Since you seem to imply that I claimed that chumpers are an issue for Scion of Darkness rather than Void Beckoner, which was claimed to be the quicker finisher in the message to which I was replying, please read my previous reply again in the context of what I was responding to.
That is not what I was implying - I was agreeing with you. Early game, Scion will either "steal" their best blocker or go unblocked. This makes it stronger than simply having trample and can give value even when the opponent's graveyard was empty at the start of combat (early value is a concern you both expressed).
Since you seem to imply that I claimed that chumpers are an issue for Scion of Darkness rather than Void Beckoner, which was claimed to be the quicker finisher in the message to which I was replying, please read my previous reply again in the context of what I was responding to.
That is not what I was implying - I was agreeing with you. Early game, Scion will either "steal" their best blocker or go unblocked. This makes it stronger than simply having trample and can give value even when the opponent's graveyard was empty at the start of combat (early value is a concern you both expressed).
Fair. It came off as correcting my position because it was a reply to me and started with 'FWIW' which carries the implication that I had said something wrong.
I think that I agree with this being a pretty valid consideration when it comes to the value that Scion provides, even if it is a kind of pseudo-punisher mechanic in that respect (they choose what blocks it) and does not account for token blockers.
Scion will probably not make it past testing, but I appreciate seeing it at uncommon. Cards like Plated Crusher are definitely more efficient, but Scion is much more fun when it goes off. Oh well.
I am not sure what to make of Graveblade Marauder. I have been looking for a Golgrai "creatures in the graveyard matter" creature (maybe some day Splinterfright) and this fits the bill. It board stalls really well, but I am not sure if it attacks very well. From scryfall, it is the only 3 mana (or less) uncommon/common creature with 4 toughness (or more) and unconditional deathtouch.
It's too bad how Heroic is inherently a parasitic mechanic but since it is relatively easy to trigger in set limited, it cannot really have that strong an effect. Plus, since it so often involves pumping in one way or another, the base bodies whose design accounts for this tend to underperform.
It's worth noting that Livewire Lash also triggers on opponents' spells. Granted, removal in cube often comes in the form of a triggered ability (Ravenous Chupacabra, Palace Jailer or Flametongue Kavu, to name a few), but still. I can imagine some scenarios in which you'd rather not kill the creature with a spell in fear of losing your own early drops. But maybe it is too mana inefficient.
Aethermage's Touch downshifted. At first glance could be interesting, but probably not good enough unless you are playing a lot of scry.
Yeah it really needed to dig deeper. Feels way too likely to get a useless creature (or whiff entirely) just looking at 4 cards.
I saw this comment about digging deeper than 4 cards and though that was a strange comment to make about the new to paper Peasant Prophetic Bolt. I kid and also agree that Touch's average scenario is too low impact for us. Touch is kinda interesting as a blink card, but also behind a lot of other good blink support in Azorius, like the new Oji, the Exquisite Blade.
For those already running Prophetic Bolt, has it been as good at it seems? Does it ever become a generic value card?
Prophetic Bolt is a pretty nice card. 4 damage kills a lot, and it's sometimes even enough to kill someone outright, coupled with other burn. Doing an Impulse on top of that is nice and makes sure you can keep going.
Glad to finally get a paper uncommon Prophetic Bolt. Impulse is worth 1U and 4 damage to any target at instant speed is worth about 2R, so getting both effects for the same mana but on 1 card seems good.
Prophetic Bolt has been one of my three Izzet cards for a while now and it's good. Really, the only "downside" is that it costs 5 mana, which is a lot. Usually, my Izzet decks want to be casting at least two spells per turn by turn 5+ to take advantage of Young Pyromancer, Thermo-Alchemist, and/or Murmuring Mystic triggers. But, Prophetic Bolt does enough to justify the cost, especially if you're behind as it can remove a big threat and draw you into more action. It also doubles as expensive reach when you're ahead.
Prophetic Bolt is fine but not amazing (in my 360 card cube). Against aggressive decks it's just not generating enough tempo to be fantastic, and against slower decks its not a guaranteed terminate. Goes up in value the more high-value or specialized cards you have access to, like all filter effects.
