The cheat cards into play thing it coming up multiple times.
How good is this card?
Even
turn 1 Jungle Lions
Turn 2 Channel (sword +equip) seems very powerful.
Some powerful Cards to cheat even without any other mana:
Eldrazi (if you play them)
Karn Plainswalker
Sundering Titan
Myr Battlesphere
Wurmcoil Engine
Jitte (can can gain the 4 life and also cast more spells if unnecessary in the second main phase)
Sword of X and X (+equip)
Batterskull
Masticore(s) +(activation)
Tangle Wire + Lodestone Golem or Precursor Golem (GG, QQ)
With colored Mana:
Upheaval (broken is broken, since you can continue to add mana even after upheaval)
Pelakka Wurm (and you can do it again )
XXXXX Titan (they are all amazing when they come out that quick)
Decree of Justice
Wildfire/Burning of Xion
Thragtusk
I am curious to hear this as well. I'm not wild about a card that is crazy broken 10% of the time and dead 90% (see: Fastbond), but I could talk myself into it if it is more consistent than I am imagining.
Channel is one of the most powerful cards in the cube. We added it into the 360 before we went to 720 and it did not disappoint, it often tabled and people soon realized that was a giant mistake because it would always find a very abuseable deck.
I would currently rank this as a giant misunderstanding/misappropriate/underevaluation of this community (myself included) for far too long now. It's like when the entire Magic Community misevaluated Stoneforge Mystic and Tarmogoyf for too long, they were bonkers cards and everyone knew they were good but not insane.
Well, in cube, Channel is often times insane/bonkers/broken, we just didn't give it the opportunity it deserved. It's particularly amazing now that we have access to awesome six and seven mana creatures, but abuseable mana sinks are also more common in the last few blocks.
I think Scars block has completely changed this card from a niche cube card to a very powerful option. We got Myr Battlesphere, Wurmcoil Engine, Karn Liberated, Batterskull and Precursor Golem which is a huge boost for Channel. It's got the typical build around me card drawback of being worse the less drafters you have and the larger your cube is so that's something to keep in mind. I don't currently run it because I avoid cards that lead to early, difficult to stop blowouts but if I was playing a powered cube it would definitely be on my list.
The first time I played this in MODO cube I was playing nearly monogreen ramp with Precursor Golem, Wurmcoil Engine & 2 other targets that cost 7+ (Battlesphere and Karn I think but maybe 1 was Sundering Titan) and it was just backbreaking when I cast it turn 2. It's not as good in MODO cube as it would be in a smaller cube and it's pretty good there.
Back when we had emrakul someone hard cast it turn 2 with channel. That was pretty awesome. It usually kinda acts like Dark Rutual here generating 4-5 mana for gg and life. Like all rituals it's a poor top deck but no question its very powerful. I'd play in tight list easily.
It's been back on my radar since New Phyrexia, but since reducing to cube size to just above 300, it's increasingly hard to find room. It's certainly a very powerful card with the new swords, Karn, etc.
Although the MODO cube is generally more geared towards Channel than most cubes on MTGS including my own I have seen it break many games on there, even without the Eldrazi legends. Have been tempted to play it in my cube.
I've excluded it from my cube for the reason that I've never played with it and it always seemed bonkers overpowered, and not in a fun way. I kept reading stories about people going T1 Emrakul or something with it.
However, I don't play the Eldrazi. The best you can do in my cube is probably a T2 Sundering Titan, Wurmcoil Enginer, Myr Battlesphere, or Karn, and with the exception of Karn, I support the ability for blue to do that WITHOUT drawing two parts of a combo (Tinker). So it seems really ****ty for me to let blue have all the fun and deny it to green.
It was an okay card for us before we cut it. If my cube included the third "tier" of ramp spells (more 7+ drops, a couple of Eldrazi, big X spells, Wake/Gilded Lotus/Powerstone/Dynamo, etc) this would be part of that "super-ramp" expansion.
I don't think it's a bad card, but I don't think my current configuration is the best environment for it to be great. Sometimes it's a T2 Karn. But most of the time, it's a bad Dark Ritual ...in green; a color saturated with great options for ramp.
I don't run the third tier you're mentioning either, except in a few places where channel wouldn't help (i.e., I play Sphinx of the Steel Wind and Griselbrand as extra 7drops you don't play), but I don't play the other mentioned cards, and I actually just cut the last fireball clone from the cube.
I just have visions of cast equip some ridiculous equipment T2. Maybe that's too BCS for me. I'll think about it a bit more before I do anything, plus I'm going to wait and see what RtR has for me. Still, it's an interesting way to give green a different kind of ramp.
The card is certainly interesting. It can be randomly broken, and even its WCS should still be turning GG into 3 for a small bit of ramp. Not every deck is going to have 3+ targets that have 4 or more colorless mana in their casting costs. But the ones that do will likely benefit from having Channel in there. I don't dislike Channel, I just don't have the perfect configuration for it.
