Friendship is Card Games: The Summer Sun Setback · 11:55am Aug 25th, 2019
On the one hand, we got an apology for last week. On the other, the writers felt last week called for an apology. 
Say what you will about crazy, competitive, and crazy-competitive Twilight, at least she knows when and how to put it away these days.
I do love how this season gives us full-fledged “Meanwhile, at the Legion of Doom” openings.
At first, I wondered how Grogar planned on clearing that sizable gap on the walkway out of his lair. Then I remembered that he’s a goat. The fact that there’s even a walkway is probably a grudging concession to less sure-footed species.
Hmm. Apparently Twilight mentioned the restricted portion of the Canterlot archives. The question is whether she told an entire class about or just mentioned it while Cozy was in the room while she still thought of pony Darla Dimples as a trusted aide and confidante. Either way, it feels like a “Forgotten Friendship” reference, even if the villains infiltrate the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing instead. And, looking back at “It’s About Time,” that is explicitly the most secure section of the archives that Twilight knew of at the time. I suppose I should be grateful that she’s not blabbing about the really secret archives to her entire class.
Very interesting to hear Tirek characterize the diarchs as knowledge hoarders. Given the aforementioned extra-secret archives, there may be something to that, though one must consider the source. This is coming from someone who views all pony magic as rightfully his, after all.
It is nice to see the show come out and say “A Trivial Pursuit” was a special case. Twilight really has grown since she first landed in Ponyville. Delegation, focus, reasonable amounts of planning…
I am inordinately proud of this small purple cartoon horse. 
Ah, royal retirement, take two. Or three, depending on how you count “Between Dark and Dawn.” Either way, this final Summer Sun Celebration marks a key moment in the transition of power. And a discomforting reminder of how we’ll being bidding Equestria farewell soon. Official sources, anyway.
Part of me wishes that replacement amulet was a magic feather-type placebo. Part of me recognizes that it’ll probably fall into the villains’ clutches at some point.
Nice touch with each Bearer getting an index card the same color of her Element. When all six come together, they can do anything. Emphasis on “all six.” Sorry, Spike, you’re definitely helpful, but you’re not the new Twilight either.
Okay, seriously, how did the villains get deep enough into Canterlot to even skulk in that alley? Chrysalis, sure. Cozy, probably, given it’s in the wee hours. But even then, Tirek has a rather distinctive silhouette.
It feels really weird to hear Cozy dismiss the Celebration as “that silly sun holiday.” It’s not like she’s from the outside looking in at Equestria’s culture… I assume.
Hmm. Cozy hailing from parts unknown might actually explain some of her antisocial tendencies, though that would raise the question of how she found her way to Ponyville. Still something to consider.
It is nice to see the heightened security actually do its job… though the guards probably should’ve detained the mare who was obviously trying to infiltrate.
Also, Chrysalis was able to detach a piece of her disguise. It’s not clear if she could actually let go of it; presumably the badge is still part of her body.
Apparently Cozy brought an actual chess set for the road trip. Or found one in the alley. This is Canterlot. I’m sure there’s classier garbage in the well-to-do districts.
Hmm. What a suspiciously unfortunate location for Discord to send everypony… 
Interesting to see that Tirek left the cutie marks this time. I suppose that would’ve been too obvious, though even this seems like it should be familiar for the ponies of Appleoosa. It’s not their first time getting drained, after all.
Okay, I know that weather coordinator was Twilighting as much as Twilight wasn’t, but Cozy Glow is still a child. Why did he trust her that much? (Her special talent, probably.)
Also, I do wonder what’s in those rain barrels. And the sun barrels, wind barrels…
Also also, said Twilighter actually has a name in the credits, Feather Flatterfly. I wonder if he ever worked with/for Fluttershy’s father.
Similarly, the leader of the fireworks troupe is named Fire Flare, and I appreciate how her design is somewhat reminiscent of both Sunset and Tempest Shadow, both of whom would’ve been appropriate as guest members of said troupe.
