Arcane Signet Not playable here, mentioning for completeness Crystal Slipper Repeatable haste effect that also buffs, this could be cube-able Eye collector Might be ok for cubes with more graveyard focus, not sure if this is better than for example a Tormented Soul when looking at evasive 1 drops in black. Golden Egg Worse than Arcum's Astrolabe and not having the ability to filter more than once puts this behind other filter artifacts. Run Away Together Functional reprint of Peel from Reality Smitten Swordmaster Not enough playable knights to make the sorcery part relevant. Not a lot of changelings are played in cube either. Tome Raider Worse than Cloudkin Seer, but it is a faerie Wishful Merfolk The activated cost makes this not worth it. Witching Well 5 mana for scry 2, draw 2 is too much. Witch's Cottage Could be interesting, does this make a better Mortuary Mire? Better for mono-colored decks and can be searched by cards such as Farseek
Merchant of the Vale - 2R
2R: Rummage
2/3
/////////
Haggle - R
Instant
You may Rummage
------------ Ardenvale Tactician - 1WW
Flying
2/3
///////////////
Dizzying Swoop - 1W
Instant
Tap up to 2 creatures
I am intrigued by these. The Merchant is a non tap ability that is filtering, but the body is fair.
Not too diff from the other ones in the past year where we said 3 is too muct for Loot/Rummage.
So Tiny another one of the flash enchantments that limits a creature's power Rosethorn Halberd with the instant equip on entering, but with equip 5 this is in essence a better aura that triggers artifact synergies Foreboding Fruit not sure if this is worth it, 3 mana and sorcery speed, we have better options for this effect Lochtwain Paladin might be interesting Mantle of Tides another one for azorius artifact for Humprhey Steelgaze Griffin meh Bloodhaze Wolverine this kind of can fit into a spells matters or cycling(if that is a thing) archetype, but I don't really see it Tempting Witch I don't know why but I like the card, it is however with a parasitic ability. However having the opportunity to either let the player lose 3 life or gain 3 yourself might make it flexible enough to be worth it. Garenbrig Carver both parts overcosted by 1 Giant's Skewer Over costed by 1 on cost and equip Fortifying Provisions Similar to Spidersilk Armor lose reach, get a food token. Forever Young I believe we have similar effects that aren't played Garenbrig Squire We will not have a critical mass of adventure spells Lonesome Unicorn Overcosted by 1 on each mode Silverflame Squire Instant side overcosted by 1 Tuinvale Treefolk overcosted on the sorcery side Bartered Cow cute that it has a discard interaction, nothing more though Tall as a beanstalk overcosted by 2? Barge In looks good to be honest Redcap Raiders gives a use to smaller creatures later in the game Mistford River Turtle might be interesting since it gives true evasion to a creature
I don't think there is a 2 mana analogue for Tall As A Beanstalk. That'd be very strong unless you were thinking it was an instant. In which case it is overcosted by 2.95 tbh (Giant Growth+reach is only worth marginally more mana than GG)
I don't think there is a 2 mana analogue for Tall As A Beanstalk. That'd be very strong unless you were thinking it was an instant. In which case it is overcosted by 2.95 tbh (Giant Growth+reach is only worth marginally more mana than GG)
I thought there was a 2 cmc Oakenform guess I was wrong
Queen of Ice is a decent Stitched Mangler variant. You have adventure mode and the creature's ice ability, giving you choices in how to play it out.
Witching Well is deceptively strong. Will be good at smoothing out curves and provides some incidental artifact synergy.
Smitten Swordmaster - technically an upgrade but Knights aren't a thing in pauper. I only run about eight, and that's at 540 size with some questionable ones like Parhelion Patrol or Gryff Vanguard. The adventure is maybe gonna poke in for 1 life every once in a blue moon. I think I prefer the simplicity of Child of Night.
Crystal Slipper is nice. Cheap equip, a power boost and haste. This should see inclusion. Flavorwise though, it's only one step away from Sirlin's clown shoes dilemma.
