In a vacuum, the card is good value, sure. However, relative to the power level at 6 mana within Cube, I do not think it really competes with a lot of common inclusions and therein lies it's glaring faults.
Ikoria has been an interesting set release! With the changes to Companion, my Cube will be retaining the original rules text for the mechanic. I enjoy allowing the Cube to offer some of the historic moments in MTG history through cards and mechanics. Companion in particular, is a mechanic that will long be remembered as an infamous design choice - and I would like Cube to offer a place where drafters can experience the original mechanic.
Both Innocent Blood and Mortify have had their time in the sun, it is time to let Orzhov breathe a bit more with the addition of Lurrus. Innocent Blood has always been a great piece of removal, however as Doom Blade variants continue to be introduced into the game, it has become much less of an interesting card within Cube. Because of the memorability of the card, it may return at some point.
DESIGN NOTES: Added Narset, Parter of Veils to help flesh out a loot archetype with the recent addition of Rielle, the Everwise. The initial inclusion is within the 450 card module to help curb lockout potential within smaller drafts with wheel effects. Narset has been given a [TESTING] tag as this interaction is intended to be powerful and will be monitored closely for any needed adjustments in the future.
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage is a classic card within the Cube, but has been filling a rather uninteresting role as a Planeswalker. Tamiyo has been removed to allow for more interesting and powerful interactions and may return in the future if more interesting interactions arise.
Simic has no shortage of interesting cads available to it for Cube. Nissa, Steward of Elements was originally included to help round out midrange strategies within the guild colors, but has failed to offer much power. Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath has been swapped to allow the guild a bit more playability for midrange strategies within the Cube.
This is a pretty easy pass for me. Lots of options, but in a powered Cube, I think I have stronger plays to be making in most situations where I have 6 mana.
1)Elspeth, Knight Errant vs Elspeth,Sun's Nemesis?
2)Top 3 white 5 drops? (counting Gideon Jura if he makes your top3)
3)Looter il-Kor vs Teferi, Time Master (the new one)?
4)Voracious Hydra vs Questing Beast?
Questing Beast is just an unreal card compared to Hydra. Hydra is nice because it has removal packed into it for a color that doesn't have much removal, but Questing Beast just kills players and can interact strongly with opposing planeswalkers in a way that Hydra cannot.
I'm not a fan on first glance. Five drops that need follow-up to be impressive always disappoint. Glorybringer/Thundermaw Hellkite seem way better.
I would usually agree, but a form of built in protection kind of melts that argument for me. I like that I can play him on the top end of a deck and to remove him still achieves my aggressive objective and if he sticks around it is going to close the game. I don't think it is as good as Thundermaw Hellkite but I do think that it is better than Glorybringer.
Actually a pretty big fan of this card. At 540 with Power, it challenges cards like Thundermaw Hellkite, and Stormbreath Dragon, but seems like it has potential to be a bit better than something like Glorybringer which I know is popular, even without having haste.
Cards like Molten-Tail Masticore and Masticore are classic cards because their ability to clear targets, absorb combat damage, and serve as a colorless discard outlet. Being able to trade cards in hand for board position is nice for Stax decks and I think where this falls short is that you don't have the option to discard, it is a requirement. Unlike traditional Masticore cards where you can stack your effects to get fodder without trading a card in some scenarios.
I do like that it can serve as a really good sink for attrition games, but beyond that it does not have the flexibility that the others have and thus I don't think it is as cube-worthy
Lots of comparisons to other Planeswalkers here, but what about Hero of Bladehold as well?
My problems with Basri Ket is that while he does give you a turn 3 Hero effect, he doesn't protect himself while doing it. His pump ability is pretty marginal, and his ultimate is pretty expensive.
While all the abilities are desirable abilities, I think what this comparison brings to light - is that the goal you are trying to achieve is pretty important. Hero can offer repeatable effects more consistently to create stronger race scenarios and the appeal of a Planeswalker filling that role, is the ability to work around potential mass removal spells, which Basri doesn't do at all.
I think people forget that while Planeswalkers can be quite powerful in Cube, a lot of things can easily scale past them, especially the ones that this spell can interact with.
I don't think the concession to better removal is worth forgetting the above statement.
Something else to consider is that an early powered out Teferi is going to go up pretty quick. No, it doesn't protect itself as well as something like Architect of Thought but he also just does different things. Turn 2 is kind of nuts with him in a powered list and 1 is even nuttier.
