Yeah, this is at least a top 4 Izzet card in my book alongside Dack / Lutri / Izzet Charm. I think this is better than Kolaghan's Command for a few reasons:
- It still has the two most important modes of Shock and Shatter
- Careful Study is generally a MUCH better mode than Raise Dead / the discard mode of Funeral Charm
- The treasure token mode is better than it seems: ramp and mana fixing is really nice to have. Lotus Petal is a pretty good card.
- Careful Study / Treasure token support graveyard / artifact shenanigans respectively while still being a really good value card on its own.
It's assumed that you can choose each mode only once since it doesn't say otherwise, right?
Right, it works like the OG commands.
This will be a good card (although it's kind of a boring card, but I'm still running fire//ice, so I suppose its time has come), but kologhan's command it ain't. There are probably some decks where draw 2 discard 2 is better than the 2 lesser modes on kologhan, but create a treasure and draw 2 discard 2 are definitely much worse than instant speed discard and a disentomb (as they are actual card advantage). Not that being worse than kologhan's command is a terrible place to be lol.
And here I just put Fire // Ice back in the cube. This card looks to me like a cube stable and easily the best of the new command cycle we saw today.
The Boros one is interesting as its absolute floor is an instant speed draw 2 (not something you get in Boros), but it needed to cost 4 to have a chance. 5 is just too much. I guess lightning helix + sac a land draw 2 was probably too good at 4 for standard.
This card's flexibility is just insane. However, I will play devil's advocate on this one.
The problem with a card like this is it may be good everywhere, but never great and may be relegated as the 24th card. I don't think this will be the case, but I think we need to be a bit careful. 3 CMC in red and blue are just too competitive right now. Currently we have:
- Saheeli Rai
- Dack Fayden
- Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
- Electrolyze
- Lutri, the Spellchaser
- The Royal Scions
They are all fine cards to play. (Maybe not Electrolyze)
Similar, Blue 3 CMC and Red 3 CMC creatures are too stacked:
- Vendilion Clique, Glasspool Mimic, Deciever Exarch, Pestermite, True-Name Nemsis, Hullbreacher, Arcane Artisan. (Technically Snapcaster Mage, Thieving Skydiver are more or less 3 drops)
- Narset, Parter of Veils, Show and Tell, Frantic Search, Tinker, TimeTwister, Thirst for Knowledge, Vedalken Shackles
- Birgi, God of Storytelling, Feldon of the Third Path, Rabble Master Variants x4, Imperial Recruiter, Phoenix of Ash, Seasoned Pyromancer, Spiteful Prankster, Chandra, Acolyte of Flame, Seething Song, Wheel of Fortune/ Misfortune, Mana Flare, Sulfuric Vortex, Mana Flare.
Analysis of the card:
- Discard Outlets need to be at 1-2 CMC, three is a bit too slow to be effective in reanimator, especially in 2 colors.
- Shock at 3 CMC, 2 CMC and 1 CMC are very different. Especially at 3 may be a bit too slow.
- Flexible destroy targets is always welcomed - But the problem is combo, ramp decks do not care about artifacts as much as midrange decks.
- Treasure Token is great for artifacts/ storm that may need that 1 shot mana.
This isn't going to be a slam dunk for me - I'm going to have to watch it a bit.
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
At first my brain started yelling "no! Izzet Charm's modes are more relevant on turn 2! It kills mana dorks, and counters key spells early, and discards reanimator targets! This costs 3!"
Then I read it as Treasure-Careful Study mode. And the Careful Study-Shock mode. And the Shatter-Shock mode.
Then my heart started yelling "CUT ANYTHING FOR THIS!"
Then I noticed it's 60% identical to Kolaghan's Command's design. Which reeeeally puts a bad taste in my mouth.
So I'm definitely playing it. But mixed feelings is putting it mildly.
I'm honestly so bummed I won't be able to play this card behind Lutri, the Spellchaser/Dack Fayden/Ral Zarek (for Time Vault), since I love seeing the blowouts Kolaghan's Command is capable of on the play vs Mox openers, and this seems like an even stronger cube card. Def the third best Izzet card in cube, just a shame the other ones in less competitive color combinations were so much weaker than this
Good card, but I'm not convinced I like it over Fire/Ice yet. I'll be watching it to see how it performs for others before deciding if I want to make the swap.
