Urza is like a $36 card now. Expensive, but not unobtainably so.
Regardless, you don't need an artifact deck for him to be good. Just some artifacts in your deck. There's a big difference. Cubes with artifacts in them should be able to make Urza pretty busted with minimal effort. It isn't nearly as deck-specific as a card like Tolarian Academy or Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas.
Urza isn't JTMS good, but it's still a spectacular cube card that's both powerful and fun. I would proxy one up just for testing in the next few drafts, and see if it's worth ordering one. You don't need to "run proxies" in order to do good playtesting.
While I don't necessarily agree with the scalding hot take of it being better than Jace, the Mind Sculptor, I do agree with the take that I can't imaging taking Urza, Lord High Artificer out of my cube. The card is not only insanely powerful and synergistic, but it's a blast to play with. It's really rare that a card is both terrific and a flavor home run, and Urza is exactly that.
Card is insanely good, and there's already folks having good success with it in eternal formats. It's been spectacular in testing, so I won't expect it to go anywhere anytime soon.
What I find really cool about the card is that if you just have one other artifact around, You still have counter-mana open when you play Urza. I think that is a quite important feature.
Amen. Was just discussing the importance of this aspect of the card with my playgroup yesterday.
I don't think I want to cut Whirler Rogue, but Urza is pretty damn good. Should I remove Kefnet for it even though I literally just added that card? Decisions, decisions.
Regardless, you don't need an artifact deck for him to be good. Just some artifacts in your deck. There's a big difference. Cubes with artifacts in them should be able to make Urza pretty busted with minimal effort. It isn't nearly as deck-specific as a card like Tolarian Academy or Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas.
Urza isn't JTMS good, but it's still a spectacular cube card that's both powerful and fun. I would proxy one up just for testing in the next few drafts, and see if it's worth ordering one. You don't need to "run proxies" in order to do good playtesting.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Amen. Was just discussing the importance of this aspect of the card with my playgroup yesterday.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Except it's secretly a 1/1. *shhhh*
Technically it's more like a blue Llanowar Elves ...with pseudo-haste... that can grow in size, but that's not important I guess.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!