Another ladybug mark on Chrysalis’s disguise. You’d think she’d avoid such telltale signs.
What did Cozy do? And how?
I appreciate Applejack trying to short-circuit the Act 3 drama. If only the others would listen to her. There’s a time and a place for stress, and everything going to crap qualifies, so long as you can use that stress constructively. I can hardly blame AJ for getting so frustrated later.
Also, there are other windows in that hallway. By all rights, Twilight should’ve already seen the storm in her peripheral vision.
I do appreciate Discord going full halo and toga to tell the girls that no, he won’t provide a deus ex machina. I also appreciate how everypony actually believed him when he insisted the madness outside wasn’t his doing. Yes, we still got a “We just need to build a perfect replica of Canterlot and have the Celebration there! We have twenty minutes.” moment, but at least it was more constructive than pointing hooves at a relatively innocent draconequus.
Of course. The one time the geese don’t immediately go nuts. (Also, they actually kept the geese. Wasn’t expecting that.)
Apparently the archive patrols have the night off. And Cozy can pick the lock to one of the most secure parts of said archive with a paper clip. And that one guard who saw both Cozy and Tirek isn’t going to say anything.
Given how eagerly Discord watched for Twilight’s explosive reaction to the madness, I have to wonder how aware he was of the villains’ scheme. Especially given that suspiciously well-placed teleport and the “you might just be ready” comment. I wouldn’t be surprised if he considered this Twilight’s final exam in matters of friendship and heroism. Heck, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was Grogar.
Very cool visuals between Dash slicing a cloud in half through contrail constriction and Discord shoving a bit into the static behind reality. That last bit’s actually reminiscent of MLP in a Nutshell. Or just sending the stuff out of the plane.
I have to appreciate using a book on keys to smash open the lock. Also, I find myself hoping that that book doesn’t actually contain any instructions on using the Bewitching Bell.
Twilight raised the sun. Properly. She’s come so far from the little filly who watched Celestia do the same. I really wasn’t expecting to see this until the finale. It’s a legitimately touching moment even before rededicating the holiday to the sisters in a way that honors their work in buildign the nation rather than commemorating their spats with one another.
Again, trying to present Tirek as draining life force rather than magic. A curious shift.
Uh, no, Chryssy. Only the unicorns really turned on anypony. The earth ponies were too weak to move and the pegasi were just trying to get the sky back under control. I appreciate a good setup as much as the next guy, but this wasn’t one.
In any case, fantastic stuff, showcasing how Twilight really is ready for the responsibilities she’s taking on and advancing the overarching plot in a very major way.
Now, let’s see how I can contribute to the festivities:
Appleoosa Provisioners 2WW
Creature — Pony Citizen
If you would gain 4 or less life, gain 5 life instead.
2W: Target creature gains lifelink until end of turn.
“The Apples hate two things: Dishonesty and undercatered affairs.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
2/2
Dawn of a New Era 3W
Sorcery
You become the monarch. Creatures you control get +2/+1 until end of turn.
Once, a little filly watched the sun rise and was inspired to follow in the princess’s hoofsteps. Even she never imagined she might one day take the throne.
Shove Behind Reality 3W
Instant
Exile target nonland permanent. If you control that permanent, return it to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step. Otherwise, its controller draw a card.
Chaotic WW (You may cast this spell for its chaotic cost. If you do, choose its targets at random.)
Wonderbolt Cloudchaser 3W
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Battalion — Whenever Wonderbolt Cloudchaser and at least two other creatures attack, destroy target enchantment defending player controls.
When the Wonderbolts get called in, you know it’s bad weather.
2/2
Implacable Guards 4W
Creature — Unicorn Soldier
Whenever a creature attacks you or a planeswalker you control, that creature loses all abilities until end of turn unless its controller pays 2.
“You’ve all been chosen for random screening.”
3/5
Set to Rights 4WW
Sorcery
Return to the battlefield all permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield since your last turn ended.
Miracle WW (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it’s the first card you drew this turn.)
