Well.. all I know is that whenever my opponent played Sworn Swiftwing it was incredibly annoying. It easily got in for some damage too. I think the card will do just fine.
I played against: Siren Stormrader: My opponent went to activate Ongoing Investigation while at 3 life, so I responded with Psionic Blast to the dome for the win, but he activated Siren to redirect. Forgot that it can redirect something that targets himself. Card is solid.
I like how your misplay led you to conclude that the card is solid.
It wasn't just that. It was quite annoying whenever it was in play. It's the closest thing to Spellskite that we have access too. It's just super annoying and demands an answer at some point in the game. It's a horrible feeling having to destroy a 1/1 flier in order to get their bigger threat.
(It's also a horrible feeling to not RTFC and get destroyed!!)
Cubed last night. Included all my Ixalan cards. Here's what I saw:
I played Kitesail Freebooter: I was playing U/B Control for reference. I drove by Whiff City both times I casted it. Hit a Dynacharge and Curse of Verborsity. I'm 2/2 with the card. I personally like the disruption.
I played against: Siren Stormcaller: My opponent went to activate Ongoing Investigation while at 3 life, so I responded with Psionic Blast to the dome for the win, but he activated Siren to redirect. Forgot that it can redirect something that targets himself. Card is solid.
Storm Fleet Aerialist: As I thought, dropping him turn 3 or 4 while casting another spell or keeping something open is still a fine and annoying play!
Kitesail Freebooter: Brain Maggot that flies. I like this card since it can disrupt your opponent while also having evasion to net you perhaps a few points of damage. It also chumps Spirit tokens. Solid, utility card.
You know it's NOT actually a Brain Maggot trigger, right? 'Noncreature' is crucial and basically crippling.
To be honest I didn't really know what Brain Maggot did... I never considered the card since it was just a 1/1. I have to imagine that taking a removal spell on a 1/2 flier is still probably fine. We'll have to see.
I finally got a chance to gather all of the cards from Ixalan that I was thinking about adding. I actually have them in front of me right now... I'm contemplating the definites and the maybes.
Here are the windmill slams:
Charging Monstrosaur: FINALLY!! A red 5-drop that I can actually see a red aggro deck curving out at. It's obviously great in the midrange decks as well. Very very excited about this one. This was a no-brainer.
Merfolk Branchwalker: A 2/1 for 2 with draw a land or a 3/2 for 2 with basically scry 1? Both very solid value for the mana. This card will be consistently good.
Those are the only two cards that I didn't really have to think about.
Here are the cards I'll be testing:
Siren Stormtamer: I figure being able to protect one of your bigger threats is certainly fine enough. I'm not quite sure exactly where this card will be played. Is it even good in the tempo deck? Is it a utility card in the control deck? It's not netting you a lot of damage, but perhaps later in the game it can be quite annoying for your opponent. We'll see!
Storm Fleet Aerialist: I love the BCS for this guy. A 2/3 flier on 2. I don't think that'll be the average case though. However, I think this is perfectly acceptable on turn 3 or 4, while holding up a removal spell or counter. We'll see if it's fast enough.
Chart a Course: I'm not as excited about this card as everyone else. I have so many card draw spells in blue, adding another one almost seems superfluous, but having a decent option at 2 mana is super tempting. It is great in the tempo deck too.... Did I just ocnvince myself?
Inspiring Cleric: I'm always searching for decent life gain creatures, because I think it's important for the cube. A reasonable body that gains 4 life is certainly respectable. Now I have Lone Missionary and this guy to complement each other. Not a crazy powerful card, but an effect that I was certainly looking for.
Wanted Scoundrels: Mmmmmmmmmm. Fatty McFat Fat at 2 mana. It's so above curve that my greed will get the best of me. I love hyper aggressive cards, and we'll see if the downside is dramatic. If this card hurts you more than helps you, I'll let it go, but in the mean time, I will gladly test a 4/3 for 2.
