Two colorless mana to cast
Artifact
When Alchemist's Vial enters the battlefield draw a card.
1T: Sacrifice Alchemist's Vial; target creature cannot attack or block this turn.
So I might categorize this card as a 'pet' card for me, but I have been really impressed with it. First of all, who does not love a cantrip artifact for 2 colorless mana. The ability is very versatile, and with the power level of cube, this card can actually change the course of a game. Dropping a Vial turn 3, then playing Jace or Elspeth a couple turns later, this card can really help keep them alive long enough to impact the board.
Any thoughts?
Also the flavor of this card and the art are tops!
Seems really bad. Cube is just too powerful to play what is essentially a bad pacifism or a broadcasted trick. Like, you could do better than this in pauper, nevertheless a(n) (un)powered cube. When we've been recently discussing cutting a card like Mirror Entity--a card that can actually win you the game on its own--then it would seem odd to include something of such low power level.
I can see your point of view for individual card power level. For a control player, I think this helps stave off an attacker while you setup for a sweeper, or can blank an opponent's blocker. The fact that it replaces itself means it is a neutral card to include, so I think it has its uses.
I'd rather just run removal or like anything else. Cantripping isn't really that great when you're paying 2 for a card and then ending with a *****ty effect.
I have to agree. Ultimately I'd rather just play a removal spell on the target. They both retain the card parity, they both protect me and my 'walkers, but the removal rout is both more permanent and is a better tempo play.
If you're looking for some sort of colorless interaction, maybe gut shot? dismember if you're not running it? mutagenic growth? There are just, like, a million cards better than this one. Spots in your cube are just too valuable to waste on what would be a poor limited card.
I'm sure it can be used, but if you took the average cube statistics here, a card like this is just too weak to get included into a majority of decks. Maybe appropriate for low-powered cubes; perhaps if yours mirrors the draft experience of Origins and recent blocks it wouldn't seem too out of place.
Blue, I think you have a good point. My cube is still pretty young, and I have a lot of development to make as I acquire more powerful cards. In the meantime I will be experimenting with more recent cards I own.
And you definitely should! Part of what makes this format so fun is how customizable it is. It's great being able to run cards that few (or no) other cubes regularly play. Adds character.
I really love this card.... in my Glissa, the Traitor EDH deck. What this card needs to be playable is some way to recur it so that you're drawing multiple cards while keeping a creature locked down with it. The only card that can do that in my cube is Sun Titan. This might be good enough in a heavy artifact-themed cube that has multiple ways to recur artifacts like Trading Post, Sharuum the Hegemon, Daretti, Scrap Savant and the like, but it's a pretty easy pass for a more traditional cube.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Two colorless mana to cast
Artifact
When Alchemist's Vial enters the battlefield draw a card.
1T: Sacrifice Alchemist's Vial; target creature cannot attack or block this turn.
So I might categorize this card as a 'pet' card for me, but I have been really impressed with it. First of all, who does not love a cantrip artifact for 2 colorless mana. The ability is very versatile, and with the power level of cube, this card can actually change the course of a game. Dropping a Vial turn 3, then playing Jace or Elspeth a couple turns later, this card can really help keep them alive long enough to impact the board.
Any thoughts?
Also the flavor of this card and the art are tops!
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.