STE for me also. I don't think the Caryatid is a very good ramp spell compared to what is already available at 1 or 2cc.
I dunno, it seems very solid. As a two-drop ramp critter, after Lotus Cobra, SKE, and Wall of Roots, I'd probably put it at #4. Unlike things like Overgrown Battlement and Vine Trellis, it fixes your mana in addition to ramping, and Hexproof means it can't be spot removed (sparing you from the common block your 2-power 1-drop and the get blown out by a Shock scenario).
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I'm leaning towards putting electrolyze out for now, while its been pretty good I already run a lot of split damage spells so its not super exciting to pull you into izzet colors.
Ahh....see it's good to see this. With the other guy's situation, I'd clearly chop the signet.
Here you have more meat and potatoes. I like electrolyze over bolt because I'd run the former in ANY U/R deck whereas bolt can sometimes be curved too high.
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I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
I hope it's OK to ask this, considering it's not necessarily a "this or that", but since people seem to think Izzet Signet is worth cutting from my Izzet section, is it worth trying to find room in my artifact section for the blue signets? I support Tinker, and soon Wildfire/Upheaval, and since I'm unpowered it seems I need to keep a certain number of mana rocks. I'm hesitant to cut the Izzet Signet because I'm afraid of those archetypes losing their support.
To rephrase, for now I have the blue signets in their respective colour archetype, but I want to make room for actual spells in the guild without losing acceleration in those combinations. Should I just drop the coloured signets and find a copy of Grim Monolith / Coldsteel Heart, or move them to the artifact section (bringing back in Simic Signet)?
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I hope it's OK to ask this, considering it's not necessarily a "this or that", but since people seem to think Izzet Signet is worth cutting from my Izzet section, is it worth trying to find room in my artifact section for the blue signets? I support Tinker, and soon Wildfire/Upheaval, and since I'm unpowered it seems I need to keep a certain number of mana rocks. I'm hesitant to cut the Izzet Signet because I'm afraid of those archetypes losing their support.
To rephrase, for now I have the blue signets in their respective colour archetype, but I want to make room for actual spells in the guild without losing acceleration in those combinations. Should I just drop the coloured signets and find a copy of Grim Monolith / Coldsteel Heart, or move them to the artifact section (bringing back in Simic Signet)?
You could move them to the artifact section as you discuss or just "up" the guilds to auto-include signets. no? Some people toss sets of additional lands like filters or karoos. In the end it's your cube there is no correct way to do things.
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I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
In the end it's your cube there is no correct way to do things.
I understand this, I'm just looking for the benefit of others' experience on the subject. Unless someone gives me a good reason otherwise, I probably will just put them into my artifact section. I appreciate your comment, thanks!
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I've found forgoing a lower quality guild land like a filter or karoo for a signet works out. In the end I see the guild lands and signets in the same functional category: mana-fixers.
If I was unpowered and I wanted to support Tinker, I'd almost definitely run the blue signets (maybe not Simic Signet). I'd run them as blue cards or, more likely, as artifacts.
I've found forgoing a lower quality guild land like a filter or karoo for a signet works out. In the end I see the guild lands and signets in the same functional category: mana-fixers.
I think they are in very much different categories: lands and spells.
I tried to phase out the color-pair specific mana rocks, but it just can't be done in an unpowered, medium sized cube. There would not be enough support for the blue/black artifact deck and the Wildfire deck without signets and talismans. I run the "fair" moxen (Chrome Mox and Mox Diamond), some 3cc mana artifacts that I feel have enough upside to warrant the extra mana investment (Coalition Relic, Pristine Talisman and Worn Powerstone) and the 2cc mana rocks that are not guild-aligned but still good enough (Coldsteel Heart, Everflowing Chalice, Guardian Idol, Mind Stone and Prismatic Lens). After that I am still 3-4 cards off from what I feel is the right number of mana artifacts for my unpowered 450 cards Cube. I currently use Izzet Signet, Talisman of Dominance, Talisman of Indulgence and Talisman of Progress to get to my target number, and I run them in the artifact section. Producing colored mana is what I consider a small upside to the much needed effect of being a 2cc artifact that taps for 1.
I'd like to cut down a little on my expensive top-end creatures to dial ramp back and make room for green aggro. To that end, I want to cut either Pelakka Wurm or Gaea's Revenge, as they are the weakest of my pricey creatures in green. I have an idea as to which I'd like to get rid of, but I'm curious to hear from the community. Thoughts?
I'd like to cut down a little on my expensive top-end creatures to dial ramp back and make room for green aggro. To that end, I want to cut either Pelakka Wurm or Gaea's Revenge, as they are the weakest of my pricey creatures in green. I have an idea as to which I'd like to get rid of, but I'm curious to hear from the community. Thoughts?