Good card, but I'm not convinced I like it over Fire/Ice yet. I'll be watching it to see how it performs for others before deciding if I want to make the swap.
Feels much better than fire//ice as it's so much easier to get a 2-for-1 with this than it is with fire (and ice is only ever a cantrip with a minor effect in cube). And even when it is just a 1-for-1 killing a 2 toughness creature, you also get additional value from the double loot or a treasure.
I like it. Cool that the looting is targeted for Hullbreacher shenanigans.
It's targeted so that if your opponent makes the 2 damage target illegal (sac, hexproof, whatever) it doesn't counter the whole spell. If it just said draw 2 discard 2, and your opponent sacced the creature in response, you wouldn't get to loot as the spell would no longer have any targets and would be countered.
Good card, but I'm not convinced I like it over Fire/Ice yet. I'll be watching it to see how it performs for others before deciding if I want to make the swap.
Feels much better than fire//ice as it's so much easier to get a 2-for-1 with this than it is with fire (and ice is only ever a cantrip with a minor effect in cube). And even when it is just a 1-for-1 killing a 2 toughness creature, you also get additional value from the double loot or a treasure.
My reservations with this card are: I find a 1-for-1 more palatable at 2 mana than 3 mana. Especially since Fire/Ice only requires one color, so it can be cast if color-screwed. Since I want a 3 mana multicolor spell to 2-for-1, the only way to do that with this card is shock + shatter. Compared to K. Command, where any combination of 2 modes is a 2-for-1 (ignoring shock to the face).
The 2 combinations of modes that have me most excited for this card are:
-shock a creature + shatter
-Careful Study + create a treasure with Goblin Welder in play
But both those are pretty narrow. I won't always be able to have 2 targets for that first combination, and won't always be playing the Goblin Welder deck, or have Goblin Welder in play if I am playing that deck.
I feel like Fire/Ice might still be more versatile when considering that. Fire can kill one or two early threats from an Aggro deck, or Ice a creature put into play with Sneak Attack, or Ice a land for a tempo play, or kill a utility creature.
I think this card's good, but Izzet is stacked. I'm interested in seeing how it plays, and could see it overperforming just as K. Command does, but some of those aspects have me cautious about being too optimistic about this one.
I think I might be taking out Ral for this, or Dack’s Duplicate (is anyone playing with this still?)
The shock and shatter will probably be the most used but the other half might be useful for Welder/Reanimator shenanigans.
Quite interesting that it is arguably mono red if you still consider faithless looting in color.
I still play Dack's Duplicate! I considered cutting it instead of Fire//Ice, but I like having the haste clone effect, so I'm replacing the more similar effect.
I would add Dack’s Duplicate before Ral if I went up to 540. I could see running Dack, Izzet Charm, and this at 450, but for variety’s sake, I’m cutting Charm for it. So Dack, Prismari, and Young Saheezy.
Looks like a slam dunk to me. My only complaint is that its too similar to K-Command and could use some originality in its design.
- It still has the two most important modes of Shock and Shatter
- Careful Study is generally a MUCH better mode than Raise Dead / the discard mode of Funeral Charm
- The treasure token mode is better than it seems: ramp and mana fixing is really nice to have. Lotus Petal is a pretty good card.
- Careful Study / Treasure token support graveyard / artifact shenanigans respectively while still being a really good value card on its own.
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Right, it works like the OG commands.
This will be a good card (although it's kind of a boring card, but I'm still running fire//ice, so I suppose its time has come), but kologhan's command it ain't. There are probably some decks where draw 2 discard 2 is better than the 2 lesser modes on kologhan, but create a treasure and draw 2 discard 2 are definitely much worse than instant speed discard and a disentomb (as they are actual card advantage). Not that being worse than kologhan's command is a terrible place to be lol.
