Enduring Ideal

[Mana Geek]

Enduring Ideal 5WW
Sorcery
Search your library for an enchantment card and put it into play. Then shuffle your library.
Epic (For the rest of the game, you can't play spells. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, copy this spell except for its epic ability.)

That's not what I really expect for a legendary instant/sorcery, but oh well.

[Ad Infinitum]

...the first card we get to officially see is this? At 3WW, it would still only be played by Johnnies. Unless they push enchantments to the edge...

[Sibtiger]

Probably only a fun card...but still...an endless stream of Hondens could be pretty nasty. Assuming you get one down (we'll say the white down) before playing the spell, you can go fetch Life's Web on your turn. Then during your upkeep, stack the hondens first, then the copy. Get a 3rd honden (red, probably) and you get 3 tokens and 6 life. Next turn you get 4 damage, 4 tokens, and 8 life. Next turn...get Genju of the Realm.

Not awful. I mean...sway of the stars was in the top 8 of philly. I wouldn't doubt the power of green mana in this format.

EDIT: You know...just using this to get Genju of the Realm would be pretty hilarious. That's a crazy powerful enchantment.

[GenericKen]

Looks like the next T&N to me. Except that there aren't any good enchantment combos out right now.

Worship is still strong, but there are no creature enchantments.
Confiscate is strong, but obviously you're limited to 4, and it's pretty slow.
Death Pit Offering could get pretty awesome with blinkmoth nexus after a while, but that's pretty slow.
Fetching genju feels pretty stupid...
This does happen to filter colors, so furnace of rath/seismic Asault/Trade routes might work. Or probably not.
Shifting Sky/Choke feels lame.

It's nice to finally have a tutor for Intruder Alarm, but 5WW feels kind of drastic for that.

Genju of the Realm is an obvious target, but does nothing the turn it comes down. Plus, it's legendary, so you can't have 2 up and running off of 6 lands the turn after casting this. Poo.

It's a shame that standard just doesn't thave the cards to abuse this

Extended, however, might abuse the firckin hell out of this, with Decree of Silence, Form of the Dragon, etc. in an astral slide-style deck. It still might be interesting in Vintage, fetching restricted stuff like Mind Over Matter.

[Sibtiger]

Genju of the Realm is an obvious target, but does nothing the turn it comes down. Plus, it's legendary, so you can't have 2 up and running off of 6 lands the turn after casting this. Poo.

It's a shame that standard just doesn't thave the cards to abuse this

What about the Hondens? this seems a custom fit for that kind of deck. And those decks can support the Genju too, if you happen to draw it.

[GenericKen]

If you're waiting until 5WW to cast your first honden, then no amount of card advantage in the world is going to save you. Hondens are already slow, man. For this to be effective, it needs to be a diffinitive one-two punch.

Here's one:
Death Pits of Rath -> Natural Affinity. (not as disruptive as I'd like; but a good 28 power in two turns; it reminds me of toothing for double colossus)

*back to looking*

It's tough to find combos. We just came off the artifact block, so all the wacky effects are on artifacts, not enchantments.

[Sibtiger]

If you're waiting until 5WW to cast your first honden, then no amount of card advantage in the world is going to save you. Hondens are already slow, man. For this to be effective, it needs to be a diffinitive one-two punch.

Here's one:
Death Pits of Rath -> Natural Affinity. (not as disruptive as I'd like; but a good 28 power in two turns; it reminds me of toothing for double colossus)

*back to looking*
Trade Routes and Seismic Assault.

And you can have hondens out before. THis just fishes out the ones you don't have. And then the genju. :D

[GenericKen]

Trade Routes + Seismic Assault = 14 damage. Not quite A+ material.

Fishing up a 3rd and/or 4th honden is purely win-more. Keeping any two hondens on the board for 2 or more turns and staying above 10 life will generally win you the game.

[GenericKen]

Whoops, natural affinity isn't an enchantment.

Hm, could've sworn there was a "all your lands are creatures" enchantment.

[Ephemeron]

Hm, could've sworn there was a "all your lands are creatures" enchantment.
Nature's Revolt (http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?name=Nature%27s+Revolt). (Or, if you want something less symmetrical, Natural Emergence) :)

As for Enduring Ideal, it reminds me of Golden Wish. Hopefully, the other 4 Epic spells are better.

[Raksha Golden Cub]

Ephemeron I wish white had golden wish back or something like it at the least. Enduring ideal is strictly a combo card for a deck that can grab as many lands as possible in the first few turns. It works well with hondens but i suppose i like the death pit/nexus idea a wee bit more. While people are at it why not fetch genju of the realm and slap it on a land?

[Master Vivi]

plese explain!!

[Savia]

Vivi: Explain what?

[LetMeWin]

According to Gatherer, there are 127 Enchantments in standard right now. Surely, there's options for this deck. We all know how easy it is to get to 7 mana when you run green. I think there's a lot possibility here.

