Friendship is Card Games: Nightmare Knights #3 & #4 · 12:03pm Mar 1st, 2020
This week, we return to the multiplanar heist flick that is Nightmare Knights and watch the plan make contact with the enemy. Naturally, things go downhill from there
Nightmare Knights #3
One of my favorite parts of this miniseries is the sheer quantity of cameos. Seriously just look at that cover and tell me you wouldn’t want to see a poker game between those four. (Okay, the Storm Guard might be a bit lackluster in terms of witty dialogue, but I imagine he’d make up for it through other means.)
“I never thought it would be so many,” says one of the two people who have been here before. It doesn’t seem any more crowded than before.
Capper does have a viable alternative strategy. Not the most morally upstanding one,but those bits would be going to the casion anyway. Of course, it doesn’t address the issue of Daybreaker.
It is nice to get confirmation that Wallflower Blush and Gloriosa Daisy are technically villainous earth ponies. Good to see some representation for them aside from Suri Polomare.
I do have to appreciate Trixie not even being in her introductory panel. She’s already wandered off. Silly pony; maybe if they’d brought Starlight in to run herd on her…
Yeaaah, I’d suspicious of anyone handing out random artifacts of incredible power for just a hundred bits a spin. Of course, that could well be what Trixie paid for the actual Alicorn Amulet. For all I know, this guy has plentiful copies of those items gathered from around the local multiverse.
(For those keeping track, said items are the Rings of Scorchero, the Alicorn Amulet, the Pearl of Transformation—still wish that had a better name—the Helm of Shadows AU!Stygian tried to force on a young Luna, the Crystal Heart, a vial of Pigasus tears with unknown properties, the Eye of Stagamoto, and the Memory Stone.)
“He thinks he can rob a hard-working villain out of the money I already stole!”
Oh, Tempest. Years of villainous experience at work, ladies and gentlemen.
Sorry, buddy. Getting along is more of a heroic or at least neutral behavior.
Ah. They are fakes. Mostly fakes, apparently. Curious.
Poor Tempest. She knew she was tempting fate, but she didn’t realize how eagerly it would take the bait. The fact they’re going up against a goddess of luck doesn’t help either. Also, did Luna never mention that Daybreaker was the chief of security? Seems like an important note… though, to be fair, it wasn’t clear if she was anything more than Eris’s attack dog during the last encounter.
Yeah, I can see Tempest wanting to cross horns with a princess. Sure, the petrification grenades were a tactically superior choice, but she’s definitely the sort who’d want to test her might against an alicorn.
Trixie being an only child does explain a lot. That or Alex Warlorn’s “one among many” hypothesis.
I have to think Capper is far from the casino’s first Abyssinian guest. There are bound to be Catrinas out there somewhere in the local multiverse. Perhaps Daybreaker usually makes sure dogs cats aren’t living together amidst the casino’s mass hysteria.
That said, brilliant psychological play on Trixie’s part.
Wonderful and unexpected bit of Luna/Trixie interaction. That the former would liek to see the latter fulfill her dreams is downright heartwarming.
Darn it, Tempest, opsec never stopped being a thing. Mumbling to yourself in the interrogation room is the last thing you should be doing.
Yeaaah, calling what’s effectively greater daemon of Tzeentch a chicken? Not your wisest move. Especially when she has a staff that can send you into a custom-tailored nightmare. An admittedly adorable one, but a nightmare nonetheless.
I have to love how the team is discussing—and, in one case, shouting—their plans right in front of the very security they’re trying to dupe. Of course, going by their expressions, most of said security isn’t being paid enough to care.
Oh dear. A showmare Twilight. Trixie cannot allow this to stand.
“Princess Trixie?”
“I’m going to ignore that!”
Huh. I think we finally got a proper scene with the Twilight from Good King Sombra’s universe. Also, I do love how Spike is her lovely assistant.
Both illusionists have called up the most terrifying monsters they could think of: A dragon for Twilight and Angel Bunny for Trixie.
