Sidisi was a slow, unreliable tutor for us. She was awkward to fit in decks, either she wasn't right for the curve or there wasn't many creatures to exploit.
My favorite snake would have to be Sakura-Tribe Elder, it's still an amazing card in the "damage doesn't use the stack" era. Of all the cards that got severely nerfed due to not being able to exploit damage on the stack, Sakura-Tribe Elder is probably the only sole survivor of those cards that crack most cubes.
Sidisi seems too slow as a tutor, and too ineffective as a finisher for me to have any interest in it. As lousy as the other choices for black 5-drops are, I've preferred to just do without any besides Shriekmaw.
STEve's also my favorite snake, it fits so well into ramp and midrange decks alike. Although, if the type line didn't say "Snake" I would have thought it's a turtle.
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465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
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It may well be good enough based on power level, but half the guys I play with have shown a deep loathing for all things Conspiracy, and I hate running cards with obscure mechanics and no reminder text about what they do so Monarch cards are out of the question for me.
On to today's card, would this be out of place in your cube?
I didn't try it, because my cube (450) has a heavier focus on multicolor, so I figured trying to also push dedicated colorless would either require me to make the cube larger or shift the multicolor down, and that seemed like too much work.
That said, it's a solid body with a solid blinking ability.
I love Eldrazi Displacer. My original colorless section was just Thought-Knot Seer / Reality Smasher / Eldrazi Displacer / Dimensional Infiltrator (was just in because it's pretty decent without access to colorless mana). Seer / Smasher / Displacer alone are worth supporting colorless for. I expanded my colorless section for a bit, but I'm experimenting with supporting the artifact.dec at the moment so I took everything out except for the original 4. Displacer is a great addition to the blink motif.
I like the colorless mechanic overall, but it could use some better cards. TKS / Smasher / Displacer / Dimensional Infiltrator are worth it on their own, the others not so much. I liked Mirror Pool more as we got more colorless support lands like Aether Hub / Ash Barrens. Mirror Pool is also one of the most powerful lands you can fetch with Primeval Titan, so that's a nice combo.
I briefly had a colorless theme including one card in each color plus Smasher and Mirrorpool. I cut everything but Displacer, Infiltrator, and Reality Smasher. Mirrorpool was awesome with Primeval Titan, and the BRG cards were fine, but not good enough to go out of my way to make the mana work. Infiltrator is going to go away soon, I think. Displacer is amazing, but the C can be tough in some color combos, even with the full cycle of pain lands.
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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
The C mechanic works fine, but it's not necessary. After a lot of playtesting, I think it's better to include only the best colorless-matters cards–you can live without the rest.
Since C costs were coming out at the same time as the enemy manland cycle was being completed in OGW, I was cutting my only dual-land cycle that produced C - pain lands - at the same time that really cool C cost cards like Eldrazi Displacer were coming out. If my cube were at 540 or bigger, I might have had room to keep the pain lands or filter lands in to support cards like Thought-knot Seer and Displacer, but at 450 it just didn't make sense to warp my cube's mana base. Eldrazi Displacer seems like a really cool and powerful card, and if it didn't require C I would have definitely given it a shot. I hope they print a similar, on-curve creature with this kind of activated ability in the future without this cost.
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I would like to support colorless matters more, they just need to come out with more cards on the same level as Seer / Smasher / Displacer, preferably in the other colors.
Story I just remembered: my buddy and I cracked 2 Displacers at the 2HG pre-release event, but we ended up never using the blink ability the whole time despite my teammate running both copies in his deck.
I like the warhammer; I don't like the swords so equipment is less tight in my cube that ones running the cycle.
It serves a midrange card, granting trample and stabilising life. It works well in the token decks aswell pumping those spirts to 4/1 beaters.
It sucks having it blown up after you sunk the mana equipping it but in a less powered environment there is less main decked artefact hate (in my cube anyway).
Overall it's a fun card and my playgroup likes it a lot. Try it if you don't run the swords.
Loxo is a good equipment if you're not running swords. Trample and the +3/+0 make any creature a threat, while lifelink helps stabilize the game if it's going poorly.
I do remember mixing it with Spikeshot Goblin in a janky deck I had back when Mirrodin came out.
TL;DR - I agree with wtwlf
Warahammer requires too much mana to be worth it. Having your equip target be killed by instant speed removal or bounce has decided games. So is instant speed destruction of the hammer. Plus, the creature is still vulnerable and will trade with everything, either on offense or defense, requiring you to waste another whole turn to re-equip, if you even have another creature available.
