Phantasmal Image becomes the best creature on the battlefield for only 2 mana, which is quite possibly the most efficient creature spell ever printed. In cube, the drawback tends to be irrelevant since there aren't that many targeted effects that wouldn't kill it anyway. I do tend to side it out against decks running multiple divisible burn spells, but that's about it.
I'm a fan of the new legend/planeswalker rule. Having a card in your hand nullified because your opponent played the same one first was always obnoxious, and it made Clone effects way more powerful than they have any business being. I wish it had been that way from the get-go.
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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 have always liked the look of ion as prowler, just never got round to pulling the trigger. Seems solid, she is either bashing for 3 or earning you card advantage. I suppose there is the downside of you possibly helping them out if they also want to discard, but that feels like a corner case.
My favourite discard outlet? I don't know if it's my favourite, but waterfront bouncer doesn't get enough love, he sets back your opponents board whilst advancing your own game plan. The new black 2 drop is pretty solid, the vampire that discards to becomes a 3/2 in the air. survival of the fittest (and to a lesser extent fauna shaman is always an all star.
On the discard outlet topic, are people happy with a one shot effect or do you much prefer repeatable effects?
I am usually happy with a one shot effects (draw and discard etc.) as they tend to be more efficient and in most cases you really only need one fatty in there if you are the reanimator deck. Although having said that most of my favourite discard outlets are the repeatable ones that are more of a value engine, so go figure.
I like Oona's Prowler quite a bit. It's obviously a fine discard outlet, but it's also a decent aggro card, even though it's sort of a punisher effect. One thing I don't like is the antisynergy with Black Vise in aggro, but then that problem is sort of with black in general in cube. Also I don't play Black Vise in cube.
My favorite discard effect, right now, a week after considering cutting it, is Waterfront Bouncer. I opened it up in a sealed pool yesterday and built this sweet Esper tempo deck where I can do stuff like discard Bloodsoaked Champion to bounce a creature, attack, and get Champion back, or bounce my own Lone Missionary or Blade Splicer. That's in addition to being a reanimator outlet. The versatility makes up for the lack of power.
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Prowler is one of the better discard outlets, especially since he has flying. Chip damage is very valuable and his double-edged nature really isn't that much of a drawback.
My favorite discard outlets are Wild Mongrel and Psychatog, aka dog and tog. They're extremely versatile and can fireball the opponent out of nowhere. Noose Constrictor was huge blessing, but that card's art is so damn ugly.
Lotleth Troll was also a favorite of mine. I cut him once before but then threw him back into my cube again to support Reanimator more, but Noose Constrictor made it so that he can happily enjoy his retirement in peace.
I don't have much to say about Oona's Prowler but its great. Good in graveyard based decks and good in aggro decks.
My favorite discard outlet in cube has to be either Looter il-Kor or Firestorm. I love the ability to get in for damage while discarding! And firestorm just ends deals with so much for so little.
@Steve_man - The new Kev Walker Noose art is fantastic.
@mikepemulis - the versatility is the power there.
On the discard outlet topic, are people happy with a one shot effect or do you much prefer repeatable effects?
Unless I'm getting actual cards back to replace what I'm pitching, I generally prefer 1-shot effects like Faithless Looting, because there's a limit to how many cards I'm likely to want to pitch even for a reanimator deck, and +1/+1 till the end of the turn or bouncing a creature is usually a pretty poor trade-of for a card you don't actually need in the yard. I'm quite happy to have Oona's Prowler in a reanimator deck, but I'm not happy to have to play it as one of my 2-drops in an aggro deck. The opponent being able to pitch unneeded cards to nerf it make it a pretty subpar attacker. Now that other black 2-drops have gotten better, I'm looking forward to a better discard outlet getting printed to replace Prowler.
My favorite discard outlet has to be Looter il-Kor. Getting to upgrade card quality while getting in for 1 a turn is fantastic.
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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.
