As for why I took out Mirran Crusader, there were plenty of times where my opponent wasn't running Green or Black, and that made Crussader no better than a vanilla 3cc 2/2 First striker. I'd rather have a creature that is great against all opponents, over the oft chance for amazingness and protection against some.
For me, yes, this is it primarily. I just don't like a guy that's a 2/2 doublestriker in some matches and an instant ragequit in others. I mean, that's an exaggeration, but there's just something uniquely frustrating about your opponent having a card that specifically hates on the particular colors you happened to draft. It's just arbitrary and feel-baddy. I go back and forth on the swords for that very reason. /2cents
I struggle with the swords as well. There are a certain percentage of matches that a piece of equipment that +1/+0 pro 2 colors would have done the same job and that is not a card I want to be running in cube. I know I am maxed out on equipment I want to be running right now (unless something unique comes along). I have tried sidelining one or two but that seems fairly arbitrary. Maybe one day we will have some replacements but at least for the crusader I think I can hang up his spurs for good. I am now running Temur Battle Rage, Boros Charm, and Berserk to keep my double damage fans satisfied.
Eh, we have stupid things like T1 PWs off of lotuses, armageddons that you can't recover from, ulamogs channeled out on T2...the protection clauses don't make us feel that bad when you're playing in a land of frustration/fun.
Can I ask why people are so down on Mirran crusader? Seems that it's still quite a strong card and that it pairs well with the myriad of mass pump continually being added to support token strategies. Also, blanking one of the main removal colors is a nice addition. Is it people just dislike protection in general?
I think it's just a guy. It doesn't support a particular strategy, disrupt a particular strategy or shine in matchups that are otherwise unfavorable for the kinds of decks he goes in. It's just kinda an effective beater. White's 3cc suite is full of creatures that are both effective beaters AND have one of the other qualities I listed above.
Would you consider heavy green midrange/ramp a good matchup for white weenie? Not being rhetorical, actually curious.
Their is some minor synergies, but not really that interesting or dynamic I agree.. He's much better if you have a couple pieces of equipment + stoneforge and Elspeth Knight errant (cards that draw me into the archetype). When I'm drafting white weenie I prioritize cards like grafted wargear/bonesplitters quite high... and elspeth the highest
Wargear/Bonesplitters are incredible on soltari's , which are white agro's best way of pushing damage through other creature decks. These equipment are also awesome with mirran crusader. White weenie tends to have a mini equipment sub theme (based on the optimal way to draft it) which mirran crusader DOES synergize with.
I spent a long time with white weenie under the microscope in my cube, and once I learned how to draft it properly AND gave it critical density of support it's winrate has skyrocketed around here. Mirran crusader makes the cut in the "ideal" 3-0 white weenie deck.
No, I'd consider that to be a bad matchup. But Thalis'a disruption will be better than the protection there, especially since it has applications in all midrange matchups, not just green's.
I think Mirran Crusader is strong enough against the problematic midrange matchup, and has enough exciting synergies with pump effects that it is worth play. He is still ~9th at the white three drop section though. The main thing Thalia has over him is splashability (and not having protection if you hate that ability). I don't think she is necessarily better but I would surely at least test her over Crusader.
Thalia has a built-in, but selective Rishadan Port AND Loxodan Gatekeeper ability after 3rd turn, on a 3/2 First Striking body. Very relevent abilities on the attack and on defense, and a major tempo killer for opponents. Definitely cubable. Just need to determine what the cut will be on such a deep pool of 3cc white cards.. same situation for Gisela at 4cc
Yes, definitely going in for us. Imposing Sovereign has probably won more games than just about any other 2-drop in the cube; having an even more powerful effect on a more relevant body is fantastic. I'm likely to swap out Flickerwisp here but Soltari Champion may ultimately be the cut.
While we're on the topic of 3 drops, is no one running Silverblade Paladin anymore? That card has been absolutely insane for us. Is it the double white that keeps people away?
Yes, definitely going in for us. Imposing Sovereign has probably won more games than just about any other 2-drop in the cube; having an even more powerful effect on a more relevant body is fantastic. I'm likely to swap out Flickerwisp here but Soltari Champion may ultimately be the cut.
While we're on the topic of 3 drops, is no one running Silverblade Paladin anymore? That card has been absolutely insane for us. Is it the double white that keeps people away?
I have run the paladin for a while and still like it better than the crusader as it can often come down an have immediate impact which most white 3 drops lack. It is also quite popular in W/X midrange finishing a game rapidly with another fatty on board. That said it is worst against removal heavy match up and Thalia might be a little better there. Time will tell. I just don't know what else to trim , certainly not spectral procession?
