^I agree with all of that. Witchstalker might get a run in my own cube in the future for those reasons. Plus, wolves are cool.
On a side note, it's great to see Mutavault and Scavenging Ooze reprinted (twice no less, and with excellent promo art), and the reprinted Planeswalkers in M14 are good cube cards too. All of this is great news for new cubers.
That wolf thing has awesomely funny art.
And I agree. The set is decent and there's good cube reprints as well.
wtwlf, I think you're overselling the academy raider even at "maybe in cubes supporting madness".
My cube supports madness at 720 and has constraints that make it a lower power level than what other 720s might be, and this guy sadly can't even edge in for testing. Madness's big advantage is typically tempo, and this guy robs you of it blind. I mean, i guess he lets you leverage the card advantage, but at his cost, it feels like a stretch, no matter the cube. As said by yourself and others before, at 2 mana, he'd be sweet. But as it is, I'd much sooner run Wild Guess or even Goblin Lore (!) before this to support madness.
EDIT: I'm also really dissapointed by Shadowborn Demon. If it only checked all graveyards instead of yours... UB control would have loved a Nekrataal-esque fatty as a finisher.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
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Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
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ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
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The graveyard clause on the Demon might as well not be there and it would still be good. In the one game in ten where it comes up it is obviously a bonus, but it shouldn't form part of your evaluation of the card.
wtwlf, I think you're overselling the academy raider even at "maybe in cubes supporting madness".
My cube supports madness at 720 and has constraints that make it a lower power level than what other 720s might be, and this guy sadly can't even edge in for testing. Madness's big advantage is typically tempo, and this guy robs you of it blind. I mean, i guess he lets you leverage the card advantage, but at his cost, it feels like a stretch, no matter the cube. As said by yourself and others before, at 2 mana, he'd be sweet. But as it is, I'd much sooner run Wild Guess or even Goblin Lore (!) before this to support madness.
EDIT: I'm also really dissapointed by Shadowborn Demon. If it only checked all graveyards instead of yours... UB control would have loved a Nekrataal-esque fatty as a finisher.
I was overselling it to a point, just to generate discussion about red looting. Your cube was the one I had in mind about supporting madness, and if it's not good enough there than oh well. Not having to pay the spell cost and the madness cost in the same turn is nice though, and it can work over multiple turns if you have lots of madness stuff.
The demon is much harder for a creature-light control deck to use, for sure.
The graveyard clause on the Demon might as well not be there and it would still be good. In the one game in ten where it comes up it is obviously a bonus, but it shouldn't form part of your evaluation of the card.
Well, it should if you're trying to use it as a control finisher, as rascals pointed out. When it's one of your few creatures, it's not very good.
I was overselling it to a point, just to generate discussion about red looting. Your cube was the one I had in mind about supporting madness, and if it's not good enough there than oh well. Not having to pay the spell cost and the madness cost in the same turn is nice though, and it can work over multiple turns if you have lots of madness stuff.
Fair enough.
He is hit by the misfortune of Madness (as an archetype) only fitting into RUG, and of the 4 concievable madness builds, he only fits into the most difficult (to draft/build/get to work).
To elaborate: UG, UR, and RUG all get the blue looters and come together fairly easily if you know what you're doing early on. GR is the one that might otherwise consider him, because it's notoriously strapped for draw, but I only see that deck wanting him *if* they have the T1 mana dork and drop him on T2.
I appreciate the eye to red looting though.
Madness as an archetype would swoon at the possibility 2CMC looter in red. It would open up the 4th colour combination for the deck as actually consistently viable and make the archetype across all colours more draftable.
The demon is much harder for a creature-light control deck to use, for sure.
Yeah.
Ah, for what might have been...
Well, it should if you're trying to use it as a control finisher, as rascals pointed out. When it's one of your few creatures, it's not very good.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
This was the main thing. I wanted to being up that we keep creeping closer and closer to a playable red looting creature. That guy would've been awesome at 1R, playable at RR and far more appealing with 2 power. So close, yet so far...
I'll have to take some time later to read your previous ones...
And thanks for giving me credit on mentioning Kalonian Hydra's interactions.
