Upgrade to Mono-color Planeswalkers

ZW2007-

I was just thinking about how all mono-color planeswalkers are mostly inferior to duals (besides maybe two) and had a thought...what if mono-color planeswalkers could add 3 cards of any one color to their decks. For example, Nissa 1 could play 7 green/colorless cards and then have 3 red cards or 3 black cards to round out the deck. It has always bugged me that the mono walkers are inferior in this game while they are actually more versatile in paper compared to duals/tris. 

Mburn7

ZW2007- said:

I was just thinking about how all mono-color planeswalkers are mostly inferior to duals (besides maybe two) and had a thought...what if mono-color planeswalkers could add 3 cards of any one color to their decks. For example, Nissa 1 could play 7 green/colorless cards and then have 3 red cards or 3 black cards to round out the deck. It has always bugged me that the mono walkers are inferior in this game while they are actually more versatile in paper compared to duals/tris. 

The issue is, the difference in usefulness is how multicolor is implemented.  In paper it is an AND cost, where you must have both colors.  In MTGPQ it is an OR cost, where you only need one of the colors (basically how hybrid mana works in paper).

The reason mono-color walkers are better in paper is because they are easier to cast and build around (for example, a Bolas requires a 3 color deck).  The reason multi-colors are better in PQ is because they have access to more cards (since every walker can theoretically gain the same amount of mana each turn).  

I think the system is fine the way it is simply because it provides a level curve.  Walkers with more colors may be more versatile, but they are also more expensive both to purchase and to level up, meaning they are most usable for older players.  Mono-colors are a bit pigeonholed, but are extremely cheap to buy and level up, making them great for newer players.

ArielSira

If they would just get +3 +2 +2 (or maybe even +4 +2 +2) in mana bonus they'd be good enough for end game already. Not that it makes them top tier but their mana is what makes me not even consider them.

wereotter

They could always power down multi colored walkers to make things more fair. Make them have the “and” clause and let mono keep the “or” one.

For example. Storm the Vault in this example could be used by any mono-red, mono-blue, Bolas, and Saheeli but not by Dovin Baan, Teferi, Kiora, Nissa.

On the same hand Grand Warlord Rhada could be put into Sammut and Arlinn, but not Kiora, Bolas, Vraska, Saheli etc. 

khurram

wereotter said:

They could always power down multi colored walkers to make things more fair. Make them have the “and” clause and let mono keep the “or” one.

For example. Storm the Vault in this example could be used by any mono-red, mono-blue, Bolas, and Saheeli but not by Dovin Baan, Teferi, Kiora, Nissa.

On the same hand Grand Warlord Rhada could be put into Sammut and Arlinn, but not Kiora, Bolas, Vraska, Saheli etc. 

You are not as much powering down multicolored PWs as you are nerfing the multicolored cards.

If one thing is not up to speed the solution isnt to make other things worse too. Terrible idea. 

And sorry @ZW2007- what you seem to be suggesting simply sound like muticolored PWs to me with a little restriction. In short it sounds like you are asking for an end to mono colored PWs?

It all boils down to abilities and Mana gains. For example, Sarkhan has access to more cards but he is less popular than Ob, Jace2, elspeth and even G3. G1 and Jace1 used to have super useful abilities. If they reverted them back to that and improved the mana gains a little bit, they'd be a force to reckon with.

__Adam

Every color should have at least 1 viable endgame walker. In order to get there the walker has to have decent abilities and mana gains.  The mana gain portion is critical.  Right now only koth and elspeth fit that bill. 

Tilwin90

__Adam said:

Every color should have at least 1 viable endgame walker. In order to get there the walker has to have decent abilities and mana gains.  The mana gain portion is critical.  Right now only koth and elspeth fit that bill. 

Ob Nixilis, gideon3 and Jace2 would like a word.
Jace has very powerful abilities and impressive mana gains. 
Ob nixilis has stupidly good abilities. In spite of the low mana gains he continues to be a frequent pick for certain matches.
Gideon3 also has very good mana gains and his ultimate is splendid in those "cast x or less creatures" objectives.
I am curious where jaya ballard would fit since I haven't gotten her yet and admittedly I cannot be persuaded to spend $$$ on her.

Truly the only color that fails this endgame monowalker criterion is green. Nissa2 is parasitic in spite of her mana gains, and garruk fails to do anything that Kiora can't do better. 🙄

Mark_Tedin

__Adam said:

Every color should have at least 1 viable endgame walker. In order to get there the walker has to have decent abilities and mana gains.  The mana gain portion is critical.  Right now only koth and elspeth fit that bill. 

I think this two monoPW are the most playable in the game. But personally I do not like mono PW, principally in standard

wereotter

khurram said:

wereotter said:

They could always power down multi colored walkers to make things more fair. Make them have the “and” clause and let mono keep the “or” one.

For example. Storm the Vault in this example could be used by any mono-red, mono-blue, Bolas, and Saheeli but not by Dovin Baan, Teferi, Kiora, Nissa.

On the same hand Grand Warlord Rhada could be put into Sammut and Arlinn, but not Kiora, Bolas, Vraska, Saheli etc. 

You are not as much powering down multicolored PWs as you are nerfing the multicolored cards.

If one thing is not up to speed the solution isnt to make other things worse too. Terrible idea. 

It’s a leveling out if mono colored walkers can continue to use any multicolored cards they currently can, but multicolored walkers can only use cards in their color identity. This at least starts to even out the fact that larger card pool on multicolored walkers makes them stronger by attempting to balance that out.