something to stop opponent from "pumping" creatures?

[Ohioguy]

The fellow I play against relies a lot on cheap creatures that are
easy to get out early in the game, but which are later pumpable, either
inherently, or through the addition of enchantments.

Are there any ways in Magic to alter the game so that creatures are
no longer "pumpable"?

Thanks!

[David DeLaney]

Well, that would be something like "activated abilities can't be played".
Arrest does that for enchanted creature, as do several other Enchant Creatures,
there are several things that counter target activated ability (but pumpable
creatures could generally just pump another time afterwards)... okay, Cursed
Totem, which is probably Vintage by now, "Activated abilities of creatures
can't be activated". Also Damping Matrix, and Suppression Field makes them
cost 2 more to use.

You may want to also look into things like Prodigal Sorcerer, to 'ping' his
1/1 critters for 1 damage whenever he's out of mana, or Wrath of God and its
cousins, or Tranquility later-game to wipe the enchantments; if that's his
main strategy, it's got several places it can get strangled.

Dave
--
\/David DeLaney posting from d...@vic.com "It's not the pot that grows the flower
It's not the clock that slows the hour The definition's plain for anyone to see
Love is all it takes to make a family" - R&P. VISUALIZE HAPPYNET VRbeable<BLINK>
http://www.vic.com/~dbd/ - net.legends FAQ & Magic / I WUV you in all CAPS! --K.

[Ohioguy]

On 2/27/2013 1:07 AM, David DeLaney wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:35:49 -0500, Ohioguy<no...@none.net> wrote:
>> The fellow I play against relies a lot on cheap creatures that are
>> easy to get out early in the game, but which are later pumpable, either
>> inherently, or through the addition of enchantments.
>>
>> Are there any ways in Magic to alter the game so that creatures are
>> no longer "pumpable"?
>
> Well, that would be something like "activated abilities can't be played".
> Arrest does that for enchanted creature, as do several other Enchant Creatures,
> there are several things that counter target activated ability (but pumpable
> creatures could generally just pump another time afterwards)... okay, Cursed
> Totem, which is probably Vintage by now, "Activated abilities of creatures
> can't be activated". Also Damping Matrix, and Suppression Field makes them
> cost 2 more to use.
>
> You may want to also look into things like Prodigal Sorcerer, to 'ping' his
> 1/1 critters for 1 damage whenever he's out of mana, or Wrath of God and its
> cousins, or Tranquility later-game to wipe the enchantments; if that's his
> main strategy, it's got several places it can get strangled.
>
> Dave

Thanks so much!