[lbg]

According to Gatherer, there are 127 Enchantments in standard right now. Surely, there's options for this deck. We all know how easy it is to get to 7 mana when you run green. I think there's a lot possibility here.

The problem is that this doesn't outright win you the game like Tooth does. You spend all that time ramping up mana to cast it...and then what? Even if your opponent has no way to disrupt you, what are you going to pull out that's going to win without any further spells from you? Extended has better options than bad 7 mana cards. It's pretty much just for casual, which seems to be the theme of the whole block. Hopefully the other 'Epic' spells have more 'Epic' effects than this.

[Atogotog]

As of now this card is probably unplayable in block and standard, but it may be usable in the extended season as it could possibly combine well with Solitary Confinement or Decree of Silence. Maybe Lethal Vapors? it might just be too slow. Only time will tell.

[St@rWizard]

Hearbeat of Spring means 3d turn this thanks to Llanowar and BoP.

After that, bring some spell-denying enchantment. Rule of Law or something heavier. The obscene Spring mana won´t cause too much harm.

After that, Blood Rites + Green Honden... and that´s just one idea. Anything, really.

This white epic is really good. Don´t let it fool yourselves. And I suggest you trade for it 1x1 with Michiko ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

What makes me sad is Cleanfall and the like... and there will be one white tranquility in 9th for sure =/

[Blackl3232]

white honden and zur's weirding? then use the red honden to kill them

[GenericKen]

You still have to deal with permanents already on the board, black.

[soup_or_joe]

with this card being able to be played atleast a turn or two before tooth maybe a honden of life's web + worship could be a feasible combo. i also like the zur's wierding plus honden of cleansing fire.

[OologahQ]

I think this card will be awesome. I can already tell you that I will be grabbing 4 of these as soon as possible.

Playing Green for acceleration seems a must.

I don't think you need to set up a 2 enchantment combo that wins though, its really more of a toolbox. Use Hondens as your win condition, but tutor for whatever you need to make the game grind to a halt. Get Ivory Mask, Sacred Ground, Rule of Law, Worship, any COP, Confiscate, even Arrest is not bad. Alternatively, you could use Living Terrain as a kill card (a 5/6 haste four 4 turns in a row is not too bad). It could combo well with creature enchantments and Kitsune Mystic.

Aether Vial could still allow you to put creatures into play even after you cast it and Staff of Domination might be good as a mana sink after it has been cast.

[Atogotog]

If living terrain would be used as a kill card why not put a single copy of Genju of the Realm in a deck with Enduring Ideal. I think it could work too with Sensei's Divining Top to ensure you don't draw it.

[Jkjolseth]

1. It would be awesome if there was a green epic card that let you search out creatures. Like...1/2 tooth and nail every turn....

2. Two words: Eon Hub. Seriously....if this card gets popular, I'd play it sb.

3. The whole epic theme seems to work well with the channel ability I've read about (for those of you who haven't heard, it's supposed to be an ability that lets you use the cards in your hand without playing them as spells). That'd give a lot of options.

4. Biorhythm

[rayanami2]

hmm...interesting...i'll list somethings that i have in mind.

rule of law? i can't cast any, you can only cast one. maybe not.
ghostly prison, well, at least they have to pay 8 to attack you
CoP: <color>, hmm, story circle might be better in some cases.

they said that this was part of a cycle so i can't wait what they have for the other colors.

[Ephemeron]

One word: UYO. :)

[Skaldenbach]

I'm surprised I'm the first to post a decklist... ah well...flame away!

4 Birds of Paradise
3 Vine Trellis
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder

4 Heartbeat of Spring
4 Enduring Ideal
1 Honden of Seeing Winds
1 Honden of Infinite Rage
1 Honden of Night's Reach
1 Honden of Cleansing Fire
1 Honden of Life's Web
4 Ghostly Prison
2 Story Circle
1 Zur's Weirding
1 Genju of the Realm
1 Worship
1 Furnace of Wrath
1 Seismic Assault
1 Trade Routes
1 Rule of Law
1 Death Pit Offering
3 Sensei's Divining Top

1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
4 City of Brass
3 Tendo Ice Bridge
4 Forbidden Orchard
3 Blinkmoth Nexus
3 Plains
2 Forest

SB
15 ?

Toolbox is the word here. Get what you need to shut the opponent down every turn (well, more like annoy, really...). List subject to change with rest of Saviors + 9th Ed. Mana choices are there to actually cast the stuff in case they Cranial (worst case scenario). Well, like I said, flame away...=)

[MazerPriest]

Well, you'd need to deal with the permanents already on the board. The best way of doing this is, in my opinion, with Sway of Stars. It resets everything, even life total. 'course, it's difficult to cast both high CC sorceries simultaneously. A fun combo would be Sway of Stars and Enduring Ideal on a Spellweaver's Helix. Cast one, it doesn't really matter which, and go for a Form of the Dragon, or a Honden set if you want to stay Standard.

