In 485 I like 2-3 white 5 drop creatures, so the decision is close.
FWIW I cut baneslayer a while ago and haven't missed it one bit... but I understand the appeal of the card.
Avacyn and Revilark are my clear #1/#2, #3 is a toughy.
I'd cut Baneslayer before Angel of Invention so it comes down to this vs BSA. Angel of Sanctions would be pretty nice in the Mardu reanimator decks that dip into white for Nahiri, Elesh Norn, Karmic Guide and disenchants. Probably worth testing.
After some more theorycrafting I think I'm with LucidVision here. This card does look really legitimate. The 'front side' is good value and not a million miles on its own and the Embalm is really aggressively costed. I am going to have to test this, it remains to be seen whether Lark of BSA would make way, because Angel of Invention and Avacyn aren't going anywhere.
I think BSA is a fine cut, since Angel and Avacyn act as mini baneslayers as is. They're all definitely different cards and I see a lot of the arguments to keep in BSA, but you can only run so many 5s and this one is enough different whereas Baneslayer is not.
I'm very likely cutting angel of sanctions and reincluding angel of invention. I championed the card a bit on the SCD, so felt obliged to update my findings.
I've observed it closely with an updated graveyard /self-mill / delirium support.
It's seeing play in reanimator based strategies as I predicted, but it's been a low priority inclusion. It's solid value with multiple self mill/survival of the fittest/loot effects.
One problem is that those decks are often splashing white, so hard casting has been an issue... though not a big enough issue to miss the main deck.
However, outside of that strategy it's seen no play. It's too slow for Agro strategies and too vulnerable for control strategies.
Including a card that's only "good" in a 3+ colour reanimator deck that splashes white, that already has plenty of playable options likely doesn't deserve a cube slot.
this got played in a black white reanimator deck last night and it was awesome. Saw it get discarded and embalmed multiple times throughout the night while clearing a path for everything else. Really happy with its inclusion in the cube.
got played in a control shell last night and was solid as well. my opponent hit it on a fact or fiction both games and being able to get value form it out of the grave made it shine allowing my opponent more choice in the piles.
dont think i will be cutting this card anytime soon.
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I've observed it closely with an updated graveyard /self-mill / delirium support.
It's seeing play in reanimator based strategies as I predicted, but it's been a low priority inclusion. It's solid value with multiple self mill/survival of the fittest/loot effects.
One problem is that those decks are often splashing white, so hard casting has been an issue... though not a big enough issue to miss the main deck.
However, outside of that strategy it's seen no play. It's too slow for Agro strategies and too vulnerable for control strategies.
Including a card that's only "good" in a 3+ colour reanimator deck that splashes white, that already has plenty of playable options likely doesn't deserve a cube slot.
Last Updated 02/07/24
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dont think i will be cutting this card anytime soon.