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The Boros one is interesting as its absolute floor is an instant speed draw 2 (not something you get in Boros), but it needed to cost 4 to have a chance. 5 is just too much. I guess lightning helix + sac a land draw 2 was probably too good at 4 for standard.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
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The problem with a card like this is it may be good everywhere, but never great and may be relegated as the 24th card. I don't think this will be the case, but I think we need to be a bit careful. 3 CMC in red and blue are just too competitive right now. Currently we have:
- Saheeli Rai
- Dack Fayden
- Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
- Electrolyze
- Lutri, the Spellchaser
- The Royal Scions
They are all fine cards to play. (Maybe not Electrolyze)
Similar, Blue 3 CMC and Red 3 CMC creatures are too stacked:
- Vendilion Clique, Glasspool Mimic, Deciever Exarch, Pestermite, True-Name Nemsis, Hullbreacher, Arcane Artisan. (Technically Snapcaster Mage, Thieving Skydiver are more or less 3 drops)
- Narset, Parter of Veils, Show and Tell, Frantic Search, Tinker, TimeTwister, Thirst for Knowledge, Vedalken Shackles
- Birgi, God of Storytelling, Feldon of the Third Path, Rabble Master Variants x4, Imperial Recruiter, Phoenix of Ash, Seasoned Pyromancer, Spiteful Prankster, Chandra, Acolyte of Flame, Seething Song, Wheel of Fortune/ Misfortune, Mana Flare, Sulfuric Vortex, Mana Flare.
Analysis of the card:
- Discard Outlets need to be at 1-2 CMC, three is a bit too slow to be effective in reanimator, especially in 2 colors.
- Shock at 3 CMC, 2 CMC and 1 CMC are very different. Especially at 3 may be a bit too slow.
- Flexible destroy targets is always welcomed - But the problem is combo, ramp decks do not care about artifacts as much as midrange decks.
- Treasure Token is great for artifacts/ storm that may need that 1 shot mana.
This isn't going to be a slam dunk for me - I'm going to have to watch it a bit.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
Then I read it as Treasure-Careful Study mode. And the Careful Study-Shock mode. And the Shatter-Shock mode.
Then my heart started yelling "CUT ANYTHING FOR THIS!"
Then I noticed it's 60% identical to Kolaghan's Command's design. Which reeeeally puts a bad taste in my mouth.
So I'm definitely playing it. But mixed feelings is putting it mildly.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*
Pitching and filtering for UR reanimator
Making an artifact for Welder/Tinker shenanigans
Being a good spell for spells-matter/prowess
Overall awesome.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
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[180 classic cube]
Feels much better than fire//ice as it's so much easier to get a 2-for-1 with this than it is with fire (and ice is only ever a cantrip with a minor effect in cube). And even when it is just a 1-for-1 killing a 2 toughness creature, you also get additional value from the double loot or a treasure.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
It's targeted so that if your opponent makes the 2 damage target illegal (sac, hexproof, whatever) it doesn't counter the whole spell. If it just said draw 2 discard 2, and your opponent sacced the creature in response, you wouldn't get to loot as the spell would no longer have any targets and would be countered.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
My reservations with this card are: I find a 1-for-1 more palatable at 2 mana than 3 mana. Especially since Fire/Ice only requires one color, so it can be cast if color-screwed. Since I want a 3 mana multicolor spell to 2-for-1, the only way to do that with this card is shock + shatter. Compared to K. Command, where any combination of 2 modes is a 2-for-1 (ignoring shock to the face).
The 2 combinations of modes that have me most excited for this card are:
-shock a creature + shatter
-Careful Study + create a treasure with Goblin Welder in play
But both those are pretty narrow. I won't always be able to have 2 targets for that first combination, and won't always be playing the Goblin Welder deck, or have Goblin Welder in play if I am playing that deck.
I feel like Fire/Ice might still be more versatile when considering that. Fire can kill one or two early threats from an Aggro deck, or Ice a creature put into play with Sneak Attack, or Ice a land for a tempo play, or kill a utility creature.
I think this card's good, but Izzet is stacked. I'm interested in seeing how it plays, and could see it overperforming just as K. Command does, but some of those aspects have me cautious about being too optimistic about this one.
[180 classic cube]
The shock and shatter will probably be the most used but the other half might be useful for Welder/Reanimator shenanigans.
Quite interesting that it is arguably mono red if you still consider faithless looting in color.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*
Not as good as K command, but close enough!
Last Updated 02/07/24
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