I think this is my favourite set review. Sticks to the noteworthy cards, gives a good explanation without too much information, and provides a picture of the card with the review.
Also, I agree with this. As a 540 cuber, It gets a little tiring hearing every everyone say every non-staple is a "450+." I don't think people realize exactly how many cards there are like that. 540 still has a lot of tough choices.
Heck, 800 has a lot of tough choices
EDIT: It might sometimes be tougher, just b/c there are so many roughly comparable cards vying for the bottom slots.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
Of course it does! 720 has tough choices, and 810 (the next logical cycle in size) wouldn't be far behind. Even 900 card cubes would have some decisions to make.
Just got around to reading this. I think that the format was a very nice choice and I pretty much agreed with the evaluations. The good cards in this set seem to be the obvious ones - Tamiyo, Mauler, Restoration Angel, Stronghold - so it'll be interesting to see what fringe cards make it through. Other than that, I think Bonfire of the Damned could be a sleeper, though. I'm excited to try that one out. Good job!
Yeah, I'll chime in here too. Thanks for the review! I was looking for something like this - even though I've been making my own evaluations, I always like to see what experienced cubers think of the new stuff. Many thanks!
A couple of cards I'd like to get your opinion on:
Archwing Dragon - I'm testing this in my larger cube (540). I think it could be the second coming of Hell's Thunder, which is definitely a 540 staple, and would Archwing Dragon crack your top 20.
Vessel of Endless Rest - Better or worse than Darksteel Ingot? I replaced the Ingot with this card, and I think the Ingot is good enough for 540, which would make it better than many of the cards you reviewed.
A couple of cards I'd like to get your opinion on:
Archwing Dragon - I'm testing this in my larger cube (540). I think it could be the second coming of Hell's Thunder, which is definitely a 540 staple, and would Archwing Dragon crack your top 20.
Vessel of Endless Rest - Better or worse than Darksteel Ingot? I replaced the Ingot with this card, and I think the Ingot is good enough for 540, which would make it better than many of the cards you reviewed.
I'm glad someone else thinks Vessel is good. I'm definitely adding it to my 445 cube. Also I think the miracles are worth testing. I'm definitely trying thunderous wrath when I get one.
Wtwlf123, great article! One question though. In a few of the card ratings you often refer to a card as the 6th best or 7th best card of that casting cost. Care to share what the 1st-5th best cards are? It gives context better as to how to rate a particular card. And btw, all the best in supporting this cube forum all these years!
I'm glad someone else thinks Zealous Conscripts is top 10 card from this set. I enjoyed Word of Seizing when I ran it, so it'll be good to get this effect back in the cube again, and on a better card, at that.
Just got around to reading this. I think that the format was a very nice choice and I pretty much agreed with the evaluations. The good cards in this set seem to be the obvious ones - Tamiyo, Mauler, Restoration Angel, Stronghold - so it'll be interesting to see what fringe cards make it through. Other than that, I think Bonfire of the Damned could be a sleeper, though. I'm excited to try that one out. Good job!
There are a few cards that could be sleepers, for sure. Miracle is hard to evaluate up front.
Quote from Amadeus8574 »
Yeah, I'll chime in here too. Thanks for the review! I was looking for something like this - even though I've been making my own evaluations, I always like to see what experienced cubers think of the new stuff. Many thanks!
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Quote from meep98324 »
Well-written article!
A couple of cards I'd like to get your opinion on:
Archwing Dragon - I'm testing this in my larger cube (540). I think it could be the second coming of Hell's Thunder, which is definitely a 540 staple, and would Archwing Dragon crack your top 20.
Vessel of Endless Rest - Better or worse than Darksteel Ingot? I replaced the Ingot with this card, and I think the Ingot is good enough for 540, which would make it better than many of the cards you reviewed.
I'll give some data on Vexing Devils and Druids' Repository when I play with/against them.
I think the Dragon is more akin to a 4-mana Pulse of the Forge. I think Hell's Thunder is better, because even if it runs into removal, it can still get in for more damage. I don't like it more than any of the other 20 cards I mentioned.
