sure theyre work like auras, but i kinda more see them as creatures for the mutate cost that ask you to "sac" an outclassed onedrop. Its perfect for my cube.
True, these are better on a weaker creature while auras naturally gravitate toward the better ones. But is that polarity natural or just because everyone is habituated to a certain way of playing?
Other similar mechanics never set the world on fire -- champion, exploit, etc
because the cards were trash, not the mechanics. the green 3/4 is exactly what I want. The others are borderline+. The more mutate you run the better they get, so I might look for more slots.
And at least in my cube I use auras almost exclusively on lowdrops already to boost their stats and pull them into midgame.
I run the Tiger. But again, im not sure its worth it for the 2 cards. Humphrey did make a good point about saccing and the Gryff. But i may wait to see how they play out more.
because the cards were trash, not the mechanics. the green 3/4 is exactly what I want. The others are borderline+. The more mutate you run the better they get, so I might look for more slots.
And at least in my cube I use auras almost exclusively on lowdrops already to boost their stats and pull them into midgame.
The 3/4 is going to be a nice turn 2 play off Llanowar
I agree its a good card, and i like the sac when you want it. But im wondering how often it'd be better compared to say Vulturous Aven. That card is one creature for 2 cards and a flyer. But being able to continuously do it is nice.
I'm very torn over the Poacher. I do like this source of repeatable card draw, and I like that you can sac a creature that's already doomed. That's the real difference between Poacher and something like Aven. Aven can be blinked, but it requires a lot of specific timing if you want to blink it to exploit a creature already about to die. The Poacher just sits there as a reminder to your opponent that any creature killed if just lifegain and card draw to you. It really sends a message.
Still not exactly sure how good it is though. I'd like to run it at least to test it.
Even though I find it very important that burnspells can go to the face Fire Prophecy upside might be worth it. I actually included Jaya's Greeting before and even though I liked the Greeting I might just exchange these 2. The Prophecy even is fool proof by having the rummage as part of the effect and not as an additional cost.
I did just cut down on the whole sacrifice theme, not because it wasn't viable, but because I simply wanted to change stuff around and test some new cards, but Bushmeat Poacher might still make the cut just in a vacuum. Too bad it can't sac itself, so it might be a removal magnet against removal heavy decks.
Of One Mind seems actually kind of interesting. The worst case of Divination sure isn't very exciting, but the best case is basically Thoughtcast with 4 artifacts.
Migratory Greathorn - synergy with manaelves is just too strong to pass Boot Nipper - the flexibility is awesome, i already run both modes on seperate creatures, so an easy upgrade.
Id like to find slots for the blue and white mutate, but im not sure yet.
notes:
we got our unconditional green lifegain fatty, I was missing in Honey Mammoth, but I dont wanna add cmc6 aegis turtle is a serious statcreep.
too bad we didnt get a second green mutatecard as follow up to greathorn.
Feels like a lot of pure stat boosts and upgrades in this set, even if they aren't all necessarily Cube material.
cycling Naturalize
0/5 for 1 mana
3/3 *trample* for 3
one sided green fight with strong bonus
1/4 vigilance for 2
2/4 vigilance for 3
and a few other cards where it seems like they just tacked cycling on to the spell for the exact same cost it had previously
yeah good find
seems the first usuable removal in green. still not interested though
my green is already overstuffed already. could easily add another 20 cards
Ram Through beats out Ambuscade in my cube. Makes for 2 different cost instant punches (band together) and keeps green removal fresh. But totally agree that green is stuffed and it would be hard to make more cuts.
yeah, if you already run removal, its an easy upgrade over ambushcade. that said, I probably wouldnt even run a straight up DoomBlade in green.
First of all, one (or two) removalspells would not be enough to build around that. Second, green is a color with close to zero card draw, so 1:1 removal is always worse than the other colors. Something design doesnt seem to notice. Third, my cube already has more than enough removal and often enough was the first thing I did cut.
The only green removal Id run is when it comes with a body. (Affectionate Indrik)
I like this. It is an instant over an Aura; either type has their purpose. But aggressively costed and less vulnerable to hate as it can be done EoT and no disenchantment to take it out once given.
These are the changes I'm doing, effective immediately:
- Boot Nipper -> Gluttonous Slug: Slug looked good enough, but it has performed slow in my testing with it. It's also difficult to grow it larger than a 2/5 in an aggro deck, which is precisely the kind of deck that wants it in the first place.
- Springbloom Druid -> Excavation Mole: I wanted to beef up my 3 CMC section and was looking at Nessian Courser et all, but felt to vanilla. Mole is a trampling courser that also happens to have GY synergy, which is GB's archetype.
