Survivors of the Megapocalypse Review for
Sealed
Part 5: Water
Water Civilization
Water has never been known
for speed, and its Survivors selections fall in line. Seventy-five percent
of Water’s cards cost 5 mana and above, and it sports the most expensive
creature to grace the game yet at 12 mana. Even with a cross section of
expensive cards there are some playable hitters and spells sprinkled in
Water’s offerings.
Solidskin Fish
3000 power for 3 mana is
solid. The only thing holding bad Solidskin is that you must lose 1 mana to
the hand when you play it. Slows down getting out your fatties but could nab
you something to play in a few turns. A better drop for when you reach a
comfortable mana level.
Playability: Medium
Miracle Quest
Break 1 shield, draw 2
cards. Break 2 shields, draw 4 cards. Thinning your deck is good in Sealed,
and Quest could help you nab your bomb or another decent hitter. At 3 mana
it’s not a wasted play going into the midgame or late game if you have
nothing else in hand that you can afford to cast. Do not pass up a good
hitter to deck Quest.
Playability: Medium
Pokolul
4 mana for 2000 power—it
should have a nice effect. Untapping is a great effect in Sealed, but
Pokolul only untaps if the shield it breaks is a shield trigger. Not enough
shield triggers in the set for Pokolul’s effect to matter. If you don’t have
enough 4 post cards and are running Water, then Pokolul won’t necessarily
hurt your deck.
Playability: Medium
Split-Head Hydroturtle Q
It’s a more expensive
Hypersquid Walter. 2000 power means it’s not going to be drawing you many
cards. Better when you have other Survivors out.
Playability: Medium
Steel-Turret Cluster
Steel can’t be attacked by
Nature or Fire creatures, and that’s a good thing because your opponent will
want to deck some hitters from those civilizations. With 3000 power at 5
mana it stands to be pounced by quite a few hitters, and its effect helps
narrow down the crowd of potential bullies.
Playability: Medium
Lurking Eel
It can block only Fire and
Nature creatures. It won’t survive the attacking madness for Nature’s
semi-affordable fatties or this likes of Twin-Cannon, but it can off some
other hitters. It can also attack players or creatures. Not completely
horrible, but not very good either.
Playability: Low
Spikestrike Ichthys Q
6 mana for a creature with
3000 power that can’t be blocked. This is a very expensive yet slightly more
powerful Faerie Child. This is an okay pick due to the evasion, but not
exactly stellar.
Playability: Medium
Aqua Surfer
Bounce is nice in Sealed
due to a lot of creatures having summoning sickness and the low amounts of
mana being played. Aqua Surfer’s cost to power ratio is bad for
hard-casting, but it can send one of your opponent’s fatties
flying--possibly for free off the trigger.
Playability: Medium
Sea Slug
8 mana for a blocker means
it had better be able to attack creatures. It also should have an additional
effect like double breaker or some insane power. Instead of hitting for two
Slug has evasion and 6000 power. I’d rather play a cheaper creature for
evasion, like Candy Drop. Slug isn’t super-awful, it’s just not a must deck.
Playability: Low
King Mazelan
Mazelan is a solid fattie
due to its double breaker status, 7000 power, and bounce effect. Mazelan can
bounce one of your opponent’s mana-intensive bombs or a blocker so another
hitter can slip thru. Its 8-mana cost keeps it from receiving a High rating.
Playability: Low
Divine Riptide
The problem with this spell
is that it bounces all of both players mana. Mana is precious in Sealed. If
I’m going to lose mana it should be to put a great hitter into play. At 9
mana I want to drop a bomb or play several creatures.
Playability: Not playable
King Tsunami
It’s 12,000 power and 3
shield breaks are nice. The bounce effect could send your opponent
scrambling to play answers to Tsunami. King Tsunami’s mana cost prevents it
from being playable—12 mana is too much for one creature in Sealed. It would
be remiss to bounce creatures that have devastating come into play effects
and or Speed Attackers, especially when you have next to no chance of
re-summoning some of your bounced hitters.
Playability: Not Playable
Water offers creature some
nifty bounce and draw for your decks. Like Darkness, this is another support
civilization for Survivors Sealed.