So… why did Stygian unmask, exactly?
Excellent “oh, crap” moment to end on.
Nightmare Knights #4
One positive to Tempest never having a speaking role on the show: The writers never had a chance to make “open up your eyes” into her “twenty percent cooler.”
Ah, more positive psychological warfare. Draconequi can never resist a good divide-and-conquer opportunity.
Yeah, tempting Stygian back to the dark side’s pretty much doomed from the word “go.” Been there, did that, spent centuries in Limbo and didn’t even get a lousy T-shirt.
Meanwhile, as the song teaches us, you never let that damn thief out of sight.
Oh. Oh goodness. Tempest is locked in a constant loop of the worst moment of her life. Poor thing.
Meanwhile, Daybreaker’s probably getting annoyed by the incessant cries of horror as she is having her talents wasted.
Of course they don’t want you to get out, Luna. It’s a casino. Same design principles as an IKEA, only you don’t even get furniture out of the deal.
Interesting to see that Celestia at least has the power to end a dream. Though going by “A Royal Problem,” she can’t do it from inside of one, which does make sense.
Credit to Luna for working with the tools still available to her. She’s got improvising and adapting down; now she just needs to overcome.
“Who’s Celestia?” says Daybreaker. It’s strangely sad to hear that. She truly doesn’t remember anything from before she was turned into what she is. She doesn’t even realize she was turned into what she is. It even ties into her comment about how it should be easy to wake up Tempest because "I have a sun on my rump, after all.” She’s even forgotten the meaning of her own cutie mark.
Ah. Further insight into this timeline. Eris being the local spirit of chaos rather than Discord was the divergence that led to the Pony of Shadows triumphing and laying waste to the world.
Loyalty to an unworthy master. Interesting way for Tempest and Daybreaker to relate to one another.
Also, there’s a beautiful irony in Luna being the one who was insufficiently cruel in her corruption.
:rainbowlaugh; They’ve been duking it out this whole time. Also, good for Trixie. She finally beat (a) Twilight in a legitimate duel. Even if she completely blew her cover. A shame she couldn’t savor the moment.
And the Pony of Shadows was hoisted by his own incendiary petard. The rest is history.
Heh. The nightmare loop’s a finger trap. The only way to escape is to stop struggling in the old torment and move on.
And we close on quite the striking image. The finale should be fun indeed.
This is some fantastic stuff thus far. It would’ve made for a great hour-long special. Definitely a lot more gripping than Rainbow Roadtrip. in any case, let’s see what’s wandering the casino floor.
Force Awake 1W
Instant
Kicker 3 (You may spend an additional 3 as you cast this spell.)
If this spell was kicked, put three +1/+1 counters on up to one target land you control and it becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste that’s still a land. Untap all creatures you control.
Group Condemnation 3W
Instant
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Put target attacking or blocking creature on the bottom of its owner’s library.
Render Helpless 1U
Instant
Until end of turn, target creature has base power 0 and loses all abilities.
“The first step to any good nightmare is to make sure the victim has no way to get out of it.”
—Eris, maven of misfortune
Phantasmal Lagomath 2U
Creature — Rabbit Illusion
When Phantasmal Lagomath becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it. If you do, draw a card.
Long experience has taught Trixie to always prepare for the worst-case scenario.
4/4
Sorceress Supreme 2U
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Level up 1U (1U: Put a level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery.) 2/2
Level 1-3: Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost 1 less to cast. 3/3
Level 4+: You may cast instant and sorcery spells without paying their mana costs. 4/6
Shackles of Obedience 4U
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
You control enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature’s activated abilities can’t be activated.
Daybreaker had been a slave so long, she’d forgotten she could master the sun.
Tendrils of Shadow BB
Sorcery
Target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Whenever you sacrifice a creature, return Tendrils of Shadow from your graveyard to your hand.
The darkness is never sated.
