this card kind of reminds me of serra avenger in that she tricks you into thinking she's a two drop when really she's a 4+ drop, where the competition is a lot stiffer. playing this on turn two is almost always a bad situation. it has some cool synergies but at least some of the time you're setting yourself back a land drop. i think it's more of a solid include when you support the blink archetype, of course.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
I think it's great. The size and the evasion are great in the early game, and even if it sets you back a land, aggressive decks have no problem with those kinds of plays. It holds its value well into the later stages of the game, allowing you to reset counters on cards and get additional ETB triggers. Also, with moxen, it only costs one mana. I just recently used it in a selesnya aggro shell to reset counters on my Gemstone Mine and replay lands for landfall triggers and get extra mana from Lotus Cobra. It has a ton of small interactions with cards in the cube that make it really interesting (Sarcomancy comes to mind as a bomb T2 play) and I've also used it to reset my javelin counters a couple times. Plus, it's splashable, and has solid stats and evasion. I think it's an excellent cube card, and it's one of my favorite white 2cc creatures in the cube. Absolutely NO threat of getting cut.
even if it sets you back a land, aggressive decks have no problem with those kinds of plays.
if this were true, i'd expect a lot more people would be playing rogue elephant and scythe tiger. developing your mana the first three turns is pretty crucial to any deck, including aggro. i don't disagree that it has a ton of uses mid game, but early game it's not a good play if you're picking up a land the majority of the time.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
but until turn 4, it's the most likely one, especially in an unpowered cube. so shouldn't the card compete with 4cc cards instead of 2cc? and does it make the cut in the most competitive section of the cube?
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
I decided awhile ago that the most important thing I can do when playing magic is to play, and then bounce and replay an eternal witness as often as possible. This is great for doing that.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
That's the remarkable thing about life. It's never so bad that it can't get worse
Calvin and Hobbes Cube Tutor
This card has flexibility written all over it. Need an evasive beater? A way to reuse etb triggers? A resilient evasive creature? A way to deal with Pacifisms? No probs. It even allows you to capitalize on missed land drops. Say you don't have a fourth land. Play Skyfisher, bounce and replay a land, play a two-drop. You've just effectively paid one mana for Skyfisher.
The comparison to Serra Avenger is not bad, but this doesn't cost WW, offers you synergy, and can be played early if that's what you really need. My love for this card is unreal (it's even my avatar!) And I weep the day this is outclassed in regular cubes. In my peasant cube, meanwhile, it's a stone cold staple.
Specialities about the cube: U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
Yeah, I like cards that interact with essentially every other card in the cube I am currently playing. It's not the most comboriffic thing ever, but it is a contender for the most open-ended synergistic card in the cube if you ask me.
People brought up Dead-Eye Navigator in another forum and I could only think how much better this card is. I have done so many nasty things like using it on Siege Gang Commander and Nekrataal, man-o-war,acidic slime, mana vault, on and on. And I have even just used it to reset a blocker. Dont't forget wall of blossoms, and wall of omens cards. Soooo good.
I like it so much I am trying out Emancipation Angel. It does have double white, but it gains an extra point of power and the OP is right that I am rarely droping the Skyfisher on curve because I usually have some interactions in my deck that make it worth waiting.
The card is getting more and more nuts with on-color cards like Armada Wurm and Blade Spilcer being printed. So much so I am always looking for more of this kind of effect.
Do I think I need to run poor imitations like Faerie Impostor or Nultread Gargantuan? No they only deal with creatures. We have Man-O-War variants for that.
OPs point about minimal targets that are 1-2 CMC makes me think that I need to finally get around to finding some Javelineers, and maybe even consider Abundant Growth?
Specialities about the cube: U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
This card is often mistaken for an aggro evasive beater, but I think that is the role it plays worst. It is actually surprisingly versatile, and gets better as CitP abilities improve. It can come down early and start (or stop) beats. It can be played with no drawback when you don't have another land drop, or a free card (mox) to bounce. But it is best when bouncing one of the many kick ass come into play creatures you almost assuredly have in your deck.
if this were true, i'd expect a lot more people would be playing rogue elephant and scythe tiger. developing your mana the first three turns is pretty crucial to any deck, including aggro. i don't disagree that it has a ton of uses mid game, but early game it's not a good play if you're picking up a land the majority of the time.
Not even close. Those creatures destroy your lands. This bounces one. That's not even remotely comparable. Any time where you were going to miss a land drop, this plays as a 1-mana 2/3 flying creature. Which for 15-16 land aggro, happens on T2 or T3 quite often. Your 2-land 5-threat aggro opener still has 3 mana on T3 because of Skyfisher, whether you draw your 3rd land or not. And that's really good. That's not the same thing as sacrificing a land at all.
Not to mention the tons of interactions it has in the cube as something more than just an evasive beater that makes for a strong early game blocker as well. It has value all over the place.
edit: And I like bouncing a T2 land when I have a Land Tax out. Or on T3 if I'm getting ready to Balance.
