MTG Salvation

Quote from Incendiaryspade »

I'm just hoping this cycle's evasion gets used more often, its MUCH more amusing and interactive then Protection from colors, or "unblockable". I much prefer these kinds of evasion to real evasion, despite it being worse.

Pseudo evasion looks like the way going forward for modern magic. Straight unblockability still exists but rarely are they fun. I like that a poorer evasion promotes interaction and tension.

Note that this is a green card that wouldn't get "true" evasion like unblockable or flying (or shadow) anyway. And trample is only relevant on bigger creatures. So, this type of pseudo evasion is better than what small green creatures usually have - mostly no evasion at all, that is.

Testing has shown this card to be very solid, if anyone is still on the fence about it. It plays less like Eternal Witness and more like a green Snapcaster - numerous times so far it's been flipped in response to a spell to return a counter, or to get a burn spell to screw up combat math. Easily my favorite morph of the Cube by far.

Turns out I was way off in my evaluation of this card. Best megamorph by far. (as usual) biassed by standard results not cube results, but it's quickly becoming one of (likely the) best card from the new set in standard. It's proven itself so throughly that I can't imagine it's not great in cube too.
Den protector works best in a grindy shell, so a little better suited for standard than cube... However, rebuying power is an absurd upside only available in cube, so I doubt it's a BIG difference.

1) Underestimated the body dramatically. 3/2 + evasion is a very solid body. The evasion is particularly relevant with equipment
2) Uhh yeah, regrowth is not a "draw a card" in a grindy matchup. It's closer to demonic tutor. Worth paying a bunch of mana for if you get a great body with it.
3) Mana in two phases means you can leave up mana to play another spell if necessary, or run it out early if the situation requires it.

Would this be good without a Morph subtheme? I'm considering adding it, but I don't have room for more Morphs outside of maybe Ainok Survivalist.

Yes, probably one of most playable stand-alone morphers, along with Exalted Angel and Grim Haruspex.

I might run Bane of the Living without a morph theme too. I think Den Protector is really, really solid and not terribly dependent on running other morphs.

Cheers,
rant

Seeing the absurd success of this lady in standard makes me wonder if it's 360 cube material. I'm not sure what I would cut, but this is some pretty good value, and I love value.

It's plenty good enough at 360 regardless of other morphs you may or may not be running. There are a fair few morphs that are now, and when you include those, the fringe ones are worth looking at too.

I expected this to be a 360 powered staple and it exceeded my expectations. It's not uncommon to not be able to block it, plus getting back any powerful card can be a huge beating. Naturally it has been a great UG card. Let's face it, even a slightly more awkward and expensive Eternal Witness is still really good, plus you can use the ability instant speed and it beats down much better. I think it may be the best morph card in general.

Last time I cubed my opponent was playing this card in a jund midrange deck. My JTMS got wrecked by an EOT instant speed regrowth into Dreadbore. Stupid me for not playing around Den Protector!

The card performs well so far. Push more and more Storm into green. Also solid in Aggro/Stax/Midrange/Reanimator strategies. Pretty much closer to Regrowth and Witness than I first though. Very good overall card and a fine 5 mana investment. Seems like a staple to me

Necro!

Would people play Den Protector as the only morph in their Cube? How much value does the creature get from the possibility of being a different morph when face-down?

To be fair, when this card was in Standard I think I played like 10 morphs (3 unique creatures) in my GW deck which made things interesting. But I mean what if you don’t run a single other morph in the Cube? I used to have Rattleclaw Mystic and the green creature that destroys artifact or enchantment when flipped (plus several in other colors), but those cards have since been removed. I removed Den Protector thinking I didn’t want only one morph in the Cube, but now I’m considering re-adding.

I play Protector as the only morph in my cube. It's fine. In fact, I think it's great.

Cheers,
rant

I still play it as one of two morphs (the other being Exalted Angel). Even if people know what it is, its still a great card with a regrowth and mild evasion. I don't think it's on the chopping block unless we specifically get a better regrowth creature.

Helpful feedback, thanks!