I like the Hydra more than the Gearhulk. Hydra does something similar with +1/+1 counters all while being a more threatening creature. If they don't have the removal spell for him, he's hard to kill in combat and he only gets harder to kill with each passing turn. Gearhulk is good, but his counters ability is a one shot effect and he's easier to kill because he's an artifact.
I don't think I would be considering Riftwing as a cut to find a cut for a new 5-drop blue finisher. I personally slot that in as a 2-drop that occasionally costs 5. I think Morphling is the closer analog to Glyph Keeper for a cut. I like Morphling (and Meloku and Riftwing) more, personally, but if I were going to give the Glyph Keeper a test run, I'd probably slot him in over Morphling just because the cards are somewhat similar.
Gearhulk and it was not close in my experience. It is better when facing removals or Maze of Ith, assuming you have other creatures out, at least in some regularity (which you should, as you are green and if you don't then Hydra will eat every removal spell rotting in your opponent's hand immediately as well anyway). It is miles better against bounce. Gearhulk is better on defense as it starts larger (survives Flametongue Kavu, can kill titans) and can spread counters around to make a profitable attack impossible while Hydra only blocks one relatively small creature. Plus it is quite often the case that I immediately pump a thopter token to kill a planeswalker, force a bad block or just for the win.
I think Hydra is more powerful, but Gearhulk is more interesting. The artifact vulnerability does show up often, especially since green midrange decks aren't often saturated with great targets for your opponent's disenchants. So despite not guaranteeing value in the face of removal, Hydra kills faster and can't be shattered. There are a lot of congested combat-centric boards where Gearhulk's super-Elven Rite can break board stalls though, so in creature battles, Gearhulk's the better card. I really like both and have no plans on cutting either of 'em.
Plus, Hydra's base size of 0/0 allows for it to be targeted by both Recruiters, Reveillark & Alesha, so it has valuable interactions that Gearhulk's missing.
@Dr.Tom
I love Sagu Mauler (and its compatriot Simic Sky Swallower) because it's a great ramp target (Simic's primary archetype imo), a good reanimator target, a good Natural Order target, a good Oath target, etc... It's a shame you decided to cut it for the new Nissa - though I understand (and agree with) the decision to keep Trygon Predator. Normally I'm not a huge fan of that card in an unpowered environment, but your cube still has a lot of powerful mana-rocks, equipment, and otherwise nasty artifacts, so it makes sense. The only thing I will say, and I know this wasn't an option, is why not cut a Simic planeswalker for a Simic planeswalker? Kiora, Master of the Depths for Nissa, Steward of Elements would have been my cut, as planeswalker oversaturation is a thing.
I'd also prefer Gearhulk to Kalonian Hydra for all of the reasons listed above and Meloku to Cloudskate - though those two don't really seem comparable.
I like Kalonian Hydra over Verdurous Gearhulk. While Gearhulk has a lot more interactions, the achilles heel of being an artifact is huge and being green means there are very few ways to turn this disadvantage into an advantage. There's a lot more spells and effects that can blow up any random artifact compared to a (temporary) generic 4/4. Plus, Hydra has a lot of its own synergies being zero power and there's more +1/+1 counters in my cube these days. I'm currently running both at 540 and really don't see my 5-cmc creature green slot changing anytime soon without some insane new printing.
@Dr.Tom
I love Sagu Mauler (and its compatriot Simic Sky Swallower) because it's a great ramp target (Simic's primary archetype imo), a good reanimator target, a good Natural Order target, a good Oath target, etc... It's a shame you decided to cut it for the new Nissa - though I understand (and agree with) the decision to keep Trygon Predator. Normally I'm not a huge fan of that card in an unpowered environment, but your cube still has a lot of powerful mana-rocks, equipment, and otherwise nasty artifacts, so it makes sense. The only thing I will say, and I know this wasn't an option, is why not cut a Simic planeswalker for a Simic planeswalker? Kiora, Master of the Depths for Nissa, Steward of Elements would have been my cut, as planeswalker oversaturation is a thing.
That's fair. I considered Kiora but decided to keep her in for now. If New Nissa ends up being a lot better, I'll probably boot Kiora and put Mauler back in. I like it too, for many of the reasons you mentioned. Simic doesn't need more than one 'walker, so if New Nissa is really outperforming Kiora, I'll probably make that change.
Agree with metamind, think it's verdurous gearhulk.
The ability to spread the counters for hasted damage is notably more powerful than the potential higher damage ceiling of the hydra from my experiences. Gearhulk can still generate a lot of value through 1 for 1 removal, by distrubting it's counters on another creature.. It can also make itself a 5/5, reaching the critical threshold to play around red removal (unlike hydra).
I quite like Secure the Wastes. Instant speed, goes into tons of decks, great with Wake and gives white a good reason to seek big mana.
Private Mod Note
():
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
Grudge for powered, Atarka's for unpowered is my inclination. Maybe Grudge is just better, though.
Private Mod Note
():
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
Ancient Grudge is probably the better overall card, but red / green already has a ton of artifact removal. Atarka's Command becomes more of a beating as red / green gets more token support.