- Ram Through -> Ambuscade: 1 CMC cheaper would be enough to trump Ambuscade's +1/+0, but the fact that it also makes the leftover damage pass through if the creature has Trample is just gravy.
- Greater Sandwurm -> Honey Mammoth: Sandwurm is a flexible Ramp target due to it's cycling, and has solid evasion, but I've wanted a lifegain fatty for so long I'm going to test Mammoth for a while. It's also 1 cheaper, and the difference between 6 and 7 CMC is huge even in ramp decks.
Sudden Spinnerets and Heightened Reflexes look like great combat tricks. They cost 1, which is the basis for them being playable, but they also leave a permanent keyword on their target. Spelleater Wolverine also looks pretty strong for the UR spells deck, which should be an archetype in everyone's cube by now even if you weren't forcing archetypes. Lava Serpent is an interesting Red fatty, which is something we lack. A 5/5 haste for 6 is fine, and it also has the added flexibility of Cycling. Reminds me of the longtime staple Chartooth Cougar. Ferocious Tigorilla and Forbidden Friendship look interesting, but probably don't make the cut.
I did cut the spells matters archetype from my cube, which is basically the 2 core izzet pumpguys.
Overall the archetype demanded too much slots, I prefer to fill with creature based effects now.
Also the problem is, the more payoff creatures you run the worse the archetype becomes and running as low as 6 creatures makes it too vulnerable to removal.
I only really worked for me on the back of hexproof creatures.
Im surprised the slug plateaued at 2/5, when rakdos easily pushes it to 3/6 with its 2 drops.
also Dauthi Marauder, dross golem (underworld charger)
I think its best in midrange though, where its a solid blocker that effordlessly grows during the game and becomes a finisher, after you dealt with all but one creature.
I don't run Dross Golem (nor any of the golems for that matter), and Underworld Charger is a recent addition which I haven't been able to test properly due to corona, so there's that. Might cut Fledgling Djinn instead to give Slug another chance, but a flat 2/2 flyer for 2 seems too good IMO.
UR spells has a lot of incidental things you could be running already that are strong on their own like Ingenious Skaab, Thermo-Alchemist, Burning Prophet and Salvager of Secrets. In fact the only concessions I've made for the archetype are Flurry of Horns as a way to cheat the Instant/Sorcery count while still playing creatures, and Spellgorger Weird as an ever-growing payoff and finisher.
Also finally made the switch with cubecobra. I don't know how you guys like it, it's so buggy and unintuitive I almost gave up. The only upside it has over cubetutor is that since the site is using scryfall's database, the new sets are updated immediately.
True, these are better on a weaker creature while auras naturally gravitate toward the better ones. But is that polarity natural or just because everyone is habituated to a certain way of playing?
Other similar mechanics never set the world on fire -- champion, exploit, etc
And at least in my cube I use auras almost exclusively on lowdrops already to boost their stats and pull them into midgame.
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
For reference:
Vulkipeet 3W
Creature - Fox Bird
Mutate 2W
Flying
Whenever this mutates, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2/3
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
The 3/4 is going to be a nice turn 2 play off Llanowar
I'm very torn over the Poacher. I do like this source of repeatable card draw, and I like that you can sac a creature that's already doomed. That's the real difference between Poacher and something like Aven. Aven can be blinked, but it requires a lot of specific timing if you want to blink it to exploit a creature already about to die. The Poacher just sits there as a reminder to your opponent that any creature killed if just lifegain and card draw to you. It really sends a message.
Still not exactly sure how good it is though. I'd like to run it at least to test it.
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
2U
Sorcery
This spell costs 2 less to cast if you control a Human creature and a non-Human creature.
Draw two cards.
Seems indeed quite good. 3/4fly for 2w
only problem i see that you cant mutate humans, which are most of my 1drops
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
I did just cut down on the whole sacrifice theme, not because it wasn't viable, but because I simply wanted to change stuff around and test some new cards, but Bushmeat Poacher might still make the cut just in a vacuum. Too bad it can't sac itself, so it might be a removal magnet against removal heavy decks.
Of One Mind seems actually kind of interesting. The worst case of Divination sure isn't very exciting, but the best case is basically Thoughtcast with 4 artifacts.
Pauper Cube & Artifact Pauper Cube & Multiplayer Cube
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cards i definitely gonna run:
Migratory Greathorn - synergy with manaelves is just too strong to pass
Boot Nipper - the flexibility is awesome, i already run both modes on seperate creatures, so an easy upgrade.
Id like to find slots for the blue and white mutate, but im not sure yet.
notes:
we got our unconditional green lifegain fatty, I was missing in Honey Mammoth, but I dont wanna add cmc6
aegis turtle is a serious statcreep.
too bad we didnt get a second green mutatecard as follow up to greathorn.
