Finally going to experiment with 10 more rare fixing lands: Triomes, ex indatha triome.
I've always been an outlier but I never had a problem with it. My games seemed great from my perspective and from anyone I could rope in. Problems arose when expanding to 8 people. So I am hoping this gets that off my back.
Funny: Makes [[Boseju, who endures]] worse.
Downside: Expensive option. Lots of text and money for upsides that might only be rarely relevant. I don't run their jungle shrine-and-co uncles for a reason (they're just bad thriving lands) but I hope the upsides will matter enough.
Probably Leelue and Rushing River, but rescuer chwinga is truly a very good magic card. Unlike most charms, it has a fair baseline to go with its flexibility (and its applications are so broad)
I don't have the meticulousness that I had as a young lad, but if I had to guess battle screech is 1 of the 5 best P1p1 cards in my list. That would floor me if it wasn't at least a 60th percentile card for anyone.
//
I also was about a hair away from mentioning the acolyte as a possible choice. I've had a totally reasonable time with explorer's cache and I know from my experience with my custom-cards cube that ward 1 is a p-i-t-a in the early game. Also these little synergies ("each creature you control with...") are how I want people to find advantages in my cube, rather than cards that go from unplayable to playable depending on what narrow archtype you're in. So something like herd baloth would be too "on/off" for me)
None of these cards have Rad counters explained on them. I am on team "Nope" for one or two-off cards with complex unexplained mechanics. For me it's Craig, >> Butch, Crimson caravaneer > maybe gary clone.
There's no other way for me to word it while I'm in a rush, but I think the boros cards you're running are bad to mediocre while mine are sexy and great.
These are mine
Fallaji Vanguard: Top ~3 gold cards in my list if accounting for both power and fun. Makes a bunch of average cards super compelling. Heroic reinforcements: Consistently puts nails in coffins by either not allowing your opponent to race you or stabilize. Bladehold War-Whip: A rare instance of a perfectly good aggro-midrange card that a serious problem if the game happens to drag out.
Also just absorbs boneplitter for 0 mana to swing for 8.
They also all synergize with one another, which isn't something I necessarily do on purpose but it's nice when it works out
You always get the 3/3 lifelink reach. You always gain 2 life if it triggers once and if they have a 1 or 2 toughness creature you can just assume that you'll always get the two face damage. That's dangerously close to the value of vampire sovereign for a card that comes in 2 or 3 turns earlier. And the next trigger is a total of 12 life swung for you. You damn near win if that happens. And if/when the opponent starts using it to hit their own creatures, congratulations, you win again.
I am going to have to spend the next month figuring out which boros card to replace craig with
That's kinda the point I want to get at. I saw that abrade got played like 10x as much as Fire prophecy, and thought "But if you aren't using it to destroy artifacts often, I have to assume that the extremely often occurrence that you churn a card from fire prophecy not only is more useful but also just makes more magic because it helps with the nongames"
I removed abrade in an attempt to downtune my removal, but I think I accidentally upgraded to a fire prophecy variant and I'm probably not going back
I had a little 4 man draft and the two standouts were Leering onlooker and Snarling gorehound. Snarling gorehound was lucky enough to be next to young pyromancer, and leering onlooker just did its job comfortably.
Vari, serious question, how do you possibly expect Living conundrum to get to its bigger size? Are your games really going that long?
I already asked Arbor this question, but I'm curious:
If you could be as accurate as you're willing to be, what fraction of the time do you think your Abrades are used in shatter mode?
Yeah it really does seem like the kind of card that's an obvious staple. But you know what is actually the good version of Rec Sage and isn't treated with the same level of respect at all? Plundering barbarian. Treasures are just amazing lubricant for playing magic.
(Also the full art version of rec sage has been one of my favorite pieces to look at for ages and probably contributed subconsciously to me wanting to keep it)
I LOVE kappa tech wrecker. One of its three jobs (blocker, disenchant, ninja) is invariably going to come up and all three of them are very good when you want them.
Oji, the exquisite blade has been performing pretty well since I added it recently. Flickerwisp's statline is good and probably will remain good for a while. For Kor hookmaster, besides Wall of omens may I interest you in a Rescuer Chwinga or a Githzerai Monk?