On the discard outlet topic, are people happy with a one shot effect or do you much prefer repeatable effects?
Unless I'm getting actual cards back to replace what I'm pitching, I generally prefer 1-shot effects like Faithless Looting, because there's a limit to how many cards I'm likely to want to pitch even for a reanimator deck, and +1/+1 till the end of the turn or bouncing a creature is usually a pretty poor trade-of for a card you don't actually need in the yard. I'm quite happy to have Oona's Prowler in a reanimator deck, but I'm not happy to have to play it as one of my 2-drops in an aggro deck. The opponent being able to pitch unneeded cards to nerf it make it a pretty subpar attacker. Now that other black 2-drops have gotten better, I'm looking forward to a better discard outlet getting printed to replace Prowler.
My favorite discard outlet has to be Looter il-Kor. Getting to upgrade card quality while getting in for 1 a turn is fantastic.
Discard outlets attached to creatures are best in Recurring Nightmare shells.
Prowler is great! I'm still convinced it's better than Heir of Falkenrath, but that may change in the future. Black 2 drops often don't have enough space at 360 for both.
There are so many times that I've drafted Prowler with the intent to try and go into reanimator and end up just beating my opponent to death with it. A card with a bunch of versatile uses gets a thumbs up from me. Big fan.
My favorite discard outlet is probably Liliana tbh. Discarding fatties while also hitting your opponent's hand is great.
I always thought he looked pretty cool. I like the flexible casting cost, his ability to tick up again and of course the mass permanent pump; I guess the main problem is him doing noting when he hits the board, but if i cast him as a 2 drop and start ticking up and down I might be happy if my opponent has to burn removal on him. I really wish he was a 1/1 but i guess the flavor is he is selfless and will give everything he has.
Does anyone run him?
As for +1/+1 counters I like Mycoloth alot, he may not be a cube all star staple but he makes for fun games when he is pooping out a ton of tokens, he is the kinda devour creature I like as he only takes 1 sac'd creature to make it work while (a bit like Sidisi, Undead Vizier, but she can sac herself I guess) as ill happily pay 5 for a 6/6 that makes me 2 1/1s a turn.
Champion of Lambholt is a fringe card I have been running because my playgroup likes it, does a lot of work in token decks, I just wish it was a 2/2. It's on the chopping block but maybe if your more committed to green tokens or agro.
Unless I specify otherwise, all of the Cards of the Day are chosen at random from Cubetutor Average 720, so quite a few people are absolutely running Mikaeus in their cubes - even if it might only be very large cubes.
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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.
Unless I specify otherwise, all of the Cards of the Day are chosen at random from Cubetutor Average 720, so quite a few people are absolutely running Mikaeus in their cubes - even if it might only be very large cubes.
I was more a question to the people on the forum, but it would probably have been better to ask that specifically or what kinds of cube they run him in. Thanks though.
Good to know I'm not the only one who thought he looked interesting. Anyone have any reports on what you cast him for on average? I would have guessed paying 2 or 3 and likely off curve, say turn 4 or 5 when my aggressive decks have spare mana; For a control or token deck as early as possible in and just tick him up and down for as long as possible
He's a very slow anthem effect that encourages you to commit as much mana as you can in a typically aggressive archetype. Fully tapping out to cast him then instantly loosing him to a counterspell or removal is basically giving your opponent a free extra turn. I would much rather play more resilient anthem effects like Ajani Goldmane or Spear of Heliod.
He has a secondary mode as a fatty, but he always falls behind the curve in my view, 5 mana for a vanilla 4/4, 6 mana for a 5/5.... just doesn't cut it. I guess he has the flexibility appeal for some people, but both modes feel like a massive compromise.
Kalonian Hydra is my favorite +1/+1 matters card, mostly because his ability is obscene.
Fully tapping out to cast him then instantly loosing him to a counterspell or removal is basically giving your opponent a free extra turn. I would much rather play more resilient anthem effects like Ajani Goldmane or Spear of Heliod.
