The way I see it, the 5 mana ability of Plargg is a particular kind that we occasionally see on cube contenders: it provides inevitability and card advantage, and initially seems sweet. But in practice, I doubt it will actually be useful or worthwhile to activate. It’s pretty much never better than any card you’d have in your hand, especially given the ability is random. I’d never feel good activating it at parity, for fear of wasting mana.
More than most formats, cube highlights the best case scenarios for the cards you play, where every single mana is crucial. A situation where you are spending 5 mana and tapping an attacker in order to cast a random, less-expensive card from your deck feels like a situation in which you are already losing, and in danger. And trying to squeeze the card advantage out of it just means you’ve spent 10+ mana to cast 2-6 mana worth of cards that you didn’t choose, because you are so far behind you’ve run out of cards in hand. Sometimes it’s all you can do and then it seems good, but in that scenario, a better bear might’ve helped me too, like Direfleet Daredevil. The cost for unlocking that upside is still a subpar rummaging bear.
I still don’t know if Augusta is the nuts or not, but I’ve definitely fallen off Plargg for cube, as cool as the design is.
I have a hybrid/phyrexian section, and this would go into that. It’s certainly more hybrid than gold.
I appreciate this discussion, because I totally didn’t consider that Augusta comes down and immediately acts as an anthem, and always works exactly how you like. For those that run both Mother & Giver, this seems pretty good. Plargg seems very very fun, but only slightly more efficient than Cards I’ve previously cut.
More than most formats, cube highlights the best case scenarios for the cards you play, where every single mana is crucial. A situation where you are spending 5 mana and tapping an attacker in order to cast a random, less-expensive card from your deck feels like a situation in which you are already losing, and in danger. And trying to squeeze the card advantage out of it just means you’ve spent 10+ mana to cast 2-6 mana worth of cards that you didn’t choose, because you are so far behind you’ve run out of cards in hand. Sometimes it’s all you can do and then it seems good, but in that scenario, a better bear might’ve helped me too, like Direfleet Daredevil. The cost for unlocking that upside is still a subpar rummaging bear.
I still don’t know if Augusta is the nuts or not, but I’ve definitely fallen off Plargg for cube, as cool as the design is.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*
I appreciate this discussion, because I totally didn’t consider that Augusta comes down and immediately acts as an anthem, and always works exactly how you like. For those that run both Mother & Giver, this seems pretty good. Plargg seems very very fun, but only slightly more efficient than Cards I’ve previously cut.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*