I rarely play this anymore, but I'm reconsidering it now. The 10th edition art for this is killer, imo. I have a foiled one and it's one of my favorite cards.
- Instant. Every other alternative listed (outside c.rift) was sorcery. That says a lot.
- 5 mana, Cyclonic Rift is 7.
- Bounces your own creatures, can be negative for aggro, but positive for control (e. wit, archaeomancer). Can save field.
- Can cheat cast, can't with c.rift.
- c.rift bounces non-creatures, this doesn't.
Many people don't run small direct damage spells like this and Lightning Bolt because they are minor effect 1-1's. In 60 card formats you can usually nab two creatures with this card, but I think people have really wizened up to the benefits of lower curves and more utility creatures. I think this card is pretty good.
what is that in the picture? is that a dragon being zapped? i can't really think of a dragon that size that is weak enough to get whacked by an arc trail aside from a er... nanthali dragon? but thats even smaller than an ape!
i dont think i've ever seen or used it before though. might give it a go, though i suspect i'll cut it soon after for something instant-y
I probably don't give this card enough credit, but I really don't give burn spells that are this small any credibility in EDH. I'd rather play pyroclasm, and I probably still wouldn't play that.
I rate burn for 2 things:
1- Can it kill Prophet of Kruphix?
2- Is it instant?
If it can't meet both of those criteria I won't run it. The ability to kill Prophet of Kruphix before they untap is MASSIVE and totally necessary in a meta where everyone LOVES prophet.
This spell can't kill Prophet, and can't even kill Edric before he draws a full hand of cards. 3/10 would not play.
Don't think that this is from one of those guys who clearly has never tried stuff like this and thinks lightning bolt sucks. I love the Bolt. It's premium removal. This is just too bad. I would play at instant and if it didn't say "another". It's a no-go as is.
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My Decks:
Aggro: WUBRGHorde of Notions Goodstuff, RUBCheesy Aggro, GR Xenagod Gruul Goodstuff
Control: GWBGhave, Guru of Adaptability, UBWrexial, Milling Deep UAzami, Lady of No Infinite Combos GWU Derevi, Tempo Beats
Other: URGRiku of Too Much Mana, WUBRG Sliver Queen Enchantress
Decent card for Shu Yun who wants to cast as many pre-combat (or pre-damage) spells as possible. 2cmc to raise his prowess and potentially clear some blockers isn't terrible.
It's in my EDH Cube because most of the utility creatures have 1-2 toughness and it almost always has a target worth killing. 2-for-1'ing is always good. Except that it's usually a 13th-15th pick and never makes the cut.
Decent card for Shu Yun who wants to cast as many pre-combat (or pre-damage) spells as possible. 2cmc to raise his prowess and potentially clear some blockers isn't terrible.
Eh, there are probably better cards, even for this. I'd take Unsummon and friends long before this.
I loved this card during SOM-INN standard. Zap a creature and get my Chandra's Phoenix back? I'll take it.
In EDH? Not so much.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I run Searing Blaze and Searing Blood in my french burn list and I am always happy to see them in my opener. Killing a mana/utility dork and dealing damage to face is huge. Both of those cards are much better though. I would probably play Arc Lightning before this.
Well, since Arc Lightning's strictly better, yes.
Arc Trail got me some places in SOM limited, and I even used it in Standard burn for a while, but I'm not sure how good it would be in EDH. And the existence of Arc Lightning says "Why use Arc Trail unless you want two?"
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Arc Lightning isn't strictly better because it costs more mana. Arc Trail might be pretty decent in French or Tiny Leaders but there is unfortunately a lot of competition for burn so maybe not.
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On Mono Black in Commander:
Quote from BlackJack68 »
But whomever your commander is, Cabal Coffers is really in charge.
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Decent card for Shu Yun who wants to cast as many pre-combat (or pre-damage) spells as possible. 2cmc to raise his prowess and potentially clear some blockers isn't terrible.
Actually, when you have so many cards that cost 1 or 0 and draw a card, or straight up make you unblockable... it's pretty bad, even for Shu Yun.
I could see it in French or Tiny Leaders, but I have very little actual experience in those formats.
It's in my EDH Cube because most of the utility creatures have 1-2 toughness and it almost always has a target worth killing. 2-for-1'ing is always good. Except that it's usually a 13th-15th pick and never makes the cut.
Sounds like it's not pulling its weight in the cube then.
It's not the worst, and it's pretty unexciting. Situational to say the least, but you'll be happy to be packing it sometimes. Most burn spells are just not worth it in 40 life.
I love this card in limited and 60 card constructed, but it just doesn't pack enough heat for vanilla EDH. Maybe in French or Tiny Leaders, but I'm still working on my first decks for both of those formats.
I have considered this card. People have to stop pretending that all direct damage goes straight to the face. Sure, it doesn't look good when you have 40 life...but it's killing utility creatures. That's an amazing effect. Sure, it's a sorcery and that's why it's overlooked, but small amounts of damage are fine because you get to zap dudes with it. There are lots of generals that are within this damage range and even more within Lightning Bolt range.
That said, it's probably meta-dependent. Nekusar, Kozilek, and Uril are your opponents? Maybe light damage isn't key, here. Rhys, Rubina, and Grenzo? Bolt them all day.
Drawing cards is always good (even if this card technically just replaces itself), and having the option to put unneeded cards from your hand on the bottom of your library in a sense actually nets card advantage, since you won't be drawing them next. Playable, but certainly not as broken as some other draw 3 cards and do X cards.
