This week in Magic Puzzles, we examine the Timeshifted cards of . Are they better than the originals, or just bad imitations? Find out below. But first...
Solution to last week's puzzle.
Since several of the puzzles last week were so open-ended, I will not list every possible solution here, only the highlights. All the answers submitted by other readers can be found in the forums for the last article. Since people seemed to enjoy these open-ended types of questions, I'll try to do similar puzzles in the future.
Part 1:
It turns out there are so many first-turn wins in Standard that it seems almost impossible not to win before your opponent gets a turn... provided you can always draw multiple and s. Solutions ranged from the obvious (, x4, for 4 s) to the slightly more obscure (, 3 s, , , Rite of Flame, , , Festival of the Guildpact, , , ).
“Opponent strangles you for playing a 13 card combo on the first turn, thus getting himself disqualified. Alternatively, attack for 22 with the Dragonauts.”
NotTheONe
Part 2:
The best valid solution given uses 11 cards (Gemstone Mine, 4x Rite of Flame, Chromatic Star x4, Darkwater Egg, Tendrils of Despair).
However, a 10-card solution also exists (Chrome Mox imprinting Rite of Flame, 3x Rite of Flame, Burning Wish for Rite of Flame, Rite of Flame, Chromatic Star x4, Tendrils of Despair).
There is another way to win with only 10 cards, if anyone is interested in taking up the challenge.
Part 3:
a) I was looking for , , , . I'm also awarding credit to bleonhar for coming up with the best alphabetical solution, even though it's not what I had in mind (, x4, , , ).
b) ,
c) While solutions with artifacts were not counted, RidiculousHat still powered out the most mono-color kills. Answers typically involve winning several rituals and then some finisher, such as , , or .
d) The best solution was from moxlotus:
, Elvish Spirit guide, imprinting a colored spell, , , .
, , , , , , .
, , , for ...Tendrils.
, , Mox ruby, , , , for 10.
Cards hit:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. for 20 damage
, , , Gemstone mine, (now have 5 cards in hand), , Mountain, , , . 7 cards in hand. , , , . Sacrifice , , Mountain, , , and City. Threshold achieved. Shoot with . Replay mountain, tap for mana, sack. Replay ring. Repeat a few times.
, , , Kobold of the , Crimson Kobold, , , , , , .
Current Scores :
Middleman — 23
moxlotus — 12
RidiculousHat - 10
Mystic Mage — 9
ravenight - 9
Estherandherdoll - 6
Pathian - 6
amajlaton - 5
bleonhar - 5
DI419 — 3
navaja22 — 3
This Week's Puzzle (20 points total)
Difficulty: 2/5
In each of the four scenarios below, you have two of each basic land in play, and 45 cards in your hand. The 45 cards are either the complete set of Timeshifted cards, the 45 non-Timeshifted version of those cards, or some combination of the two. If it is a combination, both the original and Timeshifted version of a card cannot both be used in the same puzzle. Your job is to determine which set of cards will allow you to win the game this turn. Can you win with cards from just one set of 45 cards, or must the versions be mixed? Remember, assume that any cards not mentioned are not relevant, including the cards still in your library or in your graveyard (which is empty). You are in your first main phase (except scenario 3).
Scenario 1 [5 points]:
You and your opponent, Manny, are both at 1 life.
Manny has in play:
4 (tapped)
3 Mountain (tapped)
4 (tapped)
9 ! (Maybe he hasn't attacked because he figures that with 45 cards in your hand, you have some trick. Maybe it's just because Manny isn't the brightest opponent ever.)
Scenario 2 [5 points]:
You are at 1 life and Manny is at 13.
Manny has in play:
4 (2 tapped)
3 Forest (tapped)
4 Plains (tapped)
9
Manny has in hand. (You know this because he tried to counter your land drops with it... twice.)
Scenario 3 [5 points]:
You are at 3 life and Manny is at 2 life.
Manny has no cards in hand, and has not played a spell this turn. It is his declare attackers step. He has in play:
5 Forest
3 Mountain
4 Plains
(attacking)
(attacking)
(attacking)
Scenario 4 [5 points]:
You are at 24 life and Manny is at 9.
Manny has in play:
5 Forest
3 Mountain
4 Plains
6 1/1 Red Goblin tokens
Darksteel Colossus enchanted with 2 (naming Blue and White)
2
(naming Red)
Enjoy the puzzles, and good luck!
For reference, he is the list of the Timeshifted cards and their original counterparts.
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