Kitesail Freebooter: Brain Maggot that flies. I like this card since it can disrupt your opponent while also having evasion to net you perhaps a few points of damage. It also chumps Spirit tokens. Solid, utility card.
Dire Fleet Hoarder: I love cards like this. Reminds me slightly of Viridian Emissary. It's just a cool card in the midrange decks, as it lets you just swing in every turn to see if they'll let you ramp. I don't know.. perhaps it's bad, since at least Viridian Emissary gets you a permanent ramp, as this guy only gives you a 1 shot ramp. I may test him anyways. Just a pet card type of test.
Overall, I got a few more cards that I wanted to test than anticipated, but only 2 cards that I'm windmill slamming.
Red Reality Smasher is the kind of card you'd expect to already exist but somehow doesn't. I concede that Bloodfray Giant might be better in some aggro decks, but this dino might be fun in ramp and midrange. It's also so french vanilla that it's easily excludable.
Adanto Vanguard is gonna teach my playgroup to fear the T H R E A T O F A C T I V A T I O N
He's going to teach your playgroup how to blow you out in response to the activation... unless you want to lose 8 life instead.
A 3/2 Scry 1 for 2 (essentially), or a 2/1 EtB draw a land.
Both acceptable modes. Good card. Easy include.
Also, sidenote: Possible +1/+1 synergy with Corpsejack Menace.. is that downgrade enough for me to consider supporting the G/B +1/+1 archetype more? Perhaps. Having him and Winding Constrictor (a card I don't currently run) would be a great start for defining the guild.
If you are evaluating Storm Fleet in conjunction with Welkin Tern, it obviously fails the consistency test.
Welkin Tern is ALWAYS a 2/1 flier for 2 on turn 2.
Storm Fleet is a 2/3 flier for 2 on turn 2 about what? 7-10% of time? Roughly? Maybe worse?
However, on turn 3, the percentage, I assume, goes way up. Would we still feel good about playing this guy on turn 3 or 4? Even on turn 3 and 4 it's great value mana-wise... Attacking with a creature turn 4, playing this guy with Remand up? Potential.
It also has slight utility as a defensive card for a value/control deck. Maybe even side it in your control deck against the W/x spirit token deck.
It's not as consistent as Vaporkin and ... kin, but it's certainly a more interesting card with a higher upside in the right deck. I think it at least deserves a test to see exactly how often it pans out.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
It wasn't just that. It was quite annoying whenever it was in play. It's the closest thing to Spellskite that we have access too. It's just super annoying and demands an answer at some point in the game. It's a horrible feeling having to destroy a 1/1 flier in order to get their bigger threat.
(It's also a horrible feeling to not RTFC and get destroyed!!)
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
I played
Kitesail Freebooter: I was playing U/B Control for reference. I drove by Whiff City both times I casted it. Hit a Dynacharge and Curse of Verborsity. I'm 2/2 with the card. I personally like the disruption.
I played against:
Siren Stormcaller: My opponent went to activate Ongoing Investigation while at 3 life, so I responded with Psionic Blast to the dome for the win, but he activated Siren to redirect. Forgot that it can redirect something that targets himself. Card is solid.
Storm Fleet Aerialist: As I thought, dropping him turn 3 or 4 while casting another spell or keeping something open is still a fine and annoying play!
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
To be honest I didn't really know what Brain Maggot did... I never considered the card since it was just a 1/1. I have to imagine that taking a removal spell on a 1/2 flier is still probably fine. We'll have to see.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
I finally got a chance to gather all of the cards from Ixalan that I was thinking about adding. I actually have them in front of me right now... I'm contemplating the definites and the maybes.
Here are the windmill slams:
Charging Monstrosaur: FINALLY!! A red 5-drop that I can actually see a red aggro deck curving out at. It's obviously great in the midrange decks as well. Very very excited about this one. This was a no-brainer.