Jace>>>>>>>>>>>Tamiyo. I would play Jace at 360, whereas Im not sure I have room for Tamiyo at 600+
EDIT: FWIW, I think there are times where babiest jace plays better than JTMS. Might be a crazy statement, but a two mana planeswalker that can flashback cube spells, stop attackers, AND has a relevant finisher is insane. It's not unheard of to flip Jace t3.
Jace>>>>>>>>>>>Tamiyo. I would play Jace at 360, whereas Im not sure I have room for Tamiyo at 600+
EDIT: FWIW, I think there are times where babiest jace plays better than JTMS. Might be a crazy statement, but a two mana planeswalker that can flashback cube spells, stop attackers, AND has a relevant finisher is insane. It's not unheard of to flip Jace t3.
I had a drafter suggest the same thing last draft.
Tamiyo doesn't even seem good to me, and I wouldn't add it for a long, long time. Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is a staple down to the smallest imaginable cube. It's probably the first 2-drop I'd play in blue, ahead of Snapcaster and Phantasmal Image, then all the others.
Private Mod Note
():
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
Has anybody had any success with Eldritch evolution? I originally added it to support Pod. But the more I think about it, the more it seems like a bad idea to support a narrow pet-card with an even narrower one...
I would agree that neither is probably the correct number to run.
Fumigate is probably the best Wrath variant that costs more than 4 mana (that doesn't have an Armageddon option strapped to it). I think it's far better than Austere Command.
I don't think I would be considering Riftwing as a cut to find a cut for a new 5-drop blue finisher. I personally slot that in as a 2-drop that occasionally costs 5. I think Morphling is the closer analog to Glyph Keeper for a cut. I like Morphling (and Meloku and Riftwing) more, personally, but if I were going to give the Glyph Keeper a test run, I'd probably slot him in over Morphling just because the cards are somewhat similar.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
Gearhulk and it was not close in my experience. It is better when facing removals or Maze of Ith, assuming you have other creatures out, at least in some regularity (which you should, as you are green and if you don't then Hydra will eat every removal spell rotting in your opponent's hand immediately as well anyway). It is miles better against bounce. Gearhulk is better on defense as it starts larger (survives Flametongue Kavu, can kill titans) and can spread counters around to make a profitable attack impossible while Hydra only blocks one relatively small creature. Plus it is quite often the case that I immediately pump a thopter token to kill a planeswalker, force a bad block or just for the win.
The list on cube cobra
Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
Plus, Hydra's base size of 0/0 allows for it to be targeted by both Recruiters, Reveillark & Alesha, so it has valuable interactions that Gearhulk's missing.
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 love Sagu Mauler (and its compatriot Simic Sky Swallower) because it's a great ramp target (Simic's primary archetype imo), a good reanimator target, a good Natural Order target, a good Oath target, etc... It's a shame you decided to cut it for the new Nissa - though I understand (and agree with) the decision to keep Trygon Predator. Normally I'm not a huge fan of that card in an unpowered environment, but your cube still has a lot of powerful mana-rocks, equipment, and otherwise nasty artifacts, so it makes sense. The only thing I will say, and I know this wasn't an option, is why not cut a Simic planeswalker for a Simic planeswalker? Kiora, Master of the Depths for Nissa, Steward of Elements would have been my cut, as planeswalker oversaturation is a thing.
I'd also prefer Gearhulk to Kalonian Hydra for all of the reasons listed above and Meloku to Cloudskate - though those two don't really seem comparable.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
That's fair. I considered Kiora but decided to keep her in for now. If New Nissa ends up being a lot better, I'll probably boot Kiora and put Mauler back in. I like it too, for many of the reasons you mentioned. Simic doesn't need more than one 'walker, so if New Nissa is really outperforming Kiora, I'll probably make that change.
My Eternal Cube on CubeTutor| |My Reject Rare Cube on CubeTutor| |My Peasant Cube on CubeTutor
I used to write for MTGS, including Cranial Insertion and cube articles. Good on you if you can find those after the upgrade.
Agree with metamind, think it's verdurous gearhulk.
The ability to spread the counters for hasted damage is notably more powerful than the potential higher damage ceiling of the hydra from my experiences. Gearhulk can still generate a lot of value through 1 for 1 removal, by distrubting it's counters on another creature.. It can also make itself a 5/5, reaching the critical threshold to play around red removal (unlike hydra).
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
Is instant speed generally worth the loss of flying?
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
[180 classic cube]
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!
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
I've had Procession in my cube since its inception, but Secure the Wastes is interesting so I was playing around with the idea.
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
EDIT: FWIW, I think there are times where babiest jace plays better than JTMS. Might be a crazy statement, but a two mana planeswalker that can flashback cube spells, stop attackers, AND has a relevant finisher is insane. It's not unheard of to flip Jace t3.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I had a drafter suggest the same thing last draft.
Tamiyo doesn't even seem good to me, and I wouldn't add it for a long, long time. Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is a staple down to the smallest imaginable cube. It's probably the first 2-drop I'd play in blue, ahead of Snapcaster and Phantasmal Image, then all the others.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
I would agree that neither is probably the correct number to run.
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!
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
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!