The Vessel is okay. I prefer the Ingot's indestructibility though. Typically, 3-mana mana rocks are a big investment, and you lose a lot of tempo when they're blown up by a Vandal. I prefer the one that can't be destroyed. And I don't know what size actually needs two of those things, but I'm guessing the cube would have to be pretty big, else you'd be running Spectral Searchlight already (a card I would cut for the Vessel). I certainly don't think it's better (read: goes into tighter) lists than any of the other cards in the article. But that's just my opinion, of course.
The Devil and the Repository don't really interest me in the slightest, but if your cube group wants to draft them, go for it!
Quote from Aeldaar »
If you're not supporting green aggro and lacking good one drops as a result, jam a bunch of mana elves in there
Most cubes at that size are already running every mana dork, and still need more good 1-drops. Especially if you're not playing the good aggro creatures.
Quote from nightwing1 »
Wtwlf123, great article! One question though. In a few of the card ratings you often refer to a card as the 6th best or 7th best card of that casting cost. Care to share what the 1st-5th best cards are? It gives context better as to how to rate a particular card. And btw, all the best in supporting this cube forum all these years!
Which example are you referring to? I can provide context for any of the ones I mentioned (there were a few).
Quote from InsuranceMan »
Fine review!
I'm glad someone else thinks Zealous Conscripts is top 10 card from this set. I enjoyed Word of Seizing when I ran it, so it'll be good to get this effect back in the cube again, and on a better card, at that.
I'm happy you liked the review! And yes, the Conscripts looks pretty good to me.
I am already running spectral searchlight, and indeed it is going to be an easy swap for Vessel. I also know that TSG's list also runs manalithe, which is strictly worse than this, so.... I think vessel will find more play than you expect.
I am already running spectral searchlight, and indeed it is going to be an easy swap for Vessel. I also know that TSG's list also runs manalithe, which is strictly worse than this, so.... I think vessel will find more play than you expect.
Those just aren't cards that I'd be interested in at that size. But if you run multiple 3cc manafacts in that size cube, it's a fine option I suppose. When my cube was 500 cards, I only ran 1 3cc mana-producing artifact. If I were going to add in a second one, It probably wouldn't be until about 630-720, and it would be Worn Powerstone. If I had to add in a 3rd one for some reason, it would be the Darksteel Ingot or the one that gains a life every time it's tapped. My cube would have to be pretty big before I'd run more 3cc manafacts than those three. I also prefer the Monolith that taps for 3. So I think that section is pretty well full.
I'm glad someone else thinks Zealous Conscripts is top 10 card from this set. I enjoyed Word of Seizing when I ran it, so it'll be good to get this effect back in the cube again, and on a better card, at that.
Not to mention the hips on that girl
But your review was great! I don't even include Rares in my Cube and I still read through the entire thing. Very well written.
I've been hoping alongside you for that 1R with Haste and now that we've finally got it, what's next on wishlist? An Instant speed Volcanic Hammer?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Black & Silver Cube [360/Peasant/Draft It! EDH Decks: - Reya Dawnbringer // - Mistform Ultimus // - Balthor the Defiled // - Urabrask the Hidden // - Mirri, Cat Warrior
I am probably going to give that 1-drop green fight guy a shot at 360. He really makes me want to run Ranger of Eos in White. We are getting more and more utility creatures that go along with that guy. And at 360 it might be worth it with the density of quality one drops.
I consider Desoltate Lighthouse to be better than Slayers Stronghold. The lighthouse lets you use your mana whenever it is unneeded. The Stronghold is just awkward. Normally you want to play pumps after declaring blockers, but with the vigilance you need to do it pre combat. I nromally don't have 3 mana to sink into a creature into an aggressive deck so the haste granting ability is largely irrelevent.
Maybe I'm wrong and spending 3 lands to give a creature +2/+0 should be sufficnet.
Lightning Mauler got a ton better when I read up on how Soulbond worked. (I thought you could only soulbond once to one creature, not every time a new creature etb)
Tamiyo is an interesting card. It just does stuff. I think if I was running another 5 drop walker, I rather it be tez 1. He supports an archetype. A good replacment to the camp who hates jace 3.0 though.
Emancipation angel didn't make your list. Sad face. I like it alot more than I like a guy who costs CCCC mana.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
That's the remarkable thing about life. It's never so bad that it can't get worse
Calvin and Hobbes Cube Tutor
But your review was great! I don't even include Rares in my Cube and I still read through the entire thing. Very well written.
