Your rankings look pretty close, ya. Deep Analysis is splashable 4-for-1 card advantage that can generate a big CA swing even if discarded. I have no intention of cutting it.
My opinion has changed a lot on deep analysis throughout the years. I disliked it at first, but have been re-testing it in conjunction with more red looting effects and It's been solid. Many of the vocal members of my group believe the card shouldn't be in my cube.
It's rare that it makes the main deck unless there's some looting/discard effects to really take advantage of it's flashback value.
It's flashback is where it really shines. When it's discarded to a card like collective brutality, Liliana of the veil, or tormenting voice... It turns into a 2 for 0 for 2 mana and 3 life. Incredible rate.
Without discard value, it's too mana/pain hungry for the effect.
I rank the following pure draw spells above it:
Ancestral Recall
Dig through Time
Fact or Fiction
Chart a Course
Thirst for Knowledge
Treasure Cruise
*Mulldrifter (closer to a draw spell than a creature)
Ancestral vision
I had it in my cube way back in the day when it was just a pile of cards and it never blew me away, but I guess I didn't have much graveyard/discard synergies then and that seems to be what the card needs to shine. Even now though it feels like it would be underwhelming so I can't see myself re-adding it as I feel like have better options, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it in larger or more graveyard centric cube.
Is it just one of those cards that plays better than it looks?
I look forward to flashback appearing in another set.
It doesn't need discard synergies to shine. For me, the discard value is there as a backup plan if I lose the card to other effects, and it's not a prerequisite to playing the card. It's splashable 4-for-1 card advantage that can be cast over multiple payments. I think the card is great, even on its own merits. I don't know if it "plays better than it looks" ...because it looks great.
I had it in my cube way back in the day when it was just a pile of cards and it never blew me away, but I guess I didn't have much graveyard/discard synergies then and that seems to be what the card needs to shine. Even now though it feels like it would be underwhelming so I can't see myself re-adding it as I feel like have better options, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it in larger or more graveyard centric cube.
Is it just one of those cards that plays better than it looks?
It's a card that there's a lot of varying opinions on. In my own playgroup, the only person that loves the card is someone who played primarily back in 2006 when tapping out 4 mana to draw 2 cards wasn't nearly as punishable. (a very talented player who was one of the highest ranked players in that era). Most of the strong players in my playgroup think it's too slow for the effect.
There are some smart posters here who love the card, some others who are luke warm on it. Same with the reddit thread. Every other draw spell on that list is in the MTGO Vintage cube, but Deep analysis isn't.
It's kind of a dud against fast/aggro decks, which are real in cube and kind of punish both modes as doing nothing to affect the board for 3U hurts and the flashback literally hurts, but it's great elsewhere. It has enough good matchups that I still like it a lot.
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It's rare that it makes the main deck unless there's some looting/discard effects to really take advantage of it's flashback value.
It's flashback is where it really shines. When it's discarded to a card like collective brutality, Liliana of the veil, or tormenting voice... It turns into a 2 for 0 for 2 mana and 3 life. Incredible rate.
Without discard value, it's too mana/pain hungry for the effect.
I rank the following pure draw spells above it:
Ancestral Recall
Dig through Time
Fact or Fiction
Chart a Course
Thirst for Knowledge
Treasure Cruise
*Mulldrifter (closer to a draw spell than a creature)
Ancestral vision
Last Updated 02/07/24
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Is it just one of those cards that plays better than it looks?
I look forward to flashback appearing in another set.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
It's a card that there's a lot of varying opinions on. In my own playgroup, the only person that loves the card is someone who played primarily back in 2006 when tapping out 4 mana to draw 2 cards wasn't nearly as punishable. (a very talented player who was one of the highest ranked players in that era). Most of the strong players in my playgroup think it's too slow for the effect.
There are some smart posters here who love the card, some others who are luke warm on it. Same with the reddit thread. Every other draw spell on that list is in the MTGO Vintage cube, but Deep analysis isn't.
If you are curious, give it a test run
Last Updated 02/07/24
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This is the best home of the card in my experience too. They splash blue for the gas, and usually have no shortage of mana.
The list on cube cobra
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