Merfolk Branchwalker: A 2/1 for 2 with draw a land or a 3/2 for 2 with basically scry 1? Both very solid value for the mana. This card will be consistently good.
Those are the only two cards that I didn't really have to think about.
Here are the cards I'll be testing:
Siren Stormtamer: I figure being able to protect one of your bigger threats is certainly fine enough. I'm not quite sure exactly where this card will be played. Is it even good in the tempo deck? Is it a utility card in the control deck? It's not netting you a lot of damage, but perhaps later in the game it can be quite annoying for your opponent. We'll see!
Storm Fleet Aerialist: I love the BCS for this guy. A 2/3 flier on 2. I don't think that'll be the average case though. However, I think this is perfectly acceptable on turn 3 or 4, while holding up a removal spell or counter. We'll see if it's fast enough.
Chart a Course: I'm not as excited about this card as everyone else. I have so many card draw spells in blue, adding another one almost seems superfluous, but having a decent option at 2 mana is super tempting. It is great in the tempo deck too.... Did I just ocnvince myself?
Inspiring Cleric: I'm always searching for decent life gain creatures, because I think it's important for the cube. A reasonable body that gains 4 life is certainly respectable. Now I have Lone Missionary and this guy to complement each other. Not a crazy powerful card, but an effect that I was certainly looking for.
Wanted Scoundrels: Mmmmmmmmmm. Fatty McFat Fat at 2 mana. It's so above curve that my greed will get the best of me. I love hyper aggressive cards, and we'll see if the downside is dramatic. If this card hurts you more than helps you, I'll let it go, but in the mean time, I will gladly test a 4/3 for 2.
Kitesail Freebooter: Brain Maggot that flies. I like this card since it can disrupt your opponent while also having evasion to net you perhaps a few points of damage. It also chumps Spirit tokens. Solid, utility card.
Dire Fleet Hoarder: I love cards like this. Reminds me slightly of Viridian Emissary. It's just a cool card in the midrange decks, as it lets you just swing in every turn to see if they'll let you ramp. I don't know.. perhaps it's bad, since at least Viridian Emissary gets you a permanent ramp, as this guy only gives you a 1 shot ramp. I may test him anyways. Just a pet card type of test.
Overall, I got a few more cards that I wanted to test than anticipated, but only 2 cards that I'm windmill slamming.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
He's going to teach your playgroup how to blow you out in response to the activation... unless you want to lose 8 life instead.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
It's not super exciting, but Flash is definitely cool. I may test it out.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
A 3/2 Scry 1 for 2 (essentially), or a 2/1 EtB draw a land.
Both acceptable modes. Good card. Easy include.
Also, sidenote: Possible +1/+1 synergy with Corpsejack Menace.. is that downgrade enough for me to consider supporting the G/B +1/+1 archetype more? Perhaps. Having him and Winding Constrictor (a card I don't currently run) would be a great start for defining the guild.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
Play this card WITH the red 1 drops? or white? or easily black?
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
Welkin Tern is ALWAYS a 2/1 flier for 2 on turn 2.
Storm Fleet is a 2/3 flier for 2 on turn 2 about what? 7-10% of time? Roughly? Maybe worse?
However, on turn 3, the percentage, I assume, goes way up. Would we still feel good about playing this guy on turn 3 or 4? Even on turn 3 and 4 it's great value mana-wise... Attacking with a creature turn 4, playing this guy with Remand up? Potential.
It also has slight utility as a defensive card for a value/control deck. Maybe even side it in your control deck against the W/x spirit token deck.
It's not as consistent as Vaporkin and ... kin, but it's certainly a more interesting card with a higher upside in the right deck. I think it at least deserves a test to see exactly how often it pans out.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
Turning any removal spell into a ramp spell is unfortunate... but man.... is it worth it?
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
Gaining free value at EoT for doing something that the tempo deck wants to be doing is quite strong.
I think he's more interesting than some of the cheap, spells matters/tempo Izzet creatures. I will definitely be giving him a shot.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!