"Man if this card cost X less, it would be so sweet" doesn't feel like a super fruitful avenue of discussion when you're knocking 2 CMC off the card. Then its no longer a case of the card being borderline and more that you're just making cards up at that point
In general, yes. But the case here is that her abilities - making mana elves and naturalize - are both something that you want to do early. So I think it's legitimate to criticize the costs here. asmallcat's made up card would be sweet indeed. Maybe things are different in EDH, but for cube, the abilities would be great, and the costs are ruining the design.
Incredibly disappointing but green is very well supplied with good Planeswalkers, so I won't shed too many tears. What is more upsetting is the implication that we may not see a Naturalize trigger on a better 'walker.
Definitely not a top walker, certainly below the top 3 Garruks (Wildspeaker, Relentless and Primal Hunter).
Probably also below the two Nissas (Voice of Zendikar and Worldwaker).
However, while I agree with the sentiment that Acidic Slime will generally be better, I actually think this is pretty close.
If you drop Freyalise and activate the Naturalize, it's a high variance play where Freyalise probably is a bit worse than the Slime, but could still be much better if she lives and the game goes long).
However, there will be times when you don't need the Naturalize - in that case, dropping Freyalise and +2'ing is generally much better than Acidic Sliming a land, since if you can +2 twice her ult generally draws you about 6 cards in green and leaves behind a walker.
The versatility there is something that probably shouldn't be underrated. Very cube dependent, but in same cases I think she could be better than Slime (though probably not in the average cube).
Definitely not a top walker, certainly below the top 3 Garruks (Wildspeaker, Relentless and Primal Hunter).
Probably also below the two Nissas (Voice of Zendikar and Worldwaker).
However, while I agree with the sentiment that Acidic Slime will generally be better, I actually think this is pretty close.
If you drop Freyalise and activate the Naturalize, it's a high variance play where Freyalise probably is a bit worse than the Slime, but could still be much better if she lives and the game goes long).
However, there will be times when you don't need the Naturalize - in that case, dropping Freyalise and +2'ing is generally much better than Acidic Sliming a land, since if you can +2 twice her ult generally draws you about 6 cards in green and leaves behind a walker.
The versatility there is something that probably shouldn't be underrated. Very cube dependent, but in same cases I think she could be better than Slime (though probably not in the average cube).
I tried Freyalise for a while after enjoying it in the MTGO Vintage cube.. it was ok, but nothing special. I like acidic slime more because it can be abused and annhilate your opponents mana base if it is abused.
Since I've been cubing with Vivien Reid, I would never look at freyalise again. From my experiences, Vivien reid serves a very similar function to Freyalise, but is much better. +1 -> impulse is better than +2 elf by a bit, but the added utility of hitting fliers (comes up enough and makes a big difference when it does) puts her way over the top.
In general, yes. But the case here is that her abilities - making mana elves and naturalize - are both something that you want to do early. So I think it's legitimate to criticize the costs here. asmallcat's made up card would be sweet indeed. Maybe things are different in EDH, but for cube, the abilities would be great, and the costs are ruining the design.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Probably also below the two Nissas (Voice of Zendikar and Worldwaker).
However, while I agree with the sentiment that Acidic Slime will generally be better, I actually think this is pretty close.
If you drop Freyalise and activate the Naturalize, it's a high variance play where Freyalise probably is a bit worse than the Slime, but could still be much better if she lives and the game goes long).
However, there will be times when you don't need the Naturalize - in that case, dropping Freyalise and +2'ing is generally much better than Acidic Sliming a land, since if you can +2 twice her ult generally draws you about 6 cards in green and leaves behind a walker.
The versatility there is something that probably shouldn't be underrated. Very cube dependent, but in same cases I think she could be better than Slime (though probably not in the average cube).
360 card powered Chicago cube:
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/e7r
2020 Numerical Power Rankings:
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/the-cube-forum/cube-card-and-archetype/817969-2020-numerical-cube-power-rankings
2018 CubeTutor Power Rankings:
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/the-cube-forum/cube-card-and-archetype/803301-cubetutor-power-rankings-2018-by-color-and-cmc
I tried Freyalise for a while after enjoying it in the MTGO Vintage cube.. it was ok, but nothing special. I like acidic slime more because it can be abused and annhilate your opponents mana base if it is abused.
Since I've been cubing with Vivien Reid, I would never look at freyalise again. From my experiences, Vivien reid serves a very similar function to Freyalise, but is much better. +1 -> impulse is better than +2 elf by a bit, but the added utility of hitting fliers (comes up enough and makes a big difference when it does) puts her way over the top.
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