3.5 Release Notes *Updated (7/8/19)

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Brigby
Brigby ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 7,757 Site Admin
edited July 2019 in MtGPQ General Discussion

3.5 Release Notes

War of the Spark has arrived!

The epic War of the Spark arrives in the 3.5 update, complete with over 200 cards, 4 new Planeswalkers, the new Vanguard Supports, and 3 new events!

You can view the full War of the Spark Card Gallery HERE. For everything else, check out all the details below.

New Card: Vanguard Supports

With War of the Spark and the introduction of the Vanguard cards, you will be able to use the most interactive card type in MTGPQ as of yet.

(Above card image contains placeholder values)
  • Vanguard is a new support subtype introduced in War of the Spark. They are special Legendary supports that can't be affected by effects that don't specifically name Vanguards as targets.
  • These supports can have different abilities, which can be passive, triggered, or activated just like the tabletop MtG version of Planeswalkers.
  • Passive and triggered abilities work as long as the Vanguard support remains on the board. Activated abilities have a cost in Shield, and the Shield amount can either increase or decrease based on the number displayed on the ability.
  • When a Vanguard support's shield becomes 0 or less, it is destroyed and goes to the graveyard.
  • You can only use one activated Vanguard ability per turn, per each Vanguard you control.
Vanguard packs will be permanently available in the Vault with content from old and new collections alike. Initially only Vanguards from WAR will be available, however we will actively increase the number of these cards, as updates are added to the game.

Planeswalkers from sets that are already existing in MTGPQ will belong to their collections and follow the same set rules. Those that are from non-existing sets in MTGPQ will belong to this promo collection when seen as Vanguard cards.

For a closer look at the new Vanguard Supports, check out its blog post HERE

We hope you all enjoy the new dynamic these cards add to the game. Have fun brewing up ideas!

New Planeswalkers

Gideon Blackblade
"Gideon now bears the reforged Blackblade - a soul-thirsty sword he used to vanquish the demonlord Belzenlock and help free Liliana from her contract - which should prove useful in the upcoming battle.

As founder of the Gatewatch, he also bears an oath to work together with his companions to defend the Multiverse...an oatch that has lead them into a final, deadly conflict with Nicol Bolas."

Max Level Stats

Gideon Blackblade Token
Level 1 - [White] 4/4 Human Soldier - Legendary. First Strike. While this creature is on the battlefield, if it's not Disabled, your Planeswalker gains Prevent Damage. When this creature dies, exile the first opposing creature. 
Level 2 - [White] 6/6 Human Soldier - Legendary. First Strike. Lifelink. ...when this creature dies, exile the first and last opposing creatures. 
Level 3 - ...Legendary. First Strike. Lifelink. Berserker. ...
Level 4 - [White] 8/8 Human Soldier...

Liliana, Dreadhorde General
"With no choice but to serve the power-hungry dragon Planeswalker, Nicol Bolas, Liliana finds herself using her necromancer's skills as the field general of the Dreadhorde, Bolas's army of zombie Eternals.

While she enjoys the authority, ultimately Liliana's greatest love and first priority is herself. She's convinced that everyone else is only looking out for themselves, and she's just better at playing the game."

Max Level Stats

Feast on Suffering 
[Black] Support Card - Enchantment (3) Whenever a creature or Vanguard support you control is destroyed, draw a card.

Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God
"Nicol Bolas's schemes have led to Ravnica. His true purpose is not yet revealed, but the crucial pieces of his plan are falling into place.

Through the agency of his minions he has subverted the leadership of Ravnica's ancient guilds and undermined the fabric of the Guildpact. Heightened tension and conflict now loom over the plane."

Max Level Stats *New Update*

Gathering Sparks Token
[Blue,Black,Red] Support Card - Enchantment (3) Whenever your opponent activates a Loyalty ability or a Vanguard ability, gain 2 Loyalty.

Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge
"Having incorporated the Planar Bridge in his body, Tezzeret himself could function as a conduit from Amonkhet to Ravnica for the invasion of the Eternal Dreadhorde.

Assisting his cruel master, Tezzeret will fight to keep the bridge open, while the endless hordes of Eternals spread havoc on the plane."

Max Level Stats

Greater Affinity for Artifacts
[Colorless] Support Card - Artifact (3) At the beginning of your turn, the first creature and the first Vanguard support in your hand gain X mana, where X is the number of Artifacts you control.

New Events

The Elderspark (PvE) - Coalition
This is a weekend PvE Coalition event with 4 spliced nodes; 3 encounters each, just like in Avacyn's Madness. It features 4 different thematic nodes, each with 2 regular challenges and 1 stage boss. All encounters of the same thematic node have an event support related to one of the mechanics from War of the Spark (Amass, Partner, or Proliferate)

Ravnica At War (PvP) - Coalition
This is a weekly PvP Coalition event with 5 different versions, each featuring a different color combination split in 3 nodes. This event doesn't focus on Nicol Bolas himself, but rather on the Eternals, the allies of Bolas, and the havoc they've unleashed upon Ravnica.

