I recently used Channel on turn 5 to cast Opposition and GSZ for Hornet Queen. That was pretty hot.
I used to think that Channel was inconsistently overpowered, a turn two colourless bomb or nothing. Using it to play two big spells on turn four or five is usually better. If one of those spells is Upheaval...
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
It's one of those cards which is constantly in and out of people's cubes, but it's a great performer in the right deck. It tends to end in a blow-out for either party, however. I doubt I'll ever add it again but it was always a polarising card and we enjoyed it.
I used to think that Channel was inconsistently overpowered, a turn two colourless bomb or nothing. Using it to play two big spells on turn four or five is usually better. If one of those spells is Upheaval...
The fact that you can cast channel in your first mainphase, attack, cast an instant using some colorless mana, cast upheaval in your second main paying more life for man, then casting creatures for the remaining seems absolutely bonkers. Just sayin.....
Ya, you can use it to play equipment in the first main phase to attack, and then for extra colorless mana in the second main phase.
I just brought this into the cube. I'll keep you posted here (and in my thread) what the results are.
Just the thought of using it to cast SOWP on a turn one creature, gaining life then casting a colorless creature post main is giving me a real hard on.
I used to think that Channel was inconsistently overpowered, a turn two colourless bomb or nothing. Using it to play two big spells on turn four or five is usually better. If one of those spells is Upheaval...
I ran Channel very early on in my cube's existence, when I ran a bunch of junk fillers. Even then, I found it somehow unsatisfying to play. You'd occasionally just romp over people with a busted play that took very little setup--play green, play fatties, play something that can use colorless mana. It would fit much better in my current cube--I even run Kozilek, Butcher of Truth--but I'm not looking for that kind of swinginess in a single card. I'm sure it's good enough for most cubes, though.
So I Got my wish today and was able to draft the channel. However, not necessarily in the best deck possible
I unfortunately didn't get to see it much but I did have one Notable sequence of events:
T1: Temple Garden Tapped
Turn2: city of brass, cast demonic tutor, getting channel
Turn3:Forest, Eternal Witness getting back Demonic Tutor
Turn4: Forest, Cast Demonic tutor, getting sword of War and peace, channel, cast and equip sword of body and mind and sword of War and peace. Swing, go to 12 (gain 4), cast Precursor Golem, pass turn....
Given how many of the 6 drops require 2 colored mana, the card is only playable in decks that run some 7+ mana monsters and at its best when you also have some gigantic colorless creatures. Even then it is not guaranteed to do anything at all and might straight up lose you the game against control or aggressive decks.
It seems to be slightly more flexible than Tinker (without the Tutor part). I think it is certainly worthy of consideration for the cube. Like many other cards, Channel both works in a specific type of deck and benefits from being built around.
My Deck had Chromatic Lantern, Precursor Golem, 3 Swords (FI, BM, WP), and Grim Monolith, Exalted Angel (great casting Morph). This is a midrange number of solid targets. It was offset by a large number of green cards with tons of green mana symbols. However, there was never a time I didn't want to draw the spell and it scared my opponents more than I expected.
It occurs to me that Sword of Feast and Famine has absolutely insane synergy with this card. Because it untaps lands that would allow you to cast colored spells post combat.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Just the thought of using it to cast SOWP on a turn one creature, gaining life then casting a colorless creature post main is giving me a real hard on.
Now imagine using it to play and equip Sword of Feast and Famine, swinging, and getting to untap lands so you have colored mana to go with your pile of colorless!
edit: i did not realize there was a second page where you mention exactly that. d'oh.
Given how many of the 6 drops require 2 colored mana, the card is only playable in decks that run some 7+ mana monsters and at its best when you also have some gigantic colorless creatures. Even then it is not guaranteed to do anything at all and might straight up lose you the game against control or aggressive decks.
Well, so long as it's producing 4 or more, the ramp is pretty relevant. So even on Titans, this is more than fine.
Channel is another card that by itself plays a turn 4 titan. If you play a colored ramp spell on t1 or t2, it plays a t3 titan. Seems good, even in the midgame then
Cookies:
Batterskull
Smokestack
Erratic Portal (turn two bounce your guy and create an engine seems amazing)
Thragtusk
Green Sun'z Zenith
Exalted Angel
Meloku, the Clouded Mirror
Elesh Norn
Profane Command (insta kill practically because of the fear part)
Meat:
Moltentail Masticore
Tangle Wire (generally with another creature requiring a single color on turn 3)
5 titans (on turn 4 or earlier)
Phyrexian Metamorph
Armageddon/Ravages of War
X spells
Potatos:
everything else that benefits from colorless acceleration
Doing a bunch of background research for powering up my cube. Channel was super highly-ranked in the power rankings last fall, but I rarely see anyone talking about it. Is it one of those cards that only powered cubers even consider, and that's why it doesn't get talked about? Is the variance too much?
