Unlike the other level up cards, this can be instant speed. I think its a good card, but the competition is a bit too steep.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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 think I'll try it, though I wish I could use non-blue mana. Would Phyrexian blue have too broken?
Absolutely lol. A 2 generic mana 3/2 unblockable that made you pay 2 life when it ETB'd would be one of the best aggro creatures ever, and this would be a lot better than that. You could have a 5 power unblockable attacker on turn 3 by paying 4 total mana and 4 life over 2 turns.
I think I'll try it, though I wish I could use non-blue mana. Would Phyrexian blue have too broken?
Absolutely lol. A 2 generic mana 3/2 unblockable that made you pay 2 life when it ETB'd would be one of the best aggro creatures ever, and this would be a lot better than that. You could have a 5 power unblockable attacker on turn 3 by paying 4 total mana and 4 life over 2 turns.
Good point, didn't really think it through, I think my thought process was "why not like Spellskite", I was just lamenting the fact I'll have to call it a blue card
Would definitly have to cost extra colourless to make up for the Phyrexian mana, but I guess at that point I'm just designing a new card
This one is hard to evaluate. A 5/4 unblockable can end the game pretty quickly, but its base / level 1 mode is vulnerable to any stray Shatter / Shock effect, or just any creature removal in general not named Shriekmaw. Being in blue is also awkward since I don't think it really wants Figure of Destiny type creatures / the competition is very steep. True-Name Nemesis essentially does everything this wants to do, but is infinitely more reliable. Shark Typhoon is also more versatile / reliable, but this at least has the benefit of not having pay for everything upfront.
Also, I totally thought its draw 3 ability was activate once per turn, not just once.
Also, I totally thought its draw 3 ability was activate once per turn, not just once.
Yea it's weird right? Have they had an activate once ability that didn't add a counter? It's usually once a turn or adds some countere to help with memory issues.
I'm a big fan of creatures like this, particularly in blue. You can play it early and it may just trade 1-for-1 with an attacker or a bolt. But if it sticks around, it continues to have a purpose as a wincon. You'd still want other contingencies, of course, because like everyone here has noted it's quite vulnerable.
I wouldn't be super eager to play this in a deck that wants true-name. It could fit there, but I'm thinking more like a big control deck, WU/x style, that is light on creatures and whose early plays are mostly just roadblocks and disruption. While say a Wall of Omens gives you the value up-front and is always kind-of acceptable in off-matches, this takes a different route and provides a threat when a defender would otherwise look kind of dumb.
This one is hard to evaluate. A 5/4 unblockable can end the game pretty quickly, but its base / level 1 mode is vulnerable to any stray Shatter / Shock effect, or just any creature removal in general not named Shriekmaw. Being in blue is also awkward since I don't think it really wants Figure of Destiny type creatures / the competition is very steep. True-Name Nemesis essentially does everything this wants to do, but is infinitely more reliable. Shark Typhoon is also more versatile / reliable, but this at least has the benefit of not having pay for everything upfront.
Also, I totally thought its draw 3 ability was activate once per turn, not just once.
The fact that you can activate this at instant speed is a huge help for blue IMO. I think it's testable, but won't stick in most lists. I like that if you go shields down in a reactive deck on turn 2 to cast it, it can trade with most stuff your opponent will put into play on turns 2 or 3.
I like how just having this on the board, it threatens to kill any planeswalker your opponent plays that doesn't have a removal ability. The threat of activation for blocking is nice as well. I support blue tempo decks, and this should be pretty solid there, the line of 1-drop, this, activate and hold up a 2-mana counterspell seems solid. Will have to see how it tests though, blue slots are very tight.
I totally agree with those strengths. This gets a big plus being another PW-killing creature, and I really like paying the 2 upfront without colors, getting a tiny bit of blocking value, and finding the spare U later before combat, with 2 mana held up for a counter. The 2U is gravy at that point and I'd threaten to activate it a lot more than actually spending 3 mana that way.
This dies to shock, but that's not a requirement I ask for in a 2-drop; this dude... let's call it a 2.75 drop.
I doubt they would have made this a mythic rare unless they knew it was good. Keep an eye on Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh everyone. BRO is all but guaranteed to make him better.
This is pretty nice, decent artifact body blocker that pivots to killing people real good. Small cubes may not be able to find room but I predict this will test well.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I primarily play limited, so most of my spoiler season comments view cards through that lens.
I really wish this card was just colourless to activate. I don't run true name because I dont like the play patterns it creates so this could sort of fill that same roll of a blue threat.
I'm torn on it. will keep an eye on it and see how it tests for others.
Seems like a good substitute. the unblockability is not typically what generates those play patterns anyway; this thing dies, and dies, and dies, and dies. But it kills PWs, only need 1 blue pip, and divides the cost across 2 turns. I love all of that
My cube
My cube on Cube tutor
I'm OP_Forever. I'll be putting this in my signature for a while so everyone know I change my nickname.
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
I'm pushing an artifact deck and this seems ok with tezzeret betrayer of flesh, tinker and all the usuall artifact cards.
Kinda sad the last ability is a use one, not just once a turn. I'm assuming blinking would reset that limit, but also the "leveling up"
Absolutely lol. A 2 generic mana 3/2 unblockable that made you pay 2 life when it ETB'd would be one of the best aggro creatures ever, and this would be a lot better than that. You could have a 5 power unblockable attacker on turn 3 by paying 4 total mana and 4 life over 2 turns.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
Good point, didn't really think it through, I think my thought process was "why not like Spellskite", I was just lamenting the fact I'll have to call it a blue card
Would definitly have to cost extra colourless to make up for the Phyrexian mana, but I guess at that point I'm just designing a new card
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
Also, I totally thought its draw 3 ability was activate once per turn, not just once.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Yea it's weird right? Have they had an activate once ability that didn't add a counter? It's usually once a turn or adds some countere to help with memory issues.
I wouldn't be super eager to play this in a deck that wants true-name. It could fit there, but I'm thinking more like a big control deck, WU/x style, that is light on creatures and whose early plays are mostly just roadblocks and disruption. While say a Wall of Omens gives you the value up-front and is always kind-of acceptable in off-matches, this takes a different route and provides a threat when a defender would otherwise look kind of dumb.
The fact that you can activate this at instant speed is a huge help for blue IMO. I think it's testable, but won't stick in most lists. I like that if you go shields down in a reactive deck on turn 2 to cast it, it can trade with most stuff your opponent will put into play on turns 2 or 3.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
This dies to shock, but that's not a requirement I ask for in a 2-drop; this dude... let's call it a 2.75 drop.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*
Interested in Custom Card Creation.
My Cube:Cardinal Custom Cube
A custom version of a third modern masters: MM2019
(filter->rarity to see in set rarity).
I'm torn on it. will keep an eye on it and see how it tests for others.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*