Oh, Unless you're omitting Universes Beyond cards, Sicarian Infiltrator is one of the best cards printed for us in the last couple years.
Ever since someone planted the idea here that reclamation sage might not be very good because the rate is just awful without a target, I started to believe that we are at a point where even *with* a target the rate isn't that good. When we could just double spell with nature's claim, natural state, or pick your poison instead of spending an entire turn's worth of mana on a 2/1.
I'm at a place right now where tempo is generally worth more than card advantage, and if I was yearning for card advantage an elite vanguard just isn't worth the extra mana. Maybe if it hits your opponent's mana rock on turn 3 exactly and puts pressure on, but that was really it.
I purposely have disenchant effects as purposely mainboardable but the things you want to disenchant (instead of just spending it because "Hey there's a target for my narrow spell!") are more midgame plays (Untethered Express, Diabolic Servitude) so Rec sage isn't curving out.
So for me it's:
Cankerbloom
Kappa tech-wrecker
Stormkeld Vanguard
Acidic Slime
Cathar Commando
Citizen's Crowbar
Reclamation Sage = Foundation Breaker Haywire Mite (Eventual disenchant for G is probably underrated, and there are what... 9 targetable artifact creatures in your list max?)
Wickerbough Elder
Haven't made anything final. But I think I'm getting more out of this set than the consensus is.
Likely:
Gleaming Geardrake:
The baseline is interesting (a downgraded, attacking baleful strix) but if it's ever a 3/3 you're way ahead.
Escape Tunnel:
I actually don't run terramorphic expanse (ash barrens pushes it out) but I am thirsty for more 5c fixing.
Harried Dronesmith:
I run daring piracy to uneven results, but the idea of a free guy every turn is something I want a lot. The enchantment might get replaced partly because the tokens exile eot. But I might double up on them to make the deck consistent.
Snarling Gorehound:
1 drop that lets you play more magic is my kind of card, but I already have Faerie Dreamthief. I'm sure I'll find something to replace, maybe one of the sac outlets that cost mana.
Leering Onlooker:
Considering how much spirit tokens still dominate in my cube, I needed another one of these statlines to hold the fort next to picklock prankster.
Insidious Roots:
I'm not super enthused about any of my golgari cards (the guild was a primary reason why I didn't want to go up to 3 gold cards). At least this has some potential to surprise.
Neighborhood Guardian:
First of all, is this name a pun? Anyway, Fallaji Vanguard has been amazing for me and this would trigger off of most of the same stuff for half the cost. Between this, the vanguard, and Rosie, white's instant speed token generation has gotten insane support.
Maybe:
Case of the gateway express:
This card's best case scenario is unreal. Dunno about the average, though. I also like the gameplay pattern of coercing you to make a bad attack to get a payoff.
Four of The Clue Equipment:
Really Wizards, you couldn't figure out how to balance the green one so it cost 2 to equip? Equip 3 is just impossible. Where's the symmetry present in cycles like this? Where's the justice? Sigh, wizards. SIGH.
...Anyway, equipment naturally suffer from "I drew the wrong half of the deck" syndrome so giving these cycling after they're played on turn 1 is more valuable than we are giving them credit.
Rubblebelt Maverick:
Didn't see this guy on my first look through. Surveil 2 is fairly close to drawing a card in the right deck and the rate for its graveyard ability makes it embarrassing that I once considered running Placid Rottontail
Maybe not:
Krovod Haunch:
You know what isn't cycling? 4 mana for two telegraphed 1/1s. Still, flexibility is compelling and life + blockers might be good in an aggro-ish mirror.
Frantic Scapegoat:
The more I think about it, the less I like it. The baseline isn't worth a card at all, and giving your 2 or 3 drop menace (and a downside) is probably not making up that difference. Oh, If you're still running them, probably loves being next to the 'Derms.