Fierce Witchstalker is great. Another card in competition for the four-drop slot after Baloth Gorger, this one looks like it has a slight edge since it comes with trample and (delayed) lifegain. Almost an Obstinate Baloth at common! Peripheral synergies with blink and artifact-matters. This should be in pauper lists.
Rosethorn Halberd is functionally a one-mana Giant Strength with timing restrictions. The games where you'll be able to equip it twice are going to be few and far between, unless you have a dragon cube. I'm always interested in playable equipment, but I think this one misses the cut by a hair (equip cost 4 would have made it in for me).
Wildwood Tracker is another deceptively strong card. Note that it attacks or blocks as a 2/2, you just need to have another creature. And you don't need to commit with the other creature like previously undercosted designs in this vein (Jackal Familiar, Ember Beast, Loyal Pegasus).
Prophet of the Peak is a nice push towards value for pauper fatties. It's almost good enough.
I like Weapon Rack as an inverse of Serrated Arrows. Also a neat push for +1/+1 counters in pauper if we want it. Just wish it was instant speed.
The common nonbasics (Idyllic Grange, Witch's Cottage, Mystic Sanctuary, Dwarven Mine) all seem great aside from green. Note that they represent a slight boost to Farseek since you can now get a spell effect with your land tutor. I goofed, the untapped clause is relevant because Farseek puts them into play tapped -_-
Giant's Skewer is going to be tested with Crystal Slipper. It is a bit out of range from Vulshok Morningstsr. However, putting it in a token gives a slight dilemma of "should I block it". If they prevent the damage to them they give a Seal of 3 Life to you. If not, then they take 3+ damage.
Trusty Machete -Uncommon- had similar buffs for 1 less cost and 1 less equip. But at common we have Morningstar as 2, and 2 equip. There is the v2.0 with2, and 3 equip. So this is not beyond reasonable and can alter a slugfest like Lifestaff does
@PyreDream
You are not wrong in most intersts. But I assume when push comes to shove, Slipper and Tactician are the 2 auto-tests. And many others are negligible preference choices.
I think this set as a whole is very unimpactful. Slipper has me the most excited and see it as a reason to see more R/X decks rewarded.
I agree with Slipper and Tactician, but I really don't think Fierce Witchstalker is a negligible preference choice. It's arguably better than Peema Outrider, and that guy is an all-star. You trade a Servo for a Food token, but you get to keep the full 4/4 stats. At the very least, it represents a direct upgrade to Baloth Gorger, which is barely better if you support super-ramp AND +1/+1 counters. Trample is just better. And getting to chow down on some food to recoup life is a big deal.
Do let us know how Giant's Skewer goes. It's a bit overpriced and the opponent has way too much control in how you benefit, but I'm hoping for more interesting equipment designs like this one.
I agree with Slipper and Tactician, but I really don't think Fierce Witchstalker is a negligible preference choice. It's arguably better than Peema Outrider, and that guy is an all-star. You trade a Servo for a Food token, but you get to keep the full 4/4 stats. At the very least, it represents a direct upgrade to Baloth Gorger, which is barely better if you support super-ramp AND +1/+1 counters. Trample is just better. And getting to chow down on some food to recoup life is a big deal.
Do let us know how Giant's Skewer goes. It's a bit overpriced and the opponent has way too much control in how you benefit, but I'm hoping for more interesting equipment designs like this one.
Ah, maybe I've been underestimating Peema. I thought the general preference was for the 5 power 4 drops. I agree that at first blush Witchstalker looks very good (4/4 trample for 4 with upside is pretty nuts)
Oh, yeah Blastoderm, Imperiosaur and Emperor Crocodile are good, but Peema Outrider is right there with them. The 5 power guys are all efficient, but they can get stonewalled pretty hard by tokens. Outrider and Witchstalker both help solve that problem. More generally, it's always good to diversify so that your deck isn't always open to the same weakness.