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():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I can't say I'm pleased to see you and must warn you I may have to do something about it.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: URDelver
Modern: UGRDelver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
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Aaaaand now I'm sold. Seems awesome
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I used to think that Channel was inconsistently overpowered, a turn two colourless bomb or nothing. Using it to play two big spells on turn four or five is usually better. If one of those spells is Upheaval...
My 380 Beginners’ Cube on Cube Tutor
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
The fact that you can cast channel in your first mainphase, attack, cast an instant using some colorless mana, cast upheaval in your second main paying more life for man, then casting creatures for the remaining seems absolutely bonkers. Just sayin.....
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I just brought this into the cube. I'll keep you posted here (and in my thread) what the results are.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
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My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Just the thought of using it to cast SOWP on a turn one creature, gaining life then casting a colorless creature post main is giving me a real hard on.
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My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Masturbates furiously
So stoked for tonights draft, race for the Channel!
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I did a turn 3 entwined Tooth and Nail once (Bogardan Hellkite and Rampaging Baloths).
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Draft my cube at Cubetutor!
If your playgroup likes random "I win" moments, this is like the poster child.
We like that, so Channel is sweet here.
Blimpy's Aggro-Focused Cube (powered 360)
I'm always open to suggestions on how to improve my cube. Take a look and ask a question, or give a constructive critique whenever you can.
I unfortunately didn't get to see it much but I did have one Notable sequence of events:
T1: Temple Garden Tapped
Turn2: city of brass, cast demonic tutor, getting channel
Turn3:Forest, Eternal Witness getting back Demonic Tutor
Turn4: Forest, Cast Demonic tutor, getting sword of War and peace, channel, cast and equip sword of body and mind and sword of War and peace. Swing, go to 12 (gain 4), cast Precursor Golem, pass turn....
only he scooped somewhere in there.
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It seems to be slightly more flexible than Tinker (without the Tutor part). I think it is certainly worthy of consideration for the cube. Like many other cards, Channel both works in a specific type of deck and benefits from being built around.
My Deck had Chromatic Lantern, Precursor Golem, 3 Swords (FI, BM, WP), and Grim Monolith, Exalted Angel (great casting Morph). This is a midrange number of solid targets. It was offset by a large number of green cards with tons of green mana symbols. However, there was never a time I didn't want to draw the spell and it scared my opponents more than I expected.
It occurs to me that Sword of Feast and Famine has absolutely insane synergy with this card. Because it untaps lands that would allow you to cast colored spells post combat.
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http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=382498
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Wow, that isn't something I knew about. Glad to know.
Your spoilered comment from earlier was eerily prescient given that Channel ultimately left you playing with yourself.
My 380 Beginners’ Cube on Cube Tutor
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Who doesn't like to play with them self! ....wait...yea...I mean that.
I think my draft could have gone much better but still I think the card is good enough to warrant inclusion in the cube I played.
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Now imagine using it to play and equip Sword of Feast and Famine, swinging, and getting to untap lands so you have colored mana to go with your pile of colorless!
edit: i did not realize there was a second page where you mention exactly that. d'oh.
Well, so long as it's producing 4 or more, the ramp is pretty relevant. So even on Titans, this is more than fine.
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 MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)
Card Rating (card + Channel)
Bacon:
Sundering Titan
Karn Liberated
Myr battlesphere
Lodestone Golem
5 Swords + Jitte
Wurmcoil Engine
Mind Twist
Upheaval
Cookies:
Batterskull
Smokestack
Erratic Portal (turn two bounce your guy and create an engine seems amazing)
Thragtusk
Green Sun'z Zenith
Exalted Angel
Meloku, the Clouded Mirror
Elesh Norn
Profane Command (insta kill practically because of the fear part)
Meat:
Moltentail Masticore
Tangle Wire (generally with another creature requiring a single color on turn 3)
5 titans (on turn 4 or earlier)
Phyrexian Metamorph
Armageddon/Ravages of War
X spells
Potatos:
everything else that benefits from colorless acceleration
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http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=382498
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MY LEGACY ALTERS
Also Rolling Earthquake or Bonefire of the Damned.
BGG Win the game seems kind of good...
http://hgcube.blogspot.com/ (help me Make my Custom CUBE!)
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Redit Proxy Article "current gallery"
MY LEGACY ALTERS
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered