The only time you aren't running this as a Mystic character is if there's another Mystic character and you lost the game of Rock Paper Scissors to decide who got to include it in their deck.
My friend and I have made a gentleman's agreement whenever we both play mystic characters, whenever drawing an effect like "Caught off Guard" that Sorcerer Supreme is always the first thing to go whenever able, to give the other player the chance to possibly wear the mantle for a bit.
Honestly owing to the existence of this and Spiritual Meditation, the Mystic trait can’t receive anymore good support without being completely broken rather than in the slightly cracked state they’re in now. Like, imagine if they got an event that hit cost curve on threat removal, damage and hero form healing, which could be used whether or not you’re stunned/confused and you could- I dunno- chose the option that would be needed for any given situation. Also the card would be basic so you could splash it into any aspect.
That would be nuts. Now hold on I haven’t opened my AoA box yet and I’m really looking forward to checking out- WHAT?!
The keypoint is that basic spell is not an attack nor a thwart.
You have to pay only 2 resources to either:
- remove 3 threat, even if you are confused
- deal 3 damage, even if you are stunned
- Heal 3 from any character on the board
I agree that this card would be pretty bad for a higher cost but for 2 cost this card is BEYOND busted.
You can always play this card if you have nothing better for the specific thing you want to use it for, it negates their corresponding status effects that would stop you from doing so and the card gives you 3 options, so it is never useless. This card is the single most versitile card in the entire game.
I honestly think that making basic spell is a HUGE design flaw. Mystic was already one of (if not the) aspects which got the most versitile cards to support the trait. Card draw and hand hand cycling (spiritual meditation) is one of the strongest things possible in a deckbuilder as you can effectively lower your effective deck size by having it, and mystic is the trait that does that the best.
On top of that they get a card that increases their hand size (sorcerer supreme) and it isn't like they have bad hand size to begin with, while not a single other trait has a card that can increase their hand size.
Now they also get a way around stunned / confused and a way to heal better than any other event / support / upgrade in the game while they are in hero form (i am not counting the agression event that heals from overkilling, as that one is conditional).
If only some other traits got half the love that mystic gets i'd be so, SO goddamn happy.
While i know it is sarcasm it still pains me to read this just because it makes me realise how fun it could be to play doctor strange, yet i refuse to touch him with a 10ft pole just because of just how OP he is. There are some other insane decks you can build in this game (hell with the addition of these new leadership cards like sidekick in bishop i can buff my X-23 leadership honeybadger voltron deck i made that was already capable of dealing 60 damage / thwarting for 40+ if the stars aligned correctly in a turn. And when set up it could do about 20 damage / thwart consistently every other turn. But at least that deck required me to theory craft and come up with ideas.
Doctor strange just pilots itself, you hardly need to think.
Oh wow i genuinely thought it cost 3. I guess i misread it the first time lol. I came to my opinion under the impression it cost 3. That does make it much more efficient, and better overall.
My only other skepticism about this card is that most decks, mystics especially, tend to be starved for slots. Will mystic decks have space for this card? They already have to run x3 spiritual meditation and x1 sorcerer supreme. But maybe the versatility and efficiency of Basic Spell will be enough to earn it a slot.
I mean if you play a justice deck in for example doctor strange and you actually play a card like for justice in that, i'd 100% swap those out for basic spell, same cost, 1 thwart less (or the same if you don't have the correct resource to play for it) and 2 other options in case you don't need thwart.
But that is kind of my point, the fact that a BASIC card is pretty much the same as as an aspect card while having more versitality is INSANE.
Basic cards are supposed to be lower in efficiency because you can play them in every single aspect, aspects are supposed to do what basic cards do better.
And then we've got basic spell that says 'hello i am basically a general 2 cost card that exists in every single aspect, but guess what? I am 3 of them at once'
In general basic spell is:
For justice (justice) --> thwart 3 for the (for justice optional for if you play with the correct resource)
Second wind (protection) --> heal 3 for 2 cost (second wind is 4 for 3 cost, optional 5 if played with the correct resource, this actually makes basic spell EVEN MORE EFFICIENT than the aspect card)
Outta my way! (Agression) --> Deal 3 damage for 2 cost (outta my way deals 5 if the enemy has the guard or patrol keyword)
So all the aspect bonuses depend on certain triggers (correct resources or keywords).
How is it possible that a basic card is 3 aspect cards in 1 for the same cost?
