They support the same type of GY shenanigans, but instead of gaining niche value from untapping a "super" land, they gain value from being playable in more decks as a CA/selection tool.
I would play both over Frantic Search, though I'd prob try to fit all three in depending on the cube size if I heavily support decks that want to do something broken the same turn they Frantic Search. (reanimator, combo, etc.)
I think Thirst is a lot better than the other two. In the common I'd say Compulsive is better, but it is really not a card to write about so can easily be replaced by Frantic if you have reason to think it will perform better.
Without a strong artifact theme, thirst seems bad to me. Clearly it's better in that archetype than the other two though. Frantic is my favorite though because of the tempo. CA is very easy to make up for in blue. Early game tempo though is hard to get in unpowered especially. So having T3 dig two card and still having 3 mana to play something can be massive in many matchups, well worth taking card disadvantage for. My 2 cents on it. Compulsive is a good card, but never really better than that. And sorcery speed does hurt it a bit. FWIW, the card is definitely better with bounce lands in your format.
Of the three I include Thirst for Knowledge to support the artifact deck, but I find them all pretty interchangeable.
I actually have an extended multicolor section which includes Forbidden Alchemy, so I don't run Frantic Search or Compulsive Research because that's just too many 3-mana-draw spells for my tastes (I used to run Frantic in addition to Thirst). Not even sure where Alchemy lies in power level compared to the others (including the second color cost), I just think it's cooler.
If I had to cut one of those, I'd probably cut the Spiritkeeper. I'm a big fan of Mirror Entity and the work it puts in in both aggro and token shells. Spiritkeeper is a great card, but I think Mirror Entity is just a bit better.
I think Elspeth, Knight-Errant is quite a bit better than new Gideon. Looks like you're only running one Planeswalker in each section. If that's a limitation you set on purpose, I'd keep Elspeth. I don't think she's yet been ousted as the best white Planeswalker.
New Gideon is good, but it's nowhere near Elspeth good. He's a great 'walker and I will enjoy cubing with it, but it's being overrated pretty highly by a lot of folks.
There's a lot of removal spells I like more than both of those like every Terror variant for 1B and Malicious Affliction at BB. Gun to head I'd choose Grasp of Darkness I guess.
Liliana >> Strike Leader for us. Leader almost never survives combat. It is generally deemed here as a bad 2-for-1. Kind of like Kitchen Finks with no hybrid mana cost, no lifegain, no Persist on defense or against removals and no combos. Liliana can dominate games, is better on the defense and is by far the most interesting card of the two.
Ash Barrens >> Westvale Abbey
Fixing is universally good, while not every deck can afford to have a colorless land. Abbey did not flip here during the last few months.
In my experience Liliana >> Strike Leader as well. Strike Leader can get some value but the consensus here was that it just feels like a bad play nearly every time; a 3/2 has little board presence, and unless you've Dashed you don't get a free dude until your next turn. I've only ever seen him shine in a Stax deck, but he was just Ophiomancer #2. Almost any cubeable creature has been preferred under other circumstances. FWIW we're unpowered here.
Dashed or not, it's still usually turn 4 you're getting a free dude. I like dashing him out because you still have a body left behind, but he dodges sorcery speed removal and there's a lot of decks (especially in black) that want some extra bodies on the board.
The ceiling is also really high. If it goes a couple of turns unchecked or is backed up by a removal spell or two, you can easily wind up creating 7-9 power worth of bodies for a 3 mana investment. And the typical floor of trading away in combat the turn after you cast it means that you've killed a creature and gotten a 2/1 for 3 mana, which again, is reasonable. And Dash adds so much range. It guarantees value, and dodges all sorcery removal. And, Mardu Strike Leader has a 2B casting cost, which is a sight for sore eyes in a field of 1BB 3cc permanents; decks that aren't heavy-black are happy to have his costs be splashable. And it also supports a few archetypes, like Stax shells and token/anthem decks. It's not only been a better performer, but also more important than having a third 1BB Liliana available.
A little off topic, but I love low CMC creatures that NEED to be answered. It makes games more fun when your opponent has a Pack Rat and a Mardu Strike Leader and other threats that aren't 5+ mana finishers. It makes when to use your premium removal more skill testing and more exciting. IMO, When you're playing with Magic's greatest removal, you need as many creatures as you can that can run away with the game. Mardu Strike Leader isn't going to be that card every game, but like wtwlf said, the ceiling is there and the floor is reasonable
It's not good on defense, so you want to make sure you're putting him into decks that you anticipate being the beatdown in the majority of your matchups. I've seen it underperform in control decks and slower midrange shells, for example.
My thoughts on strike leader mirror metamind, blue and j-alt. It didn't work all that well over here in my midrange list, but there's a lot more creature combat here and his toughness and lack of evasion made him a liability. The Dash is expensive too. If you can't get through in combat, that's a poor use of 4 mana.
I don't play walkers so haven't tried flip Lili. Of all the walkers, these I think are the most interesting. If I ever did break my rule on walkers, these would be the first ones I'd consider as starting a creature is more mechanically interesting (to me at least). Flip Lili looks strong and flavorful. I'd want to run it I'm pretty certain of that.
They support the same type of GY shenanigans, but instead of gaining niche value from untapping a "super" land, they gain value from being playable in more decks as a CA/selection tool.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
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!
The list on cube cobra
Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
I actually have an extended multicolor section which includes Forbidden Alchemy, so I don't run Frantic Search or Compulsive Research because that's just too many 3-mana-draw spells for my tastes (I used to run Frantic in addition to Thirst). Not even sure where Alchemy lies in power level compared to the others (including the second color cost), I just think it's cooler.
- Mirror Entity
- Hallowed Spiritkeeper
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Knight Errant > Trial Gideon
Edit: on second thought Steve, man have you thought about cutting the Dragonslayer instead? Or is he a pet card?
I think Elspeth, Knight-Errant is quite a bit better than new Gideon. Looks like you're only running one Planeswalker in each section. If that's a limitation you set on purpose, I'd keep Elspeth. I don't think she's yet been ousted as the best white Planeswalker.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
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!
Liliana, Heretical Healer vs. Mardu Strike Leader
Ash Barrens vs. Westvale Abbey
Please share your reasoning behind your pick.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Barrens >> Abbey
I don't think either are all that close, honestly.
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!
Ash Barrens >> Westvale Abbey
Fixing is universally good, while not every deck can afford to have a colorless land. Abbey did not flip here during the last few months.
The list on cube cobra
Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
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!
I don't play walkers so haven't tried flip Lili. Of all the walkers, these I think are the most interesting. If I ever did break my rule on walkers, these would be the first ones I'd consider as starting a creature is more mechanically interesting (to me at least). Flip Lili looks strong and flavorful. I'd want to run it I'm pretty certain of that.
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
I currently have 8 2 drops in red, which I think is one or two too many for a 360 cube.
What should the cut/cuts be?
Abbot of Keral Keep
Hellspark Elemental
Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
Keldon Marauders
Lightning Mauler
Plated Geopede
Stormblood Berserker
Young Pyromancer
Link to cube: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/23563