Wanted Scoundrels - When playing aggro, you're hoping to close the game out before the opponent can resolve a game-ending 5/6cc permanent. I don't want to be playing cards that help my opponent resolve their bombs earlier.
Captivating Crew - Crew's casting cost and activation cost are both a bit too high, and the 3-toughness is a drag. Plus, red's 4cc creature suite is packed with bombs. I don't think it can compete.
Daring Saboteur - 3 mana is a big cost to provide the evasion Saboteur needs to be good.
Great article as usual. This set has too many tribal, explore, and safe flip cards. But it has some decent cube offerings. For me, I am already happy with even 1 great cube include. Chart a Course - I am in the mindset that drawing cards and counterspells are maxed out in blue, and we simply ignore any newcomers. But as we saw in recent years I am wrong. Is this testable over Ancentral Visions in 450?
Chart - I would, yes. Enabling 'yards without coughing up card disadvantage just isn't available on spells under 3 mana. It'll be a while before we get another utility spell as flexible as this one.
Agreed. But is it also nice to know Wizards is still pushing card draw for blue.
I think Chart a Course is the best pure blue card draw spell after Ancestral Recall / Dig Through Time / Fact or Fiction / Deep Analysis. I think it beats out things like Treasure Cruise / Thirst for Knowledge / Ancestral Visions due to its sheer versatility.
Will test over Visions or Thirst, but for now I want to have Thirst and Chart at the same time to have redundant spell looting effects.
After playing both a ton, I think I like Search for Azcanta at the #2 slot now over Chart a Course. While Chart a Course is a great card, I think Search is just as strong and fills a looser niche than Chart a Course as a discard outlet / card advantage card. As long as I'm not in an already terrible situation, I find it super hard to lose once I transform Search for Azcanta.
I'm not sure if I'd move it in front of Chart, but I've been really impressed with Search. It's a great card! As a generic blue playable, Search is better. But the added value Chart brings to the specific decks it shines in (reanimator, tempo, etc) I still give it a small edge.
Wanted Scoundrels - When playing aggro, you're hoping to close the game out before the opponent can resolve a game-ending 5/6cc permanent. I don't want to be playing cards that help my opponent resolve their bombs earlier.
Captivating Crew - Crew's casting cost and activation cost are both a bit too high, and the 3-toughness is a drag. Plus, red's 4cc creature suite is packed with bombs. I don't think it can compete.
Daring Saboteur - 3 mana is a big cost to provide the evasion Saboteur needs to be good.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Agreed. But is it also nice to know Wizards is still pushing card draw for blue.
Will test over Visions or Thirst, but for now I want to have Thirst and Chart at the same time to have redundant spell looting effects.
I already bought one for $10. These top cube cards are getting high prices for foils!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Glad you enjoy the article series.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!