Warhammer is exceedingly good in a midrange cube. Higher power you go, the more the equip cost hurts it's viability though. +3, trample and lifelink can turn games around however. A nice option if you want a midrange equip and aren't running swords due to the protection clause.
An old (non-cube) favorite of mine. +3/+0 lifelink / trample is no joke, and Loxodon Warhammer was the equipment analogue of Armadillo Cloak when equipment made its debut. For those of you who don't know, Armadillo Cloak was probably the 2nd best aura (which wasn't even a keyword yet) right behind Rancor.
Loxodon Warhammer faces immense competition from the Swords. Even for cubes that don't use the swords, 3 mana to equip is pretty hefty. I'd imagine this thing is quite the house in peasant cubes and slower traditional cubes, but 3 seems to be the unlucky number for equipment / vehicles.
Last time I used a hammer was to dismantle a cheap / old IKEA-esque desk last fall. I mainly used the hammer to pry the nails, but I do recall smashing some things.
Still in both of my cubes, but my main cube is essentially awaiting a Batterskull to replace it with.
But it's definitely still the N00bstick in my kids' Peasant Cube. It definitely has the fear factor of old in there still.
I literally had the hammer out a few days ago... had a drawer from a flatpack chest of drawers that had popped its posts out, hammered them back in, felt manly.
The Swords, Jitte, and Batterskull certainly do outclass Loxodon Warhammer, but they're also quite expensive. I ran the hammer for quite a while as a budget placeholder in my cube and it could absolutely take over and win games even if it is a bit slow to get started. If you can't afford, or don't want the top-notch equipment, Loxodon Warhammer is a strong alternative for curve-topping equipment and it seems unlikely that they'll print better equipment anytime soon. In rarity-restricted cubes, Loxodon Warhammer and Behemoth Sledge are strong enough to be considered banworthy by some.
With all due respect to Terese Nielsen, the original art with the elephant is the clear choice. The older versions are like a museum of obnoxious reminder text from when "Equip" was brand new and "Lifelink" wasn't even a keyword yet. I'm currently running the original Mirrodin version in my Peasant cube because it was the only version without the rare expansion symbol, but I'm going to have to swap it for the uncommon C16 version for its much cleaner rules text.
Like most Korean apartments, my walls are all made of cement, so reasons to use a hammer and nails just don't come up that often. The last time was about 6 months ago, when I needed to punch 2 new holes in my belt.
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465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
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Not a fan of D&D and I've given it a lot of chances. My main issues are the long periods of down time that occur, and all the tangenting that happens. Sessions that go for 3-4 hours would be half gameplay, at best, and I'm not including people slowly going through the spell book as gameplay. When it's been fun it's great, but when it's not fun I'd rather be doing literally anything else with my time.
My favorite red 5-drop and it's not close. Great as everything from an Aggro Curve-Topper to a Wildfire-Surviving beatstick, I can't imagine a red-based deck that doesn't include this in the final 40. This thing is under-costed for sure.
I regularly play an RPG called Hero Kids (which is designed for 4-10 year-olds) with my 4 and 6 year-old kids and they love it. I agree min-maxers can make D&D (and other RPGs) take way too long, but nobody gets into the correct spirit of an RPG like imaginative kids do.
Thundermaw Hellkite is the bomb. 5/5 haste / flying / nuke birds / spirit tokens and tapping everything else that can block it when it comes out is just too good. If I were a sales manager, I'd want Hellkite on my team because that guy can close.
I played some D&D back in the day (mainly AD&D 2.0). I enjoy D&D a lot, but it's too much production for my tastes.
Thundermaw Hellkite is a bomb, plain and simple. It might be too strong for my cube, but I would try it out at least - if I had one. But I don't (and there's no immediate need for me to get one). So I'm still running Shivan Dragon instead, mostly because of it iconic status.
I played Das Schwarze Auge (translates literally as the black eye, but is called The Dark Eye in english) in my teens, which is the german equivalent to D&D (Not the same rule-set, but it was developed by the german translation team of D&D in the 80s). The novels accompanying the franchise got me into fantasy literature in the first place.
My favorite snake would have to be Sakura-Tribe Elder, it's still an amazing card in the "damage doesn't use the stack" era. Of all the cards that got severely nerfed due to not being able to exploit damage on the stack, Sakura-Tribe Elder is probably the only sole survivor of those cards that crack most cubes.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
STEve's also my favorite snake, it fits so well into ramp and midrange decks alike. Although, if the type line didn't say "Snake" I would have thought it's a turtle.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
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!
