I don't have cube experience with Lively Dirge yet, but it has performed really well in OTJ limited. The mode of returning two 2-drops is stronger and easier to do than I thought, and in cube black has some good two-drop hits, namely Triarch Praetorian with its draw 2 trigger and soon the new Sorin from MH3. I'm also interested in testing Asmo, which I'd expect to be another amazing synergy with this card; having a strong 0-mana creature to bring back alongside a 4-drop is a blowout level play.
I initially majorly underestimated the 2-mana mode, even without building around this most decks will have multiple token producers. This is also another support piece for Basri's Lieutenant. Card's great, and one of my favourites in slot.
Normally I hate cards with output randomness, but I don't think this card is that unpredictable, casting two spells already gives you a 75% chance to flip. The front face really incentivizes playing instants, as you can put multiple spells on the stack, getting the benefit of Ral flipping with more counters without having to decline flips and risking not flipping Ral at all.
If the -2 of the back was always an Electrolyze, I think this card would be really strong. The mana discount of the Barals is very nice, but once you've cast all your spells, you are left with a weak body; Ral would cash in for a good 3-mana spell that leaves behind a planeswalker!
However, I think the blue permanent requirement kills the card for me. Blue is the colour with the least permanents to begin with, and Ral really wants to be in a deck loaded with spells. A Forked Bolt is not a strong enough effect, especially later on in the game.
This front face really needed the back face to be good. The -2 is very telegraphed, and the +1 is weak unless you are extremely heavy black. I don't think this card gives you quite enough payoff for how narrow it is.
I also think this is the second strongest of the cycle, and it's a cheap value engine and another payoff for the draw-matters deck instead of an oppressive early game card like Ajani, so I have no concerns about including it.
I'm surprised you rate Duelist of the Mind so high. I thought the card is good, but outside draw 7 decks it doesn't hit that hard, and regardless of deck it isn't spectacular on defense, which kinda sucks when some of its best synergies cost you life (Sylvan Library) or need you to protect them (Jace, the Mind Sculptor). Also surprised by Sandstorm Salvager being so far down the list, that was one of the headliners for me this set.
This set I misread Caustic Bronco, thinking it triggers on dealing damage, and Bruse Tarl, Roving Rancher, thinking it only lets you play the card until end of turn (and thus the variance between the two effects is horrible). Still not going to test those cards, but will be watching them.
Black has no shortage of 5-mana bombs, and this card's cheaper modes are really situational and hard to play on curve. The card's ceiling doesn't seem high enough to make up for its merely decent floor.
Better end the game before turn 5 or never cast another card again, lol. Instead of competing with it, this card is really good with Mystic Confluence too, if they don't cast anything you draw 3 or bounce their board.
6 mana is soooo much. Many white decks can't reliably hardcast this, at least without going a turn only playing a land. I like Guardian Scalelord more, that card can also pretty easily recur 4-drops.
I like this quite a bit. The more you flood out with artifact mana, the deeper you can dig and the more you appreciate the effect. It works even if you have less than three artifacts unlike something like Inventors' Fair, so it fits into way more decks too.
If the -2 of the back was always an Electrolyze, I think this card would be really strong. The mana discount of the Barals is very nice, but once you've cast all your spells, you are left with a weak body; Ral would cash in for a good 3-mana spell that leaves behind a planeswalker!
However, I think the blue permanent requirement kills the card for me. Blue is the colour with the least permanents to begin with, and Ral really wants to be in a deck loaded with spells. A Forked Bolt is not a strong enough effect, especially later on in the game.
I'm surprised you rate Duelist of the Mind so high. I thought the card is good, but outside draw 7 decks it doesn't hit that hard, and regardless of deck it isn't spectacular on defense, which kinda sucks when some of its best synergies cost you life (Sylvan Library) or need you to protect them (Jace, the Mind Sculptor). Also surprised by Sandstorm Salvager being so far down the list, that was one of the headliners for me this set.
This set I misread Caustic Bronco, thinking it triggers on dealing damage, and Bruse Tarl, Roving Rancher, thinking it only lets you play the card until end of turn (and thus the variance between the two effects is horrible). Still not going to test those cards, but will be watching them.
Includes:
Upd: also testing Hostile Investigator and Lively Dirge.
I just really wish this was an artifact iself.