It's weird to me that so many people sing this cards praises on account of it abusing etb triggers but wouldn't give a second look to Faerie Impostor.
I cut it from my cube as we used it as an aggro card and after we cut moxen it wasn't strong enough in that role, and I wanted another aggressive beater not a utility card.
It's weird to me that so many people sing this cards praises on account of it abusing etb triggers but wouldn't give a second look to Faerie Impostor.
I totally gave it a second look (and almost tested it). If they had the same drawback, I would be running the crap out of the Faerie, but it is in the wrong color, takes away the easiest method of negating the drawback, and has a much harsher WCS.
Regarding Rogue Elephant, I think there is a world of difference between returning a card to hand and sacrificing a land. If I haven't drawn another land there is occasionally value in being able to replay a land on turn 3 or 4. I do think that running power does make this a marginally better card, but it was still good when I was unpowered.
"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 weird to me that so many people sing this cards praises on account of it abusing etb triggers but wouldn't give a second look to Faerie Impostor.
I cut it from my cube as we used it as an aggro card and after we cut moxen it wasn't strong enough in that role, and I wanted another aggressive beater not a utility card.
Imposter has the major distinction of requiring a creature in play which is stifling when compared to the fact you can bounce a land or something else if needed with the fisher. Sometimes resetting an o-ring or Fetters is important.
Also there's the fact that fisher is a 2/3 while imposter is a 2/1. Two extra toughness means it can black a lot more and is harder to remove, especially when war geared or something.
Not to mention white has better beaters and more anthems.
I totally gave it a second look (and almost tested it). If they had the same drawback, I would be running the crap out of the Faerie, but it is in the wrong color, takes away the easiest method of negating the drawback, and has a much harsher WCS.
I'm curious to know what you mean by "wrong color". Are you suggesting that blue has fewer creatures with ETB triggers? Blue has Snapcaster Mage, Vendilion Clique, Man-o-War, Aether Adept, Glen Elendra, Venser, Dungeon Geists, Mulldrifter, and all of the clones.
Kor Skyfisher has been very good in our cube; I admit I was quite sceptic at first, but the drawback has been an advantage more then a real drawback. Our Skyfisher does seem a bit charmed as it looks like he attracts moxen. He might be bit weaker in unpowered cubes, but not by a huge margin I would think.
He is mostly played in aggro builds. Decks that, as Wtwfl has said, often don't card about returning a land because their curve ends sooner.
In tempo decks he helps with abusing Man o' War and his buddies.
Faerie Imposter is not close to being as good a card. It sets you back in your assault, while Skyfisher's drawback rarely feels like a drawback in practice for us.
I'm curious to know what you mean by "wrong color". Are you suggesting that blue has fewer creatures with ETB triggers? Blue has Snapcaster Mage, Vendilion Clique, Man-o-War, Aether Adept, Glen Elendra, Venser, Dungeon Geists, Mulldrifter, and all of the clones.
Blue would be a solid place for Kor Skyfisher (and I oft run it in WU) but is a bad place for a one cost creature that needs a creature in play to be anything but a blank.
Imposter has the major distinction of requiring a creature in play which is stifling when compared to the fact you can bounce a land or something else if needed with the fisher. Sometimes resetting an o-ring or Fetters is important.
Also there's the fact that fisher is a 2/3 while imposter is a 2/1. Two extra toughness means it can black a lot more and is harder to remove, especially when war geared or something.
Not to mention white has better beaters and more anthems.
I agree totally about the imposter. Being able to return a land as the WCS makes it much better than a personal unsummon staples to a beater. But I a curious about Emancipation Angel. I have curved into that in Aggro white and been satisfied, easily foolwed up by Silverblade Paladin or other such pumper in a really agressive deck.
Don't forget about its interactions with landfall as well, which happens often in aggressive decks. Picking up another +2/+2 when you're out of them in hand is also very useful.
The fact is, people, that playing cards like Skyfisher don't force you to play poor Magic. If you have other turn two plays, you play those first if Skyfisher disrupts your draw too much. You can play him on turn three, then pick up your one drop and replay it untapped. The drawback, while sometimes very inconvenient, can be worked around with a little bit of planning.
Skyfisher > Impostor also because if you have only 1 creature in play, removal is less of a blowout. With skyfisher, if they remove the creature, you bounce a land, with impostor, then you've been 2 for 1'd, which is pretty horrible.
You are talking about an ~ 10% chance - even less if you don't keep 1 land hands.
I'm torn. On the one hand, I know better than to argue numbers with Eidolon. On the other hand, I have all this anecdotal evidence that can't be backed up with numbers that suggests my 15-16 land aggro decks, when I keep 2 land hands, I very often don't make my 3rd land drop on T3, especially on the play. What gives?
this card kind of reminds me of serra avenger in that she tricks you into thinking she's a two drop when really she's a 4+ drop, where the competition is a lot stiffer. playing this on turn two is almost always a bad situation. it has some cool synergies but at least some of the time you're setting yourself back a land drop. i think it's more of a solid include when you support the blink archetype, of course.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
if this were true, i'd expect a lot more people would be playing rogue elephant and scythe tiger. developing your mana the first three turns is pretty crucial to any deck, including aggro. i don't disagree that it has a ton of uses mid game, but early game it's not a good play if you're picking up a land the majority of the time.
