Here are the fundamentals that you'll want to consider during deck construction with this card: First, notice that you will be working off of basic lands, for optimal production from your investment (the investment(s), of course, being things like the mana cost, the mere fact that you're using THAT card in your deck, or other pragmatic considerations). You would want to use a fairly even number of Mountains and Forests, sticking completely with basic lands, in an ideal formula. When using two colors, and working without non-basics, it is the only way to raise the potential of getting both color mana to an acceptable level. So, when you've ideally drawn this card, and lay down the sixth mana, you'll get six plants to work with, to utilize in harmony with the rest of your deck. Given that, you won't be making plants, and raising them to 4/5s just for the hell of it - This is likely a Trampling deck, with the plants providing extra damage sources for the buffing. That type of deck IS a cheap trick that too many people rely on, but perhaps Wizards will notice that the abilities that make it too powerful should be toned-down in the future. Unfortunately, I think that they tend to try and just give the people what they want, but unfair combinations are obviously a boring menace to the gameplay. I would make it much more difficult to win in such a way - instead of allowing players to utilize Phylath as part of the same old trick that everyone plays, it would stand as a mere x-factor to consider in the grand scheme of your design, hopefully lending you the edge you need to outwit the opponent. Having one creature in your deck that makes six + more, other large creatures might be a great asset in that scheme. But, we'd all have to accept playing without all the rule-breakers in the game, like the super-quick, trampling, one-swing death trick. |
