I'm very interested to hear where people rank this among Gruul cards. The most popular Gruul sections seem to be some mix of Bloodbraid Elf, Huntmaster of the Fells, Dragonlord Atarka, and then 1-2 PWs from a wide list (Xenagos, Sarkhan Vol, oldest Domri, newest Domri, Arlinn). Then there's stuff like Gruul Spellbreaker and Kessig Wolf Run and FreeBear and Tattermunge Maniac and Kird Ape and Rhythm of the Wild and Ghor-Clan Rampager.
Does this push an existing PW off the list, or can its unique niche justify slotting it alongside them? Is it on the level of the BBE/Huntmaster/Atarka trio or solidly below it?
I haven't made a final decision on this yet but, in my powered cube, I think it pushes out OG Domri for me. Partly because he hasn't ever performed particularly well and also because, while I don't have a set planeswalkers cap, I do try to be careful about adding more planeswalkers.
In my commander cube I will almost certainly add this but I do have a strict-ish planeswalker cap in that so I have to replace a planeswalker. Luckily, I was also running OG Domri in there so this seems like a decent swap for that cube as well.
I'm running a 720 cube so I have a little more flexibility than most for additions. I'm looking at either dungeon geists or clever impersonator. I'm leaning toward impersonator because, while his ceiling is for sure higher, geists tends to do more work/have a bigger impact on average. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be the right swap or not?
I would be all for this if it was any graveyard but as it is, it's likely to be a 3/3 for 3 far too often. A 3/3 for 3 is fine and all but I prefer the other options over this.
A big part of the reason to run clones in cube is to double Down on CIP effects. Losing that is a big deal and there are enough good clones and removal out there that I don't really see this being good enough.
This will most likely make the cut in my commander cube but I don't think that it makes it into my powered cube. If you can reliably trigger this, it's crazy good but it's so rare that you're gaining 5 life a turn in that environment so you really just have to evaluate it on the base stats and the sac ability which just doesn't get there for me.
Might be okay in multiplayer/commander cubes but the possibility of disenchant effects or everyone just trying to take you out before level 2 goes off seems pretty high. Prolly not great.
For those who are replacing vs adding in-addition to Nek/Skin: is it because you have a threshold for that # of effect? A threshold for the cost? You can't find a cut anywhere else? Your cube is a certain size?
For me, if I end up running this, it's not because I have a specific threshold but I do feel like I have enough of this effect that, if I were to add more it would start to feel really boring/repetitive.
The 1 mana 2 power creatures need to be guaranteed 2 power in order to make the cut and there is no shortage of those. This guy doesn't ask for much to make himself 2 power but the point of these guys is to come down on turn 1 and swing for 2 on turn 2. This guy cant do that so he is out for me.
Fractured loyalty definitely. I will be looking to make room for the two new equipment but may only be able to free up a slot for one of them. I think i lean towards the axe if so but both seem solid.
@steve_man:
- LftL is optimal since it is both recurrable multiple times and fuels itself, but any sort of recurrable variant would be nice. Flashback was a just a suggestion. The lowest hanging fruit. I gladly take something with a more clever recursion ability.
- Sorry, I meant a good Wildfire variant. For 5 or 6 mana. 7 proved to be a bit too much.
- I meant a colorless artifact with a white color alignment.
What if your lftl with flashback variant's effect was:
Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard then you may put up to three lands from your graveyard into your hand.
I haven't made a final decision on this yet but, in my powered cube, I think it pushes out OG Domri for me. Partly because he hasn't ever performed particularly well and also because, while I don't have a set planeswalkers cap, I do try to be careful about adding more planeswalkers.
In my commander cube I will almost certainly add this but I do have a strict-ish planeswalker cap in that so I have to replace a planeswalker. Luckily, I was also running OG Domri in there so this seems like a decent swap for that cube as well.
For me, if I end up running this, it's not because I have a specific threshold but I do feel like I have enough of this effect that, if I were to add more it would start to feel really boring/repetitive.
Agreed. Ive honestly been thinking about cutting a wrath effect or two and im not interested in setting back my control decks this much.
What if your lftl with flashback variant's effect was:
Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard then you may put up to three lands from your graveyard into your hand.