce HP by 2-3.  That way CC has a chance.  As far as a possible OP deck idea:

unnupped FFQ
Stolas
Shard of Freedom
Eagle Eye
Hope

Good luck killing Stolas.  SoFr gives Evasion to  flyers.  Stolas out?  Not killing EE or SoFr.

Stolas would bring new life to an old deck. 8)

[furballdn]

Ah upped Stolas. My most ambitious, creative, popular, and controversial idea. If I had just made it 3 I would have a whole lot less trouble.

Let me explain why I made it other.
4 is about 2 which is 2 . Going from 4 to 2 in an upgrade acceptable.
Like flying weapon, Stolas can be splashed into other decks allowing for much more flexibility.
Air is the element of fluidity, so it should be able to be used in many decks.
Airborne is not just restricted to air, so the benefits of airborne shouldn't be restricted to air.

One of the many arguments I hear against an other cost is "rainbows will abuse it!" Okay, prove that to me. Make me a rainbow deck that makes use of Stolas to prove it's broken. You're going to be sacrificing precious card space to pack these in, and they only will be that useful if your entire deck is airborne. If you manage to make an airborne rainbow, be sure to let me know. I've wanted to make an airborne rainbow for some time, but lava golems and graboids don't fly. Why should a rainbow waste precious card space on Stolas? Why not pack a 1 PA? Or a lava golem? Or an archangel? So what if your entire deck is airborne based (slower rainbow), the only benefit you will get is your entire field's permanents being protected, a moot point if you've been outrushed.

As for trollinator's comment, I think all of you are forgetting how long Stolas (and FFQ) take to set up. And even then, a single RoF goes through trollinator's entire strategy (SoFre doesn't stop AoE)

[OldTrees]

Not only does animate weapon have only 1 casting cost, something that does not gain that much benefit from being in a rainbow compared to mono, but its mechanic is far less game changing in my mind. Other cost is a HUGE draw to rainbows even if the little owls did not have a skill they would be able to spam them like nothing. Rainbows would also have a greater amount of flying creatures to draw from and easier ability to put those out as well.

Overlooking the fact that it is overpowered with "other" cost in the rainbow, the simple fact that it would be more powerful than in a mono or duo is a rich get richer situation. Also this is a mechanic that could be unique to air but instead if every deck has it then air loses tons of uniqueness, something avoided in the past with elements development. Let me ask you this then: give me an argument why it should be "other cost".

1) Are you saying that Stolas's effect is more efficient in a rainbow deck than a mono deck and the cost of the upgraded version does not reflect that increase even after taking the upgrade bonus into account?

2) I do not see a rich get richer situation. Would you enlighten me?
In a speed rainbow it has too little attack though it does give some stability. It is not part of an OTK combo for OTK rainbow. Stall rainbows would use it however I don't think Stall rainbows would be considered "rich" in the current metagame.

3) One does not lose what was not gained. Air does not posses any permanent protection at this time. It does not lose uniqueness by only gaining an oligopoly (with earth) when unupped. While this means your point is not an accurate criticism of this card, it does remain a reason for costing elemental quanta.

4) Argument for it being other cost? [Disclaimer: I have not stated my preference]
Let's assume:
Only Mono and Duo decks exist. (false but used as a simplification)
There are currently an equal amount of decks for every duo combination. (false but used as a simplification)
The greater the number of added decks the better. (generally true)
Adding a card adds 1 deck (false but used as a simplification)
A duo card adds 1 deck. (setting the unit of measure)
A mono card adds 1+11 decks. (mono + duo)
An other card adds 12+132 decks. (mono + duo)

[ndclub]

I am much more inclined to agree with the logic of furballdn than the logic of oldtrees after reading through his post several times it just seemed contrary. The challenge was issued to give what decks would be overpowered in theory with mr. owl being colorless. My first example would be of monoaether. I understand that dragons are a slower attack and that quints would have to be thrown on stolas to be nearly unbeatable, both lobo and dim shield are now here to stay. My other example is in a mono fire phoenix/seraph. I understand that permanents are not as crucial to this deck but its just another card to push it further in strength, immolation makes stolas extremely easy to get out. These are the first two that come to mind but I can theory craft more.

[furballdn]

I am much more inclined to agree with the logic of furballdn than the logic of oldtrees after reading through his post several times it just seemed contrary. The challenge was issued to give what decks would be overpowered in theory with mr. owl being colorless. My first example would be of monoaether. I understand that dragons are a slower attack and that quints would have to be thrown on stolas to be nearly unbeatable, both lobo and dim shield are now here to stay. My other example is in a mono fire phoenix/seraph. I understand that permanents are not as crucial to this deck but its just another card to push it further in strength, immolation makes stolas extremely easy to get out. These are the first two that come to mind but I can theory craft more.

You bring up mono aether as an example. Let us examine that. If you are you using a mono with pillar/pend split, you need at least 2 Stolas to protect that. What's most crucial to a MA deck? Dim shields. You'd need at least 3 Stolas to protect your dim shield. How much is that? 12 + 3 cards in a mono aether (already very expensive). You want to protect your lobotomizer as well? 16 + 4 cards. See how you can squeeze that into a MA.

Phoenix/seraph? Okay, design me an immorush that uses Stolas, phoenix and seraph. You're using an immorush anyway, so you don't have much permanents to begin with (1-2 max). You want to use Stolas for offense? Sure, 4 for 2atk. Be my guest.