Role Reversal (PvP)
This is a fun and unpretentious Standard, non-Coalition PvP event that brings a unique playstyle for those who would like to try facing off against their own decks while using their opponent's cards instead. The event features a special support that restricts you from drawing cards from only the opposing deck. You're still able to use your Planeswalker's abilities though.

New Mechanics

Amass
Amass creates X number of Zombie Army tokens with the ability to grow whenever another card with Amass is cast.

Partner
A card with Partner receives a boost to its effects if you cast it while you control a Vanguard support.

Proliferate
Cards with Proliferate will bolster and provide extra value to decks, particularly ones focused around Loyalty abilities and Vanguards. Proliferate reads: "When you Proliferate, gain 1 Loyalty. Then, your buffed creatures get +1/+1 and your Vanguard supports gain 1 shield."

Card Changes

For this release, we decided to make some changes to cards that were seeing too much play (due to a power disparity between similar options), based on forum feedback and player behavior data. Blue Sun's Zenith and Plague Wind were possibly the best cards in their colors and slot into almost every deck.

The changes being made should guarantee these cards remain playable, yet aren't as dominant in almost every deck they're in. In addition, we've adjusted the power level of over 20 underused and underperforming Masterpieces and Mythics from existing sets from both Standard and Legacy

Thank you for your feedback. We'll keep listening to it as much as possible. These changes, coupled with the new Vanguard cards, are part of a long-term plan to give players more options on how they want to enjoy the game. Keep an eye on the horizon for more news in the coming weeks.
  • Aether Vial (XLN - Support)
    • Mana Cost changed from 7 to 4.
  • Apex of Power (M19 - Spell)
    • Value changed from "...then gain 3 mana for each card..." to "...then gain 4 mana for each card..."
  • Apocalypse Demon (HOU - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 15 to 13.
  • Arcbound Ravager (AER - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 13 to 12.
  • Ball Lightning (M19 - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 12 to 10.
  • Befuddle (DOM - Spell) 
    • Values changed from "Target creature gets +1/+1..." to "Target creature gets +4/-0..."
  • Blue Sun Zenith (M19 - Spell)
    • Mana Cost changed from 6 to 10.
    • Stored Mana changed from 10 to 6.
    • Value changed from "...Stored Mana. Then, give those cards X plus 2 mana" to "...Stored Mana. Then, give those cards X plus 4 mana."
  • Chrome Mox (KLD Support)
    • Mana Cost changed from 9 to 8.
  • Counterspell (AKH - Spell)
    • Mana Cost changed from 16 to 14.
  • Curse of Predation (XLN - Support)
    • Mana Cost changed from 13 to 8.
  • Demonic Pact (ORI - Support)
    • Mana Cost changed from 21 to 18.
  • Dire Fleet Ravager (XLN - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 16 to 12.
  • Dragonmaster Outcast (BFZ - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 7 to 6.
  • Elvish Piper (DOM - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 12 to 9.
    • P/T changed from 4/4 to 3/3.
  • Etali, Primal Storm (RIX - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 16 to 14.
    • The ability Haste has been removed.
  • Fraying Sanity (HOU - Support)
    • Shield changed from 3 to 4.
  • Magus of the Wheel (DOM - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 14 to 10.
  • Mind's Eye (KLD - Support)
    • Mana Cost changed from 10 to 8.
  • Mox Opal (KLD - Support)
    • Mana Cost changed from 10 to 8.
  • Plague Wind (M19 - Spell)
    • Mana Cost changed from 10 to 16.
  • Rishadan Port (DOM - Support)
    • Value changed from "...activated color is reduced to 2 until..." to "...activated color is reduced to 1 until..."
  • Sphinx of the Guildpact (RNA - Creature)
    • Changed colors from Colorless to All Colors.
  • Squee, the Immortal (DOM - Creature)
    • Mana Cost changed from 16 to 13.
  • Vindicate (AKH - Spell)
    • Mana Cost changed from 7 to 6.

Bug Fixes

  • The Destroyer node in Hour of Devastation and Hour of Revelation no longer only counts Zombie creatures.
  • The opponent now correctly takes damage from Angrath, the Flame-Chained's Fiery Demise support only when the opponent's creatures enter their graveyard, and not also when tokens are destroyed.
  • A transparent outline no longer displays when viewing the player's Planeswalkers in the Planeswalker Selection Screen.
  • The Exclusive Referral Cards (Cowl Prowler, Ghirapur Orrery, and Wayward Giant) are no longer incorrectly included in Basic Booster (Legacy) and Rare Card (Legacy).
  • Fixed some text issues.
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Comments

  • Brigby
    Brigby ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 7,757 Site Admin
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    The War of the Spark card gallery will be available in the next couple of days
  • Tremayne
    Tremayne Posts: 1,612 Chairperson of the Boards
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    Thanks for the update.

