I love this mechanic -- moreso for it's weird obscure place in Magic history, but also for being another sweet evasion option for decks. Of course, there are a bunch of argument against -- the cards are often expensive; the mechanic is baffling to new players; it's non-interactive in the same way that leads some cubers to cut Shadow cards; and you have to look at online rarity downshifts to get the most of the interesting options.
Anyway, I'm more interested in looking at the cards themselves rather than discussing the inclusion of the mechanic, but y'all can take this thread in whatever direction you'd like. Here's a list of the at least semi-playable cards for Peasant:
- Guan Yu, Sainted Warrior -- 3/5 for 3WW with a basically irrelevant other ability. Probably worse than the rather stacked other white five-drop options. (online-only uncommon)
- Lu Meng, Wu General -- 4/4 for 3WW. Less upside than something like Murder of Crows, in exchange for not worrying about green reach creatures. (online-only)
- Lu Xun, Scholar General -- the horsemanship version of Thieving Magpie. Insanely good... like a personal Howling Mine that can carry equipment. Also can be had for 20 cents instead of 20 bucks since it was reprinted in Commander. The only card on this list I'm currently running (online-only)
- Riding Red Hare -- same effect as Angelic Blessing, which nobody cubes.
- Riding the Dilu Horse -- a weird design, since the effect is permanent. Sort of like Spirit Mantle, getting an extra P/T boost for one more CMC. (online-only)
- Shu Cavalry -- 2/2 for 2W. Shows up sometimes in Pauper, seems outclassed for Peasant.
- Sun Ce, Young Conquerer -- 3/3 for 3UU that bounces a creature when it ETBs. I could definitely try this over something like Mist Raven, whose body isn't quite decent enough. (online-only uncommon)
- Wei Night Raiders -- 2/2 for 2BB; when it does damage to an opponent, that opponent discards a card. Powerful, though feels like a downgrade from Hypnotic Specter.
- Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed -- 3/2 for 2BB, so that's a good start... also can sacrifice it (on your turn, before attacks) to return a black card from your graveyard to your hand. Weird ability for an evasive beat-down creature, but still useful. Hopefully it shows up in the next round of commander decks so I can give it a shot without spending $60 on a judge foil or $90 on an original. (online-only)
- Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior -- 4/4 vigilance for 4WW. Great finisher for white, but how often is your Serra Angel actually unable to attack? (online-only)
I still don't understand why people are upset about shadow when cards that are unblockable or "unblockable and can't be blocked" don't raise the same alarms as often.
Anyway, Xiahou Dun is cool, and riding the dilu horse is a card I've wanted for a long time.
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer seems like it would be real good, but the gold symbol and Portal 3's white borders and exorbitant price tags are hard for me to get over. On the merits of the card mechanics themselves, I'd definitely include it.
I often debate about whether Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed is worth cubing or not. I had it in briefly, but aside from victimize shenanigans I wasn't sure what else it'd be good for. Thinking about it now, it's also a good body with Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Still don't know if it's worth it.
I run 2 of the 3 three drop versions without evasion instead. The card is... not appealing to me (that's a long time to get a concentrate and a 1/3 blocker for four is a 1/3 blocker for four.)
I totally understand the white border thing, though I don't care at all. I mean, if I'm gonna spend about a buck on a copy of Regrowth, it's absolutely gonna be Revised and not the new Duel Decks one. Beta, someday...
Leelue, I've never thought of Lu Xun in comparison to Concentrate that way -- seems more like a peasant version of Jace Beleren. Def not an exact comparison, mostly cuz it does nothing the turn you cast it, but ongoing +1 card per turn seems amazing to me. Though, again, hard to argue against your comparison... once you get three hits in, you are indeed at the exact same card advantage as Concentrate.