Surreal Scrutiny 2U
Sorcery
Look at the top four cards of target player's library. Put any number of them on the bottom of that library in any order and the rest on top of the library in any order.
Chaotic U
Storm Saboteur 2UU
Creature — Pegasus Rogue
Flash
Flying
When Storm Saboteur enters the battlefield, tap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of Pegasi you control.
“Why rain on just one parade?”
2/1
Weather Coordinator 3U
Creature — Pegasus Advisor
Flying
At the beginning of each opponent’s upkeep, untap target permanent.
Into each life some sun must shine.
2/2
Changing Trends 4U
Instant
Return target permanent you own to your hand. You may put a card that shares a permanent type with the returned permanent from your hand onto the battlefield.
“Frills are strictly last season.”
—Rarity, Bearer of Generosity
Grogar’s Infiltrator 1BB
Creature — Pegasus Rogue
Flying
Renown 1 (Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn’t renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.)
When Grogar’s Infiltrator becomes renowned, search your library for a card, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
1/1
Pinkagnosis 3B
Sorcery
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, then draw a card for each creature with a counter on it.
“Critical cupcake deficiency. Nurse Apple, we need fifty ccs of buttercream, stat!”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
Flaming Sky Troupe 2R
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
When Flaming Sky Troupe enters the battlefield, it deals damage equal to the number of Unicorns you control to target player or planeswalker.
“The ideal state of a unicorn is a balance of elegance, artistry, and devastation.”
—Fire Flare, troupe leader
2/2
Persuasive Hatemonger 2R
Creature — Unicorn Rogue
R, T: Goad all creatures of the creature type of your choice. (Until your next turn, those creatures attack each combat if able and attack a player other than you if able.)
Every poisoned whisper eats away at the foundations of Harmony.
1/1
Cheerleading Draconequus 2RR
Creature — Chimera
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with a single target, copy that spell. Choose new targets for the copy at random.
“Give me a nother!”
3/2
Character Growth 1G
Enchantment
Your commander enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it for each time you’ve cast it from the command zone this game.
“Take it from me. Someday, you really will look back on all this and laugh.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Diarchs’ Festival 3G
Sorcery
Each player may put a commander they own onto the battlefield from the command zone.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Barrel of Sunlight 3
Artifact
When Barrel of Sunlight enters the battlefield, it deals 2 damage to target creature and you gain 2 life.
RW, Sacrifice Barrel of Sunlight: It deals 2 damage to target creature and you gain 2 life.
Cloudsdale presents unique challenges to coopers.
Tome of Keys 3
Artifact
4, T: Untap up to one other target artifact. Draw a card.
One of the most intuitive books ever written, second only to Long Wind’s two-thousand-page treatise, How to Kill Insects.
Discord’s Whim BR
Sorcery
Exile cards at random from target player’s graveyard until you exile an instant or sorcery card. You may cast that card this turn.
“I’m sure you’ve done something worth remembering.”
Drain Vitality BGU
Instant
Choose one or both —
• Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. Tap that creature.
• Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Untap that creature.
“Delicious.”
—Lord Tirek
Constructive Stress 2UB
Enchantment
At the beginning of your draw step, if your life total is half your starting life total or less, draw an additional card.
“Panic is never the answer, but it can drive you towards finding it.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Tyrannical Censor 4WU
Creature — Advisor
Alicorn (This creature is also a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Flying
If an opponent would draw a card, that player skips that draw unless they pay 1.
Some rumors about the princesses take on lives of their own.
4/4
Honestly, if not for that whole thing with Sombra I'd suspect Grogar of being the Sisters doing a Wizard Of Oz bit trying to instill an appreciation for friendship in the villains via a series of cleverly disguised teambuilding exercises.
And then for the finale the real Grogar shows up...
Hyperfocus: My anti-Twilighting.
Maybe Trivia Night has become an outlet for Twilight's more neurotic tendencies, so that she's free and clear of mind to do the stuff that legit matters? Granted that this last one made her realize just how neurotic she truly was and thus she took a HUGE step in the right direction.
