MTG Salvation

Big reveal at PAX... Uncommon planeswalkers!

This Vraska seems way too niche to be cubed but it's really cool that she's hybrid GB and if there are 20 (yes, twenty) uncommon planeswalkers in the set, we're bound to get something cool.

The 3 mana 2/2 with proliferate when you cast a noncreature spell also seems cool but narrow.

Tibalt, Rakish instigator's potential for the burn/aggro in cube is crazy IMO. Im thinking of these Uncommon walkers more of attackable enchantments so in that mid-set I feel they are more interesting.

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted is cool but I feel like I will just end up skullclamping my own dudes.

Scullclamping is pretty good i hear.

This Uncommon PW are like Sagas, or attackable enchantments as you said. They are bad, I have to recognize it, but we will have 20, so let's see.

Tibalt is bad, you are paying three manas to cast a 1/1... The static ability is what I see decent. If you have a lifegain archetype in your cube, this is a good tool to fight that. We don't have nothing similar to a Sulfuric Vortex, so this could be a (more or less bad) option... Our only option.

The same for Arlinn, paying six manas to create a 3/3 and who knows if the PW will survive more than one turn. At least, Tybalt and Arlinn defend themselves.

I’d like to see if there is a way to work some of these “planeswalker matters” kind of cards from planeswalker decks and the like if there is a threshold of decent PWers.

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&text= [If] [you] [control] [a] [planeswalker]&rarity= ![R] ![M]

For example Marchesa’s Decree might be something to think about?

Vraska, Swarm's Eminence and Arlinn, Voice of the Pack are just too expensive for their value to be conditional.

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted seems solid in aggro. Too expensive if you want to target your own creatures regularly, but the option is nice.

Tibalt, Rakish Instigator seems good? Devils are good defensively, so you'll probably get both or an okay trade if there aren't evasive threats. Lifegain is also somewhat common and preventing a Pelakka Wurm trigger or another big life swing can easily win a game.

I don't hate Vraska, I do wish I had more deathtouch to make the most of here. The deathtoucher does kind of protect her but protect her for what? I think I'll be most interested in the blue ones since that is where my proliferate is.

I actually like the Proliferate wizard but Proliferate and non-creature spells are kind of opposing deck archetypes for me but... Sage of Fables and shrine of burning rage synergy. Would have been better if it had more toughness I feel.

What gets me most excited are hybrid cards - especially since Vraska already proves they are willing to do uncommon Planeswalkers as hybrids. The first batch seems solid as far as getting my hype up is concerned, though Paradise Druid is probably the most likely inclusion thus far.

According to MaRo’s blog, the 20 uncommon planeswalkers will come from three cycles: two five-card monocolor cycles, and a ten-card hybrid cycle. Ten hybrids had me excited that we’ll get at least a couple cubeable ones.

The new Kiora seems very nice.

- Essentially costs 2 mana
- Has a lot of loyalty
- Static ability seems easily usable in most UG decks
- Is hybrid, which is always nice
- And of course if you have any cool stuff to untap, she gets even better

So far I'm definitely testing her and Tibalt and probably the Paradise Druid as well.

Paradise Druid will definitely be added to my cube, replacing Servant of the Conduit which has been good

Cruel Celebrant likely being added and replacing Maw of the Obzedat

PWs are hit or miss so far, mostly miss... I wish they had 0 abilities too

Samut, Tyrant Smasher is awkward, as you want to be hasting your 4 drops, not your 5 drops. A 4 drop with potentially zero immediate impact is also not really where aggressive decks want to be.

Kaya, Bane of the Dead is a 6 mana Unmake if she's hit for 2 damage.

Angrath, Captain of Chaos is a Goblin War Drums with an additional 2/2 or 4/4, both of which are pretty reasonable. The option to not minus is also pretty reasonable, which makes for interesting gameplay.

Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner having 7 loyalty for 3 mana is ridiculous. Curving into a 5 drop, which probably draws a card, is also really good. I probably wouldn't play it outside of green, but there might be some nice synergy in other colours.

The Wanderer seems too match-up dependent, and is pretty fair even in the right match-up. It does prevent some niche things, like Psionic Blast, Serendib Efreet, Jackal Pup, fight spells, and makes damage sweepers one sided.

Then some decent filler in Gideon's Triumph, Kaya's Ghostform (have we gotten this effect for 1 before?), and Burning Prophet and a multicolour Zulaport Cutthroat in Cruel Celebrant.

Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage is the first of the uncommon walkers that feels like a strong contender for inclusion (maybe Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner too). Both the static and activated abilities are relevant across many contexts, and they of course work synergistically with each other and with proper deck support. Plus it actually makes for interesting gameplay, both for opponents playing against it, and for deciding whether (and when) to use the 3rd activation (if he lives to that point).

Teferi's Time Twist is nice, going to have to add that to the cube too

I see Samut, Tyrant Smasher as a new Fires of Yavimaya. Maybe not better as the original version, but you can make the ability twice and you have the haste effect after those uses. Not at instant speed, but who knows. Maybe a good companion for Rhythm of the Wild in the Gruul section for a Stompy archetype.

I don't know. This Uncommon PW are not great. Kiora and Samut are decent, at least. Ob Nixilis or Teyo maybe. I also like Kaya, but I don't know. For sure I will acquire a copy of each of these PW to test at least.

Edit, syntax

Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter looks really good to me another Song of Freyalise first of the uncommon walkers I really like.

Edit: His doggo is also great

Teferi's Time Twist, I agree seems good. I feel I have too many blue cards that just say "draw a card" would be nice to have variety. (bonus will look amazing in foil)

Burning Prophet it's not super amazing but its also a wizard and I run adeliz atm which makes me kind of want it more than I should.

[[Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter]] is really good for a +1/+1 counters archetype. This set will be crazy for that mechanic. In the end, you may be proliferating his own loyalty to put even more counters on your creatures.

100% adding jiang, super solid imo... wish the other walkers were as good as this

I dont know of jiang is actually that good. If all you get is two counters spread over two turns, which is probably just a hair better or worse than his average case, thats not worth the investment. You need either all three counters or a meaningful use of the extra mana for it to be actually great.
It's the best if you curve out since it can turn two guys into llanowar elves, but having a 1 and 2 drop just isnt the average case.
It's... possibly good.

I'm most interested in kiora. I think she's the most obviously good one. I wouldn't call her 2 mana since you rarely have a 1 drop with her and she isnt a turn 2 play.

If tibalt was just a 3 mana sorcery that made those tokens itd be... a reasonably good defensive card that could also make aggro decks from time to time. But one at a time is really slow. The token protects him better than I first expected though.

The discard guy doesnt protect himself at all though, and even if he does get to discard twice it's still worse than mind rot.

I think I like Tibalt, Rakish Instigator enough to include him. He's cool for control decks to put bodies in the way.

I also like Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner. She'll find her way into my cube.

I'm excited for some asymmetric planeswalker additions to my cube. My friend was wanting a PW per monocolor, but i'm totally content if some colors dont get a decent PW.

Seems unlikely that we'll get enough good walkers to create balanced cycles.

Kiora looks really good imo. Tibalt is interesting.

I don't think Jiang will be worth it without some signigicant support in the cube. Even then you can probably find better.

As I said, Jiang is preferable in a +1+1 counters archetype, is like an uncommon Rishkar, Peema Renegade.

For any ramp strategies, Kiora is better. Even she has some other utilities, like untap a big creature to defend after attacking, or a mana rock or an Icy Manipulator or a Serrated Arrows.

Eternal Taskmaster seems very good. Cost/statted well enough for aggressive decks with significant mid/late game upside.