9 years ago

Let's talk about: Legendary Cards

I created this post to share my personal opinion about Legendary cards on general, and to read your thoughts about them as well. I think that we all have different opinions about them, like why we love some legendaries but hate others, so I consider that hearing what many different players think about these cards may give us another perspective and see what common thoughts we all may have.

So... What makes a card Legendary?

I think that the main factor relies on the effect it has. It should be a strong action (better than any other card may offer, of course) that feels unique. No one wants their favorite Legendary to have just a stronger effect of a normal card.

There are legendaries that are meant to be played on defensive decks (likeThe Great Zucchini or Gargantuars' Feast) while others were designed to be played on a more aggressive way (like Molekale or Barrel of Deadbeards).

I also think that some legendary cards are meant to favor or counter a particular playstyle. For example, Briar Rose is a key card in a full flower deck the same way Trickster is on a trick deck.
Dark Matter Dragonfruit punishes trick decks like Supernova Gargantuar (kinda) counters decks with lots of the same plants. (I really think that it was specifically designed as a counter measure for Pineclone decks).

I consider that most legendary cards are so cool, that we can instantly think a deck we can build around them.

Captain Cucumber gives you legendaries every time it attacks? Let's make a deck filled with extra-attack cards!
Winter Melon can freeze three zombies at a time!! Let's make a freeze deck!

So... What is the problem?

I think that there are some cards that just feel... clunky. They lack some... "identity" on their own. It feels like they don't fit anywhere, or that they can be played on every single deck.

Interdimensional Zombie is a good example. I think it was meant to be a legendary card on a science deck, but at least for me, it feels kinda meh.
The fact that it transforms itself from a 1-cost card into a 3-cost card doesn't make that big of an impact.

Zombot Drone Engineer feels more "legendary" on this particular case.

Both activate with other science cards, but the Drone Engineer can be far more deadly than the Int. Zombie.
A good way to improve it would be: "Every time you play a science card, transform a random zombie into one that costs 1 brain more. This effects continues until this zombie is killed."
Now THAT would be a legendary card. One that has a defined purpose, to be played on a full science deck.

Another card is Bananasaurus Rex. I think this card is a perfect example of the legendaries that enter the reign of "can be played on every single deck". What makes this card worthy of being legendary? It is obviously not the bonus attack since many Mega-Grow cards do, so the only thing left is the fact that it can buff itself.

Doubled Mint does a greater job in that aspect (buffing itself), and it has a defined purpose, to serve as a super early game card. If the enemy zombie doesn't have early removal, it is almost game winning because of the insane stats in can get.

I can talk about many other legendaries, but I don't want to make this post longer.

So, what is your opinion about legendary cards?