It's probably worth including in 540+, but for me it's not special, powerful, or interesting enough to include in the multicolor slot.
I will add Cryptic Spires if playing with it isn't an absolute chore. Some sort of color-tokens would go a long way, as I already forget my thriving lands often enough.
Mentor of the Meek and Dark-Dweller Oracle are maybes. Mentor has aged a bit since it was a powerhouse, and dark-dweller might have never been good (lol rare).
Sad to not see Isamaru, Hound of Konda or Splinterfright at uncommon. I think these cards could perfectly have the silver icon today. The set doesn't have many relevant cards for Peasant, but it's crazy por Pauper cubes.
I think I will just play Mentor of the Meek, Lotleth Troll and Cryptic Spires, these are a "sure". Dark-Dweller Oracle and Graveblade Marauder are a "probably".
Hoping the price of Cryptic Spries falls through the floor and I can just buy a stack of them to either discard after a draft or otherwise have 1 unmarked one and 10 marked ones on hand.
Definite Include: Mentor of the Meek - Very solid card draw that also synergizes with blink for more triggers.
Considering: Body Double - I've recently added an emphasis on reanimation, and this goes well with Dimir looting. Graveblade Marauder - I've played this in other formats. Not spectacular, but I might be able to find room for some deathtouch/life drain. Scion of Darkness - Beefy body that throws itself in the graveyard and can reanimate my opponent's stuff that I've killed.
Honorable mention: Crackling Doom - I won't run it because it's three color, but this is a solid downgrade. I've always enjoyed playing this card (especially in multiplayer), and it can get around hexproof/protection.
Honestly, I'm surprised by how many downgrades they had in this set.
Several people seem high on Lotleth Troll, but I have to confess I've never seen one on the battlefield, and it doesn't look impressive to me. I suppose I could include it as a setup to reanimator and a member of the +1/+1 counter archetype. How good is it, really? What do you guys feel is the floor and ceiling for this card?
Hoping the price of Cryptic Spries falls through the floor and I can just buy a stack of them to either discard after a draft or otherwise have 1 unmarked one and 10 marked ones on hand.
There's going to be one cryptic spires per pack, so if you go to the release event, pretty sure you can find 10 of them marked
That is not what I was implying - I was agreeing with you. Early game, Scion will either "steal" their best blocker or go unblocked. This makes it stronger than simply having trample and can give value even when the opponent's graveyard was empty at the start of combat (early value is a concern you both expressed).
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Fair. It came off as correcting my position because it was a reply to me and started with 'FWIW' which carries the implication that I had said something wrong.
I think that I agree with this being a pretty valid consideration when it comes to the value that Scion provides, even if it is a kind of pseudo-punisher mechanic in that respect (they choose what blocks it) and does not account for token blockers.
Scion will probably not make it past testing, but I appreciate seeing it at uncommon. Cards like Plated Crusher are definitely more efficient, but Scion is much more fun when it goes off. Oh well.
I am not sure what to make of Graveblade Marauder. I have been looking for a Golgrai "creatures in the graveyard matter" creature (maybe some day Splinterfright) and this fits the bill. It board stalls really well, but I am not sure if it attacks very well. From scryfall, it is the only 3 mana (or less) uncommon/common creature with 4 toughness (or more) and unconditional deathtouch.
Orzhov Pontiff is a cool nostalgia card (Birthing Pod), but there are better options now.
Livewire Lash - downshifted to uncommon. Not sure I see a use for this one.
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Equip it to Labyrinth Champion and then Flame Jab him, of course.
It's too bad how Heroic is inherently a parasitic mechanic but since it is relatively easy to trigger in set limited, it cannot really have that strong an effect. Plus, since it so often involves pumping in one way or another, the base bodies whose design accounts for this tend to underperform.
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
Yeah it really needed to dig deeper. Feels way too likely to get a useless creature (or whiff entirely) just looking at 4 cards.
I saw this comment about digging deeper than 4 cards and though that was a strange comment to make about the new to paper Peasant Prophetic Bolt. I kid and also agree that Touch's average scenario is too low impact for us. Touch is kinda interesting as a blink card, but also behind a lot of other good blink support in Azorius, like the new Oji, the Exquisite Blade.
