Yeah, I like the Banneret. Looks a lot more interesting than your regular 1 drop 2/1. Not necessarily the best on turn 1 but a great double spell on turn 3 or 4.
I like that the pump ability isn't capped so with 4 mana this little guy can swing in as a 5/1 and pump pretty much anything you'll be swinging with in an agro deck. This seems very testable to me.
While not having a cap means that you have the chance to pump anything in theory, the thing that gives me pause is that you'll have to sink your mana into pumping it before swinging in order to get the mentor trigger to work. I'm concerned by the blowouts this can lead to where the Banneret gets removed and you just don't get to do anything that turn. The threat of activation isn't as effective here.
I'm still considering testing it, but I'm concerned about the above and also that some of my cubers would get frustrated by misunderstanding the timing.
I’m not a fan. The average creature in an aggro deck has at least two power. Legion Warboss works because it makes 1/1s for free. Toomuch work for little payoff, IMO.
I’m not a fan. The average creature in an aggro deck has at least two power. Legion Warboss works because it makes 1/1s for free. Toomuch work for little payoff, IMO.
That's why the +2 power is so relevant. For a two mana investment you get a 3 power creature and a permanent buff to another attacker. And if your opponent takes their eye off this guy he could be swinging for 5 and pumping basically anyone. It's a one drop that your opponent will have to deal with. I think that warrants testing.
While not having a cap means that you have the chance to pump anything in theory, the thing that gives me pause is that you'll have to sink your mana into pumping it before swinging in order to get the mentor trigger to work. I'm concerned by the blowouts this can lead to where the Banneret gets removed and you just don't get to do anything that turn. The threat of activation isn't as effective here.
I'm still considering testing it, but I'm concerned about the above and also that some of my cubers would get frustrated by misunderstanding the timing.
On one hand, I like the idea of my opponents dedicating that much effort on killing my one-drop.
On the other hand, I'm sure some of my cubers will misunderstand the timing of it, and even though we play it a little fast-and-loose at times, it'll create feelbad too often.
I think most people are missing the actual point here. Isn't GB simply a 2-power one drop that can attack on T2 and then have upsides? Timing and stuff have so little to do here IMO.
I think most people are missing the actual point here. Isn't GB simply a 2-power one drop that can attack on T2 and then have upsides? Timing and stuff have so little to do here IMO.
Well, it does only have 1 power but I agree that the timing of this card isn't a huge issue. It's instant speed pump so you can wait until after blocks though you will possibly miss out on the mentor trigger. This works well with equipment and rancor though.
I could be wrong about this guy, but the bar for 1 power 1 drops is significantly higher than 2 power 1 drops. All the cubeable 1 power 1 drops offer static ways to increase their power (Stromkirk Noble, Monastery Swiftspear, etc), and those are on the low power end of the 1 drops we cube.
This card seems fun, but I'm just imagining instances where I play this, then a 2 drop, then a 3 drop and I'm kicking myself because it got in for 2, not 4. This card is only good when you can pump it, so it seems like a pass. Could be wrong.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Cubes - The Busted Cube. A fully functional, almost 100% custom cube. The project started out by asking "What if other colors got cards on the power level of Mana Drain,Ancestral Recall, and Time Walk?" Draft and enjoy!
I think most people are missing the actual point here. Isn't GB simply a 2-power one drop that can attack on T2 and then have upsides? Timing and stuff have so little to do here IMO.
If this had 2 power innately, it would be an auto-include for me, but it starts with 1 power, which makes it much less appealing.
I don't think this guy beats out any of the innate 2-power 1-drops in Red, but I'll probably test him over Stromkirk Noble. Kind of an inverse design - Noble is great on T1 and awful afterwards whereas the Banneret retains more power on late-game boards.
I’m not a fan. The average creature in an aggro deck has at least two power. Legion Warboss works because it makes 1/1s for free. Toomuch work for little payoff, IMO.
That's why the +2 power is so relevant. For a two mana investment you get a 3 power creature and a permanent buff to another attacker. And if your opponent takes their eye off this guy he could be swinging for 5 and pumping basically anyone. It's a one drop that your opponent will have to deal with. I think that warrants testing.
Ah, I originally read this as +1/+0. Definitely better, still a bit shakey in my opinion. Firedrinker Satyr is great since it’s already default 2/1. This can be a nice threat late game, but early game it messes with the curve too much, IMO, and early game is most important for these types of creatures.
Think the requirement to put 2 mana into it is too steep a drawback when it doesn't do anything useful if you don't..
That being said, It's tough to evaluate, and I could be wrong. I think there's a chance this guy is solid, and a better chance he's not good enough.
Probably won't test? but if I hear reports it's great, It wouldn't shock me and probably give it a whirl later.