Brush Aside 2B
Instant
Destroy target creature with power 2 or less. Scry 2.
“As I was saying…”
—Eris, maven of misfortune
Magus of the Nightmare 2B
Creature — Chimera Wizard
Sacrifice another creature, Return Magus of the Nightmare to its owner’s hand: Return target creature from your graveyard to the battlefield. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
“We are all defined by our lowest moments.”
3/2
Colliding Egos 3B
Sorcery
Draw two cards. Clash with an opponent. Each clashing player who doesn’t win loses 2 life. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of their library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if their card had a higher converted mana cost.)
Nightmare Probe 4B
Sorcery
Look at target player’s hand and choose two cards from it. Put one on top of that player’s library. They discard the other.
“It’s amazing what people will let slip while frightened out of their minds.”
—Eris, maven of misfortune
Beam Struggle 1R
Sorcery
Each player puts the top card of their library into their graveyard, then you clash with an opponent. Beam Struggle deals 3 damage to each clashing player who doesn’t win. You may repeat this process.
Fickle Disposition 2R
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has haste.
At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player has more life than each other player, that player gains control of enchanted creature.
Daybreaker’s Burning Betrayal 3R
Legendary Sorcery
(You may cast a legendary sorcery only if you control a legendary creature or planeswalker.)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. Until end of turn, double its power and it gains trample and haste.
Centuries ago, chaotic machinations burned shadow to ash.
Primal Response 2G
Instant
This spell costs 1 less to cast for each Bird, Cat, Hound, and/or Rat it targets.
Target creature you control fights target creature you don’t control.
Some ancient grudges can’t be resolved diplomatically.
Daisy-Crown Hypocrite 2GG
Creature — Pony Druid
Metalcraft — When Daisy-Crown Hypocrite enters the battlefield, if you control three or more artifacts, destroy all artifacts and enchantments you don’t control.
“That which serves me serves nature. Who do you serve?”
2/2
The Eye of Stagamoto 3
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that targets equipped creature, exile that card instead of putting it into your graveyard as it resolves. If you do, return it to your hand at the beginning of the next end step.
Equip 2
Pigasus Tears GWU
Sorcery
Choose two or all. You can’t choose any player as a target more than once.
• Target player creates three 1/1 green Boar creature tokens.
• Target player gains 6 life.
• Target player draws three cards.
Gambling Maniac 1BR
Creature — Pony Gorgon
At the beginning of the declare blockers step, target blocking or blocked creature chosen at random gains deathtouch until end of turn.
“Luck looks kindly upon me. Can you say the same?”
3/4
The Great and Powerful Twily 2UR
Legendary Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Whenever a creature attacks you or a planeswalker you control, create a token that’s a copy of that creature unless its controller pays 2. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step.
“What use is a princess of humility anyway?”
1/3
Wheel of Wonders 2RG
Sorcery
Each player discards their hand, then draws seven cards. Each player may put a permanent card from their hand onto the battlefield.
“Need an ace in the hole for your next conquest? Step right up!”
Power Extractor 2GW
Artifact
When Power Extractor enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until Power Extractor leaves the battlefield.
T: If the exiled card is colorless, add C. Otherwise, add one mana of any of that card’s colors.
False Savior 4WB
Creature — Chimera
Flash
Flying
When False Savior enters the battlefield, choose target creature card in a graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this turn. Return it to the battlefield under your control.
3/3
The character interactions in this mini-series are some of the most fun I've had in a official MLP setting. Seriously, how many of us have wanted Trixie to be Luna's student since her introduction? Not exactly what happens here but it's close enough.
Trixie getting her moment to outshine (a) Twilight was a big highlight for me.
I also love how the plan falls apart practically the moment they step inside. It's improvisation from here on out.
I was ambivalent to Capper in the movie, but here I found him more interesting. I think the setting really helps display his best qualities.
Stygian is probably the one that gets shortchanged the most here. Poor guy got this all set up for Luna but doesn't have much to do now.
