High-cost abilities
Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 6, 2020, 8:05 p.m. by Omniscience_is_life
Hello all, I want to know what some of the best expensive (mana-wise) activated abilities there are, for my Zirda deck-- it's super hard to look up creatures based on this requirement (both scryfall and gatherer have no "activated abilities" function, understandably), so I'm having a hard time finding them. what I'm looking for would ideally be something like a Planar Bridge effect, but on a creature. Thanks a whole ton in advance!
FormOverFunction says... #3
The “inspired” costs always seemed too expensive, maybe some of those might be good? Or some of the god abilities?
August 6, 2020 9:03 p.m.
King_marchesa says... #4
A card that's kind of like Planar Bridge is Ring of Three Wishes though you can only activate it 3 times you can probably win through three tutors especially if you are adding Combos.
August 6, 2020 9:20 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #5
cough likely because I’m bad at Magic: the Gathering...cough I would start with the old artifacts, because they’re considered underpowered due to their costs. Maybe something like Jandor's Saddlebags.
But again, I’m not a good guide for actually making GOOD decks ;p
August 6, 2020 9:47 p.m.
RiotRunner789 says... #6
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Not amazing but not bad. He's generally used for the ETB triggers.
Feldon of the Third Path: Similar vein. Worth it if your creature heavy or even if you have key features on creatures you want ETB's or an activation for.
Soul of New Phyrexia: Indestructible is nice.
Aggravated Assault: Great for Aggro, even better if it only costs 3.
Captivating Crew: Throw in a sac outlet and laugh.
Dawn of Hope: This I think could work with Zirda without any other life gain. Two mana for a 1/1 lifelink at instant speed is worth it, tack on 2 mana to draw a card whenever it attacks or blocks and its a must have.
Eldrazi Displacer: Don't know if Zirda reduces the waste cost but it can blink/save a creature for 1.
Endbringer: Same as above. Drawing for free is nice though.
Also, Zirda reduces equip costs. So you could have a pseudo voltron or just add swords. I didn't find or know of a planar effect on a creature though.
August 6, 2020 11:22 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #7
thank you all so much for your advice. Let me make clear a few things that I clearly didn't, previously (and that's my mistake): I'm trying to build a Zirda deck (noncommander, so don't worry about identity) with other cards like Training Grounds, Heartstone, Biomancer's Familiar, etc. to try to get a bunch of abilities with mana costs similar to Planar Bridge's for free/near free. Not just looking for generically good Zirda cards, although it is truly nice to know them. Thanks again sorry for being confusing ;)
August 6, 2020 11:42 p.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #8
Go to Zirda's Scryfall page and scroll to the bottom. There are various codes given to find all cards she hits.
August 7, 2020 8:04 a.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #10
RiotRunner789 Zirda does not reduces the wastes costs unfortunately, because it only reduces generic mana costs, not colorless. I wasn't sure either, so I had to look it up.
August 7, 2020 9:51 a.m.
ClockworkSwordfish says... #12
I always liked using Training Grounds and similar effects with the level up creatures - good candidates include Brimstone Mage, Hada Spy Patrol and Kabira Vindicator. I also felt it really put Dark Impostor over the top!
If you were willing to make room for a toolbox, it also pairs perfectly with the rebels (Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero et al.) and other creature-fetchers like Skyshroud Poacher, Moggcatcher and Seahunter.
August 8, 2020 2:39 a.m.
Almighty Brushwag, Anointed Chorister, Knight of the Ebon Legion and Spectral Sailor are good 1 drops due to their solid abilities. At 2 mana you have Coralhelm Guide that can get all that damage through, too. Knight of Cliffhaven is a good mana sink for extra mana you don’t use, as well as Null Champion. Oran-Rief Invoker is a decent card in the invoker cycle. You’ve also got Dawnglare Invoker, Flamewave Invoker, Starlight Invoker, and Frostwind Invoker. For a top end card there’s Shalai, Voice of Plenty.
I’m going to make an assumption that you’d play bant. This lets you play Training Grounds, Biomancer's Familiar and Zirda, the Dawnwaker using some of the best and most aggressive 1 drop and 2 drop creatures. That’s what I would do anyway.
Caerwyn says... #2
Since all activated abilities contain a : you can use that in the Rules Text search on the Gatherer to find all cards with activated abilities. If you add a {3} {4} {5} . . . in an OR text box search to further limit the cards to with those generic mana costs in their text box.
August 6, 2020 8:58 p.m.