My reanimator deck has under performed for 3 drafts in a row and I feel I would need +1 reanimation spell that can work with Eldrazi Titans as the Oko, Teferi, white unconditional removal has become problematic in recent days.
Looking at your list, I'd add Unmarked Grave first over any of these to increase consistency and having the ability to find the right creature for the right scenario. But if it has to be one of the three, I'd say Makeshift Mannequin.
Also, assuming we're talking about Teferi, Time Raveler, being an instant doesn't really help against it.
Phoenix costing 3 makes it worse than either of the 2's IMO. Red's 3's are insanely stacked, and while I'm still testing Phoenix (yay pandemics making cube in person hard), I think on pure power level I would have one of the army in a can variants in its spot instead.
If I was gonna cut one of the 2's, though, it would be berserker. When you get to play it with bloodthirst on 2 it's insane, however it's floor is extremely bad. Intimidator has really impressed, there's a lot of board states where it just gets to deal 4 for 2 colorless mana, and there's random warrior synergies with other cards.
IMO Phoenix of Ash is a tier 1 3-drop while the other two are bottom of tier 2 of their slot at best. While Phoenix of Ash is generally less versatile than Goblin Rabblemaster variants / Laelia, I'd argue it's the best pure aggro creature of the bunch due to its evasion / recursion.
In our 3-0 archive, Phoenix of Ash is currently tied with Goblin Rabblemaster as the most represented 3-cmc red card from Feb 2020 - Feb 2021, and is a top 10 represented red card overall within the same time period.
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Char is still fine. Nothing exciting, but it's universally playable, an answer to key 4 toughness threats like Questing Beast / Deceiver Exarch, and a bigger burn spell for Lutri to copy later in the game.
Elspeth, Knight-Errant >= Gideon, Ally of Zendikar >>> The Wandering Emperor >= Serra, the Benevolent > Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis for me.
- Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar are pretty neck and neck for me and are head and shoulders above the others. Elspeth granting flying puts it over for me since she has better reach and slays planeswalkers more easily.
- Serra has a nice niche for control / Moat decks, and can perform well in any white deck really. Kind of easy to pick off though if you can just remove the angel and get 1 damage in.
- Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis was best in aggro, but even then it felt worse than Knight-Errant / Ally of Zendikar for me. The only time I really felt it was superior was when it was escaped in the graveyard.
- I haven't tested The Wandering Emperor yet, but I expect its best case scenario to unseat Serra as my #3 ranked planeswalker in this slot since she's more flexible with flash and has more versatile modes.
I have an old saying I always tell myself: "there's always room for one more 4-cmc white card!"
I've essentially been playing 4 walkers in this slot for a while now at 480: Elspeth, Knight-Errant / Gideon, Ally of Zendikar / Serra the Benevolent / honorary planeswalker Court of Grace. It's definitely more than I need, but they're universally playable in any white deck so I never found it really excessive. It does help that the only 4-cmc white creatures that I play are Palace Jailer / Restoration Angel though.
- Sun Titan's is strong in the Pod/ Rec/ Sur shell and its value improves to recur GW creature combo pieces - Melira, Heliod etc.
- I've argued that Green-White is the best land color combination with white removal/ Moat, permanent recursion (including Sun Titan) + Solemnity for Dark Depths works best.
If you're not supporting either, then Emeria's Call
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There is solid reanimate support so having an answer to that is always good. I'm already running Endurance. Green ramp also has a good amount of support.
Pretty much looking for the objectively more powerful card.
There is solid reanimate support so having an answer to that is always good. I'm already running Endurance. Green ramp also has a good amount of support.
Pretty much looking for the objectively more powerful card.
Thanks!
I like Tireless Tracker a lot more as the stronger all-around card.
I figure Slaughter Pact goes up in stock to help support storm (Yawg will/ Pif etc.) in addition to protecting walkers.
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@Breathe I prefer Go for the throat to slaughter pact. Prefer Snuff Out to both though.
@Armando
1. Nissa>Jadelight/Visionary>Tracker
2. Ehhhh pretty indifferent on all three Char>Light/Intervention is my guess though.
3. Depends on how heavily you support graveyard shenanigans for Champion imo. If yes it's #1 if not it's 3. I'd put oracle slightly ahead of Seer but it's close.
Looking at your list, I'd add Unmarked Grave first over any of these to increase consistency and having the ability to find the right creature for the right scenario. But if it has to be one of the three, I'd say Makeshift Mannequin.