I've been hoping alongside you for that 1R with Haste and now that we've finally got it, what's next on wishlist? An Instant speed Volcanic Hammer?
Glad you enjoyed the review!
My wishlist? For red? A Red Jungle Lion, please.
Quote from Pringlesman »
I am probably going to give that 1-drop green fight guy a shot at 360. He really makes me want to run Ranger of Eos in White. We are getting more and more utility creatures that go along with that guy. And at 360 it might be worth it with the density of quality one drops.
I can't find room for him at 360. He looks like an okay dude, but my green section is pretty tight right now. I played Ranger for a while, and couldn't seem to make it work. More quality 1-drops that have value after T5 will certainly help his value though.
Quote from Pringlesman »
I consider Desoltate Lighthouse to be better than Slayers Stronghold. The lighthouse lets you use your mana whenever it is unneeded. The Stronghold is just awkward. Normally you want to play pumps after declaring blockers, but with the vigilance you need to do it pre combat. I nromally don't have 3 mana to sink into a creature into an aggressive deck so the haste granting ability is largely irrelevent.
Maybe I'm wrong and spending 3 lands to give a creature +2/+0 should be sufficnet.
I can tell you from even from the limited testing I have with it that this is not the case at all.
~The Vigilance is huge in the mirror match. Giving it to your medium sized creature just creates a situation where they can't race you anymore.
~The Haste is absolutely clutch with your topdecks. It gives value on T4, 5 and 6 to your 1-3 drop creatures that otherwise prove underwhelming at that stage in the game.
~The Pump is a nice way to extract additional value from the creature suite you already have on the board, preventing yourself from having to overextend to make your current army more threatening.
From what I've seen from this land so far, it will likely replace Helix and become the staple #3 Boros card in pretty much every small cube.
Quote from Pringlesman »
Lightning Mauler got a ton better when I read up on how Soulbond worked. (I thought you could only soulbond once to one creature, not every time a new creature etb)
It remains paired until the first creature is gone. You can't pair it to a new creature if it's already paired to an existing creature. That doesn't change its value though, as it was evaluated with that in mind.
Quote from Pringlesman »
Tamiyo is an interesting card. It just does stuff. I think if I was running another 5 drop walker, I rather it be tez 1. He supports an archetype. A good replacment to the camp who hates jace 3.0 though.
It does just do stuff. Not particularly unique, but a very solid card that can go into pretty much every blue archetype and do well. I like cards like that too.
Quote from Pringlesman »
Emancipation angel didn't make your list. Sad face. I like it alot more than I like a guy who costs CCCC mana.
Well, I didn't add any CCCC cards to my list, except for the black 8-drop. This 3/3 Angel is not Kor Skyfisher 2.0. At all. It really needed to have a 2W casting cost, Flash and/or a 3/4 or 4/3 body to compete with the current suite of white 3-drops. The cube would have to be pretty big indeed before I'd consider this creature without at least one of the changes above.
~The Haste is absolutely clutch with your topdecks. It gives value on T4, 5 and 6 to your 1-3 drop creatures that otherwise prove underwhelming at that stage in the game.
Well, I didn't add any CCCC cards to my list, except for the black 8-drop. This 3/3 Angel is not Kor Skyfisher 2.0. At all. It really needed to have a 2W casting cost, Flash and/or a 3/4 or 4/3 body to compete with the current suite of white 3-drops. The cube would have to be pretty big indeed before I'd consider this creature without at least one of the changes above.
- The haste and pump in the late game is why I am most excited about this card. It turns any dinky little one drop that shows up late to the party into a considerable threat.
- I agree with you on the 3/3 angel. Adding W to Kor Skyfisher for only +1 to it's power is not enough at all.
Well done and what many people don't think about- time consuming. So the effort is appreciated. Personally I am only super excited about the 'top' few but I think there are others that may make the cut down the line. I think this list will help a lot of people find the right cards to add and even point out overlooked cards. When I skimmed the full AVR spoiler I didn't notice a couple of the better cards and when I saw Lightning Mauler in your list I $#!^ my pants. More excited about that guy and Restoration Angel than anything else in the set. Well getting a new U/R card is pretty exciting too though...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Tyler Manti: "I'll attack worth these"
Bobbert: "I'll play voices from the void"
Tyler Manti: "That's a sorcery"
Bobbert: "Oh, well then I'll block with it"
Tyler Manti: "..."
