Recruitment is easier to get value from than Chant (you don't always have 2 zombs in your graveyard), but definitely not enough so to be worth an extra colorless.
The first Emerge card looks playable, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are more.
What about Prowling Pangolin? Now that this guy is in pauper, can anything really use him? I am still very new to the pauper scene but I really like this guy. In the right matchup I would love to pay 5 and make my opponent sac 2 creatures or have a 6/5. I'm thinking he could go into some kind of Tortured Existence control deck focused on the long game and eventually winning out with a big stick like Pangolin. Any other thoughts?
Basically 5 drops need to be extremely extremely good to play in Pauper - the only ones that see play at the moment are Mulldrifter and Gray Merchant (plus some even higher drops in Tron). Also, Gurmag Angler exists and is basically just better than this guy.
And that's a top 10 without Kird Ape or Wildfire Emissary or Cephalid Sage (which is a potential house in my own favorite silly not-quite competitive deck, songs of the damned combo).
I've toyed around with decks that use Wild Growth and Utopia Sprawl to ramp and incidentally power up Aura Gnarlid. Going to have to rebuild them with Enchantress as Gnarlids 5 through 8.
Wildfire Emissary! - that card was so good back in the day but I'm not sure it's even playable now. The comparison to Guardian of the Guildpact is not flattering.
EDIT: also Emperor Crocodile which just screams "why don't you go ahead and 2-for-1 yourself" to me.
Couple new interesting cards - Artificer's Epiphany, which is an instant-speed draw-two with not much work; I don't think Affinity really wants it but various Trinket Mage decks might as might some sort of blue-red (or blue-black) controlly build with artifact lands, sigils, and maybe some other stuff.
Bonded Construct is a 2/1 artifact dude that can't attack alone (but can block alone). Seems plausible for those white (and white-splash) metalcraft decks.
You definitely want some kind of self-mill/looting for that guy; can't just slam 4 into an MBC build and figure on getting value out of the second and third ones you draw or something.
Nissa's Pilgrimage is potentially very strong as a 3 mana "draw 3" if there's a good way to utilize the extra lands. Retrace is one possibility but there's gotta be more out there.
Looting, super-looting effects like Tolarian Winds and Whirlpool Rider, spellshapers like Undertaker, Wild Mongrel. I think that super grindy pauper loam deck could probably use it to good effect.
The first Emerge card looks playable, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are more.
Basically 5 drops need to be extremely extremely good to play in Pauper - the only ones that see play at the moment are Mulldrifter and Gray Merchant (plus some even higher drops in Tron). Also, Gurmag Angler exists and is basically just better than this guy.
This set is crazy - it's almost easier to list out the cards that won't do anything:
You can make a legit top 10 and still have potentially useful cards left out:
1 - Peregrine Drake (Familiars ahoy)
2 - Elite Vanguard
3 - Warden of Evos Isle
4 - Elvish Vanguard
5 - Rally the Peasants
6 - Night's Whisper
7 - Nimble Mongoose
8 - Desperate Ravings
9 - Humble
10 - Yavimaya Enchantress
And that's a top 10 without Kird Ape or Wildfire Emissary or Cephalid Sage (which is a potential house in my own favorite silly not-quite competitive deck, songs of the damned combo).
(The other five cards I think might do something:
- Monk Idealist
- Tidal Wave
- Dragon Egg
- Emperor Crocodile
- Sylvan Might
)I've toyed around with decks that use Wild Growth and Utopia Sprawl to ramp and incidentally power up Aura Gnarlid. Going to have to rebuild them with Enchantress as Gnarlids 5 through 8.
EDIT: also Emperor Crocodile which just screams "why don't you go ahead and 2-for-1 yourself" to me.
Scavenger is the best delirium card and it's still kind of terrible; really disappointed how that turned out.
Bonded Construct is a 2/1 artifact dude that can't attack alone (but can block alone). Seems plausible for those white (and white-splash) metalcraft decks.
Looting, super-looting effects like Tolarian Winds and Whirlpool Rider, spellshapers like Undertaker, Wild Mongrel. I think that super grindy pauper loam deck could probably use it to good effect.