At 540, I can happily get rid of my worst four drop in Wild Leotau, which has grown to become literally the worst of both worlds (gets stonewalled, but also has lower toughness than newer four drops) on top of its original drawback. If this stream of beaters continues, I'll have to think about cutting Festerhide Boar and/or Primal Huntbeast next.
Okay, so apparently no blue card is good enough for my pauper cube. They all seem to be meh. Except maybe Queen of Ice and Witching Well.
I would assume Witching Well is good enough if you opt to include but it's not really the kind of card that makes you go out of your way to add. Queen of Ice surprised me when I saw it because sometimes they give blue a vanilla 2/3 at common and the Queen is..a lot better than that.
Okay, so apparently no blue card is good enough for my pauper cube. They all seem to be meh. Except maybe Queen of Ice and Witching Well.
So no blue card is good enough, except for the two blue cards that might be good enough?
In all seriousness, I agree they probably dont make it in your 360. Witching Well is the next best "cantrip" after Hieroglyphic Illumination, but it's slow - probably don't need a U + 3U draw spell at that size.
Queen of Ice seems worse than Stitched Mangler and friends. I certainly wouldn't cube it ahead of Frost Lynx. Getting the effect as an ETB is better than paying extra for the adventure unless you want to push spells-matter, and even then... the Queen's static ability seems overly defensive.
I love Hieroglyphic, and have a Well on order. Blue Blue didn't get a lot of good stuff, most of the set is "meh". White got some do-able Adventure bodies
Have you had Martyr's Soul show in games?
Getting rid of Faithless, to me, is tough. I love the cost on that card so much. The rest look relatively fine,
Most of those seem like upgrades to me. NH is right about Faithless Looting but it would be hard to make a different cut for the Merchant I guess. The Merchant works in ELD limited due to the "second draw of the turn" theme but I would venture to guess it will prove too slow. Cutting Searing Spear to diversify makes sense to me although obviously from a spike perspective it is probably wrong.
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Arcane Signet Not playable here, mentioning for completeness
Crystal Slipper Repeatable haste effect that also buffs, this could be cube-able
Eye collector Might be ok for cubes with more graveyard focus, not sure if this is better than for example a Tormented Soul when looking at evasive 1 drops in black.
Golden Egg Worse than Arcum's Astrolabe and not having the ability to filter more than once puts this behind other filter artifacts.
Run Away Together Functional reprint of Peel from Reality
Smitten Swordmaster Not enough playable knights to make the sorcery part relevant. Not a lot of changelings are played in cube either.
Tome Raider Worse than Cloudkin Seer, but it is a faerie
Wishful Merfolk The activated cost makes this not worth it.
Witching Well 5 mana for scry 2, draw 2 is too much.
Witch's Cottage Could be interesting, does this make a better Mortuary Mire? Better for mono-colored decks and can be searched by cards such as Farseek
Brainz Archetypes/Synergies Thread [WIP]
Yeah that caught my attention as well.
No shroud, sadly, but effectively unblockable vs non-red decks with a bonesplitter is a nice clock.
2R: Rummage
2/3
/////////
Haggle - R
Instant
You may Rummage
------------
Ardenvale Tactician - 1WW
Flying
2/3
///////////////
Dizzying Swoop - 1W
Instant
Tap up to 2 creatures
I am intrigued by these. The Merchant is a non tap ability that is filtering, but the body is fair.
Not too diff from the other ones in the past year where we said 3 is too muct for Loot/Rummage.
So not enough?