I played Ranger for a while, and couldn't seem to make it work. More quality 1-drops that have value after T5 will certainly help his value though.
Without testing, I'm going to say you are right. The only 1-drops that are relevant turn 4-5 are Mother of Runes, Figure of Destiny, Grim Lavamancer, Student of Warfare, and this new green guy. Ranger is just one of thsoe cards I've always wanted to be good enough for cube. Like Trinket Mage.
It's sad, my four favorite blue cards are Zur's Weirding, Accumulated Knowledge, Intuition, and Trinket Mage. All of which are pretty much crap in cube.
Great job, love the format. Agree with the top 10 for sure although maybe in a slightly different order. I without a doubt concur that Restoration Angel is the best card in the set. It has the capability to do so much for its cost while having a sizable body to go along with it.
Personally can't wait for the day I'm able to draft Tamiyo and Gideon together.
Nothing in this game is degenerate or completely dominant. They haven't banned anything in standard in a long, long time. Hell they should have banned affinity right away, but they didn't until boxed sales collapsed too. Hasbro had to come in and fire people.
I'll enjoy watching all the whiners eat crow monday.
It's sad, my four favorite blue cards are Zur's Weirding, Accumulated Knowledge, Intuition, and Trinket Mage. All of which are pretty much crap in cube.
All of my favorite cards are crap in the cube. I know what you mean.
Quote from Cyno »
Very nice format for a review. It certainly caught my eye and is the first article I'm reading to see what's out there for my cube this set.
I'm sure I'll have some opinions when I'm done reading it
EDIT:
Can't really say anything about the cards for 600+ lists as I've never really thought about what to put in a list that size.
Burn at the Stake seems horrible to me. 5cc may be an almost empty slot in red, but I think I'd prefer to run any number of X-spells over this.
Can't deny that Zealous Conscripts is a strong card, but 5 mana is a lot for red aggro and it isn't playable in non-aggro decks. But maybe I should test it in place of a 4-drop for now.
Not a fan of the new spell lands in U/G and U/R, but maybe that's a point better saved for the lands vs spells discussion.
R/W on the other hand gets a great land. Looking forward to including it and setting a new precedent in my cube for including lands in gold spellslots.
#1-#7 is going into my own cube for sure. A short list for a large set, and only 2 mythics, my wallet is happy to hear it
I'm glad you liked the format.
Burn at the Stake is better than it looks, I think. It's capable of doing something with your creatures that have run out of gas. Being able to gang-kill a big creature and/or burn your opponent for 9+ damage with 3 small creatures is pretty savage.
Conscripts is played in the same place that Word of Seizing was before. At least, that's what I'd do with it. As an aggro curve-topper, it's not unreasonable, and mid-range decks can power a lot of extra damage/value through with this card. Particularly if you find ways to abuse it.
The Izzet and Simic lands aren't particularly exciting, but they don't have to be. The color combinations are kinda weak in med-big cubes, and the cost to get them into your deck is low.
If 1-7 are going into your cube, that makes me happy, because it seems like the best cards for the cube finished at the top of the list, which is what I intended.
Thanks for the comment!
Quote from DestinyHero »
Great job, love the format. Agree with the top 10 for sure although maybe in a slightly different order. I without a doubt concur that Restoration Angel is the best card in the set. It has the capability to do so much for its cost while having a sizable body to go along with it.
Personally can't wait for the day I'm able to draft Tamiyo and Gideon together.
She's been good in testing so far too. Glad you concur.
I had a Tamiyo down yesterday with a Wall of Omens, Ring of Gix and Maze of Ith. My opponent scooped while I was building up to the ultimate.
I'll be honest there are a lot of cards in this set I am playing safe with- considering but not willing to go on record claiming how good/bad/awful they will be. Examples being miracle mechanic in general (lean towards not so great), zealous conscripts (5 mana in red for a 3/3 but the 'permanent' in the text box is ohh so sexy), a few of the durfy green creatures (like the 5 mana soulbound 4/4 guy, forgot name).
