Spine of Ish Sah

Spine of Ish Sah Role

"One of the points of the color pie is to get you to branch out to a second color to fill in the gaps of the first one." Do you feel like Spine of Ish Sah breaks this idea? (7 - Artifact - When this ETBs destroy target permanent.)

The card was made as a compromise to help out Commander.

Artifacts Color Pie Colors Commander Destroy Spine of Ish Sah

Blue's Pie Slice Issue

The problem with blue's slice of the pie is that it's too loosely communicated. We can't see what blue isn't supposed to do in the same way we can other colors. Maybe it doesn't get proactive cards? Nope, Delver is OK and one of the best. Maybe it doesn't get hard removal? Nope, Mirror Match is OK and virtually does that. There should be tools blue can't touch (even in a blue way) otherwise its weakness isn't clear. This is the core reason Spine of Ish Sah is OK, but 7-mana Desert Twister isn't.

Not all Blue’s cards are reactive. Blue’s answers are reactive. Blue also has the fewest and on average the weakest creatures.

Blue Colors Creatures Desert Twister Mana Mirror Match Spine of Ish Sah

Artifacts Granting Abilities

How do you feel about cards like Spine of Ish Sah, Flame Javelin and Oblivion Stone giving colors access to effects they normally can't have, albeit at a high mana cost?

That’s something artifacts do. The trick is making sure they don’t do it too cheaply.

Artifacts Colors Flame Javelin Mana Oblivion Stone Spine of Ish Sah

Artifact Balance Role

Are artifacts like Jayemdae tome and spine of ish Sah okay because, even though they give mono-colored decks ways to cover weaknesses (red with card draw and any color with destruction of everything), they aren't efficient?

Yes.

Artifacts Card Draw Colors Jayemdae Tome Monocolor Red Spine of Ish Sah

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