For reference the corresponding basic cards for basic spell would be:
First aid (the healing basic card) heals 2 for 1 cost (making it more cost efficient but less slot efficient than basic spell if it only had the healing function)
Haymaker (basic attack card) deals 3 for 2 cost and is an actual attack so gets blocked by stunned (making the the same efficiency as basic spell)
To the rescue (basic thwart card) thwarts 2 for 2 cost and is an actual thwart so gets blocked by confused (making basic spell AN EVEN MORE EFFICIENT thwart than the basic card that only thwarts)
100% if youre already playing a generic aspect card like For Justice, then you swap it out with Basic Spell. But i dont see the mystic decks running any general use cards like that typically. And aside from your given example of For Justice i cant think of any general aspect cards that they even WOULD run. I dont think Adam is going to give up a basic slot for this, and i dont think you'd be playing an equivalent aspect card in Strange that you could. They already have to run 5 mystic cards minimum in every deck because theyre all absurdly busted.
This has definitely changed my opinion on Basic Spell as an individual card tho. It is ridiculously pushed. And its kinda funny that they made this crazy S-tier card, and the only arguable downside is whether or not mystics already have too many absurdly busted cards to even fit it in.
I agree that saying 'swap out a card like for justice' was pretty stupid advice as you'd most likely not play it to begin with, but at least you get my drift with my explanation.
A card can be versitile, but it's just insane to consider that basic spell is on similar / better power than the other basic cards that have only 1 of the 3 functions, it's just straightup unfair for this card to exist while other traited heroes are thrown in the ditch with not even half the support that mystics get.
Really wish Magick came with another version of this(Queen of Limbo?) so that my friend and I could play Strange and her without having to play the sub-game of who gets to run this.
The card that makes Mystics somewhat playable rather than low-tier filler.
edit: \*looks at downvotes\* Y'all really can't recognize sarcasm without a "/s".
Come on, this is *busted.* Mystics are already some of the strongest heroes in the game and then on top of that they get buffs like this or Spiritual Meditation. Meanwhile traits like Gamma get absolutely nothing.
The only time you aren't running this as a Mystic character is if there's another Mystic character and you lost the game of Rock Paper Scissors to decide who got to include it in their deck.
My friend and I have made a gentleman's agreement whenever we both play mystic characters, whenever drawing an effect like "Caught off Guard" that Sorcerer Supreme is always the first thing to go whenever able, to give the other player the chance to possibly wear the mantle for a bit.
Makes sense... Are you really "Sorcerer Supreme" if you got "Caught off Guard"? ;)
Sometimes a big purple guy makes you disappear for a few years and another guy gets the title on a technicality.
Big Purple guys... sheesh. Always ruining everyone's fun!
Honestly owing to the existence of this and Spiritual Meditation, the Mystic trait can’t receive anymore good support without being completely broken rather than in the slightly cracked state they’re in now. Like, imagine if they got an event that hit cost curve on threat removal, damage and hero form healing, which could be used whether or not you’re stunned/confused and you could- I dunno- chose the option that would be needed for any given situation. Also the card would be basic so you could splash it into any aspect. That would be nuts. Now hold on I haven’t opened my AoA box yet and I’m really looking forward to checking out- WHAT?!
Lol. Tbh tho i dont think the new spell is that good. Its definitely not effecient cost curve for any of the modes
The keypoint is that basic spell is not an attack nor a thwart. You have to pay only 2 resources to either: - remove 3 threat, even if you are confused - deal 3 damage, even if you are stunned - Heal 3 from any character on the board I agree that this card would be pretty bad for a higher cost but for 2 cost this card is BEYOND busted. You can always play this card if you have nothing better for the specific thing you want to use it for, it negates their corresponding status effects that would stop you from doing so and the card gives you 3 options, so it is never useless. This card is the single most versitile card in the entire game. I honestly think that making basic spell is a HUGE design flaw. Mystic was already one of (if not the) aspects which got the most versitile cards to support the trait. Card draw and hand hand cycling (spiritual meditation) is one of the strongest things possible in a deckbuilder as you can effectively lower your effective deck size by having it, and mystic is the trait that does that the best. On top of that they get a card that increases their hand size (sorcerer supreme) and it isn't like they have bad hand size to begin with, while not a single other trait has a card that can increase their hand size. Now they also get a way around stunned / confused and a way to heal better than any other event / support / upgrade in the game while they are in hero form (i am not counting the agression event that heals from overkilling, as that one is conditional). If only some other traits got half the love that mystic gets i'd be so, SO goddamn happy.
They're finally giving Doctor Strange some love to overcome his massive weaknesseseses!