That's funny about burn at the stake because I looked at it in the opposite way. I saw it as a massive reachy/mortal combat fatality burn spell in red when your token army is trying not to make eye contact with an unanswered baneslayer angel/moat etc. For 5 mana in red it better do something awesome like that but I have a bad feeling about it letting people down. Red is infamous for making cards that are almost playable, but not quite good enough, and buzz killing optomists.
The izzet land is good largely because of it's colors- r/u has a pathetic amount of choices for cube. If it was g/w, and similar in value, it would be glanced at, sighed at, and tossed aside.
I'm hoping there is a darkhorse card in the set that ends up being really good, those are fun.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Tyler Manti: "I'll attack worth these"
Bobbert: "I'll play voices from the void"
Tyler Manti: "That's a sorcery"
Bobbert: "Oh, well then I'll block with it"
Tyler Manti: "..."
That was a great format for a review. Having pictures is much appreciated. The countdown creates a fun sense of anticipation, and also helps me think about which cards I'll want for my cube.
I think I'm going to go for Griselbrand, because I have wanted a black superfatty for some time. The red two drop will make a fine replacement for Blood Knight and the R/W land easily makes it over Duergar Hedge-Mage. Restoration Angel will make it into my cube because the combination of flash and blink, evasion, splashability and- Ah, who am I trying to kid. She makes it in because she is downright saucy: pretending to be so innocent in that baby-blue nightgown while flashing some leg. Naughty angel.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
She's been good in testing so far too. Glad you concur.
I had a Tamiyo down yesterday with a Wall of Omens, Ring of Gix and Maze of Ith. My opponent scooped while I was building up to the ultimate.
Haha, wow. That sounds absolutely backbreaking and like it'd be a really tough situation to dig out of. Decent sized wall, Maze of Ith, an Icy and Tamiyo all on the board, dunno what could really help anyone out there.
Last time I Cubed I drafted Liliana of the Veil and Jace, Memory Adept with a lot of removal, it was pretty fun.
Are you kind of worried that blue Planeswalkers tend to be so good in Cube compared to other colors? Aside from Tezzeret I think they're all really good and enable lots of different strategies. Compared to say like, green or red. White I think has the next best planeswalkers thanks to the Elspeths and Gideon and even Ajani is really good for white weenie.
Nothing in this game is degenerate or completely dominant. They haven't banned anything in standard in a long, long time. Hell they should have banned affinity right away, but they didn't until boxed sales collapsed too. Hasbro had to come in and fire people.
I'll enjoy watching all the whiners eat crow monday.
Who's eating crow?
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Glad you dug it man. Cheers!
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!
Heck, 800 has a lot of tough choices
EDIT: It might sometimes be tougher, just b/c there are so many roughly comparable cards vying for the bottom slots.
Of course it does! 720 has tough choices, and 810 (the next logical cycle in size) wouldn't be far behind. Even 900 card cubes would have some decisions to make.
I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I'm happy with the way it came out.
I'm glad you dug it man. I thought a spoiler countdown format might make it interesting.
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!
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
My Cube
My Blog
A couple of cards I'd like to get your opinion on:
Archwing Dragon - I'm testing this in my larger cube (540). I think it could be the second coming of Hell's Thunder, which is definitely a 540 staple, and would Archwing Dragon crack your top 20.
Vessel of Endless Rest - Better or worse than Darksteel Ingot? I replaced the Ingot with this card, and I think the Ingot is good enough for 540, which would make it better than many of the cards you reviewed.
I'll give some data on Vexing Devils and Druids' Repository when I play with/against them.
I'm glad someone else thinks Vessel is good. I'm definitely adding it to my 445 cube. Also I think the miracles are worth testing. I'm definitely trying thunderous wrath when I get one.
I'm glad someone else thinks Zealous Conscripts is top 10 card from this set. I enjoyed Word of Seizing when I ran it, so it'll be good to get this effect back in the cube again, and on a better card, at that.
There are a few cards that could be sleepers, for sure. Miracle is hard to evaluate up front.
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I think the Dragon is more akin to a 4-mana Pulse of the Forge. I think Hell's Thunder is better, because even if it runs into removal, it can still get in for more damage. I don't like it more than any of the other 20 cards I mentioned.