Although I'm a bit far from finishing up my Cube on paper, I do test it online whenever I can, and so far I realize Vorapede didn't make the cut to any of my decks, primarily for it's triple :symg::symg::symg: at cost.
I guess I'm easily leaning to swap it for the new Hydra...
You're asking me if I think it's cubeable? Did ...did you read the article? Yes. I think it is. I think it makes the Firebrand look bad by comparison. The +1 gives you so much more value for the same cmc, it has more loyalty, and the +0 ability generates card advantage and doesn't rely on having other cards to do stuff. And sweeping the board is good, but 9 damage should win the game. And even if it doesn't, you can hit other crazy cube spells that will be good when tripled. It's a pinger that disrupts blocking and generates card advantage.
I have to admit that I am a little skeptical of the new Chandra at this point but I'm interested to test her out.
I have my eye on some of the other cards as well. The hydra looks really, really good and another mana dork is always welcome (does Arbor Elf bite the dust now at 360?). Otherwise, I really appreciate these articles. Well done & thanks!!
I have to admit that I am a little skeptical of the new Chandra at this point but I'm interested to test her out.
No. I think in most cubes running both will be the right answer. In a 360, maybe you will have to cut one but other cubes should have room for Chandra 1 and Chandra 4.
Well, it should if you're trying to use it as a control finisher, as rascals pointed out. When it's one of your few creatures, it's not very good.
Oh I see. I didn't get what was going on there. Well this is true - he's not a traditional creature-light control finisher like Aetherling. Our control decks don't shy from including lots of creatures though, and he's super in midrange and aggro (if your aggro deck can stretch to a single 5 mana finisher). I don't like narrow cards, and I think the Demon has enough game in various archetypes to encourage some to test him.
And to all those considering it, I wouldn't cut Chandra 1.0. Sure, if you compare +1s alone, the old Chandra is pretty sad about it - she's all about the -x to remove a threat, and then it's like a free win condition on the board. Plus if you're already ahead, her ulti is very attinable indeed. I still like her a lot, and the Briclot art is a beauty.
I'd like to begin by thanking you, wtwlf123, for writing these set (p)reviews. For three reasons: they're a good read, they're a good starting point, and you save lazy people like me the trouble to write them ;). Keep them coming!
Also, I'd like to have your opinion about 2 cards not on your list: Haunted Plate Mail and Corpse Hauler. They're not heavy hitters, but they have interesting effects - how do you feel about adding them to a ~720 list?
Thanks once again. Looking forward to your Theros (p)review!
I'd definitely play the new Garruk if he has the ability to cheat out dudes like Worldspine and Progenitus.
Haunted Plate Mail seems worse than Chimeric Mass to me. I thought it was a halfway decent card until I saw that you can't activate it if you control other creatures. Pass.
The Corpse Hauler has an activated ability that is way too much mana for that kind of effect. If it was a zombie and had either a free or B activation cost on his ability, he might be worth considering.
I also hope Imposing Sovereign to be a great inclusion for white!
In addition I will be testing Barrage of Expendables (the goblin bombardment improvement) with token decks and return from graveyard effects.
Imposing Sovereign is awesome.
But I agree with Sylar; Barrage is much, much worse than Goblin Bombardment.
Ya, you spend RR instead of 1R by the time of your first activation, and then you have to continue to keep R up all the time to use the ability. It's more mana intensive and more color intensive, and harder to use.
That wolf thing has awesomely funny art.
And I agree. The set is decent and there's good cube reprints as well.
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My cube supports madness at 720 and has constraints that make it a lower power level than what other 720s might be, and this guy sadly can't even edge in for testing. Madness's big advantage is typically tempo, and this guy robs you of it blind. I mean, i guess he lets you leverage the card advantage, but at his cost, it feels like a stretch, no matter the cube. As said by yourself and others before, at 2 mana, he'd be sweet. But as it is, I'd much sooner run Wild Guess or even Goblin Lore (!) before this to support madness.
EDIT: I'm also really dissapointed by Shadowborn Demon. If it only checked all graveyards instead of yours... UB control would have loved a Nekrataal-esque fatty as a finisher.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
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I was overselling it to a point, just to generate discussion about red looting. Your cube was the one I had in mind about supporting madness, and if it's not good enough there than oh well. Not having to pay the spell cost and the madness cost in the same turn is nice though, and it can work over multiple turns if you have lots of madness stuff.
