I think this card is strong. You lose the body on Snapcaster and everything that comes with it, but you gain card selection and potential graveyard interactions. UU isn't awesome. That means you have to pay UUUU to get back Counterspell or 1UUUUU to get back Cryptic Command. But this is a mid-game spell so I feel like the cost will be workable. Overall I really dig this card.
Didn't know I wanted another one o these effects in blue but now that I see it I'm definitely going to test it.
While I'm not sold on adding this, it does have some nice niche interactions compared to Snapcaster:
-Not having to lock in your choice - we don't have Surgical in Cube, but there are occasionally things like Scavenging Ooze that can get in the way of Snappy
-If you flash back a GSZ that was countered, it will shuffle back into your library!
-It lets you alt-cast things, so you can still pitch a card to Force or bounce an Island for Daze.
Wow, I didn’t notice it said choose, nice catch. Another nice bonus with this card is that you can just YOLO it out there for the Surveil 2 if you’re really desperate to dig for a specific card.
I think it's worth testing, but might not stick. Blue can be so stacked, and at the end of the day, this is basically just casting another spell for an additional cost of UU. I could be wrong in my evaluation, but I don't think this is even close to as good as snapcaster since it's lacking a body.
UU is rough, as it's gonna make some of the really good targets pretty intensive (cryptic becomes 1UUUUU, dig is, at best, UUUU, confluence is 3UUUU, CS is UUUU, even mana leak is 1UUU). I also don't think the suveil 2 and ability to get around some hosers is worth losing the 2/1 body. That being said, snappy is one of the best effects in cube period, so I will definitely be testing this.
I really like this card. Honestly, something as strong as Snapcaster Mage should have been UU, and it would still be very cubeable if it was. Also, I personally appreciate that cards like this or Cryptic Command force you into a heavier color commitment; everything doesn't need to be super splashable.
Snapcaster is always at least a 1-for-1, and usually a 2-for-1. This card is usually a 1-for-1 and sometimes an 0-for-1 if you’re desperate. I don’t think this card is good, and the restricting UU cost makes it pretty bad imo.
I think this is a slam dunk auto-include in powered cubes...
UU is rough, but if snapcaster has taught me anything, it's that versatility of casting cards in your graveyard at instant speed is extremely powerful. Especially time walk and ancestral recall
It's clearly not as good as snapcaster mage, but uhhhh... neither is like 510 of the other 540 cards in my cube. and like 400 of them aren't even remotely close.
If you are thinking about this card as "snapcaster without the body and UU cost" you are severely underrating it. Surveil 2 on a 2 mana spell, is very good.
For perspective on that, how many of you guys run magma jet? how many of you guys run shock? Magma jet is literally just shock + scry 2 for an extra mana. Surveil is > Scry.
Edit:
After more deliberation I no longer think it's a slam dunk, as I'm concerned about how narrow the UU cost makes the card. I still expect the card to be excellent in heavy blue reactive shells (busted with power), and am excited to include it in my cube.
For perspective on that, how many of you guys run magma jet? how many of you guys run shock? Magma jet is literally just shock + scry 2 for an extra mana. Surveil is > Scry.
While this is a really good point, it’s also important to note that this card is in the tightest color in cube. It’s not that the card isn’t good, it’s finding a card that’s worse.
It is really easy to underestimate surveil 2, which is good even if you’re not able to flip something to flashback.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Cubes - The Busted Cube. A fully functional, almost 100% custom cube. The project started out by asking "What if other colors got cards on the power level of Mana Drain,Ancestral Recall, and Time Walk?" Draft and enjoy!
While this is a really good point, it’s also important to note that this card is in the tightest color in cube. It’s not that the card isn’t good, it’s finding a card that’s worse.
This is the problem I think. My cube is unpowered so no Recall, Time Walk, etc and I still only really have a handful of "flexible" blue slots at 450 or below. Will probably try to test this in the 630 card configuration.
For perspective on that, how many of you guys run magma jet? how many of you guys run shock? Magma jet is literally just shock + scry 2 for an extra mana. Surveil is > Scry.
While this is a really good point, it’s also important to note that this card is in the tightest color in cube. It’s not that the card isn’t good, it’s finding a card that’s worse.
While I agree that is the thought process, I think it's better than at least 1/3 of the blue section in a 450 cube.. don't think that will be that hard.
I like the comparison, but I haven’t played magma jet in like 2 years. Surveil 2 isn’t even worth 1 full mana, not to mention on a UU card that does nothing on its own.
The UU is the big issue for me. If you’re going to be flashing back another blue spell, you’re already getting into Cryptic Command territory levels of restrictiveness, let alone trying to flash back something with UU in its cost.
Also, there’s a lot of value wrapped up in that 2/1 body. Not being able to get proper value out of cantrips means this is actually quite restrictive with the number of situations this is good in.
I like the comparison, but I haven’t played magma jet in like 2 years. Surveil 2 isn’t even worth 1 full mana, not to mention on a UU card that does nothing on its own.
Scry 2 or Surveil 2 is definitely worse on a card that is partially reactive and meant to be played in the mid or the late game than a card that is cheap and can be run out on an empty board in the early game. IE scry 2 is better on magma jet than it is on condescend.