The Vessel is okay. I prefer the Ingot's indestructibility though. Typically, 3-mana mana rocks are a big investment, and you lose a lot of tempo when they're blown up by a Vandal. I prefer the one that can't be destroyed. And I don't know what size actually needs two of those things, but I'm guessing the cube would have to be pretty big, else you'd be running Spectral Searchlight already (a card I would cut for the Vessel). I certainly don't think it's better (read: goes into tighter) lists than any of the other cards in the article. But that's just my opinion, of course.
The Devil and the Repository don't really interest me in the slightest, but if your cube group wants to draft them, go for it!
Most cubes at that size are already running every mana dork, and still need more good 1-drops. Especially if you're not playing the good aggro creatures.
Which example are you referring to? I can provide context for any of the ones I mentioned (there were a few).
I'm happy you liked the review! And yes, the Conscripts looks pretty good to me.
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!
Those just aren't cards that I'd be interested in at that size. But if you run multiple 3cc manafacts in that size cube, it's a fine option I suppose. When my cube was 500 cards, I only ran 1 3cc mana-producing artifact. If I were going to add in a second one, It probably wouldn't be until about 630-720, and it would be Worn Powerstone. If I had to add in a 3rd one for some reason, it would be the Darksteel Ingot or the one that gains a life every time it's tapped. My cube would have to be pretty big before I'd run more 3cc manafacts than those three. I also prefer the Monolith that taps for 3. So I think that section is pretty well full.
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!
Not to mention the hips on that girl
But your review was great! I don't even include Rares in my Cube and I still read through the entire thing. Very well written.
I've been hoping alongside you for that 1R with Haste and now that we've finally got it, what's next on wishlist? An Instant speed Volcanic Hammer?
EDH Decks:
- Reya Dawnbringer // - Mistform Ultimus // - Balthor the Defiled // - Urabrask the Hidden // - Mirri, Cat Warrior
I consider Desoltate Lighthouse to be better than Slayers Stronghold. The lighthouse lets you use your mana whenever it is unneeded. The Stronghold is just awkward. Normally you want to play pumps after declaring blockers, but with the vigilance you need to do it pre combat. I nromally don't have 3 mana to sink into a creature into an aggressive deck so the haste granting ability is largely irrelevent.
Maybe I'm wrong and spending 3 lands to give a creature +2/+0 should be sufficnet.
Lightning Mauler got a ton better when I read up on how Soulbond worked. (I thought you could only soulbond once to one creature, not every time a new creature etb)
Tamiyo is an interesting card. It just does stuff. I think if I was running another 5 drop walker, I rather it be tez 1. He supports an archetype. A good replacment to the camp who hates jace 3.0 though.
Emancipation angel didn't make your list. Sad face. I like it alot more than I like a guy who costs CCCC mana.
Calvin and Hobbes
Cube Tutor
Glad you enjoyed the review!
My wishlist? For red? A Red Jungle Lion, please.
I can't find room for him at 360. He looks like an okay dude, but my green section is pretty tight right now. I played Ranger for a while, and couldn't seem to make it work. More quality 1-drops that have value after T5 will certainly help his value though.
I can tell you from even from the limited testing I have with it that this is not the case at all.
~The Vigilance is huge in the mirror match. Giving it to your medium sized creature just creates a situation where they can't race you anymore.
~The Haste is absolutely clutch with your topdecks. It gives value on T4, 5 and 6 to your 1-3 drop creatures that otherwise prove underwhelming at that stage in the game.
~The Pump is a nice way to extract additional value from the creature suite you already have on the board, preventing yourself from having to overextend to make your current army more threatening.
From what I've seen from this land so far, it will likely replace Helix and become the staple #3 Boros card in pretty much every small cube.
It remains paired until the first creature is gone. You can't pair it to a new creature if it's already paired to an existing creature. That doesn't change its value though, as it was evaluated with that in mind.
It does just do stuff. Not particularly unique, but a very solid card that can go into pretty much every blue archetype and do well. I like cards like that too.
Well, I didn't add any CCCC cards to my list, except for the black 8-drop. This 3/3 Angel is not Kor Skyfisher 2.0. At all. It really needed to have a 2W casting cost, Flash and/or a 3/4 or 4/3 body to compete with the current suite of white 3-drops. The cube would have to be pretty big indeed before I'd consider this creature without at least one of the changes above.
