Eradicator Valkyrie2BB
Creature — Angel Berserker (M)
Flying, lifelink, hexproof from planeswalkers
Boast — 1B, Sacrifice a creature: Each opponent sacrifices a creature.
4/3
This is in a somewhat awkward spot since it dies to bolt, but it compares somewhat reasonably to Gisela, the Broken Blade, which I only cut somewhat recently. Black doesn't really have the same level of access to high-quality fliers that white does, and this plays well with recursive creatures. You can even activate the ability before blockers are declared to clear out a blocker.
The hexproof from planeswalkers is sort of trinket text, but it does stop ~15 or so planeswalkers from interacting with it. I'm considering taking it for a spin.
I usually think of Spawn as a 3CC creature since he usually gets cast for that in my experience. Still comparable since they're similar, but I'm looking at whether Kalitas should go for this....I don't like this better than any of my other 4CC black creatures.
I was skeptical about this card until I saw your Gisela comparison, as I've been quite a fan of Gisela in actual gameplay. Might try this if I go back up to 540, which is where I play Gisela.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cubing in Oslo, Norway --- contact me if you want to join in!
Not to mention the sac trigger should happen every attack and it affects only opponents and doesn't require it to connect (compared to Rankle - though haste on Rankle as a surprise factor is big). I don't think this is a black aggro card. Midrange in an aristocrats/graveyard deck?
The issue with dies to bolt is true, but sometimes they don't have a bolt, and sometimes you aren't playing red. It's the same issue Baneslayer Angel has(dies to doom blade), but the board impact was so significant, it was worth it. Granted, 4/3 isn't the same as 5/5 first strike, this Angel isn't a great blocker. So it's not quite the same.
I feel like a crucial element that makes Gisella work is the first strike. This Angel is likely to die in combat the same amount as Rankle but without haste, two less abilities, and the one ability it does have costs mana. It's a miss for me I think.
There are lines of play that makes me reconsider this sweet, sweet angel with the best art in the set.
An affordable boast ability like this is very flexible, and good against walkers that protect themselves. You can activate 2nd main phase after attacking a planeswalker to death and leaving their nonflying creature token alone, which is usually a 2/2 or bigger, if not a nontoken beefer or Nissa manland. Or if their blocker has flying, activate it before blockers.
I think it's perfectly arguable that 3 toughness cuts it from cubes under 540. However, I've started designing some of my creature sections to have 80% vindicate-test-passing creatures, and then 20% failing-creatures-that-absolutely-steamroll-if-unkilled. Like Elder Gargaroth. It's been a fun way to spice up draft picks and building decisions. And this would be my pick for black 4's.
Eradicator Valkyrie 2BB
Creature — Angel Berserker (M)
Flying, lifelink, hexproof from planeswalkers
Boast — 1B, Sacrifice a creature: Each opponent sacrifices a creature.
4/3
This is in a somewhat awkward spot since it dies to bolt, but it compares somewhat reasonably to Gisela, the Broken Blade, which I only cut somewhat recently. Black doesn't really have the same level of access to high-quality fliers that white does, and this plays well with recursive creatures. You can even activate the ability before blockers are declared to clear out a blocker.
The hexproof from planeswalkers is sort of trinket text, but it does stop ~15 or so planeswalkers from interacting with it. I'm considering taking it for a spin.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
I feel compelled to repeat everything I hear
The issue with dies to bolt is true, but sometimes they don't have a bolt, and sometimes you aren't playing red. It's the same issue Baneslayer Angel has(dies to doom blade), but the board impact was so significant, it was worth it. Granted, 4/3 isn't the same as 5/5 first strike, this Angel isn't a great blocker. So it's not quite the same.
360 Uncommons only Cube!
An affordable boast ability like this is very flexible, and good against walkers that protect themselves. You can activate 2nd main phase after attacking a planeswalker to death and leaving their nonflying creature token alone, which is usually a 2/2 or bigger, if not a nontoken beefer or Nissa manland. Or if their blocker has flying, activate it before blockers.
I think it's perfectly arguable that 3 toughness cuts it from cubes under 540. However, I've started designing some of my creature sections to have 80% vindicate-test-passing creatures, and then 20% failing-creatures-that-absolutely-steamroll-if-unkilled. Like Elder Gargaroth. It's been a fun way to spice up draft picks and building decisions. And this would be my pick for black 4's.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*