MTG Salvation

For those of you that support the Phyrexian Obliterator/Gray Merchant of Asphodel/Geralf's Messenger mono-black deck, this is a nice pickup. Feels very akin to Skred, with a few minor points in favor (recognizes dual lands, can be played as a combat trick against larger creature, trumps indestructible) and a few minor point against (generally doesn't scale quite as well in 2-3 color decks and no random synergies with cards like Boros Reckoner). Thoughts?

In mono-black it looks pretty good. In multicolor black decks, it might be a while before this is better than Disfigure. 3 actual factual Swamp cards can be harder to reach in like Grixis midrange and Esper control than it might look, so I'm not sure this makes it in unless you're running a multiple dual/shock/fetch base or you play a lot of mono black.

Quote from wtwlf123 »

In mono-black it looks pretty good. In multicolor black decks, it might be a while before this is better than Disfigure. 3 actual factual Swamp cards can be harder to reach in like Grixis midrange and Esper control than it might look, so I'm not sure this makes it in unless you're running a multiple dual/shock/fetch base or you play a lot of mono black.

But on the other hand, Disfigure can feel pretty bad if you draw it late in a grindy game, whereas this could take out a Titan.

In mono black it can, yes. Reaching 6 swamps in a multicolor deck isn't something I'd consider a reasonable expectation, even in a 2-color deck. Better yet something like Grixis or Esper.

And I don't play Disfigure.

This is an insane common but the conditions required to make it good do not often happen in cube. Pass.

I am interested in this card, will possibly test, but I don't expect it to stick.
I see it as a slightly more narrow fatal push/disfigure with a higher upside.

In 2-3 color decks with black as a secondary color, defile is a sideboard card and noteably less powerful than disfigure.

In 2 color decks with a lot of swamps, it's probably equivalent to disfigure or slightly better. Occasionally losing the ability to hit a 2 toughness creature early, but occasionally hitting a bigger toughness creature in the late game.

In mono black it becomes a removal spell that should never miss a main deck.

I like the idea of having an effect like this with a higher ceiling.. though the ceiling still isn't THAT high. In mono black I'm not convinced it's better than dismember.

I love this in mono black contructed, pauper even. But in cube, 2 color with a splash is common, so i sxpect to only get 2-4 swamps. I think it is not enough.

If you are pushing mono black in your cube, this is a good addition.

I play Disfigure, and it would have to be the cut. 3+ color decks are so common in my cube that I think I'm keeping Disfigure.