The characterization of Daybreaker is also fascinating. There are some heavy themes of loss getting tossed her way that is surprisingly dark.
The conclusion next time!
Inside Baseball Alert: Force Awake's kicker cost basically gives it awaken. Unlike most Inside Baseball Alerts, the card would probably end up on the cutting-room floor of a real set because it doesn't make enough sense to people who don't know that.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Sorceress Supreme loses its level 1-3 ability when it becomes level 4. Once in a blue moon, this will actually matter.
Inside Baseball Alert: Magus of the Nightmare is, well, I think the links speak for themselves, and the former's discussion will fill in the gaps if necessary. (RIP card comments)
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: If both cards flipped in a clash have the same CMC, nobody wins and therefore both players will lose life to the two cards in this batch with the mechanic. This will come up due to the 0 CMC lands that make up a significant portion of every deck except Manaless Ichorid (and technically Flash Hulk, but it has enough 0 CMC artifacts to make up the difference).
Protection From Editors Alert: As written, the Eye of Stagamoto will only function with the use of buyback, because otherwise instants and sorceries go into the graveyard when they resolve. This is also technically a Stupid Complicated Game Alert, but being a typo takes precedence over still doing something as inadvertently written.
Inside Baseball Alert: Daybreaker's Burning Betrayal has its name and flavor text follow the same conventions as official legendary instants and sorceries. There are only six such cards, but that means the one that isn't part of a cycle sets a precedent for all that come after.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Fickle Disposition won't steal the creature for you until the upkeep. This might be a Protection From Editors Alert instead, but the card is only unplayably bad as written, not actively nonsensical.
Inside Baseball Alert: Wheel of Wonders is a standard "wheel" effect with a green effect (and an additional green mana, judging by the linked original) stapled to it.
You're awesome FOME, seriously
Your commentary is entertaining and informative every single time.
Heh. Force Awake is avoiding using the keyword awaken just so you could have "Awake" in the name?
Yow. Sorceress Supreme is definitely exciting. Looks broken, like Lighthouse Chronologist did, but by the time you've paid 6UUUUU (or the equivalent with proliferation or Doubling Season etc) you're allowed to have partial Omniscience.
Heh, Fickle Disposition is a Custody Battle using the original Ghazban Ogre condition! (The first card to change controllers on a regular basis.)
And Pigasus Tears... I can't tell if that's a deliberate reference to Phelddagrif or not. Either way it's cool.
I saw that Ghostbusters reference. Bill Murray dry wit at its best.
I called it!
Your reviews made me want to read this comic arc; I should seek it out soon.
Between your line about "open up your eyes," and Force Awake, all I can think of is this: derpicdn.net/img/view/2018/8/4/1797894.jpeg
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Unless FoME already changed it, I'm not seeing why The Eye of Stagomoto wouldn't work as written...
Also, why would the Sorceress Supreme losing its level 1-3 ability at level 4 matter even with Thorn of Amethyst? The mana cost goes up 1, but you still don't have to pay it because of the level 4 ability, unless I'm missing something.
5212791
I did in fact update it after Herald pointed out a brain fart on my part. Also, the level 4+ ability actually doesn't cover additional costs like the Thorn of Amethyst tax. Otherwise, you could kick a spell with multikicker an arbitrary number of times with an Omniscience out.
5212791
Yeah, as FoME mentioned, additional costs like Thorn of Amethyst can be affected by cost reduction, but aren't considered part of a spell's mana cost for things that circumvent it entirely. Incidentally, this combined with Khalni Hydra is why Morophon and similar cards have "This effect reduces only the amount of colored mana you pay" as actual rules text instead of reminder text; even more hilariously, there are two such other cards and no cards like the hydra, so the special cases outnumber the normal ones! Stuff like this is why I call it a "Stupid Complicated Game" alert.
Putting this here for lack of any better place: I think I just found Ditzy's arch-nemesis.