Also, would your opinion change if you were more interested in the ramp aspects than you were in fixing. So, it doesn't matter than STE can get Plains and Swamps and RM can't provide those colors.
Is it STEve's stability (because the land is hard to kill) that puts him over the top for you? It seems to be an upside vs. stability issue and it seems like most people on these threads lean toward stability.
I'll add more to the question. Would anyone play Rattleclaw Mystic over:
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Wall of Roots
Lotus Cobra
Sylvan Caryatid
Which ones? If not, why not? Would your opinion change if Rattleclaw could tap for any color / provide three of any three different colors when morphed?
What's great about Steve is that summoning sickness doesn't stop you from saccing him to get your extra land and you get to block with it once before it gets that land for you. The shuffle effect, thinning your deck, and getting to put Steve in the 'yard for shenanigans with Whip of Erebos/Diabolic Servitude/Recurring Nightmare are pretty sweet, too. That protection of your life total in the early game is really handy for ramp decks, which is also why Wall of Roots and Sylvan Caryatid are great. I just got my Lotus Cobra recently so I've only gotten to use it in a deck once, but wow is that creature good. You can get extra mana from it and attack in the same turn, it's a 5-color fixer, and if you're using fetch lands or Terramophic Expanse/Evolving Wilds you get two mana from it on the same turn. It's a pricey card for a reason.
I ran Rattleclaw Mystic in my KTK expansion and wasn't particularly impressed. In most decks it will only fix 2 colors, because either the red or the blue won't be relevant. The only advantage it has over the other ramp creatures you mentioned is the morph/ramp ability, which seems a bit clunky (good luck untapping with a morph in play on turn 4). As far as I know, no one ever used it for that while Rattleclaw was in my cube. I chose not to cut any of the creatures you mentioned to make room for Rattleclaw Mystic, and I don't change the text on cards to make them playable in my cube.
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I would probably play Rampant Growth if it came with a one-man Fog attached. That's probably worth an extra mana in the cost. Neither of these effects are that great on their own, but they're fantastic together because they both further the ramp deck's goal. And the fact that it's got legs gives it so many more applications.
Are those the only options? These are three great cards. I guess I'd go with Forked Bolt, considering it's the only one that can't land more than 2 damage, and there are a lot of alternative versions available (Arc Trail, Arc Lightning, Flames of the Firebrand), though it really depends on those versions all being run.
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Oh. Yeah, I forgot about Grenzo. He's a pretty clear 5th, so I can't really ever see playing Terminate/Blightning/Jester under 630 or so where I'd want to run 6+ guild cards.
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Looking at happyjosiah's cubetutor list, there's space because Rakdos Cackler and Murderous Redcap are listed as black cards. The actual Rakdos cards are Dreadbore, Grenzo and currently Blightning, the one that may be replaced.
I certainly wouldn't run Terminate at this size as you already have Dreadbore. From the ones you cited I'd pick Spike Jester, but like Wildifre393 I give priority to Falkenrath Aristocrat over the Jester.
Now that I can pick up some of the Gods for around $2, they're tempting me again. Xenagos, God of Midrange seems pretty strong, although he got mixed reviews when the set came out. Would you put it ahead of Ghor-Clan Rampager? (I'm also running Sarkhan Vol, BBE, and Huntmaster).
For what it's worth, if you give cards a playability bump for "funness", you should definitely consider Xenagod. Every top deck becomes this awesome bit of tension.
For what it's worth, if you give cards a playability bump for "funness", you should definitely consider Xenagod. Every top deck becomes this awesome bit of tension.
I just answered what was better not more fun. My cube isnt full of goofy fun cards. I just dont rank the 720 most powerful cards and put them in my cube. Xenagod is probably a good alternative for the reveler if you want less planeswalkers in your cube.
jrobless, you haven't posted a list yet, so forgive me if you're already running the cards I'm mentioning here.
If you're looking for an evasive blue beater at 3CMC, and money is no object Vendilion Clique and True-Name Nemesis are both better than either of those cards.
Also, would your opinion change if you were more interested in the ramp aspects than you were in fixing. So, it doesn't matter than STE can get Plains and Swamps and RM can't provide those colors.
Opinion unchanged RE: ramp.
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Now that I know his name is Steve I agree.
Is it STEve's stability (because the land is hard to kill) that puts him over the top for you? It seems to be an upside vs. stability issue and it seems like most people on these threads lean toward stability.
I'll add more to the question. Would anyone play Rattleclaw Mystic over:
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Wall of Roots
Lotus Cobra
Sylvan Caryatid
Which ones? If not, why not? Would your opinion change if Rattleclaw could tap for any color / provide three of any three different colors when morphed?
I ran Rattleclaw Mystic in my KTK expansion and wasn't particularly impressed. In most decks it will only fix 2 colors, because either the red or the blue won't be relevant. The only advantage it has over the other ramp creatures you mentioned is the morph/ramp ability, which seems a bit clunky (good luck untapping with a morph in play on turn 4). As far as I know, no one ever used it for that while Rattleclaw was in my cube. I chose not to cut any of the creatures you mentioned to make room for Rattleclaw Mystic, and I don't change the text on cards to make them playable in my cube.
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Agreed.
And STE over Rattleclaw.
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Are those the only options? These are three great cards. I guess I'd go with Forked Bolt, considering it's the only one that can't land more than 2 damage, and there are a lot of alternative versions available (Arc Trail, Arc Lightning, Flames of the Firebrand), though it really depends on those versions all being run.
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EDIT: Added Terminate into the conversation
Spike Jester, for sure.
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Would you run Terminate over Spike Jester?
Probably not. Dreadbore is sufficient there.
As long as you're running Rakdos Cackler, Murderous Redcap, Dreadbore, and Falkenrath Aristocrat, it's not super important what your fifth option is.
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Well Grenzo, Dungeon Warden is never getting cut either, so there's that.
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I certainly wouldn't run Terminate at this size as you already have Dreadbore. From the ones you cited I'd pick Spike Jester, but like Wildifre393 I give priority to Falkenrath Aristocrat over the Jester.
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I just answered what was better not more fun. My cube isnt full of goofy fun cards. I just dont rank the 720 most powerful cards and put them in my cube. Xenagod is probably a good alternative for the reveler if you want less planeswalkers in your cube.
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I'd like to support both Blue Tempo and Reanimator.
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If you're looking for an evasive blue beater at 3CMC, and money is no object Vendilion Clique and True-Name Nemesis are both better than either of those cards.
If money is an object, Serendib Efreet and Latch Seeker are also better and cost less than a buck apiece.
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