It's not bad, but it does already fall quite far behind the likes of Brainstorm, Ponder, Preordain, and then we're not even hitting the plethora of bigger draw spells. Useful effect, but perhaps costed just a bit too high for EDH in comparison with the plethora of other options.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I just added Dream Cache to Intet, where the point is cheating big fatties from the top of my library. Much like Brainstorm and to lesser extent, See Beyond, it has its' use when you want certain cards in your library and not your hand. Niche use is niche, but there you go. Not like I am too likely to hardcast that Worldspine Wurm anytime soon anyway...
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X Hope of Ghirapur Swordpile W Ghosty Blinky Anafenza U Nezahal- Big, Blue and HERE! B Gonti Can Afford It R Etali, Primal 'Whatjusthappened?' G Polukranos Wants More Mana WU The Exalted Vizier Temmet WB Home, Athreos WR Basandra, Recursive Aggression WG Karametra, Momma of Lands UB Wrexial Eats Your Brains UR Arjun, the Mad Flame UG The Fable of Prime Speaker BR Hellbent, Malfegor Style BG Jarad, Death is Served RG Running Thromok WUB Varina and ALL the Zombies WUBYennett, the Odd Pain-Train WUR Zedruu the Furyhearted WUG Arcades' Strategy, Shmategy, Sausage and Spam WBR A Case of Mathas' Persistent F*ckery WBRLicia's League of Legendary Lifegain Layabouts WBG The Karador Advantage PackageWRG Gahiji Rattlesnake Collection UBR Jeleva... does... things UBG Damia's Just Deserts URG Yasova's Has More Power Than Sense BRG Wasitora, Bad Kitty WUBRBreya, Eggs, Breya'd Eggs WUBG Tymna and Kydele, Extended Borrowing WURG Kynaios and Tiro, Landfall Impersonations WBRG Saskia Pet Card EnchantressUBRG Yidris of the Chi-Ting Corporation WUBRG Tazri's Amazing Allies
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- Instant. Every other alternative listed (outside c.rift) was sorcery. That says a lot.
- 5 mana, Cyclonic Rift is 7.
- Bounces your own creatures, can be negative for aggro, but positive for control (e. wit, archaeomancer). Can save field.
- Can cheat cast, can't with c.rift.
- c.rift bounces non-creatures, this doesn't.
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek
Many people don't run small direct damage spells like this and Lightning Bolt because they are minor effect 1-1's. In 60 card formats you can usually nab two creatures with this card, but I think people have really wizened up to the benefits of lower curves and more utility creatures. I think this card is pretty good.
Misc. EDH Stuff: Commander Cube | Zombies (Horde)
Resources:Commander Rulings FAQ | Commander Deckbuilding Guide
Follow me on Twitter! @cryogen_mtg
i dont think i've ever seen or used it before though. might give it a go, though i suspect i'll cut it soon after for something instant-y
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
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1- Can it kill Prophet of Kruphix?
2- Is it instant?
If it can't meet both of those criteria I won't run it. The ability to kill Prophet of Kruphix before they untap is MASSIVE and totally necessary in a meta where everyone LOVES prophet.
This spell can't kill Prophet, and can't even kill Edric before he draws a full hand of cards. 3/10 would not play.
Don't think that this is from one of those guys who clearly has never tried stuff like this and thinks lightning bolt sucks. I love the Bolt. It's premium removal. This is just too bad. I would play at instant and if it didn't say "another". It's a no-go as is.
Aggro: WUBRGHorde of Notions Goodstuff, RUB Cheesy Aggro, GR Xenagod Gruul Goodstuff
Control: GWBGhave, Guru of Adaptability, UBWrexial, Milling Deep UAzami, Lady of No Infinite Combos GWU Derevi, Tempo Beats
Other: URGRiku of Too Much Mana, WUBRG Sliver Queen Enchantress
EDH Decks:
WUBOloro, Combo ControlWUB
UBOona Reanimator ComboUB
BRGProssh, Eater of the Blue MageBRG
UBRGrixis StormUBR
Rebuilding Jenara (stealyourstuff.dec)
Pauper Deck:
UBInspired SirenUB
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall
http://www.commandercast.com/category/articles/generally-speaking
Follow me on Twitter: @generalspeak
In EDH? Not so much.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
Well, since Arc Lightning's strictly better, yes.
Arc Trail got me some places in SOM limited, and I even used it in Standard burn for a while, but I'm not sure how good it would be in EDH. And the existence of Arc Lightning says "Why use Arc Trail unless you want two?"
On phasing:
That said, three modes are better than one.
On phasing:
I could see it in French or Tiny Leaders, but I have very little actual experience in those formats.
Sounds like it's not pulling its weight in the cube then.
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek
Pauper: Burn
Modern: Burn
Legacy: Burn
EDH: Marath, Will of the Wild - Ramp/Combo | Anafenza the Foremost - French | Uril, the Miststalker - Voltron | Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury - Goodstuff
Ghost Council of Orzhov - Tokens | Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - Control | Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Tiny Leaders
That said, it's probably meta-dependent. Nekusar, Kozilek, and Uril are your opponents? Maybe light damage isn't key, here. Rhys, Rubina, and Grenzo? Bolt them all day.
Drawing cards is always good (even if this card technically just replaces itself), and having the option to put unneeded cards from your hand on the bottom of your library in a sense actually nets card advantage, since you won't be drawing them next. Playable, but certainly not as broken as some other draw 3 cards and do X cards.
Misc. EDH Stuff: Commander Cube | Zombies (Horde)
Resources:Commander Rulings FAQ | Commander Deckbuilding Guide
Follow me on Twitter! @cryogen_mtg
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.