On to today's card, would this be out of place in your cube?
Eldrazi Displacer
BONUS QUESTION
If you've tried it, how's the C mechanic worked out in your cube?
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
That said, it's a solid body with a solid blinking ability.
I like the colorless mechanic overall, but it could use some better cards. TKS / Smasher / Displacer / Dimensional Infiltrator are worth it on their own, the others not so much. I liked Mirror Pool more as we got more colorless support lands like Aether Hub / Ash Barrens. Mirror Pool is also one of the most powerful lands you can fetch with Primeval Titan, so that's a nice combo.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
The C mechanic works fine, but it's not necessary. After a lot of playtesting, I think it's better to include only the best colorless-matters cards–you can live without the rest.
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!
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Story I just remembered: my buddy and I cracked 2 Displacers at the 2HG pre-release event, but we ended up never using the blink ability the whole time despite my teammate running both copies in his deck.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Loxodon Warhammer
BONUS QUESTION
When was the last time you used a hammer?
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
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 serves a midrange card, granting trample and stabilising life. It works well in the token decks aswell pumping those spirts to 4/1 beaters.
It sucks having it blown up after you sunk the mana equipping it but in a less powered environment there is less main decked artefact hate (in my cube anyway).
Overall it's a fun card and my playgroup likes it a lot. Try it if you don't run the swords.
I do remember mixing it with Spikeshot Goblin in a janky deck I had back when Mirrodin came out.
Warahammer requires too much mana to be worth it. Having your equip target be killed by instant speed removal or bounce has decided games. So is instant speed destruction of the hammer. Plus, the creature is still vulnerable and will trade with everything, either on offense or defense, requiring you to waste another whole turn to re-equip, if you even have another creature available.
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http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
Loxodon Warhammer faces immense competition from the Swords. Even for cubes that don't use the swords, 3 mana to equip is pretty hefty. I'd imagine this thing is quite the house in peasant cubes and slower traditional cubes, but 3 seems to be the unlucky number for equipment / vehicles.
Last time I used a hammer was to dismantle a cheap / old IKEA-esque desk last fall. I mainly used the hammer to pry the nails, but I do recall smashing some things.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
But it's definitely still the N00bstick in my kids' Peasant Cube. It definitely has the fear factor of old in there still.
I literally had the hammer out a few days ago... had a drawer from a flatpack chest of drawers that had popped its posts out, hammered them back in, felt manly.
My Stupidly Large Number of Current Decks
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The Multiplayer Power Rankings
Cube: the Gittening (My Multiplayer Cube) - MTGS Cube List | @ CubeTutor
The N00b Cube (Peasant cube for new players) - MTGS Cube List | @ CubeTutor
With all due respect to Terese Nielsen, the original art with the elephant is the clear choice. The older versions are like a museum of obnoxious reminder text from when "Equip" was brand new and "Lifelink" wasn't even a keyword yet. I'm currently running the original Mirrodin version in my Peasant cube because it was the only version without the rare expansion symbol, but I'm going to have to swap it for the uncommon C16 version for its much cleaner rules text.
Like most Korean apartments, my walls are all made of cement, so reasons to use a hammer and nails just don't come up that often. The last time was about 6 months ago, when I needed to punch 2 new holes in my belt.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Thundermaw Hellkite
BONUS QUESTION
Ever play Dungeons and Dragons?
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Not a fan of D&D and I've given it a lot of chances. My main issues are the long periods of down time that occur, and all the tangenting that happens. Sessions that go for 3-4 hours would be half gameplay, at best, and I'm not including people slowly going through the spell book as gameplay. When it's been fun it's great, but when it's not fun I'd rather be doing literally anything else with my time.
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I regularly play an RPG called Hero Kids (which is designed for 4-10 year-olds) with my 4 and 6 year-old kids and they love it. I agree min-maxers can make D&D (and other RPGs) take way too long, but nobody gets into the correct spirit of an RPG like imaginative kids do.
I played some D&D back in the day (mainly AD&D 2.0). I enjoy D&D a lot, but it's too much production for my tastes.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
I played Das Schwarze Auge (translates literally as the black eye, but is called The Dark Eye in english) in my teens, which is the german equivalent to D&D (Not the same rule-set, but it was developed by the german translation team of D&D in the 80s). The novels accompanying the franchise got me into fantasy literature in the first place.