I first pick it in my cube, it's that good. I do have alot of targets for it so that might be the reason. I do promote ramp in my cube and Channel is one of those ramp spells.
I don't run the third tier you're mentioning either, except in a few places where channel wouldn't help (i.e., I play Sphinx of the Steel Wind and Griselbrand as extra 7drops you don't play), but I don't play the other mentioned cards, and I actually just cut the last fireball clone from the cube.
I just have visions of cast equip some ridiculous equipment T2. Maybe that's too BCS for me. I'll think about it a bit more before I do anything, plus I'm going to wait and see what RtR has for me. Still, it's an interesting way to give green a different kind of ramp.
With the number of fatties and expensive spells you have in the cube I really want to give this a shot. I'd certainly pay 5 life to equip a sword or turn two, or a turn 2 Sundering titan (GoodGame) or an combination of other things.
I'm ok with giving it a shot, but it's probably taking the place of one of your other pet cards Oracle of Mul Daya may be the card that gets cut for it
I really don't like this card in cube. It is either a very bad Ritual or it allows for stupidly broken and frustratingly unfun early turns. Watch the last game (the video at the very bottom) in this cube draft. The player concedes (rightfully) after 40 seconds. Great game? I think not.
I may bring it back in for another test run too. I haven't cubed this card since Battlesphere, Wurmcoil and the other three Swords have even existed.
If I do, I'll probably try and bring Devil's Play back at the same time, so I can live the dream.
Dont forget about Batterskull, and Lodestone Golem, and Karn Liberated. There are others depending on cube construction, but most people have those in addition to wurmcoil and Myr Battlesphere.
I really don't like this card in cube. It is either a very bad Ritual or it allows for stupidly broken and frustratingly unfun early turns. Watch the last game (the video at the very bottom) in this cube draft. The player concedes (rightfully) after 40 seconds. Great game? I think not.
That's why I hadn't considered it before. However, i think that the occasional T2 Channel into huge fatty is no more broken than T2 Tinker into huge fatty, and since I don't play the Eldrazi, it's really the same cards you're dealing with (Except Karn).
Channel at least requires that you draw a two card combo. T2 Tinker requires a T1 manafact and the Tinker, T3 really just requires any artifact and the Tinker.
So yea. I think if I'm excluding channel for power reasons, I probably shouldn't be playing Tinker either. That statement only applies to cubes that don't have Eldrazi, though.
Dont forget about Batterskull, and Lodestone Golem, and Karn Liberated. There are others depending on cube construction, but most people have those in addition to wurmcoil and Myr Battlesphere.
That's why I hadn't considered it before. However, i think that the occasional T2 Channel into huge fatty is no more broken than T2 Tinker into huge fatty, and since I don't play the Eldrazi, it's really the same cards you're dealing with (Except Karn).
Channel at least requires that you draw a two card combo. T2 Tinker requires a T1 manafact and the Tinker, T3 really just requires any artifact and the Tinker.
So yea. I think if I'm excluding channel for power reasons, I probably shouldn't be playing Tinker either. That statement only applies to cubes that don't have Eldrazi, though.
Tinker doesn't have that much variance though. Channel can be broken on turn two, but it pretty mediocre (or downright dead) later. Tinker remains good as long as there is at least one artifact left in your library that is better than the worst artifact you have in play. Also, an unpowered cube (like mine) has only two artifacts that allow a turn two Tinker. A third turn Tinker has much more answers than a second turn Tinker or Channel.
Right. For the purposes of that statement I'm only addressing it's power level
There are 2 primary objections to channel
1) It's overpowered
2) It's high variance
I'm saying that I always assumed it was overpowered, but that upon comparison to Tinker, I don't think it's that overpowered in a cube that doesn't have Eldrazi. However, the variance is an issue, but I'm only going to determine that by playing with it. I'm intrigued to see how often it's used to play a T2 Lodestone Golem or Batterskull as much as a T2 Karn.
Right. For the purposes of that statement I'm only addressing it's power level
There are 2 primary objections to channel
1) It's overpowered
2) It's high variance
I'm saying that I always assumed it was overpowered, but that upon comparison to Tinker, I don't think it's that overpowered in a cube that doesn't have Eldrazi. However, the variance is an issue, but I'm only going to determine that by playing with it. I'm intrigued to see how often it's used to play a T2 Lodestone Golem or Batterskull as much as a T2 Karn.
The cheat cards into play thing it coming up multiple times.
How good is this card?
Even
turn 1 Jungle Lions
Turn 2 Channel (sword +equip) seems very powerful.