He can fit into Reanimator decks, artifact decks, etc. The double loot and pip to 5 early on can set up for takeover plays.
After recently adding Rielle, the Everwise and Narset, Parter of Veils - this excites me a lot for breathing some new life into blue decks in Cube. I don't even think I would mind slotting this into a U aggro deck as a means to push around creatures that may otherwise wall you. It is a good follow up to creatures like Geist of Saint Traft or other early aggressive drops you want to sneak in with.
I like that Teferi, Master of Time can really help round out some strategies while not being so inherently powerful that he is a snap early pick. Solid support card.
I am slam dunking this into 360. I just added Rielle, the Everwise and loving it and I think this deck adds some sweet interactions there but also strong applications in general.
Not the most powerful card, but I feel like it is better than a lot of other Planeswalkers in blue.
Personally, I am going to use the Companion cards as written. I am only including Lurrus of the Dream-Den and Lutri, the Spellchaser and the complete wording is on them. Part of what I enjoy about Cube, is the historic experience that is offered with rich cards from the game's history. I think the release of the Companion mechanic in MTG is pretty historic in how much of a blunder it has turned out to be for the game, and I think Cube hasn't really felt the same impact as constructed formats.
I kind of like that Cube allows for players to experience the intended idea behind some of these cards.
|IKO| Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
UPDATE 0.1.0
Ikoria has been an interesting set release! With the changes to Companion, my Cube will be retaining the original rules text for the mechanic. I enjoy allowing the Cube to offer some of the historic moments in MTG history through cards and mechanics. Companion in particular, is a mechanic that will long be remembered as an infamous design choice - and I would like Cube to offer a place where drafters can experience the original mechanic.
Update |0.1.1|
1. Elspeth, Knight-Errant > Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis
Being able to pip-up without havign a board, is pretty significant. Knight-Errant plays a much better aggro and midrange game than Sun's Nemesis.
2. Karmic Guide, Gideon Jura, Wingmate Roc
3. Teferi, Master of Time > Looter il-Kor
Teferi is much more versatile and loots much more efficiently, even if it cost more mana.
4. Questing Beast > Voracious Hydra
Questing Beast is just an unreal card compared to Hydra. Hydra is nice because it has removal packed into it for a color that doesn't have much removal, but Questing Beast just kills players and can interact strongly with opposing planeswalkers in a way that Hydra cannot.
I would usually agree, but a form of built in protection kind of melts that argument for me. I like that I can play him on the top end of a deck and to remove him still achieves my aggressive objective and if he sticks around it is going to close the game. I don't think it is as good as Thundermaw Hellkite but I do think that it is better than Glorybringer.
Actually a pretty big fan of this card. At 540 with Power, it challenges cards like Thundermaw Hellkite, and Stormbreath Dragon, but seems like it has potential to be a bit better than something like Glorybringer which I know is popular, even without having haste.
I do like that it can serve as a really good sink for attrition games, but beyond that it does not have the flexibility that the others have and thus I don't think it is as cube-worthy
My real problem with this card is that I don't think it is really all that interesting. Pretty straight boring.
My problems with Basri Ket is that while he does give you a turn 3 Hero effect, he doesn't protect himself while doing it. His pump ability is pretty marginal, and his ultimate is pretty expensive.
While all the abilities are desirable abilities, I think what this comparison brings to light - is that the goal you are trying to achieve is pretty important. Hero can offer repeatable effects more consistently to create stronger race scenarios and the appeal of a Planeswalker filling that role, is the ability to work around potential mass removal spells, which Basri doesn't do at all.
I don't think the concession to better removal is worth forgetting the above statement.
He can fit into Reanimator decks, artifact decks, etc. The double loot and pip to 5 early on can set up for takeover plays.
After recently adding Rielle, the Everwise and Narset, Parter of Veils - this excites me a lot for breathing some new life into blue decks in Cube. I don't even think I would mind slotting this into a U aggro deck as a means to push around creatures that may otherwise wall you. It is a good follow up to creatures like Geist of Saint Traft or other early aggressive drops you want to sneak in with.
I like that Teferi, Master of Time can really help round out some strategies while not being so inherently powerful that he is a snap early pick. Solid support card.
Not the most powerful card, but I feel like it is better than a lot of other Planeswalkers in blue.
I kind of like that Cube allows for players to experience the intended idea behind some of these cards.