However, it's difficult to think of an actual competetive method by which to use the card. The Helix is definitely casual play.

[Skaldenbach]

Well, you'd need to deal with the permanents already on the board.

I'm hoping that Red Honden + MORE Honden's + Furnace + Seismic will be enough for removing problem creatures already in play. The untargeteable Troll / Kodama combo can be hopefully chumped by spirits (and sometimes killed) But, as always, theres at least 5 "off-switch" cards for any deck thats created. The hope is, that if they have that off-switch, you can get Zur + White Honden online quickly enough.

EDIT: Oh, and Sway wont work either. What happens when you draw it after you go Epic? ...dead card...

[Papa Beer]

What about using this card in a 5 colour zur's weirding deck?
Something like this is a rough sketch.

4 Zur's Weirding
4 Wrath of God
3 Kodama's Reach
3 Engineered Explosives
2 Chrome Mox
3 Island
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
3 Cranial Extraction
4 Clearwater Goblet
1 Mountain
2 Swamp
4 Etched Oracle
4 Plains
10 Forest
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Pentad Prism
3 Honden of Cleansing Fire
2 Enduring Ideal

It probably needs more than 7 board sweepers but w/e. This is probably a strictly casual deck. On another note I think these decks should all have one copy of shared fate in them. At the very least u can use it to shut down your opponent drawing good spells while u just get to search and play them. I wouldn't take this card to seriously, its just a casual card, however most said that about the mojins so maybe its a block card afterall.

[Avatar of Style]

I like this bad puppy. It is definitely more playable than measure of wickedness, and that sad air elemental wannabe. This epic seems pretty interesting. Too bad darksteel citadel is banned, because a genju of realms on an indestructable land = pain. I can't wait to see what the other epic cards do. This card might possibly see competitive play if someone can break it the way they broke TnN.

Random guesses for the other colours.
Black- drain life for 3 every turn.
Red- gain control of a creature it has haste... or 4 damage to creature or player
green- search for a creature put it into play... or put a 3/3 into play
blue-mill?

[invincible]

I say just use it to play out the other epic enchantments. You could run at least 1 of each color in the deck + the Hondens + Mirror Gallery.

[Madmanquail]

Hands up who would rather make a bringer deck!
Keep your hands up anyone who took that bringer deck to a tournament!
Keep your hands up anyone who won that tournament!

oh. no-one.

[KaiserDreamer]

I prefer this as a kamigawa block card. Even when it has better targets and more options in standard, the meta is too hard to beat.

11 forest
11 plains
2 Tranquil Thicket
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Orochi Sustainer
4 Final Judgment
4 Enduring Ideal
4 Ghostly Prison
1 Honden of Cleansing Fire
1 Honden of Night's Reach
1 Honden of Infinite Rage
1 Honden of Life's Web
1 Genju of the Realms
4 Kodama's Reach
4 Sensei Divining Top
4 Shining Shoal

This build is a toolbox, you have to wait to get genju, better go with prison, prison, prison, black honden, and something, and then, when their hand is empty, u go for genju and win. kinda clunky, but Ill play it the same.

[KaiserDreamer]

skaldembach: blue honden is useless after a resolved ideal, so better drop it for a useful target.

[Dark Light]

I have already thought about making this card with a deck around it. The Heart beat of Spring is my first choice and the Enchantments would be thus.
Pernicious Deed, Solitary Confinement, Decree of Silence, Form of a Dragon, Night of Souls' Betrayal, Zur's Weirding, UB hondens (provided you want to keep the confinement in play for safety)

I like the idea but it is pretty much for extended and even then you have to have a Chalice of the Void out along with a Defense Grid to keep counter spells and Scepters off the board.

[simpleminded]

I like this card alot and im planning on running a deck when block season roles around but ihvae a question which im surprised no one picked up on yet.

Spoiler removed. Don't do it again unless you wish to be banned. - Mana Geek

[Dark Light]

Alright I have a deck list for making this card the game ender and I'll know if anyone steals this.

4 Enduring Ideal
3 Solitary Confinement
2 Decree of Silence
2 Pernicious Deed
1 Form of the Dragon
1 Honden of Seeing Winds
4 Wrath of God
4 Weathered Wayfarer
4 Wayfaer's Bauble
4 Sylvan Scrying
4 Komado's Reach
4 Reap and Sow
3 Chrome Mox
4 Brushland
3 Plains
1 Forest
4 Urza's Tower
4 Urza's Mine
4 Ura's Power Plant

Sideboard
4 Defense Grid
4 Trinisphere
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Sterling Grove
1 Zur's Weirding
1 Solitary Confinement

Just something I'll be playing around with and If testing goes well then it is going on the boards in the Extended lobby.

[Spincrusher64]

G/W Hondon control with the Genju of the realm for the win