    FYI - I spotted a few typos above.

    Magus of the moon currently costs 13 (not 14)
    Vindicate currently costs 7 (not 8)
  • Julie71
    Julie71 MTGPQ Mod Posts: 707 Critical Contributor
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    Really ya have to nerf plague wind. Why???
  • Brigby
    Brigby ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 7,757 Site Admin
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    Tremayne said:
    Thanks for the update.

    FYI - I spotted a few typos above.

    Magus of the moon currently costs 13 (not 14)
    Vindicate currently costs 7 (not 8)
    The first change was for Magus of the Wheel, not Moon, however nice catch on Vindicate's original cost! I've gone ahead and corrected that now. Thanks for the heads up!
  • OmegaLolrus
    OmegaLolrus Posts: 253 Mover and Shaker
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    Sooooo... Is it next Thursday yet? I want this now!
  • ZW2007-
    ZW2007- Posts: 812 Critical Contributor
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    Brigby said:

    Role Reversal (PvP)
    This is a fun and unpretentious Standard, non-Coalition PvP event that brings a unique playstyle for those who would like to try facing off against their own decks while using their opponent's cards instead. The event features a special support that restricts you from drawing cards from only the opposing deck. You're still able to use your Planeswalker's abilities though. 
    More like Troll Reversal, amirite? 

    But no seriously, not bad. Some of those card balancing changes must be a joke though. Aether Vial, Apocalypse Demon, Arcbound Ravager, Counterspell, Elvish Piper... those cards aren't underplayed because they cost too much. They are just bad cards. Lowering their costs just makes them cheaper bad cards that will still be underplayed.
  • ZW2007-
    ZW2007- Posts: 812 Critical Contributor
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    Brigby said:

    This event doesn't focus on Nicol Bonus himself

    Good, I don't think anyone wants to see that.
  • Brigby
    Brigby ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 7,757 Site Admin
    edited June 2019
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    ZW2007- said:
    Brigby said:
    This event doesn't focus on Nicol Bonus himself
    Good, I don't think anyone wants to see that.
    Nicol Bonus: the luckiest of the Elder Dragons.

    In all seriousness though, thanks for the heads up! I've gone ahead and corrected that.
  • ElfNeedsFood
    ElfNeedsFood Posts: 944 Critical Contributor
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    Vangaurd packs?  I certainly wasn't anticipating that one...  I hope we can earn these in events somehow...  
  • Matthew
    Matthew Posts: 605 Critical Contributor
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    Sweeeeeet!

    Here's my take on the info we have so far.

    The Good

    - The bug fix for the Destroyer objective. It's about damn time. How in the hell did this even happen in the first place, guys??
    - I like the mana bonuses of the two monocolor walkers. Monos need to be beefier in that regard. Nice to see you learned from how popular Nissa, Worldwaker seems to be.
    - New Tezzeret looks pretty solid, and definitely looks like one I'll be getting.
    - Thank you for resisting the urge to make an even more ridiculous Bolas. The paper version for this guy is absolutely insane in regards to abilities, so I'm glad to see that he's not even more powerful.
    - NEW EVENTS!!! Every one of these looks interesting. I'm excited to see what they're like. I just hope that we don't get to play them like once or twice before they're shelved and forgotten about. I'm especially curious to see what this Role Reversal event will be like.
    - Alas, poor Zenith, I knew ye well, and perhaps longer than most (I pulled it the first day it was available in an Elite Pack). I've had fun abusing this absolutely degenerate card, but I am so glad you guys have realized it needed some attention. Thank you for this.


    The Bad

    - The majority of the adjustments you guys've made to these "underplayed" cards seem to be incredibly tone-deaf. Those cards aren't underplayed because of the reasons you think (based upon your stated changes). They're underplayed because they are bad cards, or there are other options available which render them moot. I do applaud your initiative though. 
    - I think Plague Wind would have been just fine at 14 mana.
    - No release date!


    The Jury is Still Out

    - New mechanics only means new bugs to me. I'm not holding my breath on these until I see them in action.
    - Vanguard supports. They look interesting, but until I know more about what they do and how to obtain them (everyone seems to have overlooked that), I'll reserve my final thoughts. Also, if I'm reading this correctly, it looks like you guys are going to use it as an excuse to give us waaaaaay more pre-MtG:PQ planeswalkers. If that's the case, then I say that sounds great. Maybe also a way to put some of the older, obsolete, or underused walkers we have right now back out to pasture?


