what would you rather play? think twice or this? i'm leaning towards this in a vacuum
Think Twice is better in most situations where you want to play blue control, I think.
The good thing about Think Twice is that it can hold up mana to remove a creature, or think first, and then hold up mana to remove a creature, and then think second, and that second and third turn card draw is crucial for hitting your land drops. This only ensures card draw once to keep your land drops going which is probably worse. But it's real close, actually. This card is solid and may be the better play in certain decks.
As someone who has played TT in modern and standard (twice), I wouldn't undersell the value of changing out cards quickly in the early game. Those first five land drops and removal are crucial, meaning that this helps you get there. Nothing is worse than TTing for removal or land only to draw TT #2. This helps alleviate that situation by simply being easier to run through. Admittedly, if your deck can consistently go long (i.e. survive long enough) than TT's flexibility and guaranteed card advantage is stronger. In a practical sense, this may be stronger as it also combines favorably with snapcaster mage, whether you cycle it or not; something TT was unable to do. It is also going to be better in the late game, when you have access to sufficient mana.
I'm not sure it is better, but it really might be.
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Fair enough. You are making a lot of sense. The Snapcaster interaction in particular is interesting. It's six mana, but a blue deck would want to get there regardless.
As someone who has played TT in modern and standard (twice), I wouldn't undersell the value of changing out cards quickly in the early game. Those first five land drops and removal are crucial, meaning that this helps you get there. Nothing is worse than TTing for removal or land only to draw TT #2. This helps alleviate that situation by simply being easier to run through. Admittedly, if your deck can consistently go long (i.e. survive long enough) than TT's flexibility and guaranteed card advantage is stronger. In a practical sense, this may be stronger as it also combines favorably with snapcaster mage, whether you cycle it or not; something TT was unable to do. It is also going to be better in the late game, when you have access to sufficient mana.
I'm not sure it is better, but it really might be.