Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the Body Double be unable to return itself when it dies as a Vesperlark since the ability is targeted?
Body Double is already in the graveyard when its ability goes on the stack and a target is chosen, so it's a legal target. You're thinking of cards that sacrifice as a cost and target a card in the graveyard. Doomed Necromancer can't target itself because targets are chosen before costs are paid, so Necromancer isn't in the graveyard yet.
I will likely try to make a spot for Lotleth Troll. It saw standard (and even a little modern play). Plus, it also has some overlap with GW for +1/+1 counters matters if someone wants to go Abzan, and is a discard outlet for Sultai reanimator. Happy to see this one downshifted.
That all being said, one day we'll get Splinterfright... one day.
Lotleth is good and was once a Golgari staple in even powered cubes. Now, though? I would definitely find room at 450, but I'm struggling with only three slots at 360. Does Baloth Null finally get ousted from the best option in Golgari slot?
Lotleth Troll? Oh my. I had a playset from way back. Definitely a good inclusion. My second Golgari slot has been kind of open, too, currently occupied by Korozda Guildmage.
Question that I now find myself confronted by: Scion of Darkness vs Void Beckoner?
I have had success with blue and green cycling-like creatures and was set to add Void Beckoner. Both cycle for the same cost and while the cycling upside is higher for Beckoner, I think the creature is much better on Scion. Not sure which creature I prefer more.
I personally feel Scion of Darkness might be too niche. Cycling for three without any added value is pretty rough I think, and having to pay 8 to hardcast it is also not great. However, the effect is very unique, so it might merit inclusion? Difficult to judge, since our removal is pretty good and having this thing Swords to Plowshares'd/Terminated/Man-o'-War'd will feel pretty bad, I reckon, even though 'dies to removal' is a pretty weak argument.
Lotleth Troll is super sick and will definitely get added. Will be cutting Catacomb Sifter, even though I think that card is great. Golgari is just so stacked, lol.
Scion of Darkness doesnt seem like a very good reanimation target. It has no protection, only creates value after it deals damage and if you reanimated it early (which is ussually the game plan in reanimate style decks) the odd are you don't have a target in your opponent's graveyard. Sure, it can put itself in the graveyard but so can Void Beckoner which finishes the game more quickly
when reanimated.
Loleth Troll is a nice downshift. Not sure if I'll end up putting it in my cube though as I have only two spots per guild.
Scion of Darkness doesnt seem like a very good reanimation target. It has no protection, only creates value after it deals damage and if you reanimated it early (which is ussually the game plan in reanimate style decks) the odd are you don't have a target in your opponent's graveyard. Sure, it can put itself in the graveyard but so can Void Beckoner which finishes the game more quickly
when reanimated.
Except when they can chump. I think that it is important that it gets less value early, though. I was not very interested in it and now I am even less so. But trample is a better keyword than deathtouch in this instance.
Scion of Darkness doesnt seem like a very good reanimation target. It has no protection, only creates value after it deals damage and if you reanimated it early (which is ussually the game plan in reanimate style decks) the odd are you don't have a target in your opponent's graveyard. Sure, it can put itself in the graveyard but so can Void Beckoner which finishes the game more quickly
when reanimated.
Except when they can chump. I think that it is important that it gets less value early, though. I was not very interested in it and now I am even less so. But trample is a better keyword than deathtouch in this instance.
FWIW, If the opponent chumps Scion of Darkness, assuming the blocking creature is not a token, you get to reanimate the best creature they chumped with.
Orzhov Pontiff downshifted to uncommon seems like another good get for us. Not sure I want it andZealous Persecution together though so I may have to choose between them. Persecution gives you both effects up front at instant speed for only 2 mana, but Pontiff grinds and plays well with the grindier version of BW aristocrats. I might test a direct swap, but I'm unsure which of these is better.
Scion of Darkness doesnt seem like a very good reanimation target. It has no protection, only creates value after it deals damage and if you reanimated it early (which is ussually the game plan in reanimate style decks) the odd are you don't have a target in your opponent's graveyard. Sure, it can put itself in the graveyard but so can Void Beckoner which finishes the game more quickly
when reanimated.
Except when they can chump. I think that it is important that it gets less value early, though. I was not very interested in it and now I am even less so. But trample is a better keyword than deathtouch in this instance.
FWIW, If the opponent chumps Scion of Darkness, assuming the blocking creature is not a token, you get to reanimate the best creature they chumped with.
Since you seem to imply that I claimed that chumpers are an issue for Scion of Darkness rather than Void Beckoner, which was claimed to be the quicker finisher in the message to which I was replying, please read my previous reply again in the context of what I was responding to.
Graveblade Marauder downshifted to uncommon. I might run this eventually.* It's strong on defense if you need it to be and most likely always trades up. If you've got a pile of creatures in the 'yard, the opponent can easily chump this to avoid taking a big hit, but that's still not bad for a 3-drop. It works well with GB self-mill/'yard synergies, and isn't tough to cast even in a Gb deck.
