Wrote up a quick R function instead of paying attention in statistics class.
CombustibleDamage <- function(zero=0,one=0,two=0,three=0,four=0,five=0,six=0,seven=0,eight=0){
DeckCMC=rep(0:8,c(zero,one,two,three,four,five,six-1,seven,eight))
burn_vec=numeric()
for (i in 1:10000){
mill3=sample(DeckCMC,3)
burn=sum(mill3)
burn_vec[i]=burn
}
summary(burn_vec)
}
The only assumption I decided to implement was that the Gearhulk cannot mill itself. Assuming 6 lands in play and whatnot is too complicated for me to figure out for the moment.
Example of a deck composition and the output:
CombustibleDamage(zero=17,one=3,two=5,three=6,four=4,five=3,six=2,seven=0,eight=0)
Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max.
0.000 3.000 5.000 5.287 7.000 16.000
This has no evasion and an ability that doesn't fit a six drop and is not even powerful if you cheat it early. Cute when reused with Recurring Nightmare/Daretti and will definitely wheel to you, but too weak to really have a chance of staying in cube for a long period.
Urgh, it's got an aggro ability on a non-aggro creature.
If this were a 5/5 for 3RR, it would be easier to find a home for it. The Browbeat effect needs to be in an aggro deck to provide the toughest choice for your opponent and the highest probability of drawing you some extra cards. (Btw, it is not Browbeat's effect that makes it bad, it's its cost.)
I was secretly wishing for the red Gearhulk to be a 6-drop, because my red 5-drop slot is already more than full while the only truly worthy 6-drop is Inferno Titan. However, this ability just does not mash well with the cost and body.
Couldn't this have been "deals damage equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards to each other creature."? That would have put it more in a control role. As is, the card is rather schizofrenic.
Haste would've gone a LONG way on this card instead of first strike ...really making the decision difficult for the opponent because you could be compounding the ETB damage with 6 more combat damage.
I think this compares pretty well with soul of shandalaar. Bodies the same, and I honestly think I'd prefer the souls abilities to this. Soul wasn't too far off from being good.
I don't think this creature is that good. Its cost and ability are somewhat at odds with one another. Of course great if you can cycle it in/out the graveyard, but so is any old ETB creature really (although being an artifact adds to the possibility of doing that).
And the red Soul is not that bad at all, repeatable direct player damage and removal is pretty swell.
I think the 6 cmc puts this card out of contention, but still worth testing for heavy artfifact theme cubes. Most red decks do not play 6 drops. Maybe a UR spell slinger shell with ramp?
4RR is pretty stacked now, even if only one is a creature. If your red decks are very heavy in artifact synergies this might perform well, but I mostly prefer Soul of Shandalar.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I primarily play limited, so most of my spoiler season comments view cards through that lens.
I just realized that considering the average amount of damage the etb effect will deal, it can pretty much function as "destroy target planeswalker". Which is a situational, but potentially strong etb effect. Also, you do not decide if you redirect that damage and where you redirect it to until the full amount of damage is determined. This actually raises my opinion of the red Gearhulk.
CombustibleDamage <- function(zero=0,one=0,two=0,three=0,four=0,five=0,six=0,seven=0,eight=0){
DeckCMC=rep(0:8,c(zero,one,two,three,four,five,six-1,seven,eight))
burn_vec=numeric()
for (i in 1:10000){
mill3=sample(DeckCMC,3)
burn=sum(mill3)
burn_vec[i]=burn
}
summary(burn_vec)
}
The only assumption I decided to implement was that the Gearhulk cannot mill itself. Assuming 6 lands in play and whatnot is too complicated for me to figure out for the moment.
Example of a deck composition and the output:
CombustibleDamage(zero=17,one=3,two=5,three=6,four=4,five=3,six=2,seven=0,eight=0)
Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max.
0.000 3.000 5.000 5.287 7.000 16.000
Yup. Bad card is bad. Hard pass.
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If this were a 5/5 for 3RR, it would be easier to find a home for it. The Browbeat effect needs to be in an aggro deck to provide the toughest choice for your opponent and the highest probability of drawing you some extra cards. (Btw, it is not Browbeat's effect that makes it bad, it's its cost.)
I was secretly wishing for the red Gearhulk to be a 6-drop, because my red 5-drop slot is already more than full while the only truly worthy 6-drop is Inferno Titan. However, this ability just does not mash well with the cost and body.
Couldn't this have been "deals damage equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards to each other creature."? That would have put it more in a control role. As is, the card is rather schizofrenic.
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=484979
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My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I wanted the red Gearhulk to be a slamdunk upgrade to Crater Hellion, but now I am not even sure if it is better at all.
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
And the red Soul is not that bad at all, repeatable direct player damage and removal is pretty swell.
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Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG