I love the art and flavor text on this card, but I'd have to be going really deep on land destruction before I even considered Orcish Settlers, and it's because of the in the activation cost along with a single toughness. It's just too fragile and unreliable. You don't get the same potential to destroy multiple lands, but I'd try Ogre Arsonist first, in addition to the Avalanche Riders I'm already running, for land destruction on a stick.
If most of these big guys are ramp targets and you find yourself hardcasting them, this one probably provides the best value, and if you are on the ropes getting back another creature could really help stabilise. It's hard to put numbers on it, but i wonder how often you are on 8 lands and Ulamog's Crusher or Breaker of Armies would have saved you, versus where those monsters coming down a turn or two earlier isn't enough to save you from a losing position.
I suppose it is the best Eldrazi from a purely reanimation standpoint as well? Maybe the forced blocking on Breaker of Armies can prevent game-winning counter attacks more frequently?
I don't like casting 7+ drops that offer you no value when they are cast, and I think I've boarded out those other two eldrazi in every match where I was ramping into them. Ramping into 5 toughness 7 drops....
What's most disappointing about a card like bane of bala ged, besides getting hit by any kind of answer, is that there are games where it attacking once isn't going to win you the game.
Either way, I don't like the eldrazi, but IF I play one it's this guy
Artisan is excellent in the ramp deck. I don't support reanimator and Artisan still sees plenty of play. I think it's a worthy inclusion if you support that deck.
Equipment are sort of card disadvantage, in the sense that without a creature they are a 0-1, and even with a creature the stats have to be relevant (not turning a 2/2 into a 3/3 against a 4/4).
It's also sometimes just a time release burn spell which may or may not be worth your time.
I think I'd sooner run Sai of the Shinobi as you can, in theory, drop it on turn 1 and equip it for no further cost while you're curving out. Even in that ideal case I'm not convinced it's worth a card, let alone worth a high draft pick or even a cube slot.
I think I agree that I'd prefer the Sai (And not only because I want to equip it to a turtle).
Not dealing in double-faced cards, I couldn't tell you what your odds of flipping the heirloom would be in a typical cube, but even if you run only a few flippers I guess there is no reason not to run it over the scimitar.
I took it out because it rarely saw play. I'm more on board with the Sai as well if we are talking about cheap casting cost / equip that isn't Bonesplitter.
If you want to have a deck that wins off this effect, just give it The Rack. (I was just reminded that the old rules used to have "at the end of __"-triggers. Neat.)
Essentially does the same thing and has a more relevant body.
I can't imagine a format where I'd play Rackling... just seems so low-impact.
Agreed. I'm pretty sure I would just straight up play The Rack over this card. It would have to be a build around type of format, with lots of black discard. Wrench Mind and the like. Doesn't seem worth it to me.
My buddy made a peasant cube that had one of these in there, and I ended up drafting heavy mono-black with a few really nice discard effects to go along with it, and it didn't do poorly. Didn't do great, but it is what it is.
Though his cube was designed so that most of the cards were pretty awful intentionally.
I'm also more on board with The Rack if you want the effect. Because if you want the effect, you usually want the effect, not trade with something randomly. I suppose at least Rackling has a 'backup' mode once your opponent plays around The Rack, but I'd just as much have played something else alongside the 1-drop version than spend a turn paying 4.
New card.
Quick thought is that this probably isn't terrible, but it competes with more interesting retrieval options.
There are a few versions at 1B with some upside, two targets at 2B, up to two at 1BB or 3B, and then a few that comes with a body.
Having said all that, surely there is something to having this effect available for just one mana, to be able to cast whatever you retrieve as soon as possible? Anyone have any experience?
I have always dismissed Raise Dead, but now that it comes up here, I remeber several games with Gravedigger in hand where I am trying to sequence my next few turns and end up not having enough time/mana.
Unearth would be better than this, despite the drawback of only getting back 3 CMC creatures. At least you can cycle it when there is nothing in your graveyard that you want back right now.
The problem with considering this card's upside over Gravedigger is that Gravedigger just isn't that good.
For one mana, you'll usually do SOMETHING, and yes there's times when it's way better than the expensive/flexible/more powerful options, but overall you're significantly better served with some sort of Death Denied effect.
With that said, a Beta Raise Dead would look pretty cool...
i0 beat me to it. Gravedigger is just, barely, on the cusp of uncubability. Would I be surprised to see it in a large or new list? no. But I don't want it unless the environment was depowered to look like what EMA draft is looking like.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
New card time?
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Artisan of Kozilek
Well this is a whole can o wurms
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
I suppose it is the best Eldrazi from a purely reanimation standpoint as well? Maybe the forced blocking on Breaker of Armies can prevent game-winning counter attacks more frequently?
What's most disappointing about a card like bane of bala ged, besides getting hit by any kind of answer, is that there are games where it attacking once isn't going to win you the game.
Either way, I don't like the eldrazi, but IF I play one it's this guy
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
CubeTutor: www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/72
Thread: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=512410
Also it's just bad. Not worth taking up a card in your hand for such small stats.
It's also sometimes just a time release burn spell which may or may not be worth your time.
So yeah, +1 is not enough for no other bonus.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
My cube discussion thread
Not dealing in double-faced cards, I couldn't tell you what your odds of flipping the heirloom would be in a typical cube, but even if you run only a few flippers I guess there is no reason not to run it over the scimitar.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Next one.
If you want to have a deck that wins off this effect, just give it The Rack. (I was just reminded that the old rules used to have "at the end of __"-triggers. Neat.)
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Essentially does the same thing and has a more relevant body.
I can't imagine a format where I'd play Rackling... just seems so low-impact.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
Agreed. I'm pretty sure I would just straight up play The Rack over this card. It would have to be a build around type of format, with lots of black discard. Wrench Mind and the like. Doesn't seem worth it to me.
My 720 Peasant Cube
Though his cube was designed so that most of the cards were pretty awful intentionally.
New card.
Quick thought is that this probably isn't terrible, but it competes with more interesting retrieval options.
There are a few versions at 1B with some upside, two targets at 2B, up to two at 1BB or 3B, and then a few that comes with a body.
Having said all that, surely there is something to having this effect available for just one mana, to be able to cast whatever you retrieve as soon as possible? Anyone have any experience?
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
For one mana, you'll usually do SOMETHING, and yes there's times when it's way better than the expensive/flexible/more powerful options, but overall you're significantly better served with some sort of Death Denied effect.
With that said, a Beta Raise Dead would look pretty cool...
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)