Cant you say that about most creatures (or in the case of counters, spells in general)? I get your point, but that is just part of playing spells.
I had him in the cube for a long time and he never did anything. I think if he had haste he would get there since he could be a threat (either himself or as a pump spell) the turn he hits the board, but the way he is now is too slow. should have been "Mikaeus, timely lunarch" finally pulled him out to put in cards that will see more play.
My favourite card that deals with +1/+1 counters is for sure Master Biomancer. makes your late game 1 drops look so good!
We ran him for a while when he first came out and was just a bit too awkward. I could see running him in the largest cubes, but that might be more so because I haven't run one of those cubes and he probably wouldn't make the cut there as well.
Muzzio's Preparations is my favorite, the card is *insane* with persist creatures, and is part of the reason we still run Falkenrath Aristocrat.
Fully tapping out to cast him then instantly loosing him to a counterspell or removal is basically giving your opponent a free extra turn. I would much rather play more resilient anthem effects like Ajani Goldmane or Spear of Heliod.
Cant you say that about most creatures (or in the case of counters, spells in general)? I get your point, but that is just part of playing spells.
Whilst this is true, he pretty much requires you to tap ALL of your mana to get value. In a wide style deck you want to be peppering cheap things- then getting one countered or killed is less definitive. (Generally- I know you would also tap out t5 for Angel of Invention, but her anthem is immediate)
Fully tapping out to cast him then instantly loosing him to a counterspell or removal is basically giving your opponent a free extra turn. I would much rather play more resilient anthem effects like Ajani Goldmane or Spear of Heliod.
Cant you say that about most creatures (or in the case of counters, spells in general)? I get your point, but that is just part of playing spells.
Whilst this is true, he pretty much requires you to tap ALL of your mana to get value. In a wide style deck you want to be peppering cheap things- then getting one countered or killed is less definitive. (Generally- I know you would also tap out t5 for Angel of Invention, but her anthem is immediate)
Is tapping out for him that common? If I'm worried about a counter or kill spell I would drop him for 2 or 3, possibly in the hopes of him eating the removal. Like you said if my goal is going wide I want him to be cheap, so why tap out? For 5 I can have him at 4/4, or I can spend 2 and follow up with lingering souls or keep my mana up to protect him.
I'm a fan of the new legend/planeswalker rule. Having a card in your hand nullified because your opponent played the same one first was always obnoxious, and it made Clone effects way more powerful than they have any business being. I wish it had been that way from the get-go.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Oona's Prowler
BONUS QUESTION
What's your favorite discard outlet for cube?
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
My favourite discard outlet? I don't know if it's my favourite, but waterfront bouncer doesn't get enough love, he sets back your opponents board whilst advancing your own game plan. The new black 2 drop is pretty solid, the vampire that discards to becomes a 3/2 in the air. survival of the fittest (and to a lesser extent fauna shaman is always an all star.
I am usually happy with a one shot effects (draw and discard etc.) as they tend to be more efficient and in most cases you really only need one fatty in there if you are the reanimator deck. Although having said that most of my favourite discard outlets are the repeatable ones that are more of a value engine, so go figure.
My favorite discard effect, right now, a week after considering cutting it, is Waterfront Bouncer. I opened it up in a sealed pool yesterday and built this sweet Esper tempo deck where I can do stuff like discard Bloodsoaked Champion to bounce a creature, attack, and get Champion back, or bounce my own Lone Missionary or Blade Splicer. That's in addition to being a reanimator outlet. The versatility makes up for the lack of power.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
My favorite discard outlets are Wild Mongrel and Psychatog, aka dog and tog. They're extremely versatile and can fireball the opponent out of nowhere. Noose Constrictor was huge blessing, but that card's art is so damn ugly.
Lotleth Troll was also a favorite of mine. I cut him once before but then threw him back into my cube again to support Reanimator more, but Noose Constrictor made it so that he can happily enjoy his retirement in peace.