My obligatory "stupid complicated game" reminder for today: you'll almost always draw at least one card from Pinkgnosis because the -1/-1 counter can't kill the creature until after the spell is done resolving, and you also can't cast it without a creature to target. The "almost" is because of stuff like Melira. I would have mentioned the case of a creature with a +1/+1 counter on it, but then I remembered that that cancellation is also a state-based action so you'd still draw a card. Again, official tournaments have this thing called a "Magic judge" where they're literally paid to sort this stuff out, because there are so many weird corner cases.
Implacable Guards wouldn't see print as is. It's a corner case, but you have to set the base power and toughness of any creature you're removing the abilities of. Otherwise, stuff like Tarmogoyf would be extremely confused.
This episode was so much better than the last two episodes that it almost made me forget about their existence.
Yeah, Applejack didn't need to learn the lesson this episode – she already knew the right thing to do, but she let her other friends talk her out of it.
Between the thread of unicorn supremacy (“We unicorns have magic,” implying the other tribes don't) and the change from saying that Tirek is draining “magic” to “life force,”* it feels like the show is trying to say that unicorns are the only ponies who use magic. This irks me because I always liked the idea of the three main tribes having complimentary and distinct magical abilities so that they would be forced to rely on each other, plus the apparent new lore contradicts the lore about the Pillars. And I don't care how hard the show tries - it will never convince me that the physically impossible things pegasi do with their wings and clouds and lightning are just the animation style.
*The change to “life force” might be excused because I've found myself wanting to use the term interchangeably with “magic” and “thauma” while writing “Earth Ponies Are Blessed with Suck” and having to correct my usage.
Maybe she's from the the human world and she got stuck here as a kid?
5111182
I knew this would be weird for some people, but it's not a biggie for me. This episode was commentary on Twilight managing her anxiety from the burden placed on her by Celestia. The week before was her single-mindedness at winning, and showing off her brain-dick to everypony else. Pointless trivia is just going to have to be something that Equestria will have to accept as a facet of their newest Princess. Just like the older models had their weird fixation on the mail and scholastic sports.
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5111202
Describing her horn as a brain-dick would only be mostly wrong... especially with Poison Joke causing it to go flaccid. >_>
5111226
“My intellect is larger, and my recall is highest performing.”
All of a sudden, the chitin cellphones from We Don't Talk About Captain Thunderhoof seems a bit more plausible.
Perhaps she's just one of those people who grow utterly contemptful of the culture they grew up in.
How someone who hasn't even hit her teenage years got to that level of cynicism is, of course, another question entirely.
You know, I'm pretty sure that this was the first time that the show treated Rainbow's rainbow trails as things with their own substance and reality, rather than just a visual representation of her going really fast. Like, for most of the show the trails were essentially glorified motion blur, but now they're evidently solid enough to be useful in lassoing clouds.
I haven't looked ahead at any of the episode guides or leaks or anything, but I assume that this season will end with a two-parter. And I keep thinking that two half hours isn't enough to satisfactorily wrap up a nine-season series.
Unless the show starts doing more episodes like this one.
"I kinda feel like I did when that centaur took my magic. But he's in Tartarus, my cutie mark's still here, and I can still communicate with the earth a little bit."
I can understand how the Appleoosans wouldn't suspect Tirek, although I'm not sure how they made the leap to "It might be the food!"
How about we imagine that sometime while they were in Grogar's lair, Cozy Glow told her the Hearth's Warming story? Then when Chrysalis saw the unicorns' reaction in this episode, she incorrectly assumed the others had been turned the same way.
I do hope this means they actually are setting something up. A civil war between the races could be compelling.
5111412
Whenever I'm feeling down, I first wonder if there's anything going around, then if something I ate didn't agree with me. In college I learned that Uno's burgers made me barf, for no apparent reason.
Pretty responsible of Braeburn to not assume that the food is above scrutiny, just because his crew is the one serving them.
We have seen ponies that do not live in Equestria before so it would make sense that she's not from around there. Perhaps Scootaloo's parents's neighbours talk about how their foal went walkabout a while back.......