While we're on the topic of 3 drops, is no one running Silverblade Paladin anymore? That card has been absolutely insane for us. Is it the double white that keeps people away?
Problem with a card like silverblade paladin (and mirran crusader) is that they are very high variance in output.
We all evaluate cards to some degree using anecdotal evidence, and high variance cards, by nature, create a wide range of experiences.. Thus, creating wide range of opinions.
Silverblade paladin has one of the highest damage output ceiling of any 3 drop in cube (maybe the highest if you include equipment?), but it's also the most sensitive to removal.
There are times it'll cause you to get blown out and do nothing, and there are times it will do 18 points of damage in three turns heh.
I have a lot of experience with the card, rate it higher than most people around here.. But still cut it from my cube.
I rate it really highly too, but when I can improve the environment with consistent power versus boom or bust factors (see: getting blown out by removal during combat vs. silver blade) it seems like a good choice.
I like protection in small doses. Every time I'm playing Golgari against the crusader or against TNN it creates an interesting dilemma, how the hell do I kill this??? That and the quadra protection with a sword are pretty much the "fun points" of the crusader, power wise I think he is a fine card, doublestrike and two relevant protections, pro green is very useful for decks that run crusader because green can profitably block a 2/2 double strike the most.
Thalia is strong but the crusader isn't my cut. Honestly I'm happy with all my three drops atm, they all provide a unique play experience and are pretty powerful. I'll have to think about the cut.
It's overperformed for us, honestly - white creature 3-drops are one of the most competitive slots in my cube, and yet Thalia's never been anywhere close to the chopping block.
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I struggle with the swords as well. There are a certain percentage of matches that a piece of equipment that +1/+0 pro 2 colors would have done the same job and that is not a card I want to be running in cube. I know I am maxed out on equipment I want to be running right now (unless something unique comes along). I have tried sidelining one or two but that seems fairly arbitrary. Maybe one day we will have some replacements but at least for the crusader I think I can hang up his spurs for good. I am now running Temur Battle Rage, Boros Charm, and Berserk to keep my double damage fans satisfied.
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Would you consider heavy green midrange/ramp a good matchup for white weenie? Not being rhetorical, actually curious.
Their is some minor synergies, but not really that interesting or dynamic I agree.. He's much better if you have a couple pieces of equipment + stoneforge and Elspeth Knight errant (cards that draw me into the archetype). When I'm drafting white weenie I prioritize cards like grafted wargear/bonesplitters quite high... and elspeth the highest
Wargear/Bonesplitters are incredible on soltari's , which are white agro's best way of pushing damage through other creature decks. These equipment are also awesome with mirran crusader. White weenie tends to have a mini equipment sub theme (based on the optimal way to draft it) which mirran crusader DOES synergize with.
I spent a long time with white weenie under the microscope in my cube, and once I learned how to draft it properly AND gave it critical density of support it's winrate has skyrocketed around here. Mirran crusader makes the cut in the "ideal" 3-0 white weenie deck.
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I'll take your word for it, then! Really hoping she gets there, the 3-drop slot could use a good hatebear.
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I think it wasn't clear from my earlier posts how I evaluate her (if anyone cares, which they probably don't haha)
0% > Brimaz Tier
5% Staple, Happy Mid pack pick (Brimaz)
80% Staple, mid-late pick (Flickerwisp, Blade splicer)
15% Late pick, misses small cube, playable mid-sized cubes (Soltari Champion/Mirror entity etc)
Pretty happy about that
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While we're on the topic of 3 drops, is no one running Silverblade Paladin anymore? That card has been absolutely insane for us. Is it the double white that keeps people away?
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I have run the paladin for a while and still like it better than the crusader as it can often come down an have immediate impact which most white 3 drops lack. It is also quite popular in W/X midrange finishing a game rapidly with another fatty on board. That said it is worst against removal heavy match up and Thalia might be a little better there. Time will tell. I just don't know what else to trim , certainly not spectral procession?
Problem with a card like silverblade paladin (and mirran crusader) is that they are very high variance in output.
We all evaluate cards to some degree using anecdotal evidence, and high variance cards, by nature, create a wide range of experiences.. Thus, creating wide range of opinions.
Silverblade paladin has one of the highest damage output ceiling of any 3 drop in cube (maybe the highest if you include equipment?), but it's also the most sensitive to removal.
There are times it'll cause you to get blown out and do nothing, and there are times it will do 18 points of damage in three turns heh.
I have a lot of experience with the card, rate it higher than most people around here.. But still cut it from my cube.
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I may end up cutting her because she disproportionately punishes the decks I love to play the most =)
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Thalia is strong but the crusader isn't my cut. Honestly I'm happy with all my three drops atm, they all provide a unique play experience and are pretty powerful. I'll have to think about the cut.
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