For those already running Prophetic Bolt, has it been as good at it seems? Does it ever become a generic value card?
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/peasantsnowcube
-- Updated with Outlaws of Thunder Junction
The PioneWer Peasant CUbe
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/pionewer
-- Updated with Murders at Karlov Manor
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
It's probably worth including in 540+, but for me it's not special, powerful, or interesting enough to include in the multicolor slot.
New to Peasant (15)
Mentor of the Meek
Myth Realized
Body Double
Graveblade Marauder
Scion of Darkness
Dark-Dweller Oracle - Downshifted to common
Labyrinth Champion
Aethermage's Touch
Bounty of the Luxa
Crackling Doom
Lotleth Troll
Orzhov Pontiff
Prophetic Bolt - First time uncommon in paper (previously uncommon digitially)
Livewire Lash
Cryptic Spires - New
New Full Art
Common: Seeker of the Way, Spell Pierce, Thought Scour, Unearth, Monastery Swiftspear, Rampant Growth, Burning-Tree Emissary, Coiling Oracle, Qasali Pridemage
Uncommon: Blood Artist, Flickerwisp, Mentor of the Meek, Wall of Omens, Mulldrifter, Inquisition of Kozilek, Lightning Bolt, Young Pyromancer, Eternal Witness, Bloodbraid Elf, Terminate, Azorius Chancery, Boros Garrison, Dimir Aqueduct, Golgari Rot Farm, Gruul Turf, Izzet Boilerworks, Rakdos Carnarium, Selesnya Sanctuary, Simic Growth Chamber
Rare/Mythic: Mana Drain, City of Brass, Aether Vial, Sensei's Divining Top
New Regular Art
Thought Scour, Blood Artist, Vampiric Rites, Firemind Vessel, City of Brass, Summer Bloom, Last Breath
Edit: Should be everything.
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Doing God's work!
I will add Cryptic Spires if playing with it isn't an absolute chore. Some sort of color-tokens would go a long way, as I already forget my thriving lands often enough.
Mentor of the Meek and Dark-Dweller Oracle are maybes. Mentor has aged a bit since it was a powerhouse, and dark-dweller might have never been good (lol rare).
I think I will just play Mentor of the Meek, Lotleth Troll and Cryptic Spires, these are a "sure". Dark-Dweller Oracle and Graveblade Marauder are a "probably".
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Hoping the price of Cryptic Spries falls through the floor and I can just buy a stack of them to either discard after a draft or otherwise have 1 unmarked one and 10 marked ones on hand.
Draft it on Cubetutor here, and CubeCobra here.
Treasure Cruise did nothing wrong.
Mentor of the Meek - Very solid card draw that also synergizes with blink for more triggers.
Considering:
Body Double - I've recently added an emphasis on reanimation, and this goes well with Dimir looting.
Graveblade Marauder - I've played this in other formats. Not spectacular, but I might be able to find room for some deathtouch/life drain.
Scion of Darkness - Beefy body that throws itself in the graveyard and can reanimate my opponent's stuff that I've killed.
Honorable mention:
Crackling Doom - I won't run it because it's three color, but this is a solid downgrade. I've always enjoyed playing this card (especially in multiplayer), and it can get around hexproof/protection.
Honestly, I'm surprised by how many downgrades they had in this set.
Several people seem high on Lotleth Troll, but I have to confess I've never seen one on the battlefield, and it doesn't look impressive to me. I suppose I could include it as a setup to reanimator and a member of the +1/+1 counter archetype. How good is it, really? What do you guys feel is the floor and ceiling for this card?
2023 Average Peasant Cube|and Discussion
Because I have more decks than fit in a signature
Useful Resources:
MTGSalvation tags
EDHREC
ManabaseCrafter
There's going to be one cryptic spires per pack, so if you go to the release event, pretty sure you can find 10 of them marked
Rumor Gatherer > Mentor of the Meek
Brineborn Cutthroat > Body Double
Nyx Weaver > Lotleth Troll
My C/Ube on Cube Cobra
Mentor of the Meek > Sunscourge Champion
Cryptic Spires > Aether Hub
Lotleth Troll > Nyx Weaver
Prophetic Bolt > Thundering Djinn
Legacy Cube