Also, assuming we're talking about Teferi, Time Raveler, being an instant doesn't really help against it.
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Looking for a cut to move Phoenix of Ash from my main list to my 720 Add-on. Alternatively, should I just leave Phoenix out and keep the two drops?
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Phoenix > Intimidator > Berserker for me.
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If I was gonna cut one of the 2's, though, it would be berserker. When you get to play it with bloodthirst on 2 it's insane, however it's floor is extremely bad. Intimidator has really impressed, there's a lot of board states where it just gets to deal 4 for 2 colorless mana, and there's random warrior synergies with other cards.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
In our 3-0 archive, Phoenix of Ash is currently tied with Goblin Rabblemaster as the most represented 3-cmc red card from Feb 2020 - Feb 2021, and is a top 10 represented red card overall within the same time period.
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I would agree with that - I'm also looking for Phoenix to come in.
How is Char doing? I had an extra red slot where I was debating between Char, Staggershock etc. and then Twinshot Sniper came out.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
Char is still fine. Nothing exciting, but it's universally playable, an answer to key 4 toughness threats like Questing Beast / Deceiver Exarch, and a bigger burn spell for Lutri to copy later in the game.
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Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
The Wandering Emperor
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis
Serra the Benevolent
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Elspeth, Knight-Errant >= Gideon, Ally of Zendikar >>> The Wandering Emperor >= Serra, the Benevolent > Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis for me.
- Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar are pretty neck and neck for me and are head and shoulders above the others. Elspeth granting flying puts it over for me since she has better reach and slays planeswalkers more easily.
- Serra has a nice niche for control / Moat decks, and can perform well in any white deck really. Kind of easy to pick off though if you can just remove the angel and get 1 damage in.
- Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis was best in aggro, but even then it felt worse than Knight-Errant / Ally of Zendikar for me. The only time I really felt it was superior was when it was escaped in the graveyard.
- I haven't tested The Wandering Emperor yet, but I expect its best case scenario to unseat Serra as my #3 ranked planeswalker in this slot since she's more flexible with flash and has more versatile modes.
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Cheers,
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My Cube
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I have an old saying I always tell myself: "there's always room for one more 4-cmc white card!"
I've essentially been playing 4 walkers in this slot for a while now at 480: Elspeth, Knight-Errant / Gideon, Ally of Zendikar / Serra the Benevolent / honorary planeswalker Court of Grace. It's definitely more than I need, but they're universally playable in any white deck so I never found it really excessive. It does help that the only 4-cmc white creatures that I play are Palace Jailer / Restoration Angel though.
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!
- Sun Titan's is strong in the Pod/ Rec/ Sur shell and its value improves to recur GW creature combo pieces - Melira, Heliod etc.
- I've argued that Green-White is the best land color combination with white removal/ Moat, permanent recursion (including Sun Titan) + Solemnity for Dark Depths works best.
If you're not supporting either, then Emeria's Call
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
Tireless Tracker or Cemetery Prowler
There is solid reanimate support so having an answer to that is always good. I'm already running Endurance. Green ramp also has a good amount of support.
Pretty much looking for the objectively more powerful card.
Thanks!
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I like Tireless Tracker a lot more as the stronger all-around card.
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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!
Last Updated 02/07/24
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Slaughter Pact vs Go for the Throat.
I support black aggro/ storm.
I figure Slaughter Pact goes up in stock to help support storm (Yawg will/ Pif etc.) in addition to protecting walkers.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
2 - Light Up the Night vs Purphoros's Intervention vs Char ? What order ?
3 - Champion of Wits vs Cloudkin Seer vs Sea Gate Oracle ? Waht order ?
@Armando
1. Nissa>Jadelight/Visionary>Tracker
2. Ehhhh pretty indifferent on all three Char>Light/Intervention is my guess though.
3. Depends on how heavily you support graveyard shenanigans for Champion imo. If yes it's #1 if not it's 3. I'd put oracle slightly ahead of Seer but it's close.
Light up the Night > Char > Intervention
Champion >> Oracle ≥ Seer
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
2 - Jace Beleren vs Jace, Mirror Mage ?
3 - Shatter the Sky vs Decrease the Population (SNC spoiler)? I played less than half multicolor creatures then >3 power
Jace Beleren > Jace, Mirror Mage - Mirror Mage really relies on its kicker, plus Jace Beleren can do fun things with Hullbreacher.
Shatter the Sky > Decrease the Population - A control deck can take advantage more of Shatter the Sky with a Gideon activation.
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