MTG Salvation

bunch of interesting downshifts. i finally get my gain 5 life in green.
Webweaver Changeling

Vampire Sovereign is also an insta-slam

I think dreg mangler and experiment one are also super strong.

I don't think I like Webweaver Changeling enough to include it. It's obviously decent if it grants 5 life, but this is all but guaranteed on turn 5.
Auto Includes
Vampire Sovereign: This card is incredibly strong and was already a premium UC in it's time.
Dreg Mangler: Finally we got a good 4th Goglari Card. Ez include.
Experiment One: This was a really really good UC Onedrop in it's time and is basically the first premium non-Mana Dork G Onedrop we've had till now.

In consideration:
Advanced Stitchwing: This seems quite decent. A 3/5 Flying for 5 is fine and the ability to turn any 2 cards in your hand into a Zombify seems pretty decent actually.
Seekers' Squire: A 1/2 that either draws a card or becomes a 2/3 Scry 1 booth seem like absolutely fine options to me, even though it's random.
Lava Coil: I don't like burn, that can't go face all that much, but this is obviiously very efficient at what it does and the exile-clause can often be surprisingly relevant.
Gnarlback Rhino: I really like 4/4 Tramples for cc4 and the upside of randomly being able to draw a card, if this becomes the target óf a pump spell seems quite nice.
Cartel Aristocrat: I remember this being reasonably powerful at the time I could imagine playing this over something else.
Fireblade Artist: This will probably replace Spike Jester, even though that card has performed extremely well ofr me.
Bloodwater Entity: Obviously returning a spell to hand would be much more powerful, but this card would be broken or it wouldn't be common if it could do that. A 2/2 Flying prowess for 3 is quite decent though and putting a spell on top also definitely generates some value at the right point in the game. Probably not going to make the cut for me, but I still think this is a reasonable consideration.

i want the weaver usually against red. they will kill a lot of creatures or lose the game. so, its pretty reliable. that it also blocks blues 4/4 flyers is a nice upside on top.
experiment one is also a safe inclusion for now, although i dont support green stompy anymore. its nice for ug tempo.
none of the other shifts really have a home in my t1, so they most likely end all up in t2

I just realised, that Dark-Dweller Oracle also got downgraded from rare to common. It seems quite decent actually with some Tokens to sacrifice.

Scryfall has it listed as an uncommon but in the images I've seen Izzet Charm clearly has a common symbol

Oooh yeah! monastery swiftspear!

And yes, the izzet charm is sweet also.

I'm not enitrely sure, that I like Izzet Charm more than any of my other Izzet cards. It's certainly up there as an option, but not an auto include necessarily, IMO.

I'm also not a huge fan of Monastery Swiftspear in limited. I just don't like Prowess as a keyword particularly as it forces you to cast your non-creature spells before or during combat, instead of at the latest possible moment in order to get the payoff. I think this is very much a constructed card, but I might be wrong and change my opinion if proven wrong.

My experience with monastery swiftspear is that (1)its more of a threat of activation; do you want to block this with your 2/1 or 2/2? Or will you just take the damage. Or (2) aggressive red decks that are using burn to clear away blockers anyways, and this acts as a bonus for doing so.

I totally understand about the prowess feelings and agree in some cases. But I like it on aggressive cards like this and seeker of the way

The difference between the threat of activation between Swiftspear and Seeker is, that the Seeker deals at least 2 damage or completely shuts of attacks, while the Swiftspear just threatens 1 damage. Sure it can threaten a decent block, but I don't think you really want to play the Swiftspear in a deck, that is looking to block, while the seeker fits into any deck.

Quote from Al_Z_Heimer »

but I don't think you really want to play the Swiftspear in a deck, that is looking to block

Agree 100% here

I think Relief Captain is the only other card that jumps out at me for the set, that we havent already mentioned.

Probably not for Cube but I think Might of Old Krosa is also downshifted for the first time

I remember Relief Captain not being all that good actually. Requireing 3 other creatures is a lot to ask and I really disliked Bolster, because the creatures couldn't target themself. That was just bad design.

I think most of the interesting cards and especially downshifts were spoiled in the first wave.

I'm most likely looking to include:
Vampire Sovereign
Dreg Mangler
Experiment One
Seekers' Squire
Gnarlback Rhino
Dark-Dweller Oracle
Fireblade Artist
Izzet Charm

I'm keeping an eye out for:
Advanced Stitchwing
Cartel Aristocrat

I forgot Militia Buglar.

My changes are the following (Out > In):
→ Perilous Shadow > Vampire Sovereign
→ Witty Roastmaster > Dark-Dweller Oracle
→ Soul Reap > Dreg Mangler
→ Frostburn Weird > Izzet Charm
→ Spike Jester > Fireblade Artist
→ Abyssal Gatekeeper > Seekers' Squire
→ Imperiosaur > Experiment One
→ Stampeding Elk Herd > Gnarlback Rhino
→ Blind Hunter > Cartel Aristocrat
→ Heavy Ballista > Militia Bugler

changes

Militia Bugler > Temporal Isolation
Monastery Swiftspear > Keldon Marauders
Vampire Sovereign > Skymarch Bloodletter
Seekers' Squire > Cuombajj Witches
Lava Coil > Fiery Temper


in

• Might of Old Krosa
  
• Webweaver Changeling
  
• Experiment One

I reworked my green, so its unclear what left for those.

I don't think the Bugler is quite good enough now. Id rather have one of the 3, 3cmc 2 power draw a card creatures, than a card that sometimes draw you a 2 power creature or sometime whiffs.

I will certainly test the Buglar and I'm quite optimistic. 20/39 white creatures in my cube have 2 or less power, including a lot of 4 drops like Guardian of the Guildpact and Coalition Honor Guard.

Its not just about the power, it about also having them in the 4 cards you're looking at. Its a higher ceiling, lower floor type of thing. I prefer the guaranteed card draw.

i prefer the 3 toughness, now we have 2 pyroclasm and 3 evincars justice

My 13 adds:

Lyev Skyknight
Militia Bugler - my third "draw a card" creature
Monastery Swiftspear
Tenth District Legionnaire
Advanced Stitchwing
Fireblade Artist
Experiment One
Bloodwater Entity - over frostburn weird
Dark-Dweller Oracle
Dreg Mangler
Gnarlback Rhino
Advanced Stitchwing
Vampire Sovereign

added Advanced Stitchwing over Wretched Gryff

My changes:
Militia Bugler > Benalish Knight
Jeskai Elder > High Tide
Advanced Stitchwing > Temporal Fissure
Vampire Sovereign > Ninja of the New Moon
Monastery Swiftspear > Skirk Prospector
Dark-Dweller Oracle > Burning-Tree Vandal
Tuskguard Captain > Crowned Ceratok
Birchlore Rangers > Cloakwood Swarmkeeper
Experiment One > Rampant Growth
Gnarlback Rhino > Jukai Preserver
Bloodwater Entity > Nivix Cyclops
Izzet Charm > Goblin Electromancer
Dreg Mangler > Elves of Deep Shadow
Fireblade Artist > Terminate
Tenth District Legionnaire > Wojek Halberdiers