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My favorite discard outlet in cube has to be either Looter il-Kor or Firestorm. I love the ability to get in for damage while discarding! And firestorm just ends deals with so much for so little.
@Steve_man - The new Kev Walker Noose art is fantastic.
@mikepemulis - the versatility is the power there.
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Unless I'm getting actual cards back to replace what I'm pitching, I generally prefer 1-shot effects like Faithless Looting, because there's a limit to how many cards I'm likely to want to pitch even for a reanimator deck, and +1/+1 till the end of the turn or bouncing a creature is usually a pretty poor trade-of for a card you don't actually need in the yard. I'm quite happy to have Oona's Prowler in a reanimator deck, but I'm not happy to have to play it as one of my 2-drops in an aggro deck. The opponent being able to pitch unneeded cards to nerf it make it a pretty subpar attacker. Now that other black 2-drops have gotten better, I'm looking forward to a better discard outlet getting printed to replace Prowler.
My favorite discard outlet has to be Looter il-Kor. Getting to upgrade card quality while getting in for 1 a turn is fantastic.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Discard outlets attached to creatures are best in Recurring Nightmare shells.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*
My favorite discard outlet is a close between Survival of the Fittest and Pack Rat.
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My favorite discard outlet is probably Liliana tbh. Discarding fatties while also hitting your opponent's hand is great.
URW Control
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Mikaeus the Lunarch
BONUS QUESTION
What's your favorite card that involves +1/+1 counters?
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Does anyone run him?
As for +1/+1 counters I like Mycoloth alot, he may not be a cube all star staple but he makes for fun games when he is pooping out a ton of tokens, he is the kinda devour creature I like as he only takes 1 sac'd creature to make it work while (a bit like Sidisi, Undead Vizier, but she can sac herself I guess) as ill happily pay 5 for a 6/6 that makes me 2 1/1s a turn.
Champion of Lambholt is a fringe card I have been running because my playgroup likes it, does a lot of work in token decks, I just wish it was a 2/2. It's on the chopping block but maybe if your more committed to green tokens or agro.
Unless I specify otherwise, all of the Cards of the Day are chosen at random from Cubetutor Average 720, so quite a few people are absolutely running Mikaeus in their cubes - even if it might only be very large cubes.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
I was more a question to the people on the forum, but it would probably have been better to ask that specifically or what kinds of cube they run him in. Thanks though.
Good to know I'm not the only one who thought he looked interesting. Anyone have any reports on what you cast him for on average? I would have guessed paying 2 or 3 and likely off curve, say turn 4 or 5 when my aggressive decks have spare mana; For a control or token deck as early as possible in and just tick him up and down for as long as possible
He has a secondary mode as a fatty, but he always falls behind the curve in my view, 5 mana for a vanilla 4/4, 6 mana for a 5/5.... just doesn't cut it. I guess he has the flexibility appeal for some people, but both modes feel like a massive compromise.
Kalonian Hydra is my favorite +1/+1 matters card, mostly because his ability is obscene.
Cant you say that about most creatures (or in the case of counters, spells in general)? I get your point, but that is just part of playing spells.
My favourite card that deals with +1/+1 counters is for sure Master Biomancer. makes your late game 1 drops look so good!
Muzzio's Preparations is my favorite, the card is *insane* with persist creatures, and is part of the reason we still run Falkenrath Aristocrat.
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Whilst this is true, he pretty much requires you to tap ALL of your mana to get value. In a wide style deck you want to be peppering cheap things- then getting one countered or killed is less definitive. (Generally- I know you would also tap out t5 for Angel of Invention, but her anthem is immediate)
Is tapping out for him that common? If I'm worried about a counter or kill spell I would drop him for 2 or 3, possibly in the hopes of him eating the removal. Like you said if my goal is going wide I want him to be cheap, so why tap out? For 5 I can have him at 4/4, or I can spend 2 and follow up with lingering souls or keep my mana up to protect him.