The flavor text of Cheerleading Draconequus has zero typos or grammar errors, and is perfect in every way, thank you. Totally in the camp that it should be double-faced with Gruff Friendship Instigator; I like the idea that Discord is finally trying to fully earn his de-stoning through independent action.
Yay, this episode was great. Not just the Legion of Doom half, though certainly including them, but also the Mane Six.
I do find it interesting that Discord continues to show up whenever the diarchs are discussing Twilight's succession. I have to imagine there's a role planned for him in the finale. Hopefully it's as good as it was in the premiere.
I also love how Tirek and Chrysalis continue to get moments making them sympathetic. I take that as further confirmation they're eventually going to reform.
On the cards:
Appleoosa Provisioners are scary, even without considering their activated ability. The amount of "gain 1 life" effects just in Standard... have you seen how quickly Ajani's Pridemate gets huge in a mono-W or WB deck? Imagine these ponies in an Extort deck or a Soul Sisters deck. I'm shuddering just thinking about it.
I started writing "Hey, is Wonderbolt Cloudchaser a deliberate parallel to, um, what's it called..." and then remembered what it's called and realised the answer is obviously yes
I loved Pinkie's "Even if I were a real doctor" line
Diarchs' Festival is an awesome card, but I fear it might be broken with, um, quite a few commanders actually.
5112768
The Provisioners are also a 4-mana 2/2 with no innate protection. Between all but the weakest damage spells and anti-healing effects, it probably wouldn't be too bad as a direct-to-Modern card, especially given the number of Eternal format decks that don't really care how much life the opponent has.
On Diarchs' Festival, remember that any deck that doesn't want its commander on the board is doing something very wrong, and everyone except you is getting it for free. It'd probably only see play in decks built around giving other players stuff (mostly grouphug, because stealing-based decks don't typically run green)
I agree that the Provisioners are probably okay sure to bring a 4-mana 2/2 with no protection. I don't know what "anti-healing effects" you're referring to: Tibalt and Everlasting Torment? *searches* Huh: there have been more printed recently than I realised, between Witch Hunt, Rampaging Ferocidon, Leyline of Punishment, Erebos and Archfiend of Despair. They're mostly pretty niche though. You're especially right that many decks don't really care about the opponent's life total, especially control decks that'll finish you off at their leisure, so it's likely fine.
With Diarchs' Festival I was thinking of commanders that have an ETB trigger to either wrath the board or kill some subset of creatures. The green colour identity does rule out more of those than I'd realised, it's true. Something like Dragonlord Atarka is still going to eat most other simultaneously-deployed commanders for breakfast. The symmetry is easily broken in the same way the symmetry of Wraths is: if everyone else's commander is staying on the table you're very happy to trade yours off in combat or find ways to sacrifice it. Though that would set up an entertaining dynamic where opponents become more willing to trade off their commanders too, so you become more reluctant to Festival, so they become less willing... Yeah, okay, it's not so much "broken" as "powerful and fun". It's almost as though FOME is really good at designing exciting but balanced Magic cards or something...
True,but at the same time, they don't seem to hide that knowledge beyond keeping stuff that might be too dangerous for common usage out of the hooves of ponies who can't handle it. We don't know how hard it is to access the archives, and they are well known enough to not be a huge secret, even if some of the more secure parts are. So I can see them hoarding it, just for the sake of protecting it and trying to make sure it's not lost, more then being all 'MINE!"
Yeah, she's come a long way.
Well.... we do know Chryssi can teleport....
Well.... she might not be from outside Equestria, but she does seem to not really get a lot of stuff. More like she simply sees no point in this kind of thing and never did and so dismissive it.
Baby steps.....and really want to see Firebrands reaction to this.
Given he did leave the Marks. Guessing it's just a case of they weren't drained as much, and so while similar, it wasn't the same.
It did happen really fast, might not remember it clear enough beyond "I saw this.. I think it was a filly, and then something big came up behind me and I blacked out."