-AA
I use descriptive language. Assume that I'm being nice and respectful. (I'll tell you when I'm not.)
My Cube: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/9029
but until turn 4, it's the most likely one, especially in an unpowered cube. so shouldn't the card compete with 4cc cards instead of 2cc? and does it make the cut in the most competitive section of the cube?
Calvin and Hobbes
Cube Tutor
The comparison to Serra Avenger is not bad, but this doesn't cost WW, offers you synergy, and can be played early if that's what you really need. My love for this card is unreal (it's even my avatar!) And I weep the day this is outclassed in regular cubes. In my peasant cube, meanwhile, it's a stone cold staple.
450, Peasant*, unpowered**
Specialities about the cube:
U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
My cube list on CubeTutor.
Both are very much under construction. Please stop by and talk about it!
I like it so much I am trying out Emancipation Angel. It does have double white, but it gains an extra point of power and the OP is right that I am rarely droping the Skyfisher on curve because I usually have some interactions in my deck that make it worth waiting.
The card is getting more and more nuts with on-color cards like Armada Wurm and Blade Spilcer being printed. So much so I am always looking for more of this kind of effect.
Do I think I need to run poor imitations like Faerie Impostor or Nultread Gargantuan? No they only deal with creatures. We have Man-O-War variants for that.
OPs point about minimal targets that are 1-2 CMC makes me think that I need to finally get around to finding some Javelineers, and maybe even consider Abundant Growth?
450, Peasant*, unpowered**
Specialities about the cube:
U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
Not even close. Those creatures destroy your lands. This bounces one. That's not even remotely comparable. Any time where you were going to miss a land drop, this plays as a 1-mana 2/3 flying creature. Which for 15-16 land aggro, happens on T2 or T3 quite often. Your 2-land 5-threat aggro opener still has 3 mana on T3 because of Skyfisher, whether you draw your 3rd land or not. And that's really good. That's not the same thing as sacrificing a land at all.
Not to mention the tons of interactions it has in the cube as something more than just an evasive beater that makes for a strong early game blocker as well. It has value all over the place.
edit: And I like bouncing a T2 land when I have a Land Tax out. Or on T3 if I'm getting ready to Balance.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
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 cut it from my cube as we used it as an aggro card and after we cut moxen it wasn't strong enough in that role, and I wanted another aggressive beater not a utility card.
I totally gave it a second look (and almost tested it). If they had the same drawback, I would be running the crap out of the Faerie, but it is in the wrong color, takes away the easiest method of negating the drawback, and has a much harsher WCS.
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
Imposter has the major distinction of requiring a creature in play which is stifling when compared to the fact you can bounce a land or something else if needed with the fisher. Sometimes resetting an o-ring or Fetters is important.
Also there's the fact that fisher is a 2/3 while imposter is a 2/1. Two extra toughness means it can black a lot more and is harder to remove, especially when war geared or something.
Not to mention white has better beaters and more anthems.
I'm curious to know what you mean by "wrong color". Are you suggesting that blue has fewer creatures with ETB triggers? Blue has Snapcaster Mage, Vendilion Clique, Man-o-War, Aether Adept, Glen Elendra, Venser, Dungeon Geists, Mulldrifter, and all of the clones.
My Cube on Cube Tutor
He is mostly played in aggro builds. Decks that, as Wtwfl has said, often don't card about returning a land because their curve ends sooner.
In tempo decks he helps with abusing Man o' War and his buddies.
Faerie Imposter is not close to being as good a card. It sets you back in your assault, while Skyfisher's drawback rarely feels like a drawback in practice for us.
I feel compelled to repeat everything I hear
Blue would be a solid place for Kor Skyfisher (and I oft run it in WU) but is a bad place for a one cost creature that needs a creature in play to be anything but a blank.
I agree totally about the imposter. Being able to return a land as the WCS makes it much better than a personal unsummon staples to a beater. But I a curious about Emancipation Angel. I have curved into that in Aggro white and been satisfied, easily foolwed up by Silverblade Paladin or other such pumper in a really agressive deck.
The fact is, people, that playing cards like Skyfisher don't force you to play poor Magic. If you have other turn two plays, you play those first if Skyfisher disrupts your draw too much. You can play him on turn three, then pick up your one drop and replay it untapped. The drawback, while sometimes very inconvenient, can be worked around with a little bit of planning.
-AA
I use descriptive language. Assume that I'm being nice and respectful. (I'll tell you when I'm not.)
My Cube: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/9029
My MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)
I'm torn. On the one hand, I know better than to argue numbers with Eidolon. On the other hand, I have all this anecdotal evidence that can't be backed up with numbers that suggests my 15-16 land aggro decks, when I keep 2 land hands, I very often don't make my 3rd land drop on T3, especially on the play. What gives?
My MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)