I do like that it fuels the burn plan when your opponent is at a low life total and you just want to close the game out. Interesting with sacrifice shenanigans (tap, sac with the ability on the stack. I think that works?)
I honestly have no idea if it's able to go toe-to-toe with red's stable of red 2s, though as its ability is unique/odd enough to make evaluations difficult.
Eh, I don't know. It seems way better on defense than offense, and that's not exactly what I want out of my red 2-drops. Probably needs some testing, but I feel like having a 2/1 for a bit that eventually turns into 2 cards is ultimately subpar as the 2/1 part is really lacking. If the draw two cards part was a mana activated ability instead of tapping I'd be more for it, but it's awkward to have him tapped out and die. It seems like the reason I'm playing him is the two cards and that seems harder to set up because of the nature of his color, which wants my creatures to attack. EDIT: misread, only on your turn is kinda sucky.
@Usman: That works, you could tap him and in response to the ability being on the stack you can sac the creature to something like Greater Gargadon or Goblin Bombardments.
Instant speed untapping (via something like Kiora's Follower) also works to get you 4 cards.
I'm not sure how good this guy is. He almost certainly won't make smaller cubes, and might only be barely testable in large ones. On the plus side, I don't want to give this guy back to my (likely more aggressive) opponent so he can get 2 more cards (and potential burn reach), so I guess I'm priced into blocking with this 2/1 most of the time.
You can't block, tap, draw, let him die. Because it says "Activate this ability only during your turn." Edit: Oh, right, and without damage on the stack, it wouldn't even die if you could activate him.
So I think the only way to get two cards and not have the opponent get them as well, is tap and sac, or tap and then kill it, ideally with an Arc Lightning. I'm not interested.
Cute card, but way too hard to make good in cube. I'm not sure it's that much better than tormenting voice for giving burn decks additional cards to close out games, and no ones cubing that. Fun with homeward path though.
You can't block, tap, draw, let him die. Because it says "Activate this ability only during your turn."
So I think the only way to get two cards and not have the opponant get them as well, is tap and sac, or tap and then kill it, ideally with an Arc Lightning. I'm not interested.
Arc Lightning is a sorcery, as is Forked Bolt and Arc Trail. Fire//Ice is the only split damage instant commonly cubed that I can think of. Saccing will be the more reliable method.
When you plan to kill it, it doesn't matter who controls it (it's tapped and even if your opponent could untap it, he couldn't activate him on your turn). So you could use him, let him change sides, and kill him with a sorcery.
When you plan to kill it, it doesn't matter who controls it (it's tapped and even if your opponent could untap it, he couldn't activate him on your turn). So you could use him, let him change sides, and kill him with a sorcery.
If you're an aggressive red deck and have gotten to the point of activating, you are probably completely content with them activating it back.
And it's not comparable to tormenting voice at all. It's a bear that attacks on curve, and essentially gives you a free two cards when you're ready to cash it in. It's strictly a burn heavy red deck card, but it shines in that archetype.
You can't block, tap, draw, let him die. Because it says "Activate this ability only during your turn."
So I think the only way to get two cards and not have the opponant get them as well, is tap and sac, or tap and then kill it, ideally with an Arc Lightning. I'm not interested.
Arc Lightning is a sorcery, as is Forked Bolt and Arc Trail. Fire//Ice is the only split damage instant commonly cubed that I can think of. Saccing will be the more reliable method.
You just arc lightning him after his ability resolves and the opponent has control of him. It doesn't matter that they are sorcery speed, you just use the ability during your main phase then kill it during the same main phase.
The reason it can't block, draw, and die is because without damage on the stack the last chance you have to tap it is during the declare blockers phase, at which point an opponent gains control of it and it's no longer blocking and won't die.
If you're an aggressive red deck and have gotten to the point of activating, you are probably completely content with them activating it back.
And it's not comparable to tormenting voice at all. It's a bear that attacks on curve, and essentially gives you a free two cards when you're ready to cash it in. It's strictly a burn heavy red deck card, but it shines in that archetype.
