Comparing this card to Krosan Tusker (not something I currently run, but some people still do):
- costs 1 more to cycle
++ ramps on cycle instead of just getting a land in hand
x same body
+ easier casting cost in situations where you draw it late enough to cast instead of cycling
Seems like an upgrade overall. Obviously not for everyone, but if your cube is large enough to still run Tusker, it's probably large enough to run this.
kroasn Tusker is still in my pauper cube, if shefet monitor was a common it would be a snap switch. There are probably better options for any non-peasant cube, though.
I think they're close, but I still like Krosan Tusker more. The difference in cycling costs can be a big deal if what you're looking for is land. The monitor helps bridge you to 6, but think guaranteeing I hit my 4th is more important for more cube decks.
The difference in cycling costs can be a big deal if what you're looking for is land. The monitor helps bridge you to 6, but think guaranteeing I hit my 4th is more important for more cube decks.
I'm inclined to agree with this, but I think both are strong enough to play in my Peasant cube. No way either gets there in my unpowered at 450.
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465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Krosan Tusker is a lot better than this. 3 mana is a lot less than 4, especially when the payoff is fixing, and when you need to hit land drops consistently for 5 turns for this guy to even represent acceleration relative to Tusker.
Plus the aesthetic loose end of "or Desert" when there aren't any cubable Deserts is hellof suboptimal. Objectively.
Tusker is only playable because of the cycling. The body isn't good enough outside some Living Death nonsense or just because you've got the mana and this in your hand. Making the cycling cost one more to save cost on the creature part is a deal breaker for me. And 4 mana for ramp is not worth it outside something like Mwonvuli Acid-Moss.
Like so many cards, this isn't going to get there is super thin cubes, but I've always loved Krosan Tusker, and this a fine variation that I don't mind running alongside the original. I run Desert, so that's an extra bit of fun, even if it won't come up often. I'm considering Grasping Dunes as well.
Since I already run Tusker, one of the two may not end up making it. I'm inclined to say that Tusker is probably better, but I'm willing to give the new guy a chance.
It's meant as a creature first before a ramp spell, not the other way around.
It is? A 6-mana 6/5 is a horrendously unacceptable rate in this format. This should still be cast as a ramp/card advantage spell 90% of the time. Tusker's cost/body is even worse, so it's cycling rate is probably 95%, but make no mistake, neither of these creatures are played because of their value as creatures.
Tusker's cost/body is even worse, so it's cycling rate is probably 95%, but make no mistake, neither of these creatures are played because of their value as creatures.
Exactly this. Even in reanimation, I am loathe to use reanimation spells on something like tusker unless I know they can't remove it and it will really impact the board. Even then, if I have time I will often pass and try and get a better target or try and setup a crippling Living Death. Generally, if I'm using Tusker as an actual creature, my plan A-C is not working.
I like Krosan Tusker much more since I want to be doing something other than value ramping on turn 4 and Krosan Tusker helps me set up my turn 4. Reduced hard cast mode is pretty negligent to me.
It's meant as a creature first before a ramp spell, not the other way around.
It is? A 6-mana 6/5 is a horrendously unacceptable rate in this format. This should still be cast as a ramp/card advantage spell 90% of the time. Tusker's cost/body is even worse, so it's cycling rate is probably 95%, but make no mistake, neither of these creatures are played because of their value as creatures.
I don't know what I was thinking..... This all seems mediocre.
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Cube Tutor: Here
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I always thought of Tusker as a cheaper Green Inspiration with some fixing - this is even better than that, and probably worth the four mana in cube. It also gets you a big creature in your graveyard for all the synergies that come with that. I'm a fan.
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Shefet Monitor
Comparing this card to Krosan Tusker (not something I currently run, but some people still do):
- costs 1 more to cycle
++ ramps on cycle instead of just getting a land in hand
x same body
+ easier casting cost in situations where you draw it late enough to cast instead of cycling
Seems like an upgrade overall. Obviously not for everyone, but if your cube is large enough to still run Tusker, it's probably large enough to run this.
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I'm inclined to agree with this, but I think both are strong enough to play in my Peasant cube. No way either gets there in my unpowered at 450.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Plus the aesthetic loose end of "or Desert" when there aren't any cubable Deserts is hellof suboptimal. Objectively.
Cube Tutor: Here
Utility Lands: Here
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
Since I already run Tusker, one of the two may not end up making it. I'm inclined to say that Tusker is probably better, but I'm willing to give the new guy a chance.
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It is? A 6-mana 6/5 is a horrendously unacceptable rate in this format. This should still be cast as a ramp/card advantage spell 90% of the time. Tusker's cost/body is even worse, so it's cycling rate is probably 95%, but make no mistake, neither of these creatures are played because of their value as creatures.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
Exactly this. Even in reanimation, I am loathe to use reanimation spells on something like tusker unless I know they can't remove it and it will really impact the board. Even then, if I have time I will often pass and try and get a better target or try and setup a crippling Living Death. Generally, if I'm using Tusker as an actual creature, my plan A-C is not working.
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/modular-cube-5-colors.800/
Retro combo cube thread
http://riptidelab.com/forum/threads/retro-combo-cube.1454/
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
I don't know what I was thinking..... This all seems mediocre.
Cube Tutor: Here
Utility Lands: Here