Some powerful Cards to cheat even without any other mana:
Eldrazi (if you play them)
Karn Plainswalker
Sundering Titan
Myr Battlesphere
Wurmcoil Engine
Jitte (can can gain the 4 life and also cast more spells if unnecessary in the second main phase)
Sword of X and X (+equip)
Batterskull
Masticore(s) +(activation)
Tangle Wire + Lodestone Golem or Precursor Golem (GG, QQ)
With colored Mana:
Upheaval (broken is broken, since you can continue to add mana even after upheaval)
Pelakka Wurm (and you can do it again )
XXXXX Titan (they are all amazing when they come out that quick)
Decree of Justice
Wildfire/Burning of Xion
Thragtusk
and many more
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I would currently rank this as a giant misunderstanding/misappropriate/underevaluation of this community (myself included) for far too long now. It's like when the entire Magic Community misevaluated Stoneforge Mystic and Tarmogoyf for too long, they were bonkers cards and everyone knew they were good but not insane.
Well, in cube, Channel is often times insane/bonkers/broken, we just didn't give it the opportunity it deserved. It's particularly amazing now that we have access to awesome six and seven mana creatures, but abuseable mana sinks are also more common in the last few blocks.
And yeah, Eldrazi if you play with them.
Blimpy's Aggro-Focused Cube (powered 360)
I'm always open to suggestions on how to improve my cube. Take a look and ask a question, or give a constructive critique whenever you can.
The first time I played this in MODO cube I was playing nearly monogreen ramp with Precursor Golem, Wurmcoil Engine & 2 other targets that cost 7+ (Battlesphere and Karn I think but maybe 1 was Sundering Titan) and it was just backbreaking when I cast it turn 2. It's not as good in MODO cube as it would be in a smaller cube and it's pretty good there.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=385729
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
However, I don't play the Eldrazi. The best you can do in my cube is probably a T2 Sundering Titan, Wurmcoil Enginer, Myr Battlesphere, or Karn, and with the exception of Karn, I support the ability for blue to do that WITHOUT drawing two parts of a combo (Tinker). So it seems really ****ty for me to let blue have all the fun and deny it to green.
I'm thinking about giving it a shot.
My MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)
I don't think it's a bad card, but I don't think my current configuration is the best environment for it to be great. Sometimes it's a T2 Karn. But most of the time, it's a bad Dark Ritual ...in green; a color saturated with great options for ramp.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
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I just have visions of cast equip some ridiculous equipment T2. Maybe that's too BCS for me. I'll think about it a bit more before I do anything, plus I'm going to wait and see what RtR has for me. Still, it's an interesting way to give green a different kind of ramp.
My MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)
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!
With the number of fatties and expensive spells you have in the cube I really want to give this a shot. I'd certainly pay 5 life to equip a sword or turn two, or a turn 2 Sundering titan (GoodGame) or an combination of other things.
http://hgcube.blogspot.com/ (help me Make my Custom CUBE!)
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Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
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If I do, I'll probably try and bring Devil's Play back at the same time, so I can live the dream.
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!
Not Devil's Play... Fireball!
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
That would be even more awesome, but I don't think I can justify it anymore.
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!
Dont forget about Batterskull, and Lodestone Golem, and Karn Liberated. There are others depending on cube construction, but most people have those in addition to wurmcoil and Myr Battlesphere.
http://hgcube.blogspot.com/ (help me Make my Custom CUBE!)
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=382498
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That's why I hadn't considered it before. However, i think that the occasional T2 Channel into huge fatty is no more broken than T2 Tinker into huge fatty, and since I don't play the Eldrazi, it's really the same cards you're dealing with (Except Karn).
Channel at least requires that you draw a two card combo. T2 Tinker requires a T1 manafact and the Tinker, T3 really just requires any artifact and the Tinker.
So yea. I think if I'm excluding channel for power reasons, I probably shouldn't be playing Tinker either. That statement only applies to cubes that don't have Eldrazi, though.
My MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)
Very true. Looking forward to re-testing it.
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!
Tinker doesn't have that much variance though. Channel can be broken on turn two, but it pretty mediocre (or downright dead) later. Tinker remains good as long as there is at least one artifact left in your library that is better than the worst artifact you have in play. Also, an unpowered cube (like mine) has only two artifacts that allow a turn two Tinker. A third turn Tinker has much more answers than a second turn Tinker or Channel.
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
There are 2 primary objections to channel
1) It's overpowered
2) It's high variance
I'm saying that I always assumed it was overpowered, but that upon comparison to Tinker, I don't think it's that overpowered in a cube that doesn't have Eldrazi. However, the variance is an issue, but I'm only going to determine that by playing with it. I'm intrigued to see how often it's used to play a T2 Lodestone Golem or Batterskull as much as a T2 Karn.
My MTGSalvation Cube Page (not always up to date, but sweet pics of my alters)
I'm real excited to give it a shot.
http://hgcube.blogspot.com/ (help me Make my Custom CUBE!)
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=382498
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Redit Proxy Article "current gallery"
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