Torch the Witness:
Not that red needs more burn, but this has a baseline of "2R, sorcery, Deal 4 damage to any target and probably investigate". At 4 mana it kills anything that isn't a ramp target. 5 mana is murder. For 2 mana, it can save your bad hand from an aggro start. Or kill an elf while still getting you a Clue. This thing is probably good, but the competition is crazy even in a cube like mine where removal looks like Dead // gone and Lava coil.
Lip service:
Some of the hybrid creatures are alright if you feel like figuring out how to add them (Afterlife insurance > Scuttling Sentinel >> the rest), and the bite spell is perfectly playable but uninspiring. Then... idk... maybe... reckless detective? clandestine meddler? Oh and I do like pick your poison as a charm that will actually feel worth the mana when you cast it, but I'm pretty sure every other card is bad.
I've always been an outlier but I never had a problem with it. My games seemed great from my perspective and from anyone I could rope in. Problems arose when expanding to 8 people. So I am hoping this gets that off my back.
Funny: Makes [[Boseju, who endures]] worse.
Downside: Expensive option. Lots of text and money for upsides that might only be rarely relevant. I don't run their jungle shrine-and-co uncles for a reason (they're just bad thriving lands) but I hope the upsides will matter enough.
//
Cali, I still have my snow lands in because swapping is annoying: https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/251/snow-covered-island
I used to use mostly the Veronique Meignaud lands from ZEN: https://scryfall.com/card/zen/236/island
When I get money, I am either going with NEO full arts: https://scryfall.com/search?q=set:neo unique:prints t:basic is:full&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name
(second forest, second island, either mountain, first plains, either swamp)
or these meditation lands: https://scryfall.com/search?order=set&q=e:sld cn≥1399 cn≤1403&unique=prints.
I like the jubilee lands a lot too, so I will probably try to stick them in something: https://scryfall.com/search?q=a:jubilee type:basic -t:snow&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name
If I ever remake my bad card cube, I'll try to remember to get these too https://scryfall.com/card/sld/258/forest
Probably Leelue and Rushing River, but rescuer chwinga is truly a very good magic card. Unlike most charms, it has a fair baseline to go with its flexibility (and its applications are so broad)
I don't have the meticulousness that I had as a young lad, but if I had to guess battle screech is 1 of the 5 best P1p1 cards in my list. That would floor me if it wasn't at least a 60th percentile card for anyone.
//
I also was about a hair away from mentioning the acolyte as a possible choice. I've had a totally reasonable time with explorer's cache and I know from my experience with my custom-cards cube that ward 1 is a p-i-t-a in the early game. Also these little synergies ("each creature you control with...") are how I want people to find advantages in my cube, rather than cards that go from unplayable to playable depending on what narrow archtype you're in. So something like herd baloth would be too "on/off" for me)
These are mine
Fallaji Vanguard: Top ~3 gold cards in my list if accounting for both power and fun. Makes a bunch of average cards super compelling.
Heroic reinforcements: Consistently puts nails in coffins by either not allowing your opponent to race you or stabilize.
Bladehold War-Whip: A rare instance of a perfectly good aggro-midrange card that a serious problem if the game happens to drag out.
Also just absorbs boneplitter for 0 mana to swing for 8.
They also all synergize with one another, which isn't something I necessarily do on purpose but it's nice when it works out
I am going to have to spend the next month figuring out which boros card to replace craig with
I removed abrade in an attempt to downtune my removal, but I think I accidentally upgraded to a fire prophecy variant and I'm probably not going back
Vari, serious question, how do you possibly expect Living conundrum to get to its bigger size? Are your games really going that long?
If you could be as accurate as you're willing to be, what fraction of the time do you think your Abrades are used in shatter mode?
(Also the full art version of rec sage has been one of my favorite pieces to look at for ages and probably contributed subconsciously to me wanting to keep it)
I LOVE kappa tech wrecker. One of its three jobs (blocker, disenchant, ninja) is invariably going to come up and all three of them are very good when you want them.
Oh, Unless you're omitting Universes Beyond cards, Sicarian Infiltrator is one of the best cards printed for us in the last couple years.
I'm at a place right now where tempo is generally worth more than card advantage, and if I was yearning for card advantage an elite vanguard just isn't worth the extra mana. Maybe if it hits your opponent's mana rock on turn 3 exactly and puts pressure on, but that was really it.
