There are some Legacy / Vintage legal cards in Unfinity, and this is one of them. Saw in Half is essentially a black blink card that can also double as "removal" spell to slow your opponent down a step or two. As a blink spell, this can get really out of hand with strong ETB / death triggers.
EXAMPLES
Thragtusk -> two 3/2 Thragtusks, one 3/3, gain 10 life
Wurmcoil Engine -> two 3/3 Wurmcoil Engines, one 3/3 life link, one 3/3 deathtouch
Deep Forest Hermit -> Go from four 2/2 squirrel tokens / 1/1 Deep Forest Hermit to twelve 3/3 Squirrel tokens / two 1/1 Deranged Hermits
I think we can safely say this is probably never going to hit an opponent's creature - this feels like saying Kolaghan's Command is a discard outlet. (I don't think anyone is going to advocate this, but I'm going to point it out prior to continuing.
I also don't think its reasonable to leave up 3 mana to block-flicker or removal-flicker - therefore i don't think this is the second coming of Ephemerate.
With that in mind, the best comparison is likely Phyrexian Metamorph except it gives you +1 death trigger on the original creatures +1 ETB on the original creature for 3 mana.
This feels like it could have a high ceiling, but I've found the floor with a card like this is likely too low - Especially how easily this could be a 2 for 1 as the opponent could remove your creature in response.
The interesting part i find about the Aristocrats deck was the card that made the deck playable in Modern, Legacy and Vintage Cube was Grist, the Hunger Tide - The deck would like cards that could play the dual role of removal/ card advantage or game progression.
Cards like Tourach, Dread Cantor, Painful Truths etc didn't perform that well despite their 3 for 1 potential as I found these decks don't lack 3 for 1 cards but would like tempo swings/ answers to the opponent's stuff. Hence why more modest cards like Liliana, the Last Hope, , Rankle, Master of Pranks, Tireless Tracker, Murderous Rider etc. that offered tempo swings but also modest card advantages or removal overperformed.
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I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
I agree that this isn't Ephemerate, but it does have some interactions already noted by Breathe and it's also in a color that doesn't usually get blink effects. I'm not convinced it'll stick long-term, but it looks like a fun card to try out.
EDIT: Also fun with Torrential Gearhulk! Cast it on Gearhulk, get 2x 3/3 Gearhulks, use one to cast another instant for free, one to cast Saw in Half again to get 2x 2/2 Gearhulks to cast two more instants for free.
Notably, this combos with Dualcaster Mage + any other creature you control for those that are into combo cubes.
You don't even need to control another creature as long as your opponent does. The initial spell can hit anything, then you just target dualcaster with every subsequent copy.
Notably, this combos with Dualcaster Mage + any other creature you control for those that are into combo cubes.
You don't even need to control another creature as long as your opponent does. The initial spell can hit anything, then you just target dualcaster with every subsequent copy.
Meant to mention this in my previous post, but it's also worth noting that in addition to what you both mentioned, you also get to copy another instant or sorcery spell on the stack if you can do this in response to one, since only half of the Dualcaster copies need to target Saw in Half to keep the combo going.
Meant to mention this in my previous post, but it's also worth noting that in addition to what you both mentioned, you also get to copy another instant or sorcery spell on the stack if you can do this in response to one, since only half of the Dualcaster copies need to target Saw in Half to keep the combo going.
Sure but once you have infinite 1/1's in play do you really need whatever the spell was? =P
But if you're looking for another "twin-esque" combo, you could certainly do worse as dualcaster is an ok card in its own right and this card has some pretty cute interactions (although probably too grindy for modern cube) - It + eternal witness in play lets you spend 3 mana to get back this spell plus another card from your GY at instant speed (you can even get the ewit back if you want), and this works with basically any ewit effect. It's obviously fine on any creatures with a good ETB. It's pretty funny with the red army in a can variants (hitting a rabblemaster gets you 2 1/1's every combat and even attacking on an board with only the two fresh goblins and the rabblemasters is 10 power). End step hit Oracle or Tireless Tracker untap and go crazy is a line.
On its own merits, the card isn't good enough, but I like that it's a combo piece that can at least find a home in non-combo decks just for value.
The potential for fun combos and blinking value seems worth trying out. 2B and instant speed means this card should be playable and live frequently. I agree, this will almost never be played on an opponents creatures.
I think you have to jump through too many hoops for this to be a good card :/
There are some strong interactions, but too much of the time this card does nothing.
The good case scenarios don't make up for that imo
There are some Legacy / Vintage legal cards in Unfinity, and this is one of them. Saw in Half is essentially a black blink card that can also double as "removal" spell to slow your opponent down a step or two. As a blink spell, this can get really out of hand with strong ETB / death triggers.
EXAMPLES
Thragtusk -> two 3/2 Thragtusks, one 3/3, gain 10 life
Wurmcoil Engine -> two 3/3 Wurmcoil Engines, one 3/3 life link, one 3/3 deathtouch
Deep Forest Hermit -> Go from four 2/2 squirrel tokens / 1/1 Deep Forest Hermit to twelve 3/3 Squirrel tokens / two 1/1 Deranged Hermits
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
I also don't think its reasonable to leave up 3 mana to block-flicker or removal-flicker - therefore i don't think this is the second coming of Ephemerate.
With that in mind, the best comparison is likely Phyrexian Metamorph except it gives you +1 death trigger on the original creatures +1 ETB on the original creature for 3 mana.
This feels like it could have a high ceiling, but I've found the floor with a card like this is likely too low - Especially how easily this could be a 2 for 1 as the opponent could remove your creature in response.
The interesting part i find about the Aristocrats deck was the card that made the deck playable in Modern, Legacy and Vintage Cube was Grist, the Hunger Tide - The deck would like cards that could play the dual role of removal/ card advantage or game progression.
Cards like Tourach, Dread Cantor, Painful Truths etc didn't perform that well despite their 3 for 1 potential as I found these decks don't lack 3 for 1 cards but would like tempo swings/ answers to the opponent's stuff. Hence why more modest cards like Liliana, the Last Hope, , Rankle, Master of Pranks, Tireless Tracker, Murderous Rider etc. that offered tempo swings but also modest card advantages or removal overperformed.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
EDIT: Also fun with Torrential Gearhulk! Cast it on Gearhulk, get 2x 3/3 Gearhulks, use one to cast another instant for free, one to cast Saw in Half again to get 2x 2/2 Gearhulks to cast two more instants for free.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
You don't even need to control another creature as long as your opponent does. The initial spell can hit anything, then you just target dualcaster with every subsequent copy.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Sure but once you have infinite 1/1's in play do you really need whatever the spell was? =P
But if you're looking for another "twin-esque" combo, you could certainly do worse as dualcaster is an ok card in its own right and this card has some pretty cute interactions (although probably too grindy for modern cube) - It + eternal witness in play lets you spend 3 mana to get back this spell plus another card from your GY at instant speed (you can even get the ewit back if you want), and this works with basically any ewit effect. It's obviously fine on any creatures with a good ETB. It's pretty funny with the red army in a can variants (hitting a rabblemaster gets you 2 1/1's every combat and even attacking on an board with only the two fresh goblins and the rabblemasters is 10 power). End step hit Oracle or Tireless Tracker untap and go crazy is a line.
On its own merits, the card isn't good enough, but I like that it's a combo piece that can at least find a home in non-combo decks just for value.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
[180 classic cube]
360 Uncommons only Cube!
There are some strong interactions, but too much of the time this card does nothing.
The good case scenarios don't make up for that imo
Last Updated 02/07/24
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