I was thinking about this the other day, after a few drafts online where I kept seeing cards played by my opponents that I have never, ever, put into a draft (or sealed) deck of mine. And I've done a lot of events and had a fair amount of success with this format, to the point where I know I've seen every single card in the set. I made this list out of curiosity to see how many cards I've actually never played with at all, even once, since the beginning. I know there have been a few cards I've tried and it was only one time (Ravenous Intruder, Crackdown Construct, I'm looking at you), but these are the ones that have never made the cut, ever.
White:
Aether Inspector - I see this played so much more than it should be (which is basically never) Consulate Crackdown - Seems like it could be good in the right situation. That situation has never happened for me.
Indomitable Creativity Kari Zev's Expertise Pia's Revolution Precise Strike - This might be the most played card by others I've seen that I have never included. Siege Modification - I've played the Arial one, once. This one has never made it in. Wrangle - I get that there's some kind of Black/Red Sac. deck that wants this. I have never drafted that deck.
-further note: I played Gremlin Infestation a couple times early in the format. Pretty sure I'm never playing it again though.
Found it interesting that each color has at least one Rare. Red has two plus a Mythic, even though I like to draft Red. And several Mythic Artifacts.
So, which of these are actually good and I'm just missing the boat on?
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Quote from Bateleur »
Ambush Krotiq makes me laugh so much. I keep rereading the card and it keeps not having Flash. In what sense is this an ambush again? I just have visions of this huge Krotiq poorly concealed in some bushes, feeling slightly sad that his carefully planned ambushes never seem to work.
I have no issues with playing a Reservoir Walker--just don't want multiples as it's not particularly powerful for a 5-drop. I'll also play Salvage Scuttler if I'm in blue. I think it's a fine card...there's plenty of value to be found in this set when bouncing artifacts.
I have actually brought in two Dispersal Technician's from the side board to beat up on a guy who played a bunch of high cost artifacts. All together I do think the card is not good but I was pleased I actually had a game where it was useful from the sides.
Annnd literally the next draft I do I end up with Dispersal Tech. in the deck...
It was very medium, but I guess not completely horrible. I sided in out in one match, but kept it for the other two.
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Quote from Bateleur »
Ambush Krotiq makes me laugh so much. I keep rereading the card and it keeps not having Flash. In what sense is this an ambush again? I just have visions of this huge Krotiq poorly concealed in some bushes, feeling slightly sad that his carefully planned ambushes never seem to work.
I just realized to my utter fascination that I haven't seen a Prizefighter Construct on the battlefield. Ever. Not at the prerelease, not in the 1-1 bracket of a draft league, not against a child at FNM. It's pretty incredible that they printed a card so obviously below par that even my normal sources of being beaten by unplayables failed me.
I've actually played with most of the cards you listed, which amuses me. How often are you drafting? Some notes on my experiences:
Consulate Crackdown: A completely fine sideboard card that I'll take Decommission over. I've cast it twice, and took out 2 or more 'real' cards with it only once.
Dispersal Technician: I gained a pretty big fondness for this guy during the release weekend drafts. Obviously a better sideboard card than anything. I really liked him in U/G. Haven't cast too many since then, but still a fan.
Renegade's Getaway: I actually find myself tucking one or more of these away for the sideboard when I draft B/G or B/R specifically. It's a great card with menace or deathtouch creatures, or if a surprise artifact is useful (Salivating Gremlins, mainly). It's only really great against sorcery speed removal or big green bodies, but it's done some surprisingly good work for me of late.
Foundry Assembler: This is the only card on your list that surprised me. 3/3s are perfectly good bodies in this format (especially on turns 4 or 3), and activating the value-mode of Self-Assemblers in KLD is normally enough for me to take these guys over other marginal playables.
Save the mythic artifacts, I think I've played or sideboarded every single card on your list except Aether Inspector and the aforementioned Prizefighter Construct. It is now my goal to 3-0 with a deck running both.
I will note my winning percentage has also dropped precipitously. This, I think, is not a coincidence!
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Quote from Bateleur »
Ambush Krotiq makes me laugh so much. I keep rereading the card and it keeps not having Flash. In what sense is this an ambush again? I just have visions of this huge Krotiq poorly concealed in some bushes, feeling slightly sad that his carefully planned ambushes never seem to work.
Somebody played Sequestered Stash against me yesterday. It tapped for mana a couple times.
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My helpy helpdesk of helpfulness.