  • stikxs
    stikxs Posts: 518 Critical Contributor
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    Brigby said:
    Nicol Bonus: the luckiest of the Elder Dragons.
    :D
  • ElfNeedsFood
    ElfNeedsFood Posts: 944 Critical Contributor
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    @Brigby how are the weekday coalition events going to calendar out?  Will we be going back to the overlapping events of yesteryear or will there be gaps between events?
  • Mburn7
    Mburn7 Posts: 3,427 Chairperson of the Boards
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    I like the new walker designs (although the creep is real man.  Compare Gideon to Origins/Zendikar Gideon.  Woof)

    The Zenith nerf is great.  It costs 10 and gives 10, making it still super powerful but removing most of its loop potential.  Nicely done.

    The other card adjustments?  Whatever.  I don't see how Ball Lightning and Apex of Power needed buffs, but I guess since I don't have them it makes sense.  The rest I doubt will make anything more playable, but it certainly won't make them less playable so nice job?

    And finally,  NEW EVENTS HALLELUJA
  • khurram
    khurram Posts: 1,078 Chairperson of the Boards
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    The thing that I find most disturbing in these notes is that ugly mug for Gideon Blackblade. It does not have the same effect without the entire art.
    @Brigby Please request the devs to use art from the regular version of Gideon Blackblade. That one is much badass.  :)
  • wereotter
    wereotter Posts: 2,064 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited June 2019
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    Mburn7 said:
    I like the new walker designs (although the creep is real man.  Compare Gideon to Origins/Zendikar Gideon.  Woof)

    The Zenith nerf is great.  It costs 10 and gives 10, making it still super powerful but removing most of its loop potential.  Nicely done.

    The other card adjustments?  Whatever.  I don't see how Ball Lightning and Apex of Power needed buffs, but I guess since I don't have them it makes sense.  The rest I doubt will make anything more playable, but it certainly won't make them less playable so nice job?

    And finally,  NEW EVENTS HALLELUJA
    Blue Sun's Zenith going from 12 to 10 makes my Wizard storm deck sad... but I understand why the change. Just disappointed that now Adeliz is out of reach of being able to be cast in a Blue Sun's Zenith cast. Also I agree that Ball Lightning didn't really need a buff....

    Also not mentioned yet, the removal if haste from Etali is long overdue and welcome! I didn't like that literally the only way up to this point to keep your opponent from taking any of you cards is to have Bedevil or Murder changed and disabled in my hand.
  • Laeuftbeidir
    Laeuftbeidir Posts: 1,841 Chairperson of the Boards
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    Can you give more details about how the coalition event during the week is planned?
    To be more precise:
    Is the ending time problem solved in any way? Are there few or many nodes? Most of us got jobs during the week. I love new events, but I'm afraid I won't be able to participate at all since my working hours are not really flexible.
  • Mburn7
    Mburn7 Posts: 3,427 Chairperson of the Boards
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    @Brigby I am super confused about the change to Angrath's Ultimate ability.

    It was confirmed that its current behavior is correct here:
    https://forums.d3go.com/discussion/71807/angraths-third-ability-and-tokens/p2

    Why the sudden change (and massive nerf) now?
  • Dropspot
    Dropspot Posts: 200 Tile Toppler
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    Really dislike the return of weekday coalition events
  • BigSwifty
    BigSwifty Posts: 98 Match Maker
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    Looks pretty cool overall. Looking forward to it!
  • EvilDead
    EvilDead Posts: 167 Tile Toppler
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    ZW2007- said:
    Brigby said:

    Role Reversal (PvP)
    This is a fun and unpretentious Standard, non-Coalition PvP event that brings a unique playstyle for those who would like to try facing off against their own decks while using their opponent's cards instead. The event features a special support that restricts you from drawing cards from only the opposing deck. You're still able to use your Planeswalker's abilities though. 
    More like Troll Reversal, amirite? 

    But no seriously, not bad. Some of those card balancing changes must be a joke though. Aether Vial, Apocalypse Demon, Arcbound Ravager, Counterspell, Elvish Piper... those cards aren't underplayed because they cost too much. They are just bad cards. Lowering their costs just makes them cheaper bad cards that will still be underplayed.
    @Brigby

    Seriously, this sounds like a horrible idea. Only PWs that can directly damage the opponent are likely to prevail. Unless, you require certain aspects of the decks be built with certain numbers of card types, there will nothing but useless spells and supports with no creatures. Even if you required 3 creatures, they'll all be 1/1 or 0/x uselessness.

    Maybe the event should have at least one regular node with enough points that everyone has to build a normal desk and then other nodes for the swapping thingie. I don't know but this doesn't seem like it was well thought out from what text you've provided so far regarding the event.

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