Casting this with no target EOT because you need to hit a land drop or something might seem bad... but it is quite a bit better than having a card that does nothing, in a hand filled with expensive spells and no ways of casting them. Ensuring you hit your land drop is probably worth more than a card in those spots.. Especially if you've been leaving up counter-magic on their turn or something.
The UU is the big issue for me. If you’re going to be flashing back another blue spell, you’re already getting into Cryptic Command territory levels of restrictiveness, let alone trying to flash back something with UU in its cost.
True, it is a card with cryptic command levels of cost restriction. and the more I think about it, the more I dislike the UU and am less high on it than my initial reaction... because of the downside of the cost.
But I firmly believe it's powerful enough to justify inclusion despite it's intense cost restriction. Much like cryptic command. Hopefully I've established that I'll happily say I'm wrong when presented with new infroamtion, and i've been wrong many times in the past regarding card evaluation (and openly admitted it).
If I report back in 6 months saying the card is the bees knees, trust me!
Just not that excited about this card. We don't play Serum Visions and I feel this card is closer to that than it is to snapcaster mage. Yes the effect is better than draw a card on serum visions, but the mana seems rough and blue is too stacked. I just don't like the high level of set up cost is not something I am excited about Snap palysvery well in mana light, tempo, and early game scenarios . This card feels like it will rot in hand too long for a two mana spell.
this is a good card. tough to find a spot for it though. going to have to do some thinking. i like that it fits into a few different archetypes. will probably be in my cube for the long run.
I think it's good but not great. Costing UU and requiring me to cast the spell right away can really limit my options. Surveil is a nice addition, but this is nowhere near Snapcaster Mage. It's closer to Flood of Recollection than anything else... worse maybe, since I have to come up with the mana for both spells at the same time. I'm not excited for it.
Dimir has stolen Snapcaster Mage from Izzet! Very interesting card, the UU is a bit rough but the Surveil 2 is very nice. Thoughts?
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Didn't know I wanted another one o these effects in blue but now that I see it I'm definitely going to test it.
-Not having to lock in your choice - we don't have Surgical in Cube, but there are occasionally things like Scavenging Ooze that can get in the way of Snappy
-If you flash back a GSZ that was countered, it will shuffle back into your library!
-It lets you alt-cast things, so you can still pitch a card to Force or bounce an Island for Daze.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/63569
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
Check out my competitive Ezuri, Claw of Progress primer!
I don't think that works, you still have to obey the timing restrictions on the card you choose since it says you may cast it "This turn"
Consider the timing differences between the cascade mechanic Bloodbraid Elf and an effect more similar to this one Abbot of Keral Keep
360-cube - Suggestions welcome!
UU is rough, but if snapcaster has taught me anything, it's that versatility of casting cards in your graveyard at instant speed is extremely powerful. Especially time walk and ancestral recall
It's clearly not as good as snapcaster mage, but uhhhh... neither is like 510 of the other 540 cards in my cube. and like 400 of them aren't even remotely close.
If you are thinking about this card as "snapcaster without the body and UU cost" you are severely underrating it. Surveil 2 on a 2 mana spell, is very good.
For perspective on that, how many of you guys run magma jet? how many of you guys run shock? Magma jet is literally just shock + scry 2 for an extra mana. Surveil is > Scry.
Edit:
After more deliberation I no longer think it's a slam dunk, as I'm concerned about how narrow the UU cost makes the card. I still expect the card to be excellent in heavy blue reactive shells (busted with power), and am excited to include it in my cube.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
While this is a really good point, it’s also important to note that this card is in the tightest color in cube. It’s not that the card isn’t good, it’s finding a card that’s worse.
It is really easy to underestimate surveil 2, which is good even if you’re not able to flip something to flashback.
Regular 450 unpowered cube (with some custom cards) - 450 Unpowered
This is the problem I think. My cube is unpowered so no Recall, Time Walk, etc and I still only really have a handful of "flexible" blue slots at 450 or below. Will probably try to test this in the 630 card configuration.
While I agree that is the thought process, I think it's better than at least 1/3 of the blue section in a 450 cube.. don't think that will be that hard.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
Also, there’s a lot of value wrapped up in that 2/1 body. Not being able to get proper value out of cantrips means this is actually quite restrictive with the number of situations this is good in.
Hard pass from me until proven otherwise.
Cubetutor Link
Scry 2 or Surveil 2 is definitely worse on a card that is partially reactive and meant to be played in the mid or the late game than a card that is cheap and can be run out on an empty board in the early game. IE scry 2 is better on magma jet than it is on condescend.
Casting this with no target EOT because you need to hit a land drop or something might seem bad... but it is quite a bit better than having a card that does nothing, in a hand filled with expensive spells and no ways of casting them. Ensuring you hit your land drop is probably worth more than a card in those spots.. Especially if you've been leaving up counter-magic on their turn or something.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
True, it is a card with cryptic command levels of cost restriction. and the more I think about it, the more I dislike the UU and am less high on it than my initial reaction... because of the downside of the cost.
But I firmly believe it's powerful enough to justify inclusion despite it's intense cost restriction. Much like cryptic command. Hopefully I've established that I'll happily say I'm wrong when presented with new infroamtion, and i've been wrong many times in the past regarding card evaluation (and openly admitted it).
If I report back in 6 months saying the card is the bees knees, trust me!
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
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!