The card is under observation, if I find the time to simulate some Drafts and/or constructed then we will see. As far as I know it isn't oppressive in formats that allow for it, even in Multiplayer which it was made for.
I first and foremost design with Draft in mind, so I highly doubt this could ever be a blowout. Even in constructed it's a very distant possibility, because the multi-colour lands are not that good that you would really want to play so many that you could have 5 nonbasic lands on turn five. That's so incredibly rare that it shouldn't be much of a consideration.
You execute each sentence or clause of a spell one at a time, in order. The effects of an earlier sentence are (in general) completed before you start evaluating the next sentence.
If a card says "Destroy target creature with toughness 3 or less. Apex - ~ deals 3 damage to that creature's controller", then the destruction happens before the check for highest total power.
If a card says "Target creature gets -3/-3 UEOT. Apex - ~ deals 3 damage to that creature's controller", then the creature's power is reduced by 3, before the check for highest total power.
If it just dealt damage, then the creature might be sitting around as a 2/2 with 3 damage, ready to die at the next SBA check, but still having 2 power in the middle of resolution when the Apex check happens.
If you want an Apex check to check twice, then it needs to a) be a triggered ability (which spells aren't), and b) you need to include the "If" in-between the trigger clause and the result. Search the Comp Rules for "intervening ‘if’ clause" (around 603.4).
If you want Apex to check twice on spells, as in instants or sorceries? Once at announcement time when the spell is being cast and once on resolution? That's... going to be hard.
Note that Formidable didn't appear on any spells. All the triggered Formidable effects followed the intervening 'if' rule: [When/Whenever/At] [time], if [condition], [effect]. Your Apex phrasing here does not follow that templating, so I'm afraid you don't get the intervening-if behaviour.
As a rule of thumb, I personally don't like blow-out sideboard answers like this one, and prefer more narrow cards that are just very undercosted, like Deathmark. I mean, for this card could have read "Deal 2 damage to your opponent, or 4 damage if your opponent controls a non-basic land" and it would have been a playable card. Not the strongest it could be, but I've seen environments that use worse.
With PoP, however, certain decks simply can't win. Just wait until your opponent plays their fifth land, cast two of these at the end of their turn, and shake their hand. Sure, one can always argue that the player with all non-basic lands in their deck wasn't making a 'wise meta-game choice'. But not every player plays this game for the metagame. Some people just want to play their one deck that they have fun playing. Cards like Price of Progress help to establish new dynamics in a certain environment, but they do so at the expense of telling players, indirectly, what decks they aren't 'allowed' to build.
That said, I totally get the draw of this card. I like Price of Progress, and I think there are environments where it could be considered worth it (especially environments with non-basic lands that can readily be sacrificed.) I don't know whether or not it belongs here, since I haven't really studied this set.
This card is a bit hard to evaluate. On the one hand, you get 3 abilities at once.
On the other hand, without Apex it's "just" Menace and Trample, which isn't that bad but also not good either, since an Auras that do not pump are kinda frowned upon.
I did look at the outline. And you've got, like, one or two cards with each of those things at common. That has left you without enough support for any of them.
Give it a go, but my concern is it's just spread out across too many things. And doing that to every colour doesn't improve the feel; it just makes me feel that every colour will be left identity-less.
Little brother of Imperiosaur
Functional reprint of Khalni Heart Expedition
Possible reprint to counter LD.
The card is under observation, if I find the time to simulate some Drafts and/or constructed then we will see. As far as I know it isn't oppressive in formats that allow for it, even in Multiplayer which it was made for.
Casual is a thing that exists and matters
I first and foremost design with Draft in mind, so I highly doubt this could ever be a blowout. Even in constructed it's a very distant possibility, because the multi-colour lands are not that good that you would really want to play so many that you could have 5 nonbasic lands on turn five. That's so incredibly rare that it shouldn't be much of a consideration.
That should be rectified then by inserting a "instead" into the Apex effect, like this:
Amazing Blaze deals 3 damage to target creature.
