Molten-tail is good. Don't get me wrong. Just because I have it last doesn't mean I think it's bad. I run all of them. I love me some masticocres.
I forget how different my meta is sometimes. Most of you guys run a very high number of shatter effects because of the power level of artifacts that you run. I don't run many of those artifacts, so my need for shatter effects is lower. I also favor terror style black removal spells, so Razormane is hard to deal with in my cube. Outside my one red X spell, I don't think any single card can burn it down. In combat, first strike on a dude with 5 power is very hard to deal with. You have to throw an army at it to kill the thing. It doesn't really need regeneration. I do agree Masticore is better in control builds as the machine gun removal is very useful (if a bit expensive).
I don't think the power difference between the masticores is large FWIW.
Over the years all three Masticores have fallen by the wayside in my cube. Principally due to their casting cost. The four drop slot is arguably the most stacked across all colors, and while the BCS of Masticore and Motlen-Tail is on par power-level wise, most equally strong four drops do not have build-in card disadvantage (I'm not saying you don't get what you pay for, its just not enough compared to other options IMO). That said, I'd still consider paying them because of how unique they are. Their position in the on-deck binder is ensured in perpetuity.
I have an enduring affection for Venser and blink.dec. Ojutia and Sphinx's are really close. The dragonlord is more bang for your mana buck, but as Asenion says, sphinx's is a more compelling play.
The only Masticore I still like is Molten-Tail, and even then I prefer Ankh of Mishra to it. There aren't that many decent artifact creatures and MTM is a decent curve-topper and reach provider.
I like Venser and Sphinx's Rev over Ojutai. I'd rank them Sphinx's Rev > Venser > Ojutai. Venser helps me support a blink archetype and Sphinx's Rev has just proven to be really good time and time again.
I think all of the Masticores are second tier or less cards now, even though I still run the original and MTM. Neither of them see that much play, but artifacts/colorless cards just aren't that deep. The two I do run are fine, but I don't think I'd be sad if I had something better to put into those slots.
I think Ojutai is the best of those three WU cards, and by a pretty significant margin. The only reason I would rank Venser over it is because it's more important to a specific archetype than Ojutai is.
I still love the original Masticore. Aggro and midrange have a ton of playable 4cc creatures, but OG Masticore is still very solid in control. Made it the most useful of the 3 for us by far.
Outpost is my favorite, because it enters untapped and I'm generally happy to replace a plains with a token generator. Windbrisk Heights is close, and is great in a token build, but it enters tapped, which can be annoying. Hideaway is generally good, though, and attacking with three creatures is straightforward for white. Kor Haven is a Maze of Ith variant that requires white but doesn't generate white mana. That said, it also doesn't untap the creature and lets the creature be dealt damage, but I still think it's below the other two. Karakas just doesn't seem that great in cube to me. I have 28 legendary creatures (26 that can be targeted), but the variance just doesn't seem that great, since it would have to push another card out.
CoCo > Nissa. Nissa's effect is pretty lame (it HAS to be a Forest, and it HAS to be basic) and I don't think her decent backside can justify that, not to mention her flipside.
Kira > Impersonator. Though in raw power it's better, often Impersonator is just another Clone. Kira is a more unique effect that certain decks really want.
Scuttles > Molten Tail. I've never much understood the appeal of the Masticore guys in cube, Scuttles is a great bomb, especially if you're supporting Daretti.
Geist > Satyr. Geist is the best two drop aggro green creature.
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
CoCo > Nissa. Nissa's effect is pretty lame (it HAS to be a Forest, and it HAS to be basic) and I don't think her decent backside can justify that, not to mention her flipside.
Kira > Impersonator. Though in raw power it's better, often Impersonator is just another Clone. Kira is a more unique effect that certain decks really want.
Scuttles > Molten Tail. I've never much understood the appeal of the Masticore guys in cube, Scuttles is a great bomb, especially if you're supporting Daretti.
Geist > Satyr. Geist is the best two drop aggro green creature.
1) Company and Nissa are both better than they look for the cube. Company is likely the better choice if you play a lot of green aggro, but Nissa is better for traditional green midrange decks.
2) Impersonator > Kira. Unless I'm supporting devotion tempo, and need a 1UU creature mainly for the cost, she was pretty weak overall. Impersonator is also fair on average, but I saw it do more broken stuff than Kira did for us.
3) Molten-Tail > Engine. Engine's not bad, but it felt too fair for a 6-mana cube card.
4) Geist > Satyr, but they're both probably worth it if you're supporting green aggro decks with green being more than just a splash.
Strange list (mix of bi- and tri-coloureds) to cut from
It probably does seem odd, but I don't run tri-color sections per se, so when I included the tri-brids and Sarkhan I cut guild cards to make room. This means that Yasova and Shaman are living in my Gruul section and Sarkhan lives in Izzet. I'm trying to find room to test Dragonlord Atarka, but if I can bump an Izzet card that can also make room in my Gruul section.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
I really think you don't want to underestimate the Abbot. He's still great on turn two as a two mana Prowess dude, he just happens to have a late game bonus.
Into the Roil > Repeal. I love Repeal, but aside from bouncing one drops it's rarely gonna be better than Roil.
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
Sorry, but 1R for a 2/1 prowess is unacceptably bad. It needs to be played in a situation where it can generate card advantage for you in order to be good. Abbot's a solid card, but it shouldn't be competing against 2-drops, because it can't curve like other 2-drops.
