Top 5 TRAP CARDS for combo players! | Strixhaven — NEW MAGIC: THE GATHERING SET

Bryant Cook reviews brand new cards from the latest Magic: The Gathering set Strixhaven! With a focus on cards that combo players think are good but are actually just a trap. Do not play these cards!

What do you think of these spoilers? Am I wrong? TELL ME WHY!

Intro & Support — 00:00
Academic Probation — 01:26
Culling Ritual — 02:50
Resculpt — 05:19
Teach by Example — 07:04
Rowan, Scholar of Sparks // Will, Scholar of Frost — 09:39
Please don't be a trap! — 12:41

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#MagictheGathering #Strixhaven #MTGspoilers

[SamBucek]

The one context I can imagine teach by example seeing play is in historic as an extra version of sea gate stormcaller for the neoform combo. It doesnt come with the 2 mana value creature to sacrifice to neoform, but that deck can already play some 2 cost mana creatures to make the combo happen on turn 3.

[zachariahhenzel]

Yas I really like this video. I think you could elaborate and talk even more about the cards and why they're traps. Hopefully next spoiler round. Thanks Bryant!

[skoigoth]

Culling Ritual looks like it was made for Commander tbh. No idea whether or not it's good enough for cedh though.

[SethG]

I think Culling Ritual is better in some sort of modern or pioneer GB midrange pile. Maybe with tireless tracker and war of the spark nissa. it seems to slow for combo

[ryanromanik]

“You’re wrong.” -Bryant Cook
Love it. And love the video! By the way, another video type I’d love to see is deck techs on your most commonly played decks (TES, CycleStorm, PO, Izzet Birgi etc.)

[TheWhyPodJH]

Can't believe people actually think these cards are playable.

[joecassidy]

Culling Ritual could possibly be an engine replacement piece for Ironworks in a modern KCI eggs deck. But it has absolutely no place in a storm sideboard.

[nicksorensen]

First off great to see you branching out more in content form for TES and comboin general. To your trap cards list i have this to say:
A) Probation is only considerable in modern and below formats I believe. Having to name a specific card to stop for a turn is unplayable for legacy we need a stop it all card like veil or metal bug or silence. For the modern and smaller formats with less hate in the form of good counters it may be good but how good remains to be seen seeing as storm would need to cut some cards to make it work while not being able to wish for it. For the lesson part unless they start printing some better costed learn cards or better value learn cards the lesson part isnt going to matter much.
B) I had a long discussion on why this card is bad when it was spoiled and some one posted about it possibly fitting into TES or storm in general.
C) Again as you iterated yes exile better then bounce but why give your opponent a beatstick to kill you with? Not a storm card but maybe a food chain card to get around non exile removal for mishollow griffin maybe or some other deck that has a similar focus.
D) Teach by example is just win more.
E) Neither planeswalker is inherently good. Birgi is just better then Rowan and Birgi's flip side is so much better then Will. The only good the planeswalkers have is that are going to be standard playable; outside of standard they either cost to much and have no immediate board effect (Will) or require huge set up to have meaningful board effect (Rowan).
I do hope witherbloom command does turn out to be good as it would give us outs in tempo decks with its rebuy of a land and one other mode.

[mtgmodernstorm]

Agree with this! My inclination is the planeswalker doesn't make the cut as well, but I'll probably throw it in a sideboard to confirm/deny that theory. #BirgiOP

[carbon]

I liked this a lot. Any effect that can *copy* a *spell* has this intoxicating appeal and it's important to have these reality checks so we don't get swept up in it.

[BenjaminPassino]

I would love for you to lean into the theme of the video more with: it's a trap! After each review.

[alexkwok]

What do you think about Resculpt in Karn Echo deck? lt seems very good to handle those things Echo deck can't handle like Chalice, Null Rod, Collector Ouphe etc.

[zkyz]

will you do a video showing not Strixhaven trap ones, but with the good ones ?

[LANMEE]

Cool to see you doing this kind of content.
Also I think it would be cool to see a separate video of your most interesting cards that you hope to try out across the formats, just like you mentioned Witherbloom Command :)

[loathesome_pilk_drinker]

It was an enjoyable video, Bryant. That being said, could you increase the volume of your videos a tad, I really have difficulty hearing you when on the bus, haha.

[jaysherman]

This kind of content is (also) great! Have a great day too

[MackNJacishopper]

I am no expert, but witherbloom seems to be a good wait and see card. I could see it really pulling its weight. but, the proof will be in the results.

[abludungeonmaster]

Good video. Here are my dumb ideas.

1. Rescuplt + Angelic ascension + Use on own tokens. The kicker is making the effect asymmetrical. Cute, but needs a bunch of support. Such a deck would only be mediocre a best if there was a very cheap, consistent anthem effects.

2. Teach by example is only good when you need to copy a gifts or a pif because of a counter magic or graveyard wipe triggers on the stack. Still meh because the mana cost is relevant. (Need to have enough mana to start ritual chain) Its stock goes up when you have cards like frantic inventory and take inventory. Notably, yard hate still disrupts this, and galvanic blast is a poor payoff. Maybe with alot of empty tokens you can use this with Battle Hymn, Dragon rage. Sure, maybe priest of urabrask, and burning tree + token effects can help flood the board to help make these rituals.

3. Rowan would be god tier if her loyalty was 3. She is one of the few walkers that can die to a bolt after a + ability.

4. Witherbloom command is he cheapest 2 for 1 that effects the board that has been printed. I'd argue this is main deckable in legacy, because the floor of drain and make a land drop is acceptable. The card plays well into storm being happy to land pass until ready to go, by guaranteeing landrops and a life buffer. It also answers everything bar T sphere. The floor of kill a creature make a LD is fine too.

5. Academic probation depends on learners. Lesson is a stupidly powerful ability because it says give up sideboard space for specific cards to no longer have the cost of being down a card. It is similar to OG companion, by offering card advantage via meeting deck restrictions. Probation wants to be paired with a cost reducer and a cheap learner. Floor is stall walkers, ceiling is protect combo against a card that will kill you..

[DuncanHarbison]

Teach by example seems like an amazing card when you're already winning.

[DEVILONBOTHSHOULDERS]

i kinda like rescuplt in the board of high tide but i haven’t tested it enough 2 be sure