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!
- The haste and pump in the late game is why I am most excited about this card. It turns any dinky little one drop that shows up late to the party into a considerable threat.
- I agree with you on the 3/3 angel. Adding W to Kor Skyfisher for only +1 to it's power is not enough at all.
Draft my cube!
Watch me stream!
Bobbert: "I'll play voices from the void"
Tyler Manti: "That's a sorcery"
Bobbert: "Oh, well then I'll block with it"
Tyler Manti: "..."
K2solbri's 450 Card UN-powered Cube
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=388456
Without testing, I'm going to say you are right. The only 1-drops that are relevant turn 4-5 are Mother of Runes, Figure of Destiny, Grim Lavamancer, Student of Warfare, and this new green guy. Ranger is just one of thsoe cards I've always wanted to be good enough for cube. Like Trinket Mage.
It's sad, my four favorite blue cards are Zur's Weirding, Accumulated Knowledge, Intuition, and Trinket Mage. All of which are pretty much crap in cube.
Calvin and Hobbes
Cube Tutor
Personally can't wait for the day I'm able to draft Tamiyo and Gideon together.
Who's eating crow?
I'm happy you enjoyed it!
All of my favorite cards are crap in the cube. I know what you mean.
I'm glad you liked the format.
Burn at the Stake is better than it looks, I think. It's capable of doing something with your creatures that have run out of gas. Being able to gang-kill a big creature and/or burn your opponent for 9+ damage with 3 small creatures is pretty savage.
Conscripts is played in the same place that Word of Seizing was before. At least, that's what I'd do with it. As an aggro curve-topper, it's not unreasonable, and mid-range decks can power a lot of extra damage/value through with this card. Particularly if you find ways to abuse it.
The Izzet and Simic lands aren't particularly exciting, but they don't have to be. The color combinations are kinda weak in med-big cubes, and the cost to get them into your deck is low.
If 1-7 are going into your cube, that makes me happy, because it seems like the best cards for the cube finished at the top of the list, which is what I intended.
Thanks for the comment!
She's been good in testing so far too. Glad you concur.
I had a Tamiyo down yesterday with a Wall of Omens, Ring of Gix and Maze of Ith. My opponent scooped while I was building up to the ultimate.
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!
That's funny about burn at the stake because I looked at it in the opposite way. I saw it as a massive reachy/mortal combat fatality burn spell in red when your token army is trying not to make eye contact with an unanswered baneslayer angel/moat etc. For 5 mana in red it better do something awesome like that but I have a bad feeling about it letting people down. Red is infamous for making cards that are almost playable, but not quite good enough, and buzz killing optomists.
The izzet land is good largely because of it's colors- r/u has a pathetic amount of choices for cube. If it was g/w, and similar in value, it would be glanced at, sighed at, and tossed aside.
I'm hoping there is a darkhorse card in the set that ends up being really good, those are fun.
Bobbert: "I'll play voices from the void"
Tyler Manti: "That's a sorcery"
Bobbert: "Oh, well then I'll block with it"
Tyler Manti: "..."
K2solbri's 450 Card UN-powered Cube
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=388456
I think I'm going to go for Griselbrand, because I have wanted a black superfatty for some time. The red two drop will make a fine replacement for Blood Knight and the R/W land easily makes it over Duergar Hedge-Mage. Restoration Angel will make it into my cube because the combination of flash and blink, evasion, splashability and- Ah, who am I trying to kid. She makes it in because she is downright saucy: pretending to be so innocent in that baby-blue nightgown while flashing some leg. Naughty angel.
My 380 Beginners’ Cube on Cube Tutor
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Haha, wow. That sounds absolutely backbreaking and like it'd be a really tough situation to dig out of. Decent sized wall, Maze of Ith, an Icy and Tamiyo all on the board, dunno what could really help anyone out there.
Last time I Cubed I drafted Liliana of the Veil and Jace, Memory Adept with a lot of removal, it was pretty fun.
Are you kind of worried that blue Planeswalkers tend to be so good in Cube compared to other colors? Aside from Tezzeret I think they're all really good and enable lots of different strategies. Compared to say like, green or red. White I think has the next best planeswalkers thanks to the Elspeths and Gideon and even Ajani is really good for white weenie.
Who's eating crow?