I like Pelakka Wurm better than I like Gaea's Revenge; it has a form of evasion (trample), helps you stabilize the board better if you need it, and you get some value even if they kill it. For me, this is worth more than the Revenge's haste and "shroud".
I would not run Signets or Talismans in their respective Guild section over other spells. The main reason is that a Signet or a Talisman will never, ever, make me draft that Guild. I may draft a Signet or a Talisman that matches my current colors, but I'm not going to "splash" a Signet. These cards do not offer what I am looking for when I open Guild cards. The other reason is that, unlike the spells I run in my Guild section, Signets and Talismans can be played regardless of the main colors of my decks. I'll draft an off color Signet or Talisman if I am drafting a Tinker deck or a Wildfire deck, and maybe also a slow Control deck relying on 4CC spells (ex. UW, UB).
That's why I had them as artifacts (currently not running any).
This is an excellent point and has convinced me to move them into my artifact section. Thank you!
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Never played Kudzu but I plan on trying it out in my next update. I have a hard time envisioning my cube without Mongrel. Skinshifter sucked for me.
Kudzu is pretty sweet on curve in green aggro or even midrange (and works great with our two sets of fetchlands). It will probably be our next cut though, because it loses so much value when you don't play it T2, and suuuuucks (even compared to other green aggro two drops) as a topdeck.
I only saw the last two post on my screen and started scratching my head thinking: 'Why are people playing Kudzu?'
Ok, I always like the card, but to cube with it?
I only saw the last two post on my screen and started scratching my head thinking: 'Why are people playing Kudzu?'
Ok, I always like the card, but to cube with it?
I've got to give it to the Elder here. It only blocks once, but:
1) Its ramp doesn't go away when someone wraths
and
2) It can carry a sword or Jitte
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I dunno, it seems very solid. As a two-drop ramp critter, after Lotus Cobra, SKE, and Wall of Roots, I'd probably put it at #4. Unlike things like Overgrown Battlement and Vine Trellis, it fixes your mana in addition to ramping, and Hexproof means it can't be spot removed (sparing you from the common block your 2-power 1-drop and the get blown out by a Shock scenario).
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Ahh....see it's good to see this. With the other guy's situation, I'd clearly chop the signet.
Here you have more meat and potatoes. I like electrolyze over bolt because I'd run the former in ANY U/R deck whereas bolt can sometimes be curved too high.
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To rephrase, for now I have the blue signets in their respective colour archetype, but I want to make room for actual spells in the guild without losing acceleration in those combinations. Should I just drop the coloured signets and find a copy of Grim Monolith / Coldsteel Heart, or move them to the artifact section (bringing back in Simic Signet)?
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You could move them to the artifact section as you discuss or just "up" the guilds to auto-include signets. no? Some people toss sets of additional lands like filters or karoos. In the end it's your cube there is no correct way to do things.
10th at SCG: Syracuse (2014), GP:NJ Last-Chance Grinder Winner (2014):: Former Legacy Mod
I understand this, I'm just looking for the benefit of others' experience on the subject. Unless someone gives me a good reason otherwise, I probably will just put them into my artifact section. I appreciate your comment, thanks!
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I tried to phase out the color-pair specific mana rocks, but it just can't be done in an unpowered, medium sized cube. There would not be enough support for the blue/black artifact deck and the Wildfire deck without signets and talismans. I run the "fair" moxen (Chrome Mox and Mox Diamond), some 3cc mana artifacts that I feel have enough upside to warrant the extra mana investment (Coalition Relic, Pristine Talisman and Worn Powerstone) and the 2cc mana rocks that are not guild-aligned but still good enough (Coldsteel Heart, Everflowing Chalice, Guardian Idol, Mind Stone and Prismatic Lens). After that I am still 3-4 cards off from what I feel is the right number of mana artifacts for my unpowered 450 cards Cube. I currently use Izzet Signet, Talisman of Dominance, Talisman of Indulgence and Talisman of Progress to get to my target number, and I run them in the artifact section. Producing colored mana is what I consider a small upside to the much needed effect of being a 2cc artifact that taps for 1.
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I've found making that distinction wasn't very helpful in balancing my cube. Lands don't even get their own section on my list
I like Pelakka Wurm better than I like Gaea's Revenge; it has a form of evasion (trample), helps you stabilize the board better if you need it, and you get some value even if they kill it. For me, this is worth more than the Revenge's haste and "shroud".
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This is an excellent point and has convinced me to move them into my artifact section. Thank you!
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
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It really comes down to what decks you are trying to support.
Mongrel >> Kudzu > Shifty
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Kudzu is pretty sweet on curve in green aggro or even midrange (and works great with our two sets of fetchlands). It will probably be our next cut though, because it loses so much value when you don't play it T2, and suuuuucks (even compared to other green aggro two drops) as a topdeck.
Ok, I always like the card, but to cube with it?
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Challenge. Accepted.