MTG Salvation

Feel free to discuss Battlebond here

Does seem to be anything yet. Reprints, and the spoiled ability only works for multiplayer

Rushblade commander seems like it could be interesting IF there are some okay common warriors

Edit: darn this new set symbol being hard to read

The merfolk is very good, right? I mean, it's not COMBAT damage, you can equip it with a bow and draw... Also, the body is good.

Uhm, I really like the merfolk. Often enough the problem with Stealer of Secrets is its low toughness, so he cant attack. Also no synergy with ping enchantments. Really good. Probably even T1 material.

Quote from Brainz »

Sickle Dancer

Seems nice, but do we have enough warriors to make it work?

I think we're pretty close to having enough potential good warrior that it's a possibility. I don't think it take too much shifting around for a lesser power-focused cube to accommodate it with all the incidental warriors. The 4/3 attacker body is good enough to be worth considering and a good thing to keep in mind for future sets with incidental warriors.

In black alone some the best warriors we have include:
Vampire Lacerator
Disowned Ancestor
Nezumi Cutthroat
Hand of Silumgar
Sultai Emissary
Sultai Scavenger

Plus maybe few other more borderline possible ones for inclusion and also there's some good ones in other colors too so I think it's worth testing.

Yes, Saltwater Stalwart in a winner (In both name and function) But what is the cut??

I ran the Stoker for a while and although it looks good on paper its not too useful in actual gameplay. A vanilla 3/3 on turn 4+ is kinda outclassed already and the mana discount doesnt gain you too much tempo either. I agree that I like the goblin a bit more, since it also fixes, but at the same time only nets you 2 mana. Those cards would be aweseome if they would untap some lands.

Quote from CatParty »

Yes, Saltwater Stalwart in a winner (In both name and function) But what is the cut??

I can't really agree. At four mana and two power, it's basically outclassed as soon as it hits play and it's never getting through. Meaning you need that equipment or aura to get around the battlefield. And while I like my cards playing better with synergy, I also like having a decent baseline to work from, and this card doesn't provide it

its very likely you managed to handle bigger threats with counter, bounce or removal, so this dude can attack safely into 2drops.

Of course, if you always have the removal then your saboteurs are going to perform marvelously. I dont think that's nearly common enough to be evaluated as an average case scenario. That seems like a case of win-more, but as a fan of removal, I can see how this could snowball if you can clear the way to get a couple hits in

P.S. what do y'all think of Combo Attack? Symbiosis is a great trick, can this stand alongside it?

I dont like it, its slow and unreliable. It even can be countered with removal. meh

Quote from Humphrey »

I dont like it, its slow and unreliable. It even can be countered with removal. meh

If they play removal doesn't it just become Rabid Bite?

Im not 100% sure, but i think the spell fizzles when you cant tap 2 creatures. Either way its pretty likely you wont deal enough damage in the end.

Quote from Humphrey »

Im not 100% sure, but i think the spell fizzles when you cant tap 2 creatures. Either way its pretty likely you wont deal enough damage in the end.

Fizzle only happens if all targets become illegal

Set dropped a little while ago.

Wasn't a lot of exciting stuff left, for 1v1 at least, but a few noteworthy newly revealed cards include:

Aurora Champion
A decent warrior payoff if you want make it a small subtheme of your cube. Second one in white we've now got, first being Herald of Dromoka

Azra Bladeseeker
Okay body with rummaging tacked I like. Nothing amazing but enjoy having the option of a decent body that can help smooth your draws.

Bull-Rush Bruiser
This payoff seems great if you support it at least somewhat even. 4/3 first strike for 4 is amazing.


Not many downshifts this time around but here's the list:

• Riptide Crab
• Urborg Drake
• Peace Strider
• Pierce Strider
• Stone Golem

Not any great downshifts this time around. Crab and Golem are are out classed by better options (Court Hussar and numerous ones for stone golem). I think the striders are okay options for colorless section even if they're not exciting. Drake wouldn't be that good without the restriction and just terrible with.

Also, first common paper printing for Royal Trooper

EDIT: a word

I like the look of azra bladeseeker. Fine aggro addition. Dunno if I’d play it. I’ll probably still try to make room for the Merfolk. I have a number of ping effects in my cube.

id like to see (decent) changelings get a comeback to get some tribal stuff going.

If you support it there are 4 serciceable Red 1-shot lootera now.

As for my terrible input, this is valuable as Conapiracy 2HG. So if you want Team Sealed, or 2HG support, we have more here than Tribal or +1/+1 counter cubes; less than Artifact though

Quote from Back_Alley_G »

Not many downshifts this time around but here's the list:

• Riptide Crab
• Urborg Drake
• Peace Strider
• Pierce Strider
• Stone Golem

Not any great downshifts this time around. Crab and Golem are are outclassed by better options (Court Hussar and numerous ones for stone golem). I think the striders are okay options for colorless section even if they're not exciting. Drake wouldn't be that good without the restriction and just terrible with.

Those downshifts make sense, but unfortunately most of them are just a couple years too late. Riptide Crab got locked out by Court Hussar yes, and when it comes to Urborg Drake, Chapel Geist is a card that exists, has been around for a while, and often doesnt even make monocolor sections.
Stone Golem just saw an upgrade in Dominaria with Guardians of Koilos, and besides, I think the five drops in pauper are good enough that no deck is really going to want a vanilla beater for the cost.

The most interesting choices here are the Striders. They go in very different decks, with Pierce Strider being an aggressive curve-topper, while Peace Strider wants a more midrange or controlling deck that can potentially recur it for value. Pierce Strider gives non-red aggro a bit of reach to close out games, while Peace Strider is cheaper and easier to cast than the next best lifegain critter (Angel of Mercy) and I can see it becoming a real hindrance if you blink it a couple times or return it with Sanctum Gargoyle plus the Packbeast from the spoiler leak. I think one or both deserve consideration if you have some weak or flexible spots open in colorless

I feel the striders lack one toughness or power to be cubable. As is, they are on the lowest end of borderline and although they allow for some fringe interactions, i dont see them fit in any of my cubes.