Misread the Mentor ability. Thought it could target the creature with the less power (ala Bolster), so I thought it was able to target himself. It's certainly less interesting if it cannot attack for 2 on T2.
Like he's cool and all, but, he's a 1 drop who wants friends to Mentor, but pumping him to function means that's mana not playing friends. His brand of firebreathing seems okay, but, I would want Haste or something. Better yet, make him a 2/1 for R and his ability costs 8 mana to activate.
Turn 1: Banneret
Turn 2: random 2-power dude, attack with Banneret.
Turn 3: Attack with both. Pump Banneret, put counter on random dude. Hopefully have 1 mana left over. Even if you used a third mana to bolt a blocker pre-combat, you're swinging for 4. Not exactly backbreaking.
There are no doubt a few better scenarios, but this one is pretty realistic.
This is fine, but I think it's just fine. It's probably good in peasant cubes or really large ones, but I think it will miss for me at 540.
Turn 1: Banneret
Turn 2: random 2-power dude, attack with Banneret.
Turn 3: Attack with both. Pump Banneret, put counter on random dude. Hopefully have 1 mana left over. Even if you used a third mana to bolt a blocker pre-combat, you're swinging for 4. Not exactly backbreaking.
There are no doubt a few better scenarios, but this one is pretty realistic.
This is fine, but I think it's just fine. It's probably good in peasant cubes or really large ones, but I think it will miss for me at 540.
Actually you'd be swinging for 6. 3 with the Banneret and 3 with your other dude. Not the best but not bad. He gets better as the game goes longer so that's why I think he's best as a second spell on turn 3 or 4. Now he's potentially a 5 power duder who is going to leave a counter behind. Or not leave a counter and keep the pump secret until blocks. I like the versatility this 1 drop offers.
The main thing to me is what an absolutely massive blowout it is if he gets removed with the mentor trigger on the stack after you pump. The mentor ability checks again on resolution, so you won't even get a counter.
And if you're not activating this guy, you'd much rather a 2 power one drop. I think he might be in contention for the last slot that's usually occupied by like Stromkirk Noble or Soul Scar Mage, but otherwise I don't see it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Cubes - The Busted Cube. A fully functional, almost 100% custom cube. The project started out by asking "What if other colors got cards on the power level of Mana Drain,Ancestral Recall, and Time Walk?" Draft and enjoy!
The main thing to me is what an absolutely massive blowout it is if he gets removed with the mentor trigger on the stack after you pump. The mentor ability checks again on resolution, so you won't even get a counter.
Would this not use last known information? Is that still a thing in the rules?
Wow this card seems really push! What do you guys think?
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
I'm still considering testing it, but I'm concerned about the above and also that some of my cubers would get frustrated by misunderstanding the timing.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
On one hand, I like the idea of my opponents dedicating that much effort on killing my one-drop.
On the other hand, I'm sure some of my cubers will misunderstand the timing of it, and even though we play it a little fast-and-loose at times, it'll create feelbad too often.
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
This card seems fun, but I'm just imagining instances where I play this, then a 2 drop, then a 3 drop and I'm kicking myself because it got in for 2, not 4. This card is only good when you can pump it, so it seems like a pass. Could be wrong.
Regular 450 unpowered cube (with some custom cards) - 450 Unpowered
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
360-cube - Suggestions welcome!
Ah, I originally read this as +1/+0. Definitely better, still a bit shakey in my opinion. Firedrinker Satyr is great since it’s already default 2/1. This can be a nice threat late game, but early game it messes with the curve too much, IMO, and early game is most important for these types of creatures.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
That being said, It's tough to evaluate, and I could be wrong. I think there's a chance this guy is solid, and a better chance he's not good enough.
Probably won't test? but if I hear reports it's great, It wouldn't shock me and probably give it a whirl later.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
I'd only consider this in a B-cube where the point is to use cards rarely seen in other cubes.
Turn 2: random 2-power dude, attack with Banneret.
Turn 3: Attack with both. Pump Banneret, put counter on random dude. Hopefully have 1 mana left over. Even if you used a third mana to bolt a blocker pre-combat, you're swinging for 4. Not exactly backbreaking.
There are no doubt a few better scenarios, but this one is pretty realistic.
This is fine, but I think it's just fine. It's probably good in peasant cubes or really large ones, but I think it will miss for me at 540.
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.
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.
And if you're not activating this guy, you'd much rather a 2 power one drop. I think he might be in contention for the last slot that's usually occupied by like Stromkirk Noble or Soul Scar Mage, but otherwise I don't see it.
Regular 450 unpowered cube (with some custom cards) - 450 Unpowered
Would this not use last known information? Is that still a thing in the rules?
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!