This is probably the counterspell that makes my cube decks more often than any other, not only because I value it so highly for never being a dead card, but also because it gets passed way too often by newer players.
I'd rather lose any toe than any finger. Toes are pretty useless in general and mine are downright hideous.
Salmo, you've earned a day off, so I'll post today's card. Sorry if this is a little early, but I have just enough time to get this post in from my hotel room before I'm off to take a shot at GP Montreal. From the latest iteration of the MTGO Vintage Cube list:
Power-wise, this is basically Black Lotus so it's an easy first pick, right? Also, I feel confident that this community can agree that of the many versions of Dark Ritual available, the Mercadian Masques edition is clearly the best.
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I've loved Dark Ritual since the first time I went Swamp, Ritual, Carnophage, Dauthi Slayer in Type 2 (Standard to you whipper snappers) a million years ago. It slides perfectly into almost any black deck. It can help aggro have that explosive start it desperately needs to get ahead or it can power out an early 4 or 5 drop in midrange decks. The negative is that it can sometimes be a dead card in the mid/late game, but the early game payoff is worth the risk.
As far as aesthetics go, there's really only one choice: Foil Mercadian Masques.
Agree with calibretto. It can lead to explosive openings or play big monsters a couple turns early. Nothing wrong with a T4 Grave Titan.
I actually like most of the Dark Ritual arts. But I think that a foil Guay Ritual (Masques) or an original Ervingham Ritual (Beta) are my two favorite options.
What are peoples thoughts on this card in an unpowered environment. I run it myself but have been trying to decide if it's to powerful of an effect in my cube. I don't think it is nearly the same power level though as a black lotus etc since Land + lotus gives you 4 mana on turn 1 in 2 different colors. this gives you 3 black mana.
Thoughts?
I like Dark Ritual quite a bit, it's great risk / reward and there are plenty of discard outlets black can pitch it to when it's no longer useful. Being able to power out turn 1 Phyrexia Arena, Liliana of the Veil / the Last Hope, or Thoughtseize + Dark Confidant are all amazing things that any unpowered cube can pull off.
Hard to go wrong art wise: the original art is a classic but the Guay is just beautiful. The Langley version has a lot of nostalgia to me since it was one of the first cards I ever cast. My preference goes to the Guay.
As I said with Brainstorm, Mercadian Masques art tends to be my preference of choice for a lot of cards.
Dark Ritual has been fine for us as an unpowered card. The explosive potential is insane, but as just a one-of fast mana, it doesn't happen frequently enough that it becomes a problem. Also, it's balanced in that it is basically dead late game. I really love those one off cards that give colors access to powerful effects they normally don't get while still keeping thematically in line with the color like Dark Ritual, Mana Tithe, and Gamble.
As for the art, I run a beta, which is sweet, but if there existed an old frame (foil? ) black bordered Clint Langley art, I'd be all over that.
I've loved Dark Ritual since the first time I went Swamp, Ritual, Carnophage, Dauthi Slayer in Type 2 (Standard to you whipper snappers) a million years ago.
Hell yeah, I loved suicide black in Rath block Type 2, and I really love the fact that so many parts of that deck are still viable. Every now and again I try to find a way to make room for Paralyze, but that's probably just the nostalgia talking
What are peoples thoughts on this card in an unpowered environment. I run it myself but have been trying to decide if it's to powerful of an effect in my cube. I don't think it is nearly the same power level though as a black lotus etc since Land + lotus gives you 4 mana on turn 1 in 2 different colors. this gives you 3 black mana.
Thoughts?
Dark Ritual is just fine in an unpowered cube for all the reasons already mentioned, my comparison to Black Lotus was tongue firmly in cheek. Because it's limited to a single color and you have to use it the turn you cast it (unlike, say, Grim Monolith or Mana Vault) it only nets BB as a one-shot effect, so it's much less unbalancing that other fast mana options
I'm actually a bit surprised to hear this much love for the Rebecca Guay art. As much as I usually love her work, I think this one's a bit goofy. However, I run it because it's the only old frame version that has "Instant" in the type line. I replaced my FTV foil for a non-foil Masques version for this reason, and it's one of the few times I've ever un-foiled a card in my cube.
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Hell yeah, I loved suicide black in Rath block Type 2, and I really love the fact that so many parts of that deck are still viable. Every now and again I try to find a way to make room for Paralyze, but that's probably just the nostalgia talking
I feel the same way about all of my beloved 2 drop black aggro guys. Hatred was my jam back in 97/98, but I rocked a basic mono black aggro in 2002 extended. Dark Ritual had me sitting across from a lot of frowny faces after very explosive starts. Swamp, Ritual, Duress, Hymn is no joke. It's hard to pick one card to get all nostalgia about with that deck. Unholy Strength or Skittering Skirge are probably the two biggest standouts for me.