Leelue, I've never thought of Lu Xun in comparison to Concentrate that way -- seems more like a peasant version of Jace Beleren. Def not an exact comparison, mostly cuz it does nothing the turn you cast it, but ongoing +1 card per turn seems amazing to me. Though, again, hard to argue against your comparison... once you get three hits in, you are indeed at the exact same card advantage as Concentrate.
And without help, you aren't even really benefiting from the damage you're accruing. So without help it's a very, very slow concentrate that can block a 2/2 on the ground.
And yeah, glad I can give you a new way to look. Very powerful tool that keeps you from feeling like 3 draws over 4 turns is actually super good. And we really shouldn't be looking at a card's value 4 turns in, much less 5 (when it's better than concentrate and has converted some real damage).
Anyway, I'm more interested in looking at the cards themselves rather than discussing the inclusion of the mechanic, but y'all can take this thread in whatever direction you'd like. Here's a list of the at least semi-playable cards for Peasant:
- Guan Yu, Sainted Warrior -- 3/5 for 3WW with a basically irrelevant other ability. Probably worse than the rather stacked other white five-drop options. (online-only uncommon)
- Lu Meng, Wu General -- 4/4 for 3WW. Less upside than something like Murder of Crows, in exchange for not worrying about green reach creatures. (online-only)
- Lu Xun, Scholar General -- the horsemanship version of Thieving Magpie. Insanely good... like a personal Howling Mine that can carry equipment. Also can be had for 20 cents instead of 20 bucks since it was reprinted in Commander. The only card on this list I'm currently running (online-only)
- Riding Red Hare -- same effect as Angelic Blessing, which nobody cubes.
- Riding the Dilu Horse -- a weird design, since the effect is permanent. Sort of like Spirit Mantle, getting an extra P/T boost for one more CMC. (online-only)
- Shu Cavalry -- 2/2 for 2W. Shows up sometimes in Pauper, seems outclassed for Peasant.
- Sun Ce, Young Conquerer -- 3/3 for 3UU that bounces a creature when it ETBs. I could definitely try this over something like Mist Raven, whose body isn't quite decent enough. (online-only uncommon)
- Wei Night Raiders -- 2/2 for 2BB; when it does damage to an opponent, that opponent discards a card. Powerful, though feels like a downgrade from Hypnotic Specter.
- Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed -- 3/2 for 2BB, so that's a good start... also can sacrifice it (on your turn, before attacks) to return a black card from your graveyard to your hand. Weird ability for an evasive beat-down creature, but still useful. Hopefully it shows up in the next round of commander decks so I can give it a shot without spending $60 on a judge foil or $90 on an original. (online-only)
- Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior -- 4/4 vigilance for 4WW. Great finisher for white, but how often is your Serra Angel actually unable to attack? (online-only)
Thoughts? Experiences? Insults?
Anyway, Xiahou Dun is cool, and riding the dilu horse is a card I've wanted for a long time.
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
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
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer is a good one for sure.
Lu Xun, Scholar General seems okay. I haven't ran Thieving Magpie in a while, but it's a card I consider often. How many people run Magpie these days?
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 totally understand the white border thing, though I don't care at all. I mean, if I'm gonna spend about a buck on a copy of Regrowth, it's absolutely gonna be Revised and not the new Duel Decks one. Beta, someday...
Leelue, I've never thought of Lu Xun in comparison to Concentrate that way -- seems more like a peasant version of Jace Beleren. Def not an exact comparison, mostly cuz it does nothing the turn you cast it, but ongoing +1 card per turn seems amazing to me. Though, again, hard to argue against your comparison... once you get three hits in, you are indeed at the exact same card advantage as Concentrate.
And without help, you aren't even really benefiting from the damage you're accruing. So without help it's a very, very slow concentrate that can block a 2/2 on the ground.
And yeah, glad I can give you a new way to look. Very powerful tool that keeps you from feeling like 3 draws over 4 turns is actually super good. And we really shouldn't be looking at a card's value 4 turns in, much less 5 (when it's better than concentrate and has converted some real damage).
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