My Decks: EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn Modern: Polytokes IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
White:
Aether Inspector - I see this played so much more than it should be (which is basically never)
Consulate Crackdown - Seems like it could be good in the right situation. That situation has never happened for me.
Blue:
Disallow
Dispersal Technician
Illusionist's Stratagem - I've seen this used to good effect. Always seems like wishing for magical Christmasland to me though.
Salvage Scuttler
Take into Custody
Whir of Invention
Black:
Gonti's Machinations
Renegade's Getaway - this is really the only black one I still see played by others.
Secret Salvage
Sly Requisitioner
Red:
Indomitable Creativity
Kari Zev's Expertise
Pia's Revolution
Precise Strike - This might be the most played card by others I've seen that I have never included.
Siege Modification - I've played the Arial one, once. This one has never made it in.
Wrangle - I get that there's some kind of Black/Red Sac. deck that wants this. I have never drafted that deck.
-further note: I played Gremlin Infestation a couple times early in the format. Pretty sure I'm never playing it again though.
Green:
Aid from the Cowl - I draft Green a lot, so it's maybe not surprising this is the only card that's never made the cut. Heroic Intervention and Lifecraft Awakening get nods as barely ever played.
Multi-color:
Dark Intimations - never even a little close to this.
Artifacts:
Consulate Dreadnought (I know there's some kind of building consensus that this is actually a decent card. It has never happened for me)
Consulate Turret
Foundry Assembler
Gonti's Aether Heart
Hope of Ghirapur
Implement of Improvement (I have played all the other ones. This one just always seems bad).
Inspiring Statuary
Ornithopter
Paradox Engine
Planar Bridge
Prizefighter Construct
Reservoir Walker
Servo Schematic
Found it interesting that each color has at least one Rare. Red has two plus a Mythic, even though I like to draft Red. And several Mythic Artifacts.
So, which of these are actually good and I'm just missing the boat on?
Signature courtesy of Rivenor and Miraculous Recovery
EDH Altered Cards by Galspanic (Seriously, this guy's awesome.)
My Pauper Cube
Tapped-Out Simulator
My Trade Thread
-Decks-
Commander:
GWR Rith, the Awakener RWG
U Kami of the Crescent Moon U (Flagship Deck)
BW Teysa, Orzhov Scion WB
Under Construction:
UBR Crosis, the Purger RBU
Cube:
WUBRGX Pauper XGRBUW
It was very medium, but I guess not completely horrible. I sided in out in one match, but kept it for the other two.
I've actually played with most of the cards you listed, which amuses me. How often are you drafting? Some notes on my experiences:
Consulate Crackdown: A completely fine sideboard card that I'll take Decommission over. I've cast it twice, and took out 2 or more 'real' cards with it only once.
Dispersal Technician: I gained a pretty big fondness for this guy during the release weekend drafts. Obviously a better sideboard card than anything. I really liked him in U/G. Haven't cast too many since then, but still a fan.
Gonti's Machinations: I had a really fun and focused U/B energy deck where I actually ran 2 copies of this card. I even had enablers (Fretwork Colony, Spire of Industry, Live Fast). Card was still only good, not amazing.
Renegade's Getaway: I actually find myself tucking one or more of these away for the sideboard when I draft B/G or B/R specifically. It's a great card with menace or deathtouch creatures, or if a surprise artifact is useful (Salivating Gremlins, mainly). It's only really great against sorcery speed removal or big green bodies, but it's done some surprisingly good work for me of late.
Foundry Assembler: This is the only card on your list that surprised me. 3/3s are perfectly good bodies in this format (especially on turns 4 or 3), and activating the value-mode of Self-Assemblers in KLD is normally enough for me to take these guys over other marginal playables.
Save the mythic artifacts, I think I've played or sideboarded every single card on your list except Aether Inspector and the aforementioned Prizefighter Construct. It is now my goal to 3-0 with a deck running both.
I have now played decks with Aether Herder, Dispersal Technician, Precise Strike, Wrangle, Consulate Dreadnought, Hope of Ghirapur, Implement of Improvement, and Reservoir Walker. I don't think I was consciously trying to play some of these cards I had never tried, but maybe unconsciously?
I will note my winning percentage has also dropped precipitously. This, I think, is not a coincidence!
I just played against a prize fighter last night. New Player, had mono-red artifacts. He wanted high power guy to crew his demolition stopper.
My Decks:
EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn
Modern: Polytokes
IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a friendly reminder that I will drive this car off a bridge