I purposely have disenchant effects as purposely mainboardable but the things you want to disenchant (instead of just spending it because "Hey there's a target for my narrow spell!") are more midgame plays (Untethered Express, Diabolic Servitude) so Rec sage isn't curving out.
So for me it's:
Cankerbloom
Kappa tech-wrecker
Stormkeld Vanguard
Acidic Slime
Cathar Commando
Citizen's Crowbar
Reclamation Sage = Foundation Breaker
Haywire Mite (Eventual disenchant for G is probably underrated, and there are what... 9 targetable artifact creatures in your list max?)
Wickerbough Elder
Thrashing brontodon (Boo 1CC)
Leonin Relic Warder (Boo-er CC)
Kor Sanctifiers
Westfold Rider
Likely:
Gleaming Geardrake:
The baseline is interesting (a downgraded, attacking baleful strix) but if it's ever a 3/3 you're way ahead.
Escape Tunnel:
I actually don't run terramorphic expanse (ash barrens pushes it out) but I am thirsty for more 5c fixing.
Harried Dronesmith:
I run daring piracy to uneven results, but the idea of a free guy every turn is something I want a lot. The enchantment might get replaced partly because the tokens exile eot. But I might double up on them to make the deck consistent.
Snarling Gorehound:
1 drop that lets you play more magic is my kind of card, but I already have Faerie Dreamthief. I'm sure I'll find something to replace, maybe one of the sac outlets that cost mana.
Leering Onlooker:
Considering how much spirit tokens still dominate in my cube, I needed another one of these statlines to hold the fort next to picklock prankster.
Insidious Roots:
I'm not super enthused about any of my golgari cards (the guild was a primary reason why I didn't want to go up to 3 gold cards). At least this has some potential to surprise.
Neighborhood Guardian:
First of all, is this name a pun? Anyway, Fallaji Vanguard has been amazing for me and this would trigger off of most of the same stuff for half the cost. Between this, the vanguard, and Rosie, white's instant speed token generation has gotten insane support.
Maybe:
Case of the gateway express:
This card's best case scenario is unreal. Dunno about the average, though. I also like the gameplay pattern of coercing you to make a bad attack to get a payoff.
Four of The Clue Equipment:
Really Wizards, you couldn't figure out how to balance the green one so it cost 2 to equip? Equip 3 is just impossible. Where's the symmetry present in cycles like this? Where's the justice? Sigh, wizards. SIGH.
...Anyway, equipment naturally suffer from "I drew the wrong half of the deck" syndrome so giving these cycling after they're played on turn 1 is more valuable than we are giving them credit.
Rubblebelt Maverick:
Didn't see this guy on my first look through. Surveil 2 is fairly close to drawing a card in the right deck and the rate for its graveyard ability makes it embarrassing that I once considered running Placid Rottontail
Maybe not:
Krovod Haunch:
You know what isn't cycling? 4 mana for two telegraphed 1/1s. Still, flexibility is compelling and life + blockers might be good in an aggro-ish mirror.
Frantic Scapegoat:
The more I think about it, the less I like it. The baseline isn't worth a card at all, and giving your 2 or 3 drop menace (and a downside) is probably not making up that difference. Oh, If you're still running them, probably loves being next to the 'Derms.
Torch the Witness:
Not that red needs more burn, but this has a baseline of "2R, sorcery, Deal 4 damage to any target and probably investigate". At 4 mana it kills anything that isn't a ramp target. 5 mana is murder. For 2 mana, it can save your bad hand from an aggro start. Or kill an elf while still getting you a Clue. This thing is probably good, but the competition is crazy even in a cube like mine where removal looks like Dead // gone and Lava coil.
Lip service:
Some of the hybrid creatures are alright if you feel like figuring out how to add them (Afterlife insurance > Scuttling Sentinel >> the rest), and the bite spell is perfectly playable but uninspiring. Then... idk... maybe... reckless detective? clandestine meddler? Oh and I do like pick your poison as a charm that will actually feel worth the mana when you cast it, but I'm pretty sure every other card is bad.