After seeing the Earthquake discussion, I'm looking to make room for it in my 480 cube. That said, I already run the following red cards that fill that niche (to varying degrees):
Obviously the last two are not directly applicable. I've already considered taking out Pyroclasm due to the higher-than-normal density of morphs in my cube, but I'm not sure that's correct.
URGImperial AnimarGRU BRGProssh, Tokenmaker of KherGRB WURNarset NostalgicRUW UBR"I like your deck better" JelevaRBU UBlue BraidsU GAzusa, Lost but RampingG
WUHanna, Pillowfort's NavigatorUW WBRAleshacratsBRW UBRGrixis Pew PewRBU URGYasova the ThreateningGRU BGGlissa the ArticiferGB WUSygg MerfolkUW RSquee, Value NabobR
I think what makes Reveillark sort of a special case here is that its power is dictated almost entirely by the quality of the cards its interacting with. As a body it's a little overcosted, but most of its power comes from what it recurs. The options for that only get better as power creep continues, thus Reveillark itself continues to creep. The only way to really beat Lark is to make a better one.
Or we get to the point where you no longer get enough value from 2 power creatures recurring from the yard. Would you still play this if all the utility guys in your cube had 3 power instead of 2? What if all you could get back were elite vanguard type dudes? Would it be worth a 6 mana evoke or a 5 mana dude who dies to bolt and doesn't have haste? Guys have already started cutting Karmic Guide which was one of the best targets for lark. What about Triskelion? Another ridiculous target for lark that many cubes have cut.
I agree we are nowhere near the point where lark doesn't net great value, but we are potentially headed there. Alesha, Who Smiles at Death is an example of the direction the game is going. 6 years ago that probably would have been a 2/2 (without first strike probably) and we still would have all played it. So I'd argue that the 2 power clause on lark is going to hurt it as power creep continues, not help it.
I can't see any scenario where my cube would have lost 2-power guys of value but still have Elite Vanguards. The issue with Karmic Guide being one of the best Reveillark targets but still being cut is that they are competing for the same slot. Triskelion isn't in my cube at this point because I feel there are just better options at 6cmc colorless.
Incidentally, your Alesha example is part of why I don't expect to get there too soon - Alesha is pulling from the same pool of creatures that Lark is. It's possible that over time, the average CMC of Lark targets will drop, but I don't expect to see Lark targets drop low enough that I won't want to run it.
Sure we lost Karmic Guide but we got Kalonian Hydra, Soulfire Grand Master, Dack's Duplicate, Clever Impersonator, Courser of Kruphix, Reclamation Sage, Goblin Rabblemaster, Young Pyro, Flesh Carver, Imposing Sovereign, Monastery Mentor, and Seeker of the Way in addition to a few others I am probably missing.
After seeing the Earthquake discussion, I'm looking to make room for it in my 480 cube. That said, I already run the following red cards that fill that niche (to varying degrees):
Obviously the last two are not directly applicable. I've already considered taking out Pyroclasm due to the higher-than-normal density of morphs in my cube, but I'm not sure that's correct.
I'd cut Comet Storm before Pyroclasm, but either are fitting cuts for Earthquake.
Both are good options. I like Sarkhan more because the effects are so unique. Global haste, RG anthem effects and Threaten effects are all pretty rare in the cube. And he curves into the army-in-a-can kinds of cards perfectly if you play any token shenanigans in the cube.
I've been running Architect for a while now, but it's been pretty unexciting. I was planning to switch it out for Beleren, but I recently acquired a copy of Tezzeret, and am wondering if anyone has any notable experiences with him in an unpowered setting, either good or bad.
For references, my other two blue planeswalkers are Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Tamiyo, the Moon Sage, and Tezzeret being in a completely different vein as them is part of the draw.
It looks to me like you're running enough artifacts with tap abilities to justify Tezz (though no Mana Vault? :O). His tutor is a big part of what makes him good, so being able to nab Needle or Scepter is really strong, plus the Swords. Beleren is a staple I think, but Tezz is definitely more interesting.
PS: I'm sure you already know, but you have Mox Diamond labeled as non-foilable, but there is the FtV version. Same with Chain Lightning from the Fire/Lightning deck.
URGImperial AnimarGRU BRGProssh, Tokenmaker of KherGRB WURNarset NostalgicRUW UBR"I like your deck better" JelevaRBU UBlue BraidsU GAzusa, Lost but RampingG
WUHanna, Pillowfort's NavigatorUW WBRAleshacratsBRW UBRGrixis Pew PewRBU URGYasova the ThreateningGRU BGGlissa the ArticiferGB WUSygg MerfolkUW RSquee, Value NabobR
If you run big mana rocks then tezz can be pretty good even without power. I've liked him in my 450 unpowered but honestly either of those two is fine. Just depends on if you really want to push artifact decks.
