MTG Salvation

I know Ixalan is still relatively new so people may not have had ample time to test new stuff.

When I saw Growing Rites of Itlimoc spoiled I was hype. I thought to myself wow, I can afford Gaea's Cradle. As I've been playing with it, my hype dwindled. My deck that wants it has a mix of creatures that produces tokens and instants/sorceries that make tokens.(Gahiji tokens) It only runs 16 creatures and every time I've played it, it has never gotten me a creature. But I have flipped it on two occasions.

Even though a Gaea's Cradle effect is something obvious that the deck wants. I do not believe it is worth it if I can't get value out of the enchantment effect, and then go through a hoop to make it Gaea's Cradle.

If anyone else has used the card, how has it been for them? Is there a certain number of creatures that you can have in your deck that makes getting a creature off of it's enchantment effect more reliable?

I havent tested the card but I think your deck is an interesting example. The card is designed so that you build your deck with mostly creatures and then the enchantment rewards you for that. Your deck can really use a Gaea's Cradle but doesn't seem to want Growing Rites. I think it will find its way into the format but it wont be a slam dunk like the land that inspired it.

Gaea's Cradle doesn't draw you a card when it comes into play, either. It also counts against your land drop. Don't get me wrong, Cradle is by far the better card. But if you can consistently flip this into the land, then the card will be super-solid for you.

I have good times with Itlimoc. I put it inside my Edric deck full of evasive creatures. I can flip it easily and it generated about 7 green mana. Epic.

Easy include in any Prosh deck.

I haven't tested it yet, but I was initially extremely eager to fit it into my Omnath, Locus of Rage deck. After reading your post it occurred to me that it might not be a good fit, while I will always be able to flip the enchantment, I doubt I'll ever get a card from it (less then 18 creatures in the deck). The other deck I thought it might do well in is my Samut, Voice of Dissent tokens, but there I face an even lower creature count (I believe 9).

I think this can definitely pose a problem for Growing Rites, many decks that can abuse the land side do so through token generation, not actually casting numerous creatures.

Once I pick one up I can begin testing, time will reveal how truly powerful this card is.

I suppose I could use it in my Elf-Experiment Kraj deck alongside the real Cradle.

Even in a Gx deck that goes wide but doesn't have many creature cards, one could just consider the 2G a ritual cost — in the same vein as Cabal Coffers's Nykthos's cost of 2 — except you only have to pay it once.

Granted, since it flips into Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun at your end step, some flash or mana sinks are probably called for.

Obvious include for a Sisay deck. Since you choose when it ETBs, you're pretty much eliminating any risk. Yeva would be very happy with using it too.

I can see Ikea's Cradle going into a Sisay deck, which is pretty good. I'm thinking about putting one in my Wort, the Raidmother token/spells deck. Should be able to get it to flip easy with all the token generation, and then pump out huge X spells. And, as mentioned, Prossh loves this card as much as Prossh loves everything else not called food chain or Purphoros.

Definitely going to try out in Hazezon and Ezuri COP.

Quote from JohnnyDegenerate »

I can see Ikea's Cradle going into a Sisay deck, which is pretty good. I'm thinking about putting one in my Wort, the Raidmother token/spells deck. Should be able to get it to flip easy with all the token generation, and then pump out huge X spells. And, as mentioned, Prossh loves this card as much as Prossh loves everything else not called food chain or Purphoros.

+1 for "Ikea's Cradle".

Yep, I’m planning on using that, too. Well done.

I think the card only really makes sense in creature-heavy decks with either draw power or a mana sink to supplement the flip side.



I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to test it anytime soon, but I just cracked one which almost certainly has a home in my Rhys the Exiled elfball deck. IMO, elfball makes the most sense since it fits both the criteria I mentioned above and for the same reason, that’s also its most likely home if anywhere in modern. I love playing creature-based decks, but honestly don’t think I’d have much of a place for it in any of my other ones. I was thinking about converting the deck to Blue Ezuri (or Leovold, but I don’t play much and I think he’s banned now? ), where it’ll still have a spot, but I’m pretty sure elfball and Edric-style decks are its best - if only - real homes.

This shall forever be known as Ikea's Cradle, and thank you, autocorrect.

Every green token deck should consider it for the Cradle. Creature-heavy decks should consider it as a dig that can become a Cradle pretty easily.

Quote from Dae657 »

...
I was thinking about converting the deck to Blue Ezuri (or Leovold, but I don’t play much and I think he’s banned now? ), where it’ll still have a spot, but I’m pretty sure elfball and Edric-style decks are its best - if only - real homes.

Emphasis mine for a slight detour off-topic; yes, he's banned.

You need about 25 creatures to not whif. But probably closer to 33.

You probably also want token produsers to flip it. It is a though customer.

Another interesting aspect to look at for Ikea's Cradle is the ways to fetch it, as Gaea's Cradle has enough tutors hitting it in green as well as Expedition Map. While this is far more limited for Ikea's Cradle, forcing you to run either black or white to get some decent tutors that manage to hit the enchantment, which certainly will hamper certain decks.

Not saying its a bad card, as been enjoying it so far as a budget alternative to the real Cradle in my Meren Druidball deck. But will say that running it is one of the reasons why I am in two colors, which makes the deck perhaps a tad less consistent compared to a mono green build.

Quote from VidarThor »

You need about 25 creatures to not whif. But probably closer to 33.

You probably also want token produsers to flip it. It is a though customer.

With the way most players build decks nowadays, 25 creatures is not a high threshold. It's probably closer to the floor for most. MTG has turned into an ETB game. So many decks just fold to Humility because most played enchantment removal is creature based.

If Rites whiffs, no big deal. The power of the land is more justly compensates.

Quote from umtiger »

With the way most players build decks nowadays, 25 creatures is not a high threshold. It's probably closer to the floor for most. MTG has turned into an ETB game. So many decks just fold to Humility because most played enchantment removal is creature based.

We do not play in the same meta.

Yeah, in a combo-heavy meta, I'd prefer an instant answer over an ETB creature. Or just play Stax.

Quote from VidarThor »

Quote from umtiger »

With the way most players build decks nowadays, 25 creatures is not a high threshold. It's probably closer to the floor for most. MTG has turned into an ETB game. So many decks just fold to Humility because most played enchantment removal is creature based.

We do not play in the same meta.

Yes, there are metas where Gaea's Cradle is not even good. However, that is not "most" metas. I'll still say that in most metas, it is good and Rites is fine even when it whiffs.

Quote from umtiger »

Quote from VidarThor »

Quote from umtiger »

With the way most players build decks nowadays, 25 creatures is not a high threshold. It's probably closer to the floor for most. MTG has turned into an ETB game. So many decks just fold to Humility because most played enchantment removal is creature based.

We do not play in the same meta.

Yes, there are metas where Gaea's Cradle is not even good. However, that is not "most" metas. I'll still say that in most metas, it is good and Rites is fine even when it whiffs.

Gaea's cradle remains competitive all the way to the most competitive decks you can possibly make in the format.

I've yet to try it, but I'd LOVE to grab a copy for my Nissa, Vastwood Seer etb control deck. I'd mostly be able to flip it immediately. Obviously it's no Gaea's Cradle, but it's strong in the right place.

I need one for my yeva enchantress deck as well. I would actually far prefer it to gaea's cradle in that deck.