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
I also noticed Suffocating Fumes - I've come to realize though that Aggro has it tough in cube, and I don't think I'd want o make it any harder.
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
cycling Naturalize
0/5 for 1 mana
3/3 *trample* for 3
one sided green fight with strong bonus
1/4 vigilance for 2
2/4 vigilance for 3
and a few other cards where it seems like they just tacked cycling on to the spell for the exact same cost it had previously
seems the first usuable removal in green. still not interested though
my green is already overstuffed already. could easily add another 20 cards
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
First of all, one (or two) removalspells would not be enough to build around that. Second, green is a color with close to zero card draw, so 1:1 removal is always worse than the other colors. Something design doesnt seem to notice. Third, my cube already has more than enough removal and often enough was the first thing I did cut.
The only green removal Id run is when it comes with a body. (Affectionate Indrik)
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Excavation MoleMosscoat Goriak as well.also found the slots for U and W mutate.
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Pauper Cube & Artifact Pauper Cube & Multiplayer Cube
Interested in building your own Pauper Cube? Take a look at some of the lists and the following project: The "Evaluate Everything" Project (updated to M21/JMP)
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 counter and Lifelink counter.
I like this. It is an instant over an Aura; either type has their purpose. But aggressively costed and less vulnerable to hate as it can be done EoT and no disenchantment to take it out once given.
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Personal Enjoyment Cube
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
- Boot Nipper -> Gluttonous Slug: Slug looked good enough, but it has performed slow in my testing with it. It's also difficult to grow it larger than a 2/5 in an aggro deck, which is precisely the kind of deck that wants it in the first place.
- Springbloom Druid -> Excavation Mole: I wanted to beef up my 3 CMC section and was looking at Nessian Courser et all, but felt to vanilla. Mole is a trampling courser that also happens to have GY synergy, which is GB's archetype.
- Ram Through -> Ambuscade: 1 CMC cheaper would be enough to trump Ambuscade's +1/+0, but the fact that it also makes the leftover damage pass through if the creature has Trample is just gravy.
- Greater Sandwurm -> Honey Mammoth: Sandwurm is a flexible Ramp target due to it's cycling, and has solid evasion, but I've wanted a lifegain fatty for so long I'm going to test Mammoth for a while. It's also 1 cheaper, and the difference between 6 and 7 CMC is huge even in ramp decks.
I'm also including Mosscoat Goriak, Bushmeat Poacher, Vulpikeet, Dreamtail Heron and Migratory Greathorn for sure, just don't know what to cut for them at the moment. Greathorn is probably cutting Tishana's Wayfinder, but what little selection Wayfinder has is premium for green so not sure yet.
Sudden Spinnerets and Heightened Reflexes look like great combat tricks. They cost 1, which is the basis for them being playable, but they also leave a permanent keyword on their target. Spelleater Wolverine also looks pretty strong for the UR spells deck, which should be an archetype in everyone's cube by now even if you weren't forcing archetypes. Lava Serpent is an interesting Red fatty, which is something we lack. A 5/5 haste for 6 is fine, and it also has the added flexibility of Cycling. Reminds me of the longtime staple Chartooth Cougar. Ferocious Tigorilla and Forbidden Friendship look interesting, but probably don't make the cut.
Thanks to DNC from Heroes of the Plane Studios for the sig
Check my Pauper Cube!
Overall the archetype demanded too much slots, I prefer to fill with creature based effects now.
Also the problem is, the more payoff creatures you run the worse the archetype becomes and running as low as 6 creatures makes it too vulnerable to removal.
I only really worked for me on the back of hexproof creatures.
Im surprised the slug plateaued at 2/5, when rakdos easily pushes it to 3/6 with its 2 drops.
also Dauthi Marauder, dross golem (underworld charger)
I think its best in midrange though, where its a solid blocker that effordlessly grows during the game and becomes a finisher, after you dealt with all but one creature.
powpercube Johnny https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
UR spells has a lot of incidental things you could be running already that are strong on their own like Ingenious Skaab, Thermo-Alchemist, Burning Prophet and Salvager of Secrets. In fact the only concessions I've made for the archetype are Flurry of Horns as a way to cheat the Instant/Sorcery count while still playing creatures, and Spellgorger Weird as an ever-growing payoff and finisher.
Also finally made the switch with cubecobra. I don't know how you guys like it, it's so buggy and unintuitive I almost gave up. The only upside it has over cubetutor is that since the site is using scryfall's database, the new sets are updated immediately.
Thanks to DNC from Heroes of the Plane Studios for the sig
Check my Pauper Cube!