I wanted to talk a little bit about Blightcaster. I haven’t pulled the trigger on this card just yet because I think the % of enchantments is too low in my cube. I have 35 (a number that suspect is higher than normal but I’ve found some gems and some archetype staples in the card type and I would say some people don’t exploit their gameplay value enough. That is, of course, neither here nor there.) most in Black (a bunch of Animate Deads with Curse of Shallow Graves, Oubliette and Paralyze) and White (many a pacifism, Intangible Virtue and a few buffers) but a good number in blue (3 control magics, favorable winds and spectral flight) red (goblin bombardment, lust for war, mad cap skills, raid bombardment) and green (sylvan Library, Cures of Predation, Triumph of ferocity). I could go a little deeper on redundant types of cards. More Pacifism! More Control Magic! But the truth is I am at the limit for those types of things without unbalancing the Cube.
Of note I am not playing Rancor at the moment and there is value to adding it with Blightcaster.
Seal of Fire is also a card that could be a contender under these parameters.
With Theros there are cards I would see myself adding because they are solid and would support the Blightcaster that I haven’t yet. Baleful Eidolon and Dragon Mantle and Heliod’s Emissary chief among them.
I had given up on the idea as not worth it but something occurred to me recently. Journey into Nyx is the next set and the name, to me, implies more Nyx infused creatures (the world of the set is Elspeth venturing Into Nyx to remove the interloper God of Revels, Xenagos for anyone wondering why I would think such a thing). If this correct I think there could be something to build on here.
So, back to Blighcaster, what do you guys and gals think it would take to make Blightcaster function? How many enchantments would a cube need (450 cards if we are talking my cube {which may be too big for something gimmicky like this, I freely admit})? How many would you need in your deck to play Blghtcaster?
as a single card evaluation, Blightcaster neither passes the "bear test" or the "gate/land test" "would I rather draft ______, or take a bear or fixing? What is the upside/downside and is it worth taking over either?". Paying (4) for a 2/x in black isn't uncommon over it's limited history but the variable dependency of having to physically cast a specific type of card to gain it's "potential value" significantly weakens it's play-ability in cube (even if you believe you have enough support for the card)
In my opinion, I would stay away from cards like these on this evaluation alone.
Squirrley, that's exactly where I am. I tend to agree with everyone on the abstracts of the card. 4 mana 2/2 with additional investment for value is mediocre. However, I think it is ok in some instances to choose something unique over more powerful or consistent. Another thing about Blightcaster that I like is it has the potential to create really swingy 2 for ones (or better). For example playing a pacifism and killing a creature is pretty awesome. And there are situations where you get to reanimate a nekratal and then you're up an additional body plus 2 corpses on your opponents side.
You could argue that because of black having so many Nekrataals/efficient removal, you want something different. If your cube can support, having a build-your-own machine-gun sounds pretty fun.
I have considered Dreamspoiler Witches in the past too. So much value. But also very slow..
At least Dreamspoiler Witches fly
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Rather than play pacifism and get a 2 for one, why not play a creature that creates the two for one with no help? This card needs to be able to actually machine gun to be viable.
Squirrley, that's exactly where I am. I tend to agree with everyone on the abstracts of the card. 4 mana 2/2 with additional investment for value is mediocre. However, I think it is ok in some instances to choose something unique over more powerful or consistent. Another thing about Blightcaster that I like is it has the potential to create really swingy 2 for ones (or better). For example playing a pacifism and killing a creature is pretty awesome. And there are situations where you get to reanimate a nekratal and then you're up an additional body plus 2 corpses on your opponents side.
I have great sympathy for this line of thinking too, but you need players to actually pick and play the card. If you also have enough of the more powerful and consistent options available in the cube, it is likely that the "fun" option will never actually be played.
This card needs to be able to actually machine gun to be viable.
Did somebody say Flickering Ward? Actually, I suspect the card is playable even without blightcaster, as it used to be pretty decent in powered cubes (7 or 8 years ago, mind you, before people had any idea what they were doing). Even with this, I'm still not sure blightcaster is playable. Cool card though.