It looks to me like you're running enough artifacts with tap abilities to justify Tezz (though no Mana Vault? :O). His tutor is a big part of what makes him good, so being able to nab Needle or Scepter is really strong, plus the Swords. Beleren is a staple I think, but Tezz is definitely more interesting.
PS: I'm sure you already know, but you have Mox Diamond labeled as non-foilable, but there is the FtV version. Same with Chain Lightning from the Fire/Lightning deck.
Yeah, the "correct" build is probably to remove Tamiyo and put Beleren and Tezzeret in, but I'm really attached to the copy of her in the cube.
Re: Mox Diamond/Chain Lightning - I know there are foils available, but they're in the select few cards that I have no intention of upgrading to foil, because I have the version I prefer (along with Lightning Bolt, Strip Mine, and Mishra's Factory). It's more of a bookkeeping flag in that sense.
I'm currently not running Crypt/Vault because I didn't want too much fast mana, but it's something I'm still considering revisiting.
I really enjoy Tezzeret so I'd vote for him. You're also running Winter Orb, Tangle Wire and Baleful Strix already which are all awesome Tezz targets. I'd consider UB Tezz too if you're willing to part with one of your other Dimir cards. Tezz's help turn Tinker from a combo to a more consistent archetype. You've also got Daretti in there already so I'd at least give them a go!
I really enjoy Tezzeret so I'd vote for him. You're also running Winter Orb, Tangle Wire and Baleful Strix already which are all awesome Tezz targets. I'd consider UB Tezz too if you're willing to part with one of your other Dimir cards. Tezz's help turn Tinker from a combo to a more consistent archetype. You've also got Daretti in there already so I'd at least give them a go!
I really like UB Tezz, but I'm hesitant to run more than one planeswalker in each color combo, and I think I have to give Ashiok the nod over Tezzeret for Dimir.
Yeah, the "correct" build is probably to remove Tamiyo and put Beleren and Tezzeret in, but I'm really attached to the copy of her in the cube.
I'm currently not running Crypt/Vault because I didn't want too much fast mana, but it's something I'm still considering revisiting.
Yeah, I get that. I'm a big fan of Tamiyo in general. Let me guess, yours is altered to look like Taylor Swift? ;D
I understand the hesitation. Mana Vault may just be too good (much like Sol Ring), and Crypt is definitely borderline. Just last week I powered out a turn two Oracle of Mul Daya and played two lands off of the top.
URGImperial AnimarGRU BRGProssh, Tokenmaker of KherGRB WURNarset NostalgicRUW UBR"I like your deck better" JelevaRBU UBlue BraidsU GAzusa, Lost but RampingG
WUHanna, Pillowfort's NavigatorUW WBRAleshacratsBRW UBRGrixis Pew PewRBU URGYasova the ThreateningGRU BGGlissa the ArticiferGB WUSygg MerfolkUW RSquee, Value NabobR
Yeah, the "correct" build is probably to remove Tamiyo and put Beleren and Tezzeret in, but I'm really attached to the copy of her in the cube.
I'm currently not running Crypt/Vault because I didn't want too much fast mana, but it's something I'm still considering revisiting.
Yeah, I get that. I'm a big fan of Tamiyo in general. Let me guess, yours is altered to look like Taylor Swift? ;D
I understand the hesitation. Mana Vault may just be too good (much like Sol Ring), and Crypt is definitely borderline. Just last week I powered out a turn two Oracle of Mul Daya and played two lands off of the top.
If only
No, it's a foil Tamiyo altered by Deschamps to have a red & gold robe, a red jester's cap, and a bow instead of spyglass with an arrow in the other hand. I just let him do his thing and it's what he gave me back.
I like Baby Jace the most from those cards, but Tezz is critical to the artifact.dec if you support it. I like them both more than AoT or Tamiyo though.
Dimir Charm plays better than it reads. Each mode is narrow, but it all rolls up into a card that seemingly always has a use worth the cost of admission, and sometimes even feels like it's exactly what you need. In creature based builds, countering sorceries effectively answers most (all?) sweepers and even some really solid targeted removal (Vindicate for example). A ton of super annoying utility dudes and/or fat butt roadblocks (looking at you Courser of Kruphix) have 2 power or less. And randomly hosing your opponent by looking at the top three cards and chucking the best two comes up a decent amount (though I run a lot of the top-of-library tutors).