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 forget how different my meta is sometimes. Most of you guys run a very high number of shatter effects because of the power level of artifacts that you run. I don't run many of those artifacts, so my need for shatter effects is lower. I also favor terror style black removal spells, so Razormane is hard to deal with in my cube. Outside my one red X spell, I don't think any single card can burn it down. In combat, first strike on a dude with 5 power is very hard to deal with. You have to throw an army at it to kill the thing. It doesn't really need regeneration. I do agree Masticore is better in control builds as the machine gun removal is very useful (if a bit expensive).
I don't think the power difference between the masticores is large FWIW.
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
All 3 are relatively close in power but Venser and Revelation are much more unique. Those would be my pick for sure.
My cube: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/9981
I have an enduring affection for Venser and blink.dec. Ojutia and Sphinx's are really close. The dragonlord is more bang for your mana buck, but as Asenion says, sphinx's is a more compelling play.
I was curious for a ranking of white utility lands: Karakas, Kjeldoran Outpost, Kor Haven, and Windbrisk Heights.
Etali, Primal Storm EDH
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
I think all of the Masticores are second tier or less cards now, even though I still run the original and MTM. Neither of them see that much play, but artifacts/colorless cards just aren't that deep. The two I do run are fine, but I don't think I'd be sad if I had something better to put into those slots.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
I still love the original Masticore. Aggro and midrange have a ton of playable 4cc creatures, but OG Masticore is still very solid in control. Made it the most useful of the 3 for us by far.
Masticore > Molten-Tail Masticore >>> Razormane Masticore
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!
For me, it's:
Kjeldoran Outpost >= Windbrisk Heights > Kor Haven >> Karakas
Outpost is my favorite, because it enters untapped and I'm generally happy to replace a plains with a token generator. Windbrisk Heights is close, and is great in a token build, but it enters tapped, which can be annoying. Hideaway is generally good, though, and attacking with three creatures is straightforward for white. Kor Haven is a Maze of Ith variant that requires white but doesn't generate white mana. That said, it also doesn't untap the creature and lets the creature be dealt damage, but I still think it's below the other two. Karakas just doesn't seem that great in cube to me. I have 28 legendary creatures (26 that can be targeted), but the variance just doesn't seem that great, since it would have to push another card out.
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!
2 - Clever Impersonator vs Kira, Great Glass-Spinner ?
3 - Molten-Tail Masticore vs Scuttling Doom Engine ?
4 - For green aggro: Strangleroot Geist vs Boon Satyr ?
Kira > Impersonator. Though in raw power it's better, often Impersonator is just another Clone. Kira is a more unique effect that certain decks really want.
Scuttles > Molten Tail. I've never much understood the appeal of the Masticore guys in cube, Scuttles is a great bomb, especially if you're supporting Daretti.
Geist > Satyr. Geist is the best two drop aggro green creature.
Living End Contributor and Enthusiast
Come Pucatrade with me
Rules Advisor
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
All of this x2.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
I like Kor Haven the best out of that bunch. It does yeoman's work for us. After that, probably Outpost, Heights, and then Karakas.
1. Company > New Nissa. The new Nissa looks pretty lame, IMO, and Company is solid.
2. Kira > Impersonator. I think I'm cutting Impersonator in the ORI update. Kira would be a tough cut. She's good.
3. Scuttles > Molten-Tail. I think it's pretty close, though.
4. Geist > Satyr, but it's probably worth it to run both.
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.
2) Impersonator > Kira. Unless I'm supporting devotion tempo, and need a 1UU creature mainly for the cost, she was pretty weak overall. Impersonator is also fair on average, but I saw it do more broken stuff than Kira did for us.
3) Molten-Tail > Engine. Engine's not bad, but it felt too fair for a 6-mana cube card.
4) Geist > Satyr, but they're both probably worth it if you're supporting green aggro decks with green being more than just a splash.
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!
Yasova Dragonclaw
Shaman of the Great Hunt
Dack's Duplicate
Dragonlord Atarka
Sarkhan Unbroken
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
My Cube (DeckStats)
My Pauper Cube: 540 (CubeTutor link!)
Level 1 Judge
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!
It probably does seem odd, but I don't run tri-color sections per se, so when I included the tri-brids and Sarkhan I cut guild cards to make room. This means that Yasova and Shaman are living in my Gruul section and Sarkhan lives in Izzet. I'm trying to find room to test Dragonlord Atarka, but if I can bump an Izzet card that can also make room in my Gruul section.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
2 - Eidolon of the Great Revel vs Abbot of Keral Keep ?
3 - Repeal vs Into the Roil?
1 - Wingmare. I doubt I'll be cubing either, but there's a chance I'll add the Wingmare. No chance I'll add the Lieutenant.
2 - Eidolon. Abbot seems bad early in the game. I want to be able to use my 2-power 2-drops on curve.
3 - I like Repeal but they're both good. An advantage to INto the Roil is you can still bounce something expensive that's going to kill you for 1U.
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.
I really think you don't want to underestimate the Abbot. He's still great on turn two as a two mana Prowess dude, he just happens to have a late game bonus.
Into the Roil > Repeal. I love Repeal, but aside from bouncing one drops it's rarely gonna be better than Roil.
Living End Contributor and Enthusiast
Come Pucatrade with me
Rules Advisor
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
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 other GB cards are:
Abrupt Decay
Maelstrom Pulse
Pernicious Deed
Vraska the Unseen
Bayou
Overgrown Tomb
Verdant Catacombs
Living End Contributor and Enthusiast
Come Pucatrade with me
Rules Advisor
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
Etali, Primal Storm EDH