There probably isn't much doubt about whether or not DT is good enough for cube, but I've seen a few articles recently questioning how highly you should pick it in today's cube environment that I think are interesting food for thought. Here they are:
I really like Demonic Tutor (and tutors in general), but I do agree a little with that Reddit article. I don't normally hold them in high enough regard to take them P1P1. I like to wait until my overall strategy is fleshed out and then take tutors based on that. Not all black decks want a D Tutor, imo. I don't usually play it in my super aggressive decks. It usually performs better for me in grindy midrange or control lists where I can fetch up what I need to deal with any given situation. In aggro, I'd rather just have another 2-drop or disruption spell. The tutor can get me those things, but it slows my pace down too much.
As far as aesthetics go, I can't really decide. I think both options are great. I have a Beta copy in my main powered cube and a duel decks copy in my second low power list.
If your cube creates decks that are centered around specific cards, Demonic Tutor is absolutely a first-pickable card. For unpowered lists that don't feature premium build-around spells like Tinker and Channel and Natural Order, etc... Tutor loses some of its value there.
Black combo Decks like Sur-rec, stax, animator loves the tutors. A splash for enlightened or worldly tutor works sometimes as well. It also provides a tool for control builds, finding an answer or finisher.
Demonic is definitely the best tutor due to card advantage, but do not under estimate the instant tutors,
As they can search the last minute and have full mana next turn to cast it (think Mind Twist)
As for aesthetics, I go for the classic white bordered revised edition.
I run Demonic Tutor in any black deck except aggro/tempo decks, where I prefer the Mirage tutors for their instant speed and cheaper cost. In a UB tempo deck, I absolutely prefer Impulse to DT.
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Saying Demonic Tutor is not first-pickable seems a big exaggeration (or under-valuation of the card). "first-pickable" is a strange term to begin with, because it depends of course very much on what else is in the first pack, but in an average pack, which doesn't contain another broken card, Demonic Tutor is a great first-pick. Picking a powerful archetype-defining or build-around-me card P1P1 is great because the sooner you get such a card, the easier it is to build around. But when there is no such card, or when you don't want to commit so early, you cannot go wrong with taking a card that leaves you open and has a very high chance of making your final 40.
I would also run Demonic Tutor in all black decks except for very aggressive decks, and it is splashable too and definitely worth the splash in combo decks. Some form of tutoring is almost a must-have for combo decks, and incredible valuable in control decks or toolbox-midrange decks.
I love the card, and I love the original art.
Edit: great thread btw., especially welcome during non-spoiler seasons thanks for making it!
Hey thanks Spike Rogue! I'm back from the wilderness so I can jump back on these.
Demonic Tutor is sweet. Absurd in combo decks or decks with high-impact synergistic cards, I also like Demonic Tutor in control decks where it can act as a tool box. Having access to your whole deck is powerful in most strategies black wants to be involved in.
No problem, Salmo. I'm back on the road tomorrow, so you can tqke it from here.
Saying Demonic Tutor is not first-pickable seems a big exaggeration (or under-valuation of the card). "first-pickable" is a strange term to begin with, because it depends of course very much on what else is in the first pack, but in an average pack, which doesn't contain another broken card, Demonic Tutor is a great first-pick. Picking a powerful archetype-defining or build-around-me card P1P1 is great because the sooner you get such a card, the easier it is to build around. But when there is no such card, or when you don't want to commit so early, you cannot go wrong with taking a card that leaves you open and has a very high chance of making your final 40.
I'd agree with this, Demonic Tutor is first pick-worthy the way I consider Lightning Bolt a first pick based on versatility. Probably the only reason I don't first pick DT as often as Bolt is because I tend to favor more aggressive decks that crush the dreams of people who are playing kinds of deck that want DT. Fun police at your service!
I also run a revised version. I don't know if I really think it's a top tier P1P1, but I've P1P1'd it before. My absolute favorite place to see it is pick 2 or 3 in the first round and jump right into black with it.
The "Unpopular Opinions" series on the MTGCube Subreddit is one of the more entertaining things on the MTGCube subreddit, but I often disagree with many of the author's opinions. While I may not P1P1 Demonic Tutor over an archetype enabler (depending on my mood) like Sulfuric Vortex / Recurring Nightmare / Upheaval / Wildfire, taking Demonic Tutor first keeps me much more open at the beginning of the draft since it doesn't particularly heavily commit you to something and is easily splashable.