13 Replies

Cancerroyale
9 years ago
Honestly, I agree with your point on the Interdementional zombie (spelled that wrong). It seems pretty squishy and the way it performs is awkward in that it simply transforms.... Barrel of Deadbeards: Ok, I honestly see this card as a super-rare. Although it can have some insane board-wipe value, you gotta set it up with the fireworks zombie.
Overall, I think the other legendaries are fine, but I hope their accessibility to newer players is easier. After the last patch (with the card rarity changes), I find that a lot of my new player friends have trouble building decent decks with the few cards they have. A lot of the previously rare or super rare cards are now a tier higher in rarity. I do agree with some rarity changes to legendary such as teleport, valk, and briar rose. Pineclone.... eh I'm not so sure on that one. Although molekale pineclone is a REALLY good ramp deck, I still think it's not that bad. In addition, I've never gotten a single pineclone when it was a Super-rare card, as a VET. Now it's a legendary, when will I ever get it?
Anonymous
9 years ago
The only legendary card who i feel needs a buff us reincarnation. While its ability is very cool, it is very weak early game as it might give you a card that you might want to play later but cannot cause it will transform again. It should give you the buffed card which it transformed into when you play it for zero sun.
Azombioso
9 years ago
Let me see if I understood correctly what you just said.
You are saying that Reincarnation should give you the random plant it transforms to... at 0 cost?
I think that may be a liiiiittle bit op, don't you think?
Like, if you get a 5 cost card on it's first transformation (turn 1) you already have a great advantage on the board.
That is without counting the fact that if you are insanely lucky, you may get a legendary card like Astrocado or Cornucopia on early turns.
I think that a cooler effect would be: "While in your hand: At the start of your turn, this transforms into a random Plant with a cost equal to the number of suns you produced this turn and gain +1/+1.It keeps this ability."
This means that Reincarnation will always transform into a plant that you can play in your turn. It is pretty ok on early turns because of the +1/+1, but becomes even better on the late game. (Imagine getting an Astro Vera or a Dark Matter Dragonfruit.)
AND it has a better defined purpose, to be played on a extra-suns deck.
BlazinsZ
9 years ago
I really do not like the legendary ones, that their grace is, transforming into another legendary -.- Like Reincarnation, if transform in Cornucopia, you need to wait round 10 anyway. But the worse is Interdimensional Zombie, Legendary who transforms into a common zombie, that's awful, A lost legend, I always go wrong with him... the another fact if you need a played a science zombie, so, you need to wait some turns to see the ability. It's not that in the early turns you can summon someone powerful, you need to wait anyway, and received a common zombie xDDD
wonoz
9 years ago
RNG is RNG and luck-driven. If a mechanic that requires you to be lucky to be viable is good even in the worst case its pretty overpowered because it then is overwhelming in the best case. Which Conjouring for example SOMETIMES is...but most of the time its just "good". Thats fairly well balanced there.
on the other hand I had a doctor conjour two Battlecruisers in a row yesterday....which was hilarious....for me.
Anonymous
9 years ago
I mean as in keeping the plant it transformed into so you can play it later.
wonoz
9 years ago
yes! I know. But it doesnt change the fact that, even if you could proactively decide on what transformation to keep, there is anything of real value in the timespan you hold the card and/or have to play it because you NEED a drop.
The best change I can come up for Reincarnation is significantly buffing the ability but lowering the amount of triggers you get.
"Everytime you play a Plant with equal or higher cost than this card it transforms into a card that costs 1 more and gets +1/+1"
This requires some buildup but the essence is that it functions as a buffed curvetopper exactly when you need it. so you play morning glory on turn 1. you maybe get a muscleshroom with +1/+1 from it. you then play uhhh armored nut and reincarnation turns into a Growshroom +2/+2 aso.
This actually ramps up to some HUGE plant but it requires some build up and only really happens if you start with it and curve out quite well. See it as a glorified potted powerhouse.
Azombioso
9 years ago
That... sounds pretty cool as well.

I think most of us agree that some legendary cards need some more love since they are not worthy of their cost the way they are now.
BlazinsZ
9 years ago
I have collected the possibilities of transformation of Interdimensional Zombie seeing my deck, hoping to get something good.
To be honest, I'm still quite disappointed, It is quite boring this legendary.
Interdimensional Zombie cost 1 brains, but you need to put another Science card, if you're lucky, you can put teleport trick in round 2, To receive a zombie that costs 3, that would be all the magic of this legendary. Also, you can have 4 Interdimensional Zombie, To do this consecutively, and have luck to receive. But the fact that having only one and being pretty useless bores me
Notice, that there is only one legendary ''Valkyrie'' But it really is useless because it only increases its power in the hand...
Vimpire... mmm good, Electrician... but in the round 2, Electrician do the bonus attacks.
Moonwalker, lol, you need to remember to put Interdimensional in the heights.
Exploding imp 6/1, Is the only one that I think would be really good.
Celestial Custodian: Need be in enviroment, and that is hard in the round/turn 2.
The truth this legendary does not excite me. I think it needs to be modified
Azombioso
9 years ago
I agree with you. The only scenario in which it can be somewhat useful is if you play the Interdimensional Zombie, hope it doesn't get killed, and play a Transformation Station on the next turn. That way you would have a 4 cost zombie on turn 3.
Or as you said, play 1 Interdimensional Zombie on turn 1 and play another 2 on the next turn. That way you would have 2 zombies that cost 3 brains and 1 Interdimensional Zombie on turn 2.
That's something a little bit better, but I don't think it is worth it at the legendary cost.