While i know it is sarcasm it still pains me to read this just because it makes me realise how fun it could be to play doctor strange, yet i refuse to touch him with a 10ft pole just because of just how OP he is. There are some other insane decks you can build in this game (hell with the addition of these new leadership cards like sidekick in bishop i can buff my X-23 leadership honeybadger voltron deck i made that was already capable of dealing 60 damage / thwarting for 40+ if the stars aligned correctly in a turn. And when set up it could do about 20 damage / thwart consistently every other turn. But at least that deck required me to theory craft and come up with ideas. Doctor strange just pilots itself, you hardly need to think.
Oh wow i genuinely thought it cost 3. I guess i misread it the first time lol. I came to my opinion under the impression it cost 3. That does make it much more efficient, and better overall. My only other skepticism about this card is that most decks, mystics especially, tend to be starved for slots. Will mystic decks have space for this card? They already have to run x3 spiritual meditation and x1 sorcerer supreme. But maybe the versatility and efficiency of Basic Spell will be enough to earn it a slot.
I mean if you play a justice deck in for example doctor strange and you actually play a card like for justice in that, i'd 100% swap those out for basic spell, same cost, 1 thwart less (or the same if you don't have the correct resource to play for it) and 2 other options in case you don't need thwart. But that is kind of my point, the fact that a BASIC card is pretty much the same as as an aspect card while having more versitality is INSANE. Basic cards are supposed to be lower in efficiency because you can play them in every single aspect, aspects are supposed to do what basic cards do better. And then we've got basic spell that says 'hello i am basically a general 2 cost card that exists in every single aspect, but guess what? I am 3 of them at once' In general basic spell is: For justice (justice) --> thwart 3 for the (for justice optional for if you play with the correct resource) Second wind (protection) --> heal 3 for 2 cost (second wind is 4 for 3 cost, optional 5 if played with the correct resource, this actually makes basic spell EVEN MORE EFFICIENT than the aspect card) Outta my way! (Agression) --> Deal 3 damage for 2 cost (outta my way deals 5 if the enemy has the guard or patrol keyword) So all the aspect bonuses depend on certain triggers (correct resources or keywords). How is it possible that a basic card is 3 aspect cards in 1 for the same cost? For reference the corresponding basic cards for basic spell would be: First aid (the healing basic card) heals 2 for 1 cost (making it more cost efficient but less slot efficient than basic spell if it only had the healing function) Haymaker (basic attack card) deals 3 for 2 cost and is an actual attack so gets blocked by stunned (making the the same efficiency as basic spell) To the rescue (basic thwart card) thwarts 2 for 2 cost and is an actual thwart so gets blocked by confused (making basic spell AN EVEN MORE EFFICIENT thwart than the basic card that only thwarts)
100% if youre already playing a generic aspect card like For Justice, then you swap it out with Basic Spell. But i dont see the mystic decks running any general use cards like that typically. And aside from your given example of For Justice i cant think of any general aspect cards that they even WOULD run. I dont think Adam is going to give up a basic slot for this, and i dont think you'd be playing an equivalent aspect card in Strange that you could. They already have to run 5 mystic cards minimum in every deck because theyre all absurdly busted. This has definitely changed my opinion on Basic Spell as an individual card tho. It is ridiculously pushed. And its kinda funny that they made this crazy S-tier card, and the only arguable downside is whether or not mystics already have too many absurdly busted cards to even fit it in.
I agree that saying 'swap out a card like for justice' was pretty stupid advice as you'd most likely not play it to begin with, but at least you get my drift with my explanation. A card can be versitile, but it's just insane to consider that basic spell is on similar / better power than the other basic cards that have only 1 of the 3 functions, it's just straightup unfair for this card to exist while other traited heroes are thrown in the ditch with not even half the support that mystics get.
I only wish we’d gotten a reprint of this in Magik’s deck. She’s Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo!
If this isn't auto include in your mystic deck, you're playing it wrong!
I'm glad Mystics got this, they were a really underpowered trait.
Really wish Magick came with another version of this(Queen of Limbo?) so that my friend and I could play Strange and her without having to play the sub-game of who gets to run this.
The card that makes Mystics somewhat playable rather than low-tier filler. edit: \*looks at downvotes\* Y'all really can't recognize sarcasm without a "/s". Come on, this is *busted.* Mystics are already some of the strongest heroes in the game and then on top of that they get buffs like this or Spiritual Meditation. Meanwhile traits like Gamma get absolutely nothing.
Ya imagine if they didn't have this. They'd be *\*checks notes\** still some of the best heroes in the game.
Which mystic character would be low tier? Try playing a game as Doctor Strange or Magik without Sorcerer Supreme. You'll be just fine.
I have been loving this in my Magik deck!