I could definitely see playing Flickering Ward. I remember that when I started cubing I heavily considered Shimmering Wings. I personally don't think that there are quite enough enablers in peasant to make Blightcaster into a thing. I wonder if we'll see any cards with incidental value heroic triggers in Journey Into Nyx to go alongside Tormented Hero.
Blightcaster is a 2/3, but your point stands. Black is not the color of enchantments. It does not have abundant cubeable ones, and this guy just isn't powerful enough on its own. If it had been printed in Journey into Nyx as an enchantment creature with Constellation, I'd certainly give it a shot as a build-around-me.
If it counted itself, it would be like a top 10 card wheeeee
Black does have a bunch of zombify enchantments, stab wound, pestilence, vile requiem, and uh... enslave, erebos's emissary (which has been just fine for me)... uh... um... homicidal seclusion, gift of orzhova, and... spiteful returned.
Could probably get 7 enchantments in black if you wanted.
Without a single tweak to my cube I have >10 black enchantments (which I'll grant you is more than average, specifically a lot of people don't play Paralyze, Oubilette or Haunted Crossroads, but I don't think 7 is a difficult number to hit with Animate Dead, Dance of the Dead, Curse of Shallow Graves, Necromancy, Diabolic Servitude, Pestilence (which I'm not playing) and a few of the others Leelu mentioned being powerful enough for most cubes.
If Blightcaster had constellation it would just be a little Skinrender and beyond reproach as a cubeable card. I haven't seen much hope as yet in Journey. But there is a long way to go yet and am hopeful for some more sweet stuff to try and push enchantments matter in the block (and inherently my cube).
Of note I am not playing Rancor at the moment and there is value to adding it with Blightcaster.
Seal of Fire is also a card that could be a contender under these parameters.
With Theros there are cards I would see myself adding because they are solid and would support the Blightcaster that I haven’t yet. Baleful Eidolon and Dragon Mantle and Heliod’s Emissary chief among them.
I had given up on the idea as not worth it but something occurred to me recently. Journey into Nyx is the next set and the name, to me, implies more Nyx infused creatures (the world of the set is Elspeth venturing Into Nyx to remove the interloper God of Revels, Xenagos for anyone wondering why I would think such a thing). If this correct I think there could be something to build on here.
So, back to Blighcaster, what do you guys and gals think it would take to make Blightcaster function? How many enchantments would a cube need (450 cards if we are talking my cube {which may be too big for something gimmicky like this, I freely admit})? How many would you need in your deck to play Blghtcaster?
In my opinion, I would stay away from cards like these on this evaluation alone.
For the record, I would say you need 5 enchantment spells before it's worth the variance
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At least Dreamspoiler Witches fly
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My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
I have great sympathy for this line of thinking too, but you need players to actually pick and play the card. If you also have enough of the more powerful and consistent options available in the cube, it is likely that the "fun" option will never actually be played.
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Did somebody say Flickering Ward? Actually, I suspect the card is playable even without blightcaster, as it used to be pretty decent in powered cubes (7 or 8 years ago, mind you, before people had any idea what they were doing). Even with this, I'm still not sure blightcaster is playable. Cool card though.
I could definitely see playing Flickering Ward. I remember that when I started cubing I heavily considered Shimmering Wings. I personally don't think that there are quite enough enablers in peasant to make Blightcaster into a thing. I wonder if we'll see any cards with incidental value heroic triggers in Journey Into Nyx to go alongside Tormented Hero.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
Cubetutor link - 380 Peasant Cube
Black does have a bunch of zombify enchantments, stab wound, pestilence, vile requiem, and uh... enslave, erebos's emissary (which has been just fine for me)... uh... um... homicidal seclusion, gift of orzhova, and... spiteful returned.
Could probably get 7 enchantments in black if you wanted.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
If Blightcaster had constellation it would just be a little Skinrender and beyond reproach as a cubeable card. I haven't seen much hope as yet in Journey. But there is a long way to go yet and am hopeful for some more sweet stuff to try and push enchantments matter in the block (and inherently my cube).