I really like this card. The versatility is impressive-- there is almost no time when neither half is useful.
The expensive Pongify effect is a pretty stellar plan B for when you need it, and the other half is good whenever. This is also fine as a Commune with Nature in a nonblue deck. I'm always seeking the great green Brainstorm. This isn't it, but it's a playable iteration of the ability for G, which is a nice back-up.
This is easy inclusion for my cube. However, I don't think it's significantly more powerful than some other commonly played Simic cards.
I really like this card.
It’s power level isn’t high, but it provides an effect that is both important and severely lacking in this colour combination.
Yet unlike other removal spells, it doesn’t detract from a proactive gameplay which most of my GU decks have.
In matchups where the exile card is bad (Agro matchups and planeswalker decks), the first side is a very nice alternative mode.
3/3 beasts aren’t a big deal for green decks that play a lot of big blockers. If it’s used against big control creatures or reanimator creatures, a 3/3 isn't going to have a high game impact.
Also exile >> destroy for an effect like this and instant speed works nicely with blue.
Easy test for me, I could be overrating the value of the commune with nature side and underestimating the downside of giving your opponent a 3/3... But think this is a nice role player in a very shallow/weak guild.
Pongify/Rapid Hybridization has been interesting, because it provides blue cheap creature removal, but even then the 3/3 threat you donate your opponent is a problem. I would rather play Beast Within, because it offers versatility in form of the many possible targets - even your own land for an emergency threat. For mono blue I would prefer Curse of the Swine as exile removal. But in the end - for a 1vs1 cube, I would not play any of these, because they can and will backfire regularly.
And if I wanted a cmc 3 blue and green instant-based answer, I would pick Temporal Spring for its ability to put a land on the library and all the other uses.
I also dislike Commune with Nature. The spell will fizzle now and then, even if your deck has many creatures. Creatures are on high demand during a draft, so I would always evaluate the card with that in mind.
Nethertheless, the card is playable indeed, if you don't play a powered cube. However I am crossing my fingers for the rare Simic split card
Well, I've never been close to wanting a Commune with Nature, and I don't think strapping a bad Beast Within to it is going to make me want to play it. The hybrid cost on the front half doesn't matter much, since A) blue decks that aren't green probably won't have the creature saturation for such an effect, and B) this card won't make any final 40s without access to green mana anyways.
I mean, Frog Lizard tokens are cool, but the rest of the card doesn't appeal to me. Even though needs some help this still doesn't pique my interest. I'm really hoping to see some better Simic cards for the cube than this one in this set.
I mean, Frog Lizard tokens are cool, but the rest of the card doesn't appeal to me. Even though needs some help this still doesn't pique my interest. I'm really hoping to see some better Simic cards for the cube than this one in this set.
and unfortunately, the new Zegana is also not super slick.
I mean, Frog Lizard tokens are cool, but the rest of the card doesn't appeal to me. Even though needs some help this still doesn't pique my interest. I'm really hoping to see some better Simic cards for the cube than this one in this set.
and unfortunately, the new Zegana is also not super slick.
And Emergency Powers, which should be Simic, isn't.
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I can't say I'm pleased to see you and must warn you I may have to do something about it.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: URDelver
Modern: UGRDelver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
I mean, Frog Lizard tokens are cool, but the rest of the card doesn't appeal to me. Even though needs some help this still doesn't pique my interest. I'm really hoping to see some better Simic cards for the cube than this one in this set.
and unfortunately, the new Zegana is also not super slick.
And Emergency Powers, which should be Simic, isn't.
Ugh. I can't unsee this now. That would have been so sweet.
I really like this card. The versatility is impressive-- there is almost no time when neither half is useful.
The expensive Pongify effect is a pretty stellar plan B for when you need it, and the other half is good whenever. This is also fine as a Commune with Nature in a nonblue deck. I'm always seeking the great green Brainstorm. This isn't it, but it's a playable iteration of the ability for G, which is a nice back-up.
This is easy inclusion for my cube. However, I don't think it's significantly more powerful than some other commonly played Simic cards.
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My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
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It’s power level isn’t high, but it provides an effect that is both important and severely lacking in this colour combination.
Yet unlike other removal spells, it doesn’t detract from a proactive gameplay which most of my GU decks have.
In matchups where the exile card is bad (Agro matchups and planeswalker decks), the first side is a very nice alternative mode.
3/3 beasts aren’t a big deal for green decks that play a lot of big blockers. If it’s used against big control creatures or reanimator creatures, a 3/3 isn't going to have a high game impact.
Also exile >> destroy for an effect like this and instant speed works nicely with blue.
Easy test for me, I could be overrating the value of the commune with nature side and underestimating the downside of giving your opponent a 3/3... But think this is a nice role player in a very shallow/weak guild.
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Pongify/Rapid Hybridization has been interesting, because it provides blue cheap creature removal, but even then the 3/3 threat you donate your opponent is a problem. I would rather play Beast Within, because it offers versatility in form of the many possible targets - even your own land for an emergency threat. For mono blue I would prefer Curse of the Swine as exile removal. But in the end - for a 1vs1 cube, I would not play any of these, because they can and will backfire regularly.
And if I wanted a cmc 3 blue and green instant-based answer, I would pick Temporal Spring for its ability to put a land on the library and all the other uses.
I also dislike Commune with Nature. The spell will fizzle now and then, even if your deck has many creatures. Creatures are on high demand during a draft, so I would always evaluate the card with that in mind.
Nethertheless, the card is playable indeed, if you don't play a powered cube. However I am crossing my fingers for the rare Simic split card
I mean, Frog Lizard tokens are cool, but the rest of the card doesn't appeal to me. Even though needs some help this still doesn't pique my interest. I'm really hoping to see some better Simic cards for the cube than this one in this set.
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!
and unfortunately, the new Zegana is also not super slick.
Cube list thread
Cubetutor
And Emergency Powers, which should be Simic, isn't.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
Ugh. I can't unsee this now. That would have been so sweet.