The demon is much harder for a creature-light control deck to use, for sure.
Well, it should if you're trying to use it as a control finisher, as rascals pointed out. When it's one of your few creatures, it's not very good.
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Fair enough.
He is hit by the misfortune of Madness (as an archetype) only fitting into RUG, and of the 4 concievable madness builds, he only fits into the most difficult (to draft/build/get to work).
To elaborate: UG, UR, and RUG all get the blue looters and come together fairly easily if you know what you're doing early on. GR is the one that might otherwise consider him, because it's notoriously strapped for draw, but I only see that deck wanting him *if* they have the T1 mana dork and drop him on T2.
I appreciate the eye to red looting though.
Madness as an archetype would swoon at the possibility 2CMC looter in red. It would open up the 4th colour combination for the deck as actually consistently viable and make the archetype across all colours more draftable.
Yeah.
Ah, for what might have been...
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
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This was the main thing. I wanted to being up that we keep creeping closer and closer to a playable red looting creature. That guy would've been awesome at 1R, playable at RR and far more appealing with 2 power. So close, yet so far...
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I'll have to take some time later to read your previous ones...
And thanks for giving me credit on mentioning Kalonian Hydra's interactions.
Although I'm a bit far from finishing up my Cube on paper, I do test it online whenever I can, and so far I realize Vorapede didn't make the cut to any of my decks, primarily for it's triple :symg::symg::symg: at cost.
I guess I'm easily leaning to swap it for the new Hydra...
Sincerely,
- André
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Chandra Nalaar -> New Chandra ?
I have to admit that I am a little skeptical of the new Chandra at this point but I'm interested to test her out.
I have my eye on some of the other cards as well. The hydra looks really, really good and another mana dork is always welcome (does Arbor Elf bite the dust now at 360?). Otherwise, I really appreciate these articles. Well done & thanks!!
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Modern: UWR UWR Control
EDH: WBR Kaalia of the Vast
Arbor Elf can untap duals which makes him different. I'd personally rather have him over a third Llanowar/Fyndhorn.
No. I think in most cubes running both will be the right answer. In a 360, maybe you will have to cut one but other cubes should have room for Chandra 1 and Chandra 4.
Cheers,
rant
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Some of the cuts will be tough for this set update, to be sure.
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Oh I see. I didn't get what was going on there. Well this is true - he's not a traditional creature-light control finisher like Aetherling. Our control decks don't shy from including lots of creatures though, and he's super in midrange and aggro (if your aggro deck can stretch to a single 5 mana finisher). I don't like narrow cards, and I think the Demon has enough game in various archetypes to encourage some to test him.
And to all those considering it, I wouldn't cut Chandra 1.0. Sure, if you compare +1s alone, the old Chandra is pretty sad about it - she's all about the -x to remove a threat, and then it's like a free win condition on the board. Plus if you're already ahead, her ulti is very attinable indeed. I still like her a lot, and the Briclot art is a beauty.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
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From your list, I'm surely adding cards 1-8, plus Banisher Priest and Lifebane Zombie. I still don't know about Garruk, Caller of Beasts and Ogre Battledriver. The first because Worldspine Wurm and Progenitus are going in with my next update, and the second because this card really impressed me during prerelease, it's a powerful card, and I might have room for it.
Also, I'd like to have your opinion about 2 cards not on your list: Haunted Plate Mail and Corpse Hauler. They're not heavy hitters, but they have interesting effects - how do you feel about adding them to a ~720 list?
Thanks once again. Looking forward to your Theros (p)review!
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Haunted Plate Mail seems worse than Chimeric Mass to me. I thought it was a halfway decent card until I saw that you can't activate it if you control other creatures. Pass.
The Corpse Hauler has an activated ability that is way too much mana for that kind of effect. If it was a zombie and had either a free or B activation cost on his ability, he might be worth considering.
I'd pass on both those others, even at 720.
Glad you liked the article!
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Imposing Sovereign is awesome.
But I agree with Sylar; Barrage is much, much worse than Goblin Bombardment.
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