The problem is that the 2/2 wolves don’t fight that well, and the 2GG activation doesn’t curve well off of a 6 drop either. So the “pass, activate, hope opp can’t double spell so you can get more wolves” mode is very underwhelming.
I agree that grasp isn’t that great, but it’s very interesting to contrast that with the fateful absence ranking. Hitting walkers is good but good enough to be a 1-for-2 instead of a 1-for-1? Not even getting into the removal competition in W being tougher than B.
Hmm. Thanks for the data, though it makes no sense to me.
I did sort of know it was undervalued/possibly misplayed, but not this much. I doubt the stats will support cutting it from the mtgo cubes anytime soon so I will just continue to enjoy getting them hilariously late and beating people over the head with them.
Between cubing silver borders, proxies, alters, and even some custom cards I have 0 problem here. I’m okay cubing like a balrog or treebeard directly since they’re a solid fit for the overall “vibe” of magic. If they print a space orc card strong enough to cube, might just use the mechanics of the card with a homedone magic skin.
Each preview I opened without seeing fateful absence I felt growing hope that it missed the top 20 entirely/dread it was going to be way too high.
Quite interested to see the community revisit that one in some 3-6 months —- I don’t think it’s awful per se just that the W removal competition is godly, including some cards that might be a little underappreciated (Oust for example).
A kind of fun play pattern off cathar’s flash is when you flash it, block something, and then blow up what you wanted to blow up anyway with a few points “lifegain” coming a long for free.
Unexpectedly absent is miles and miles and miles better than this (and miles and miles and miles better than winds).
unexpectantly absent has been on the chopping block in my list for a while. after 61 drafts its been in the main less that 50% of the time. it has the 5th worst main deck percentage of all white cards in my cube and its not even a narrow spell. Its win percentage when in the mainboard after 181 games is the 6th worst of all white cards in my list.
It's not even in the top 320 cards in my 360 list. winds of abandon is in the top 120 by comparison. With an easier casting cost and a permanent solution, I expect fateful absence will have a much much higher main board percentage, which in a 360 list is something I want if i'm going to be running a card in my precious few slots.
I do not really know what to tell you. If it doesn’t work for your playgroup then it doesn’t work for your playgroup and I guess it makes sense for you to cut, but this sounds much more like a playgroup problem than a UA problem. If treated as a removal spell it’s like a top 5 removal spell in the entire available cardpool, it should be getting maindecked and winning way more than that.
It is funny because IMHO Path to Exile drawback is much much worse and is considered a staple by the vast majority.
I have no strong opinion on this card, which seems to be like baleful mastery power-wise but in a color with lots of existing removal options.
But personnally I would cube this before Path to Exile which we just removed from our 540 powered list.
A bit of a disgression, but we found casting Path in the first 4 turns of a game to be too much of a drawback which is problematic for a removal spell.
(We think the same applies to Assassin's Trophy).
fwiw I agree that path is pretty overrated. My list of better removal spells on the previous page was roughly ordered.
Although the path downside is worse overall, it at least is fairly minimized in the late game. Conversely this card is better in the early game (when the 2 to crack a clue is more of a tempo hit) but early is also when costing 2 instead of 1 is the biggest deal.
I would definitely rather play:
StP
Absent
Judgement
Oust
Solitude
Hole
Path
Ending
Skyclave
Brutal cathar
Winds
and possibly rather play stuff like o-rings, journey, or declaration.
There’s a lot of great W removal that isn’t guaranteed card disadvantage, if this was 1 mana, exiled, or even could hit one more card type maybe we’d be talking.
Many of these cards you mention can't answer an Oko, LOTV, Grist, Dack Fayden, etc. A clue token your opponent has to waste 2 mana on is worth it for White to have an answer to cards like those, in addition to nearly every cube creature.
These cards are answered by savannah lions. The PW rider isn’t nothing but it’s not exactly crucial for W.
I would definitely rather play:
StP
Absent
Judgement
Oust
Solitude
Hole
Path
Ending
Skyclave
Brutal cathar
Winds
and possibly rather play stuff like o-rings, journey, or declaration.
There’s a lot of great W removal that isn’t guaranteed card disadvantage, if this was 1 mana, exiled, or even could hit one more card type maybe we’d be talking.
Yeah, I guess to be fair UA actually has several upsides over time walk.
But probably better to take that up on the UA thread, I’ve already gotten this one kind of off track 😆
I did sort of know it was undervalued/possibly misplayed, but not this much. I doubt the stats will support cutting it from the mtgo cubes anytime soon so I will just continue to enjoy getting them hilariously late and beating people over the head with them.
Quite interested to see the community revisit that one in some 3-6 months —- I don’t think it’s awful per se just that the W removal competition is godly, including some cards that might be a little underappreciated (Oust for example).
A kind of fun play pattern off cathar’s flash is when you flash it, block something, and then blow up what you wanted to blow up anyway with a few points “lifegain” coming a long for free.
I do not really know what to tell you. If it doesn’t work for your playgroup then it doesn’t work for your playgroup and I guess it makes sense for you to cut, but this sounds much more like a playgroup problem than a UA problem. If treated as a removal spell it’s like a top 5 removal spell in the entire available cardpool, it should be getting maindecked and winning way more than that.
fwiw I agree that path is pretty overrated. My list of better removal spells on the previous page was roughly ordered.
Although the path downside is worse overall, it at least is fairly minimized in the late game. Conversely this card is better in the early game (when the 2 to crack a clue is more of a tempo hit) but early is also when costing 2 instead of 1 is the biggest deal.
These cards are answered by savannah lions. The PW rider isn’t nothing but it’s not exactly crucial for W.
StP
Absent
Judgement
Oust
Solitude
Hole
Path
Ending
Skyclave
Brutal cathar
Winds
and possibly rather play stuff like o-rings, journey, or declaration.
There’s a lot of great W removal that isn’t guaranteed card disadvantage, if this was 1 mana, exiled, or even could hit one more card type maybe we’d be talking.