MTG Salvation

Looks like we are getting colored artifacts, like Esper. I am actually surprised by this.



This might be worth it for cube, since it has evasion and you can distribute the four counter any way you want. That makes it rather flexible. I like it more than Wolfir Silverheart. It can buff multiple creatures and isn't blown out by instant speed removal. The total buff being smaller is also fine, since the flexibility and having itself trample makes up for that.

Being an artifact would be mostly a downside though, since green doesn't have any artifact synergies and is not part of the artifact archetype.

So, 8/8 Trample for 5 mana, and you can choose to put half the power on a creature that can attack this turn. Seems absolutely insane.

Seems quite strong, but so boring for mythic. I guess it's a probable include.

Who cares if it is mythic - in the cube forum? The card seems quite strong, and can be abused for all sorts of ETB effects. And fits nicely in ramp.

Solid. This creature is a great curve topper for green aggro or RG mid-range. Even late game this needs an immediate answer.

I think this is an easy test, personally. How long have we been saying that we want another 6/6 trampled with upside for a green 6 drop. Well, we are getting a five drop that can be that and soooo much more. And hey, if we get a few more green artifacts who's to say there won't be a Jund artifact deck possible in cube? Lol.

So we don't get a 6 mana 6/6 with trample but we got 5 mana 8/8? Sure, I'll test this. It doesn't get hexproof like we want but then it costs 1 less mana.

This is a pretty efficient beater, and it can distribute some power onto its friends. It can guarantee value by putting counters on other creatures, but it still dies to a huge range of cube removal thanks to being an artifact in addition to a creature. I might test it, but I'm not super optimistic.

I'm a fan. Easy test for me..

4 +1/+1 counters the turn it comes into play is a very powerful effect. It represents 4 hasted damage (value against sorcery speed removal). There are multiple creatures where the "counters" effect is much better than having an 8/8 trample. Lifelinkers, double strikers, true name nemesis, persist, flesh carver, hangarback walker, triskellion.

Getting to choose the distribution of the counters is also relevant if you are playing around certain sweepers. Massacre wurm, elsesh norn, wildfire, fiery confluence, languish etc.
Spreading the threat to 2+ creatures, gets value and damage through spot removal.

I think he serves a very similar role to kalonian hydra and wolfir silverheart... Having slightly less raw damage potential, but more than making up for it with increased consistency and resilience to spot removal.

I'm currently playing neither hydra/silverheart, so not 100% sure he'll earn his keep.. But 95%+ sure he's better than both of them.

Seems good to me. Huge trample body, flexibility, "hasty" damage with other bodies on board, random good interactions with +1/+1 counters matter critters (Triskelion, Finks), etc. Would be happy to swap it in for one of my other 5 drops if I get bored with them.

seems pretty good. wolfir is already solid in my cube. might have this guy come in as a new version.

It's really good but I can't see cutting any of my 5 drops for it.

Cheers,
rant

I'll probable give this a test over kalonian hydra. I would love to be able to build a rug deck that could abuse this with welder, darreti, tinker, ect. I doubt we get enough green artifact support for that but a man can dream.

I just replaced Vorapede with Silverheart, and have been looking out for a Kalonian Hydra. This will shore up that spot instead. Tops the curve in green-based aggro, serves as a threat that can be made to survive Wildfire, plays nicely in blink, buffs tokens, and has evasion. The artifact downside is easy for me to overlook for this kind of flexibility.

A Wolfir Silverheart with trample that's better against removal seems pretty nice, but given that this isn't really big enough to be a desirable Tinker or NO target, I think the artifact typeline is going to be a bigger drawback than an upside.

Quote from TheTennesseeFireman »

A Wolfir Silverheart with trample that's better against removal seems pretty nice, but given that this isn't really big enough to be a desirable Tinker or NO target, I think the artifact typeline is going to be a bigger drawback than an upside.

No doubt that the artifact typeline will be a bigger drawback than upside, but I'm convinced the effect of distributing counters on ETB will much more than make up for that drawback in the resilience department.
Note: Being soft to manic vandal/kologhans command type cards, is partially mitigated by being resilient to GFTT/Shriekmaw/Nekrataal.. cards that were very annoying for silverheart/hydra.

God, Dack fayden is turning into power 9, one set at a time =P

Being an artifact makes it more vulnerable overall but it's a lot better against black than a Kalonian Hydra since it can dodge Go for the Throat, Shriekmaw, and hell, even Vampire Hexmage.

It's definitely going to contend with Kalonian Hydra in my cube.

EDIT:

Quote from LucidVision »

Note: Being soft to manic vandal/kologhans command type cards, is partially mitigated by being resilient to GFTT/Shriekmaw/Nekrataal.. cards that were very annoying for silverheart/hydra.

Seriously. Beat me to this comment by mere minutes.

I like this, and might try and find room for it somehow, but not over Kalonian Hydra. Losing a full turn off your clock, dying to artifact removal and being unable to be targeted by 'Lark and (both) Recruiters are all significant drawbacks. It has its advantages too, but not enough for me to do a straight replacement. I might try and find another way to get this in though...

Good points about hydra. How do we all feel about acidic slime these days?

It seems very good. Abusable by blink/recursion and serviceable if not optimal for Tinker and Natural Order. I'd be surprised if this is not better than both Vorapede and Whisperwood Elemental. Can definitely be better than Kalonian Hydra. I do not think this edges Wolfir Silverheart, which we like better than other posters here, because it offers 33% less stats.

Quote from wtwlf123 »

I like this, and might try and find room for it somehow, but not over Kalonian Hydra. Losing a full turn off your clock, dying to artifact removal and being unable to be targeted by 'Lark and (both) Recruiters are all significant drawbacks. It has its advantages too, but not enough for me to do a straight replacement. I might try and find another way to get this in though...

Technically with another creature on board it has the same clock speed as the hydra.

4->12->20
0->8->24

Gross oversimplification tho