Duskmantle Seer is the most objectively powerful card and I keep trying to start that fire, but guys are put off by giving their opponents cards and eating damage themselves. It's the durdle nature of my group. I'm adding more top-of-library manipulation cards with my next update and I'm going to force this guy to see if I can get an "ah ha" moment with the group. We'll see.
Obviously the last two are not directly applicable. I've already considered taking out Pyroclasm due to the higher-than-normal density of morphs in my cube, but I'm not sure that's correct.
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GAzusa, Lost but RampingG
WBRAleshacratsBRW
UBRGrixis Pew PewRBU
URGYasova the ThreateningGRU
BGGlissa the ArticiferGB
WUSygg MerfolkUW
RSquee, Value NabobR
Or we get to the point where you no longer get enough value from 2 power creatures recurring from the yard. Would you still play this if all the utility guys in your cube had 3 power instead of 2? What if all you could get back were elite vanguard type dudes? Would it be worth a 6 mana evoke or a 5 mana dude who dies to bolt and doesn't have haste? Guys have already started cutting Karmic Guide which was one of the best targets for lark. What about Triskelion? Another ridiculous target for lark that many cubes have cut.
I agree we are nowhere near the point where lark doesn't net great value, but we are potentially headed there. Alesha, Who Smiles at Death is an example of the direction the game is going. 6 years ago that probably would have been a 2/2 (without first strike probably) and we still would have all played it. So I'd argue that the 2 power clause on lark is going to hurt it as power creep continues, not help it.
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
Incidentally, your Alesha example is part of why I don't expect to get there too soon - Alesha is pulling from the same pool of creatures that Lark is. It's possible that over time, the average CMC of Lark targets will drop, but I don't expect to see Lark targets drop low enough that I won't want to run it.
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I'd cut Comet Storm before Pyroclasm, but either are fitting cuts for Earthquake.
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I've been running Architect for a while now, but it's been pretty unexciting. I was planning to switch it out for Beleren, but I recently acquired a copy of Tezzeret, and am wondering if anyone has any notable experiences with him in an unpowered setting, either good or bad.
For references, my other two blue planeswalkers are Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Tamiyo, the Moon Sage, and Tezzeret being in a completely different vein as them is part of the draw.
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PS: I'm sure you already know, but you have Mox Diamond labeled as non-foilable, but there is the FtV version. Same with Chain Lightning from the Fire/Lightning deck.
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UBlue BraidsU
GAzusa, Lost but RampingG
WBRAleshacratsBRW
UBRGrixis Pew PewRBU
URGYasova the ThreateningGRU
BGGlissa the ArticiferGB
WUSygg MerfolkUW
RSquee, Value NabobR
Re: Mox Diamond/Chain Lightning - I know there are foils available, but they're in the select few cards that I have no intention of upgrading to foil, because I have the version I prefer (along with Lightning Bolt, Strip Mine, and Mishra's Factory). It's more of a bookkeeping flag in that sense.
I'm currently not running Crypt/Vault because I didn't want too much fast mana, but it's something I'm still considering revisiting.
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Yeah, I get that. I'm a big fan of Tamiyo in general. Let me guess, yours is altered to look like Taylor Swift? ;D
I understand the hesitation. Mana Vault may just be too good (much like Sol Ring), and Crypt is definitely borderline. Just last week I powered out a turn two Oracle of Mul Daya and played two lands off of the top.
Living End Contributor and Enthusiast
Come Pucatrade with me
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Modern: BRGLiving EndGRB
Legacy: UBGShardless BUGGBU
BRGProssh, Tokenmaker of KherGRB
WURNarset NostalgicRUW
UBR"I like your deck better" JelevaRBU
UBlue BraidsU
GAzusa, Lost but RampingG
WBRAleshacratsBRW
UBRGrixis Pew PewRBU
URGYasova the ThreateningGRU
BGGlissa the ArticiferGB
WUSygg MerfolkUW
RSquee, Value NabobR
No, it's a foil Tamiyo altered by Deschamps to have a red & gold robe, a red jester's cap, and a bow instead of spyglass with an arrow in the other hand. I just let him do his thing and it's what he gave me back.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
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!
Duskmantle Seer is the most objectively powerful card and I keep trying to start that fire, but guys are put off by giving their opponents cards and eating damage themselves. It's the durdle nature of my group. I'm adding more top-of-library manipulation cards with my next update and I'm going to force this guy to see if I can get an "ah ha" moment with the group. We'll see.
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!