A 2/1 without haste that might eventually give you 2 cards while giving an opponent a future blocker while also not being able to attack the turn it gets you two cards is not where any agressive red deck in cube wants to be. This card is not remotely close. The comparison to tormenting voice was just to demonstrate that a bad card that has a chance to net you two cards is still bad if there's only a few situations where getting those two cards is possible or good.
Gonna have to agree with asmallcat. A bear is not actually on curve for cube at all - not when the average 2CC creature in red can attack with haste or attack with three power.
But seriously, I'd be willing to give this a shot if there were more interesting things you could do with it, but I fear the upside isn't worth it. Even one of the best combos with it, Waterfront Bouncer, simply nets you a Tormenting Voice once per turn for 1UR. Fine, but incredibly fragile and not a good enough reason to include such an otherwise mediocre card. I look forward to brewing with him, but cube isn't the place I'm interested in for him.
Erratic Portal and Crystal Shard combo pretty well with this guy.
I don't think he's testable except in large cubes, and I probably won't be testing him, but for those of you who are looking to -- there's another cool interaction.
Any feedback on this guy from anyone who decided to run him? I know the power level isn't super high, but I just love the design of this card. Wow I wish it cost 1 less colorless.
Creature- Human Rogue
Tap ~: Draw two cards. Target opponent gains control of Humble Defector. Activate this ability only during your turn.
2/1
This guy seems pretty nice. Bear that cashes in for two cards when he gets outclassed on the board.
I honestly have no idea if it's able to go toe-to-toe with red's stable of red 2s, though as its ability is unique/odd enough to make evaluations difficult.
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@Usman: That works, you could tap him and in response to the ability being on the stack you can sac the creature to something like Greater Gargadon or Goblin Bombardments.
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Instant speed untapping (via something like Kiora's Follower) also works to get you 4 cards.
I'm not sure how good this guy is. He almost certainly won't make smaller cubes, and might only be barely testable in large ones. On the plus side, I don't want to give this guy back to my (likely more aggressive) opponent so he can get 2 more cards (and potential burn reach), so I guess I'm priced into blocking with this 2/1 most of the time.
EDIT:
Salmo, why would this guy be better on defense as a 2/1? The ability only works on your turn.
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So I think the only way to get two cards and not have the opponent get them as well, is tap and sac, or tap and then kill it, ideally with an Arc Lightning. I'm not interested.
I misread. He seems a lot worse than I thought. I'll happily pass.
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Arc Lightning is a sorcery, as is Forked Bolt and Arc Trail. Fire//Ice is the only split damage instant commonly cubed that I can think of. Saccing will be the more reliable method.
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And it's not comparable to tormenting voice at all. It's a bear that attacks on curve, and essentially gives you a free two cards when you're ready to cash it in. It's strictly a burn heavy red deck card, but it shines in that archetype.
You just arc lightning him after his ability resolves and the opponent has control of him. It doesn't matter that they are sorcery speed, you just use the ability during your main phase then kill it during the same main phase.
The reason it can't block, draw, and die is because without damage on the stack the last chance you have to tap it is during the declare blockers phase, at which point an opponent gains control of it and it's no longer blocking and won't die.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
A 2/1 without haste that might eventually give you 2 cards while giving an opponent a future blocker while also not being able to attack the turn it gets you two cards is not where any agressive red deck in cube wants to be. This card is not remotely close. The comparison to tormenting voice was just to demonstrate that a bad card that has a chance to net you two cards is still bad if there's only a few situations where getting those two cards is possible or good.
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Level 1 Judge
But seriously, I'd be willing to give this a shot if there were more interesting things you could do with it, but I fear the upside isn't worth it. Even one of the best combos with it, Waterfront Bouncer, simply nets you a Tormenting Voice once per turn for 1UR. Fine, but incredibly fragile and not a good enough reason to include such an otherwise mediocre card. I look forward to brewing with him, but cube isn't the place I'm interested in for him.
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I don't think he's testable except in large cubes, and I probably won't be testing him, but for those of you who are looking to -- there's another cool interaction.
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