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
my favorite card atm. cheap drops that grow bigger are awesome
nvm its eot only. duh. still a semi 2/2 for 1 at least
Silverflame Ritual aint bad
Trapped in the Towerpacifism of the set
Corridor Monitormore fuel for azorius artifacts
Witching Well same
Tome Raider power 1 sucks
Wicked Guardianmight be reasonable
Fierce Witchstalkervery solid
Countryside Villa okay
T2 powpercube Value https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Rosethorn Halberd with the instant equip on entering, but with equip 5 this is in essence a better aura that triggers artifact synergies
Foreboding Fruit not sure if this is worth it, 3 mana and sorcery speed, we have better options for this effect
Lochtwain Paladin might be interesting
Mantle of Tides another one for azorius artifact for Humprhey
Steelgaze Griffin meh
Bloodhaze Wolverine this kind of can fit into a spells matters or cycling(if that is a thing) archetype, but I don't really see it
Tempting Witch I don't know why but I like the card, it is however with a parasitic ability. However having the opportunity to either let the player lose 3 life or gain 3 yourself might make it flexible enough to be worth it.
Garenbrig Carver both parts overcosted by 1
Giant's Skewer Over costed by 1 on cost and equip
Fortifying Provisions Similar to Spidersilk Armor lose reach, get a food token.
Forever Young I believe we have similar effects that aren't played
Garenbrig Squire We will not have a critical mass of adventure spells
Lonesome Unicorn Overcosted by 1 on each mode
Silverflame Squire Instant side overcosted by 1
Tuinvale Treefolk overcosted on the sorcery side
Bartered Cow cute that it has a discard interaction, nothing more though
Tall as a beanstalk overcosted by 2?
Barge In looks good to be honest
Redcap Raiders gives a use to smaller creatures later in the game
Mistford River Turtle might be interesting since it gives true evasion to a creature
Brainz Archetypes/Synergies Thread [WIP]
I thought there was a 2 cmc Oakenform guess I was wrong
Brainz Archetypes/Synergies Thread [WIP]
Silverflame Squire has potential as a combat trick and a body in one. Comparable to Briarhorn.
Queen of Ice is a decent Stitched Mangler variant. You have adventure mode and the creature's ice ability, giving you choices in how to play it out.
Witching Well is deceptively strong. Will be good at smoothing out curves and provides some incidental artifact synergy.
Smitten Swordmaster - technically an upgrade but Knights aren't a thing in pauper. I only run about eight, and that's at 540 size with some questionable ones like Parhelion Patrol or Gryff Vanguard. The adventure is maybe gonna poke in for 1 life every once in a blue moon. I think I prefer the simplicity of Child of Night.
Crystal Slipper is nice. Cheap equip, a power boost and haste. This should see inclusion. Flavorwise though, it's only one step away from Sirlin's clown shoes dilemma.
Thrill of Possibility - instant speed improves this a lot over Tormenting Voice. Gives red some play that isn't burn.
Fierce Witchstalker is great. Another card in competition for the four-drop slot after Baloth Gorger, this one looks like it has a slight edge since it comes with trample and (delayed) lifegain. Almost an Obstinate Baloth at common! Peripheral synergies with blink and artifact-matters. This should be in pauper lists.
Rosethorn Halberd is functionally a one-mana Giant Strength with timing restrictions. The games where you'll be able to equip it twice are going to be few and far between, unless you have a dragon cube. I'm always interested in playable equipment, but I think this one misses the cut by a hair (equip cost 4 would have made it in for me).
Wildwood Tracker is another deceptively strong card. Note that it attacks or blocks as a 2/2, you just need to have another creature. And you don't need to commit with the other creature like previously undercosted designs in this vein (Jackal Familiar, Ember Beast, Loyal Pegasus).
I wonder how Crashing Drawbridge will fare, particularly with the crowd that likes Bloodlust Inciter.
Gingerbrute is a colorless Raging Goblin with upside, and that's an acceptable card for pauper.
Prophet of the Peak is a nice push towards value for pauper fatties. It's almost good enough.
I like Weapon Rack as an inverse of Serrated Arrows. Also a neat push for +1/+1 counters in pauper if we want it. Just wish it was instant speed.
The common nonbasics (Idyllic Grange, Witch's Cottage, Mystic Sanctuary, Dwarven Mine) all seem great aside from green.
