Daily Discussion - Sensei's Divining Top

[JStephens]

Several people have pointed towards the Top as the card that is responsible for all the draws that take place in Kamigawa Block Constructed.

What do you think? Is the Top the reason for all the draws? Without the Top would Gifts have been so good in the format? How do you think the Top impacts Standard over the next year and change?

[Azhag]

i like top very much but i dont see it as a VERY good card..

[ayoyoayoyo]

its only good with shuffle effect
otherwise its card disadvantage
if u cant shuffle your deck, dont play it.

[ADrawathian]

With 4 Elders and 4 Reaches even monogreen has actually better drawing/topdecking engine than blue. Black has Phyrexian Arena which is darn consistant card drawing, which I prefer over blue card drawing any day (well, depending on colors).

Just tell me one deck besides white weenie that wouldn't like SDT. Even MBA likes it. Mono-Red likes it. Wildfire, Tooth, MUTron, everything except WW likes it.

[Jellybeanz]

senseis top is the witness of the of kamigawa it shines in everydeck that plays it and its extremely helpful. You can put the ability on the stack put it in your deck draw a card cast gifts then top....its madness i tell you. anyone who dogs on top is a white weenie player and doesnt play control and doesnt understand how powerful it is. without tops gifts would have never been able to do what it did. it would have had to play commune with nature to dig up creatures or something stupid like counsel of the soratami. just as kokusho, the top will be played practically forever.

[lbg]

With shuffling effects it's cheap, colourless card advantage. 4x Reach/Elder/Top will be a staple of any deck running green until Kamigawa cycles out. White with Wayfarer and Gift of Estates will likely use it a lot too, if MWC or UWC makes a return in Ravinca. It's better than any of blue's card drawing outside of Mirrodin right now with shufflers. Without shuffling effects, it's not great but still somewhat useful.

As for causing draws, yeah. My friends and I call it Sensei's Stalling Top for a reason.

[Sirsoosage 234]

not only does it make decks so much better and consistant, it is the source for combo decks in t1 and could also be played in legacy.

[AJFirst]

we've had this thread at least twice before

i've said it once and i'll say it again, sensei's divining top is THE most versatile card in standard.

even without shuffle effects, it digs 3 cards, and can double one up into your hand, so it's never card DISadvantage, and WITH suffle effects, this thing over the course of 5 turns basically sees your entire deck. never a dead card, as if you have one in hand and one in play you can pop a card into your hand before the shuffle effect resolves, giving you a card that otherwise would have been shuffled in to your deck.

nearly indestructable, this card is extremely difficult to deal with. unless you shatter/dampen thought, or damping matrix, this card is tough to put a damper on. (i know, i'm cool)

this is the most versatile card in standard, and will continue to be so. i know plenty of players that will play the shocklands UNTAPPED first turn to lay one of these on the board.

THAT'S what i call versatility