I'll play Demonic Tutor in any black deck regardless of archetype, the beauty of the card is that it's whatever you want when you need it, sometimes you just need to tutor for that one land....
As far as art goes, original is always best, foil Demonic Tutor is wrong.
Lose the pinky toe for sure.
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Right there with you, man. One of the most-needed modern-frame reprints.
I'd rather lose any toe than any finger. Toes are pretty useless in general and mine are downright hideous.
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Dark Ritual
Power-wise, this is basically Black Lotus so it's an easy first pick, right? Also, I feel confident that this community can agree that of the many versions of Dark Ritual available, the Mercadian Masques edition is clearly the best.
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As far as aesthetics go, there's really only one choice: Foil Mercadian Masques.
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I actually like most of the Dark Ritual arts. But I think that a foil Guay Ritual (Masques) or an original Ervingham Ritual (Beta) are my two favorite options.
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Thoughts?
http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/63569
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Hard to go wrong art wise: the original art is a classic but the Guay is just beautiful. The Langley version has a lot of nostalgia to me since it was one of the first cards I ever cast. My preference goes to the Guay.
As I said with Brainstorm, Mercadian Masques art tends to be my preference of choice for a lot of cards.
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As for the art, I run a beta, which is sweet, but if there existed an old frame (foil? ) black bordered Clint Langley art, I'd be all over that.
Hell yeah, I loved suicide black in Rath block Type 2, and I really love the fact that so many parts of that deck are still viable. Every now and again I try to find a way to make room for Paralyze, but that's probably just the nostalgia talking
Dark Ritual is just fine in an unpowered cube for all the reasons already mentioned, my comparison to Black Lotus was tongue firmly in cheek. Because it's limited to a single color and you have to use it the turn you cast it (unlike, say, Grim Monolith or Mana Vault) it only nets BB as a one-shot effect, so it's much less unbalancing that other fast mana options
I'm actually a bit surprised to hear this much love for the Rebecca Guay art. As much as I usually love her work, I think this one's a bit goofy. However, I run it because it's the only old frame version that has "Instant" in the type line. I replaced my FTV foil for a non-foil Masques version for this reason, and it's one of the few times I've ever un-foiled a card in my cube.
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I feel the same way about all of my beloved 2 drop black aggro guys. Hatred was my jam back in 97/98, but I rocked a basic mono black aggro in 2002 extended. Dark Ritual had me sitting across from a lot of frowny faces after very explosive starts. Swamp, Ritual, Duress, Hymn is no joke. It's hard to pick one card to get all nostalgia about with that deck. Unholy Strength or Skittering Skirge are probably the two biggest standouts for me.
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I have Hypnotic Specter in my cube for pet card reasons, and it's still possible to T1 rit, Hyp, pass, and it's still a tough beat for non-red.
Demonic Tutor
There probably isn't much doubt about whether or not DT is good enough for cube, but I've seen a few articles recently questioning how highly you should pick it in today's cube environment that I think are interesting food for thought. Here they are:
Unpopular Opinion: Demonic Tutor is not first pick worthy from Reddit
Demonic Tutor vs. Impulse from the MTG Cube blog
Aesthetically, I'm running a beat up white border Revised edition, just like I played in the 90s.
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As far as aesthetics go, I can't really decide. I think both options are great. I have a Beta copy in my main powered cube and a duel decks copy in my second low power list.
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Original art only, IMO.
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Demonic is definitely the best tutor due to card advantage, but do not under estimate the instant tutors,
As they can search the last minute and have full mana next turn to cast it (think Mind Twist)
As for aesthetics, I go for the classic white bordered revised edition.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
I would also run Demonic Tutor in all black decks except for very aggressive decks, and it is splashable too and definitely worth the splash in combo decks. Some form of tutoring is almost a must-have for combo decks, and incredible valuable in control decks or toolbox-midrange decks.
I love the card, and I love the original art.
Edit: great thread btw., especially welcome during non-spoiler seasons thanks for making it!
Demonic Tutor is sweet. Absurd in combo decks or decks with high-impact synergistic cards, I also like Demonic Tutor in control decks where it can act as a tool box. Having access to your whole deck is powerful in most strategies black wants to be involved in.
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I'd agree with this, Demonic Tutor is first pick-worthy the way I consider Lightning Bolt a first pick based on versatility. Probably the only reason I don't first pick DT as often as Bolt is because I tend to favor more aggressive decks that crush the dreams of people who are playing kinds of deck that want DT. Fun police at your service!
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I'll play Demonic Tutor in any black deck regardless of archetype, the beauty of the card is that it's whatever you want when you need it, sometimes you just need to tutor for that one land....
As far as art goes, original is always best, foil Demonic Tutor is wrong.
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