Apex - If creatures you control have total highest power, instead Amazing Blaze deals 3 damage to target creature and 3 damage to its controller.
Like with Arrow Storm or similar cards.
You execute each sentence or clause of a spell one at a time, in order. The effects of an earlier sentence are (in general) completed before you start evaluating the next sentence.
If a card says "Destroy target creature with toughness 3 or less. Apex - ~ deals 3 damage to that creature's controller", then the destruction happens before the check for highest total power.
If a card says "Target creature gets -3/-3 UEOT. Apex - ~ deals 3 damage to that creature's controller", then the creature's power is reduced by 3, before the check for highest total power.
If it just dealt damage, then the creature might be sitting around as a 2/2 with 3 damage, ready to die at the next SBA check, but still having 2 power in the middle of resolution when the Apex check happens.
If you want an Apex check to check twice, then it needs to a) be a triggered ability (which spells aren't), and b) you need to include the "If" in-between the trigger clause and the result. Search the Comp Rules for "intervening ‘if’ clause" (around 603.4).
If you want Apex to check twice on spells, as in instants or sorceries? Once at announcement time when the spell is being cast and once on resolution? That's... going to be hard.
Note that Formidable didn't appear on any spells. All the triggered Formidable effects followed the intervening 'if' rule: [When/Whenever/At] [time], if [condition], [effect]. Your Apex phrasing here does not follow that templating, so I'm afraid you don't get the intervening-if behaviour.
As a rule of thumb, I personally don't like blow-out sideboard answers like this one, and prefer more narrow cards that are just very undercosted, like Deathmark. I mean, for
this card could have read "Deal 2 damage to your opponent, or 4 damage if your opponent controls a non-basic land" and it would have been a playable card. Not the strongest it could be, but I've seen environments that use worse.
With PoP, however, certain decks simply can't win. Just wait until your opponent plays their fifth land, cast two of these at the end of their turn, and shake their hand. Sure, one can always argue that the player with all non-basic lands in their deck wasn't making a 'wise meta-game choice'. But not every player plays this game for the metagame. Some people just want to play their one deck that they have fun playing. Cards like Price of Progress help to establish new dynamics in a certain environment, but they do so at the expense of telling players, indirectly, what decks they aren't 'allowed' to build.
That said, I totally get the draw of this card. I like Price of Progress, and I think there are environments where it could be considered worth it (especially environments with non-basic lands that can readily be sacrificed.) I don't know whether or not it belongs here, since I haven't really studied this set.
Uncommon is a fine place for sideboard cards too. Remember that a bunch of players get annoyed at what they see as "bad rares".
This card is a bit hard to evaluate. On the one hand, you get 3 abilities at once. On the other hand, without Apex it's "just" Menace and Trample, which isn't that bad but also not good either, since an Auras that do not pump are kinda frowned upon.
Firebreathing, menace, and trample - all for just
? Seems somewhat cheap.
Also seems rather more complex than a common usually is - but I guess menace+trample is a fairly obvious combination.
I did look at the outline. And you've got, like, one or two cards with each of those things at common. That has left you without enough support for any of them.
Give it a go, but my concern is it's just spread out across too many things. And doing that to every colour doesn't improve the feel; it just makes me feel that every colour will be left identity-less.
Swapped abilites, grants now first strike and +3/+1 if you have Apex enabled
: Humans-Wizards-Archaeology
The mages studying ancient petroglyphs, therefore graveyard based.
: Humans-Clerics-Feast
The scarwitches, who grow stronger through killing. Witch's Mist was also an inspiration for that faction.
: Saurid-Warriors-Apex
Offshot bipedal Lizard race, a ruthless species who respects only power.
: Humans-Druids-Breeding
The Fang Druids, who care for the Dinosaurs.
: Elves-Shamans-Primeval
The nature loving elves, who want to keep their plane pristine and "natural".
That's a good idea, will mark it for upgrade.