I love braids probably more than the average cuber but it just wasn't seeing play in my list so I made room for other fun stuff that my playgroup wanted.
The effect is still great but there are just so many game objects now that it is a lot less impactful in many matchups or turns of the game. Braids needs a beefier body to help her be more relevant outside of the perfect windows to play her.
As for Animation Module, I don't think it makes the cut even if you want to support +1/+1 counters; it's too slow and mana-intensive for my tastes.
Interesting list. I would never consider some of these cards for my own list. kami of whispered hopes seems terrible as a 3 mana 1/1 dork compared to having enough density of this effect with hardened scales and ozolith, the shattered spire. Would rather play winding constrictor if you want more and is probably a much better option than your muticoloured cards.
Securitron squadron from your list another great card that combos with animation module giving you a 2/2 servo for every 1 mana spent.
The key for animation module is that it comes down on turn one and if you have better things to do with your mana you dont need to use it. But there are lots of times where you have a spare mana laying around that you can get some value out of or you can "go off" if you have the right pieces in place. In a dedicated counters deck it is much more mana efficient at making artifact tokens than retrofitter foundry which this actually pairs decently with.
I'm going to revisit this card. There is so much more counters support now and probably most importantly abilities that passively add counters that this is going to pump out servos.
This card seems pretty nuts to me! for 1 mana more than Venser, Shaper Savant you get to keep their card and cast it for free on your next turn if you swing with a upgraded body with evasion.
The tokens needed to be plant or saproling tokens that got a buff or something when he attacks. Food tokens that doe almost nothing if he is removed is not cutting it.
If it was "Your opponent's creatures", then I think this would be a very good card, but since its "all other creatures", then this make it a weak to unplayable option for toolbox decks, thus really limiting it.
Thus, my instinct says no.
If you are ahead on board and playing this would be unadvantageous then you can just use the targeted removal ability which is fine and certainly not unplayable. When the board state is good for you to play this its going to be very strong.
This card suffers from wanting to be in a deck that can unload some cheap cmc creatures to get an early activation and make it powerful, but wants to put higher cmc cards into play.
I think the average case scenario is not going to be much better than the 3 mana you have to sink into this to maybe be able to cheat something into play. There are times where you might dig 5 pull the best card to put under here and then never get to play it because you couldn't fulfil the requirement for hideaway when you could have just drawn and played your best card naturally.
Saw that LSV recently added this to his list and I've been playing it with success in standard to see how the pace of it is and it seems pretty strong. Been considering adding it over Sulfuric vortex, which is still effective, but maybe more narrow in the decks it can go in an maybe not even as strong? Both represent 6 damage in their first 3 turns with Forge taking over after that.
Vs Sulfuric Vortex
Pros:
-Only hits opponent
-Easier casting cost
-Artifact synergy
-Creature enter/leave battlefield triggers, plus can get boosts from anthems or be sack fodder. (amazing with skull clamp)
Cons
-Doesn't prevent lifegain
-damage can be slowed through blockers
-Artifact easier to remove than enchantment?
Just some preliminary thoughts with no testing in a cube environment. Curious to see if anyone has played it in LSV's cube or in their own lists.
The effect is still great but there are just so many game objects now that it is a lot less impactful in many matchups or turns of the game. Braids needs a beefier body to help her be more relevant outside of the perfect windows to play her.
Interesting list. I would never consider some of these cards for my own list. kami of whispered hopes seems terrible as a 3 mana 1/1 dork compared to having enough density of this effect with hardened scales and ozolith, the shattered spire. Would rather play winding constrictor if you want more and is probably a much better option than your muticoloured cards.
Securitron squadron from your list another great card that combos with animation module giving you a 2/2 servo for every 1 mana spent.
The key for animation module is that it comes down on turn one and if you have better things to do with your mana you dont need to use it. But there are lots of times where you have a spare mana laying around that you can get some value out of or you can "go off" if you have the right pieces in place. In a dedicated counters deck it is much more mana efficient at making artifact tokens than retrofitter foundry which this actually pairs decently with.
luminarch aspirant, ornery tumblewagg, bristly bill, spine sower, ledger shredder, Laelia, the blade reforged, inti, seneschal of the sun, anim pakal, thousandth moon, syr ginger, the meal ender plus all the new creatures that enter with counters already or add on triggers like chrome host seedshark. Court of Garenbrig and nissa, voice of zendikar allow you to put out multiple servos per activation. If you really want to go deep steel overseer also combos nicely.
Feed your servos to broadside bombadiers, and gut, true soul zealot if you like, though this is a thing more probably suited to grindy counters decks using legion extruder than pure aggro decks.
This card seems pretty nuts to me! for 1 mana more than Venser, Shaper Savant you get to keep their card and cast it for free on your next turn if you swing with a upgraded body with evasion.
If you are ahead on board and playing this would be unadvantageous then you can just use the targeted removal ability which is fine and certainly not unplayable. When the board state is good for you to play this its going to be very strong.
Going to test this for sure.
I think the average case scenario is not going to be much better than the 3 mana you have to sink into this to maybe be able to cheat something into play. There are times where you might dig 5 pull the best card to put under here and then never get to play it because you couldn't fulfil the requirement for hideaway when you could have just drawn and played your best card naturally.
Pass for me.
Stats wise it is the 48th best red card out of 50 with a dismal 49.06% maindeck rate and 55.06% win rate through 53 drafts and 158 games.
Saw that LSV recently added this to his list and I've been playing it with success in standard to see how the pace of it is and it seems pretty strong. Been considering adding it over Sulfuric vortex, which is still effective, but maybe more narrow in the decks it can go in an maybe not even as strong? Both represent 6 damage in their first 3 turns with Forge taking over after that.
Vs Sulfuric Vortex
Pros:
-Only hits opponent
-Easier casting cost
-Artifact synergy
-Creature enter/leave battlefield triggers, plus can get boosts from anthems or be sack fodder. (amazing with skull clamp)
Cons
-Doesn't prevent lifegain
-damage can be slowed through blockers
-Artifact easier to remove than enchantment?
Just some preliminary thoughts with no testing in a cube environment. Curious to see if anyone has played it in LSV's cube or in their own lists.
Oh dang totally thought they were artifacts! my bad!