Note that they represent a slight boost to Farseek since you can now get a spell effect with your land tutor.I goofed, the untapped clause is relevant because Farseek puts them into play tapped -_-My top five, in no particular order:
1. Ardenvale Tactician
2. Fierce Witchstalker
3. Crystal Slipper
4. Gingerbrute
5. Witching Well
Honorable mention to Silverflame Squire, Queen of Ice and the nonbasic lands.
My Cube (DeckStats)
My Pauper Cube: 540 (CubeTutor link!)
Level 1 Judge
Trusty Machete -Uncommon- had similar buffs for 1 less cost and 1 less equip. But at common we have Morningstar as 2, and 2 equip. There is the v2.0 with2, and 3 equip. So this is not beyond reasonable and can alter a slugfest like Lifestaff does
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
You are not wrong in most intersts. But I assume when push comes to shove, Slipper and Tactician are the 2 auto-tests. And many others are negligible preference choices.
I think this set as a whole is very unimpactful. Slipper has me the most excited and see it as a reason to see more R/X decks rewarded.
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
Do let us know how Giant's Skewer goes. It's a bit overpriced and the opponent has way too much control in how you benefit, but I'm hoping for more interesting equipment designs like this one.
My Cube (DeckStats)
My Pauper Cube: 540 (CubeTutor link!)
Level 1 Judge
Ah, maybe I've been underestimating Peema. I thought the general preference was for the 5 power 4 drops. I agree that at first blush Witchstalker looks very good (4/4 trample for 4 with upside is pretty nuts)
At 540, I can happily get rid of my worst four drop in Wild Leotau, which has grown to become literally the worst of both worlds (gets stonewalled, but also has lower toughness than newer four drops) on top of its original drawback. If this stream of beaters continues, I'll have to think about cutting Festerhide Boar and/or Primal Huntbeast next.
My Cube (DeckStats)
My Pauper Cube: 540 (CubeTutor link!)
Level 1 Judge
Or are you interested in a Fiora flavor cube? Conspire and win!
Level 2 Judge
I would assume Witching Well is good enough if you opt to include but it's not really the kind of card that makes you go out of your way to add. Queen of Ice surprised me when I saw it because sometimes they give blue a vanilla 2/3 at common and the Queen is..a lot better than that.
So no blue card is good enough, except for the two blue cards that might be good enough?
In all seriousness, I agree they probably dont make it in your 360. Witching Well is the next best "cantrip" after Hieroglyphic Illumination, but it's slow - probably don't need a U + 3U draw spell at that size.
Queen of Ice seems worse than Stitched Mangler and friends. I certainly wouldn't cube it ahead of Frost Lynx. Getting the effect as an ETB is better than paying extra for the adventure unless you want to push spells-matter, and even then... the Queen's static ability seems overly defensive.
My Cube (DeckStats)
My Pauper Cube: 540 (CubeTutor link!)
Level 1 Judge
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
Prophet of the peak <-> Kozilek's Channeler
Wildwood Tracker <-> Jungle Lion
Faerie Guidemother <-> Doomed Traveler
Ardenvale Tactician <-> Martyr's Soul
Trapped in the Tower <-> Bonds of Faith
Merchant of the Vale <-> Faithless Looting
Crystal Slipper <-> Searing spear
Ginger Brute <-> Immolating Souleater
Looking for a cut for wishing well
Any feedback is welcome.
Or are you interested in a Fiora flavor cube? Conspire and win!
Level 2 Judge
Getting rid of Faithless, to me, is tough. I love the cost on that card so much. The rest look relatively fine,
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
Most of those seem like upgrades to me. NH is right about Faithless Looting but it would be hard to make a different cut for the Merchant I guess. The Merchant works in ELD limited due to the "second draw of the turn" theme but I would venture to guess it will prove too slow. Cutting Searing Spear to diversify makes sense to me although obviously from a spike perspective it is probably wrong.