MTG Salvation

I like Probe more than Serum Visions, for what it's worth. I don't normally group those two spells together though.

Next week is 3cmc black creatures, excited to see what everyone's top 10 is in cube's most discussed slot. I think the last ~20 pages of this thread have seen more discussion on 3cmc black creatures 2x more than any other topic, lol.

Frantic Search > Gifts Ungiven > Compulsive Research, IMO.

Gifts is a really fun card to play with and has a lot of really interesting connections. It helps that all my cubes are pretty much a perfect home for it, haha.

I think Frantic Search is the most underrated blue card draw spell period. Compulsive is also really good, but definitely not as risky/upside/rainbows as Frantic Search or Gifts.

I think Forbid is much better, and I actually don't think Clever Impersonator would make the cut at 360.

Inkwell also helps out Goblin Welder / Daretti. I'm also for Inkwell.

Shrine and Shelldock Isle for sure. My love for Shelldock Isle is somewhere in my post history. It does so many sweet crazy things when it goes active, and it's nuts with Upheaval.

Snuff Out > Malicious Affliction > Consuming Vapors

Hordechief > Unburial Rites vs. Utter End is a cube decision based on if you think you need more reanimator or more removal. I think they're comparable where it's just cube manager preference.

4- Lightning Helix vs Alesha, Who Smiles at Death ?

Probably Alesha because her effect is awesome, but I would definitely try to keep the Helix.

Redcap is much better.

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Helix > SGM > or = Rev > Venser
Hordechief > Aristocrat > Reckoner
Tasigur > Duskmantle

EDIT: You edited in Helix, so I edited in Helix.

I really like Helix. It's great in every deck that actually wants those colors. Some multicolored cards are only good in one deck, but they're definitely worth it for that deck (think, I dunno - uh, Sphinx's Revelation or Geist of Saint Traft. Both of those cards are specifically crafted for control or aggro decks. If you think about it, every deck except Storm wants Lightning Helix when it's red and white. That's pretty awesome and pretty difficult to find anywhere, let alone in the multicolored section. It's also just a bonus to support spells-matter cards like Guttersnipe, Talrand, Young Pyromancer, Monastery Mentor, etc. It's a two mana instant which might as well be the absolute best casting cost you could have in Magic if you were a spell considered good in the Magic Universe. If reincarnation is real, and I come back as a Magic card, and Richard Garfield is god and he tells me I get to choose my type and casting cost, I very well might go with instant and 2 cmc.

Wave. I thought Barriicade was better than it was when I first saw it. It's actually not that special when you compare it with something like Whitemane Lion and the U/W guy that does the same thing.

I actually think I might like Silverblade Paladin a little more, though Exalted Angel is an oldie and a goodie and difficult to cut.

I like Hordechief more here. He'll serve as reach a lot like Aristocrat, and he gains you some life in the process. He also goes in Orzhov decks. I think he's a clear winner, though I've never been huge on aristocrat.

I like Malicious Affliction a lot. I just think it's so great when it's good and it's really not that difficult to cast -- it's easier than Hero's Downfall.

Shrine > Bombardment, although I haven't tested Bombardment recently.
Inquisition >> Tombstalker >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pox
Monastery Mentor >> Spectral Procession (haven't tested it yet, but I am not the biggest fan of Procession and I expect Mentor to be insane)
Wave > Missionary, but I think this is more of a cube decision on which effect you need more. I think Wave is a more interesting effect for sure.

I like Ghor-Clan Rampager much more. Combat tricks are rare, and that's a great one. I think it's just a much better card in general too.

Captive > Lion > Geist
Rabblemaster > Gargadon > Feldon. I have no idea on Alesha yet.
Vapors > Command
Tasigur > Tombstalker

Relic Warder >> Sanctifiers (Sanctifiers should not still be played in cubes IMO, I would much rather play tons of other disenchant effects in white)
Snapper vs. Omenspeaker is a cube based call on whether you're really trying to support tempo. If you are, I'd go with the Snapper.
I think all three of those black creatures are really close, and they all do really different things. I don't have a huge opinion on that one.

Quote from wtwlf123 »

Hellkite Overlord is actually a pretty scary creature. Big ramp, reanimator, natural order ...he has good applications in multiple decks. Broodmate isn't the same caliber creature he was in this post-Titan era.

I can see this. I like doing exciting things, and he is a good reanimation dude actually.

Yeah, I'm on board with this now and I'm gonna add him to all my cubes. I forgot all about him being a Natural Order target too. Why have I not been playing this guy ?

Quote from Ultimateer »

Making a cut for the new white one drop. Azorious Arrester or Cloistered Youth?

I've never tested Azorious Arrester, but I don't like Cloistered Youth that much. However, a 3/3 for 1W is still playable in a medium sized cube, which is disappointing to me.

Where's Steppe Lynx in your cube? I'd play that guy and this new one and cut Aven Riftwatcher and Fencing Ace or Beloved Chaplain or Paladin En-Vec.

Detention vs. Sphinx:

I have no idea. I'd probably rather have Sphinx. It's unique instead of having a third oblivion ring effect, you have a really sweet spell that's unique.

Even if it is slightly worse, it's definitely an effect you want in the cube. Detention Sphere is just the third Oblivion Ring that's a little better because of tokens and maybe a little worse because of the extra mana requirement some of the time.

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Broodmate Dragon is much more castable. It's a worse cheaty thing to do though, so if you need more of that effect, you might wanna go with the Dragon. If I were classifying Sphinx of the Steel Wind as an esper card, and I needed another fatty, and I were classifying Overlord as Jund, it's a fine option if you want more of that effect.

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I like Sarkhan much more than Chandra, Pyromaster. I don't think they're even close.

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I prefer Hordechief to Butcher by an even greater margin than Sarkahn vs. Chandra. Butcher is just way, way, way too hard to cast.