*I'm in the midst of reforming my cube, and once I'm done using the current card pool there's bound to be like 4 more sets released.
Private Mod Note
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I wish all archetypes could be equally hated. Or loved, but the former better reflects the mindset of the vocal portion of the player base. My 540ish Peasant Cube on Cubetutor
That is definitely an interesting one, even if I wonder how much it would burn when it gets through on average. The fact that it is so good as a defensive creature definitely helps since you are not entirely reliant on the primary effect for value with the card. I would have to check if I have a suitable slot open, though.
Bounty of the Luxa will probably play well enough in a Simic ramp deck, but it's pretty boring so I won't add it.
Oona's Prowler is clearly an uncommon. They only made a mistake. That's why it's in my cube already.
Body Double requires too much work to be good, it's a bit like a bad Zombify if you just play it for face value.
Lotleth Troll is a nice one. Since I have a spot open in Golgari I will most likely add it.
Orzhov Pontiff is just bad any way too conditional to be good.
I play Scion of Darkness as a fun card in my Premodern reanimator deck, but for cube it's just not good enough. The cycling cost is too high and it has no protection. I run Twisted Abomination and that's clearly better from my pov even though it has a lower ceiling. But you can put it into the yard on turn 2, it has regeneration and it is much more reasonable to hardcast.
I like Graveyard Marauder as support for the Golgari self-mill archetype. It's a slow and grindy deck that benefits from a high toughness deathtouch blocker early and later on it can quite easily deal 5+ damage if it isn't blocked. It's probably not good enough for most other decks though, but I guess as card #23 it works well enough in any black midrange deck.
Oh, I must have added more powerful 1 power creature since vesperlark was printed because its looking better now than when I first saw it.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
Body Double is already in the graveyard when its ability goes on the stack and a target is chosen, so it's a legal target. You're thinking of cards that sacrifice as a cost and target a card in the graveyard. Doomed Necromancer can't target itself because targets are chosen before costs are paid, so Necromancer isn't in the graveyard yet.
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
...woo.
That all being said, one day we'll get Splinterfright... one day.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
My 2-Player Signed Legacy Cube
My Lord of the Rings Cube
It is definitely interesting as dedicated in-colour support that provides CA when it hits so just removing it is not enough.
A little too dedicated for me, perhaps. Especially at 3 to cycle it. At 8 mana, it is extremely unlikely to get cast properly.
I have had success with blue and green cycling-like creatures and was set to add Void Beckoner. Both cycle for the same cost and while the cycling upside is higher for Beckoner, I think the creature is much better on Scion. Not sure which creature I prefer more.
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/peasantsnowcube
-- Updated with Fallout Commander
The PioneWer Peasant CUbe
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/pionewer
-- Updated with Murders at Karlov Manor
Lotleth Troll is super sick and will definitely get added. Will be cutting Catacomb Sifter, even though I think that card is great. Golgari is just so stacked, lol.
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
when reanimated.
Loleth Troll is a nice downshift. Not sure if I'll end up putting it in my cube though as I have only two spots per guild.
My C/Ube on Cube Cobra
Except when they can chump. I think that it is important that it gets less value early, though. I was not very interested in it and now I am even less so. But trample is a better keyword than deathtouch in this instance.
FWIW, If the opponent chumps Scion of Darkness, assuming the blocking creature is not a token, you get to reanimate the best creature they chumped with.
My 2-Player Signed Legacy Cube
My Lord of the Rings Cube
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
Since you seem to imply that I claimed that chumpers are an issue for Scion of Darkness rather than Void Beckoner, which was claimed to be the quicker finisher in the message to which I was replying, please read my previous reply again in the context of what I was responding to.
*I'm in the midst of reforming my cube, and once I'm done using the current card pool there's bound to be like 4 more sets released.
My 540ish Peasant Cube on Cubetutor
Bounty of the Luxa will probably play well enough in a Simic ramp deck, but it's pretty boring so I won't add it.
Oona's Prowler is clearly an uncommon. They only made a mistake. That's why it's in my cube already.
Body Double requires too much work to be good, it's a bit like a bad Zombify if you just play it for face value.
Lotleth Troll is a nice one. Since I have a spot open in Golgari I will most likely add it.
Orzhov Pontiff is just bad any way too conditional to be good.
I play Scion of Darkness as a fun card in my Premodern reanimator deck, but for cube it's just not good enough. The cycling cost is too high and it has no protection. I run Twisted Abomination and that's clearly better from my pov even though it has a lower ceiling. But you can put it into the yard on turn 2, it has regeneration and it is much more reasonable to hardcast.
I like Graveyard Marauder as support for the Golgari self-mill archetype. It's a slow and grindy deck that benefits from a high toughness deathtouch blocker early and later on it can quite easily deal 5+ damage if it isn't blocked. It's probably not good enough for most other decks though, but I guess as card #23 it works well enough in any black midrange deck.
My Old School Battlebox
My Premodern Battlebox