It's an interesting card, though a poor signpost as you said. When they revealed the first cat with that weird wording "creature you control with power greater than that creature's base power," it took me a couple read-throughs to really understand what it was doing. I'm honestly a little surprised to see it on an uncommon. But turning any pump - +1/+1 counters, equipment, Giant Growth, Gaea's Anthem - into potential card draw is pretty nice. And the "during your turn" ability helps protect you from blowouts.
I like the card. I just don't like the wording and worry it'll make drafters stumble if they haven't seen it before.
It's getting close to that time of year again, friends. I'm debating if I should put it together now after WOE or wait until December after Ixalan. I'm making the thread now for some input from the community here. Should I do it now or wait?
While I'm here, some things to note. First there were 11 cubes from last year's list that fell off for not having been updated. Second, despite that, I've done a deep dive for cubes labeled as peasant on CubeCobra and I'm up to 160 recently updated lists. Another question for the community - Even though all these lists have been recently updated (either CMM or WOE), not all cubes are created equal. Should I include lists that have WOE cards no matter what or only include lists with WOE cards that appear to have been a comprehensive update? Example being a list that is updated through WOE, but has only included one seemingly random WOE card.
Thanks for doing this - it's always one of the best times of year for peasant cube. I believe you generally wait till at least November, don't you? People may be caught unprepared if it happens too early. I know I personally need to add in the WOE cards still - they've been sitting in a pile, but I've been feeling really burned out and haven't added them yet (which I really ought to do before the next draft). I'll make sure to sleeve them up today, but it could be helpful if you announce at least a week in advance on which date when the data will be pulled.
Blog posts for every tiny aesthetic or tag change - Please stop doing this. I think it's a problem with CC's latest update, but do we really care if the cube owner updated a card from Non-Foil to Foil or tagged it as "RB Sacrifice"?
The auto-blog is annoying, but I wonder how many people just don't notice the checkbox for "Create Blog Post."
Updates that aren't titled (WOE Update, Small Update, Adding X Archetype, etc) - Title your blog post, friends. For legit updates, let the people know what you're doing.
Multiple small updates for the same set - Group your updates. I kept seeing random one-sy two-sy updates for recent sets. A card here, a card there.
Maybe they add the cards as they acquire them? I know I don't update unless I've already acquired the card (though that usually means I buy them all in one order and then swap them all out when they arrive).
Recent updates that include only one card from standard sets - My assumption on this one is people just update with "Cards I Own" and bought a pack or two of WOE and added what they pulled. I guess not every cuber is crazy like those of us on this forum with fully fleshed out set updates before the set even drops in paper.
Or they just decided to try another card after they had already done the main changes. I know with LOTR, I thought I had added everything, then I decided to try one more card, and it got its own post.
But honestly I think 160 cubes is too much if this is a MTGS community review. If the cube owner isn't posting here then why count it.
I don't want to be a gatekeeper or elitist, but I kind of agree with n00b1n8r here. If the net is spread too far and includes too many cubes whose owners aren't part of the conversation here, it dilutes the stats as relating to actual MTGSalvation cubes. At the same time, I get that it opens us up to a broader conversation because it gets outside perspective and keeps us from becoming an echo chamber. Tough call, but I look forward to seeing the results either way.
I really don't understand how blog psots work. Isn't every change blogged?
Sorry not going to label my blog posts hahahaha
When making changes, there is a checkbox "Create Blog Post" that determines whether one is created or not. I generally try to uncheck it if I'm just upgrading art (like regular Abrade to full art promo Abrade that I just got my hands on) or adjusting card tags. But I keep it checked for actual Add/Remove card changes.
And I try to remember to label set posts, but I'm about 50/50 on that.
Even as a Dr Who fan, I'm still not adding any of these to my cube. I don't care for the creature type Alien, and none of the cards scream at me as "must run." I only bought three singles for commander decks, which is practically unheard of for me, but I just don't like how these cards clash with the themes and aesthetics of the rest of my collection. The only two sets/collections I've bought less of are Transformers and Unfinity (zero of each).
Gallifrey Falls//No More would be great if it was just the white half. Throw in the versatility of the red side and fuse for when you are overflowing with mana, and it's pretty amazing.
Don't Blink annoys me, but only because I have so many blink decks (Kardur, Sefris, Zur, Aminatou, Niv-Mizzet Reborn to name a few), plus the sheer number of decks I run Ghostway and Eerie Interlude as board wipe protection. Funnily enough, though, I will probably acquire a copy for my Zur Astral Slide deck, because I can blink a bunch of my opponents' creatures and then cast Don't Blink to get rid of them. It even has cycling, so it's a perfect fit in the deck.
I guess product fatigue finally steamrolled me - I quit caring several weeks ago, even before spoilers were done (as if they are ever really done when spoiler seasons are usually back-to-back or even overlapping). I'm finally back, but I'm struggling to care enough to decide which cards to add and which to remove. I did grab a handful of cards that I am considering, though. Cheeky House-Mouse - Vanilla body is fine, but the flexibility with the adventure is nice. Embereth Veteran - Yes, it's a red 2/1 for R, but I'm undecided because I'm not sure I want to add role tokens. Lord Skitter's Butcher - Flexible ETB, 2 modes work well with aristocrats, and the 3rd is great for a finishing attack. Stroke of Midnight - I rarely go after land anyway, so this will usually be even better than Generous Gift/Beast Within. Woodland Acolyte - The creature alone is nothing great, but with the adventure, it's a pretty good card. Just don't know if I want to use a guild slot.
If you go this route, I recommend Berserk (expensive) and Blood Frenzy (the budget version) as ways to increase damage and remove the creature if the owner is still alive. They also work well in multiplayer in general, as you can pump and kill an opponent's creature when it attacks another opponent.
Weeping Angel is about the only thing I've been excited for in this set, and now that it's here... the art is just so unexciting. Mechanically, they did alright. But the art just doesn't do it for me - it's such a faraway shot that it could be any angel or statue. Needed a closer shot to really see the hands over the face. Honestly would have been awesome to get alternate arts where the hands are over the eyes, the hands are being lowered, and the angel is in full attack mode.
Really not a fan of Dark Tutelage. It takes a full turn to replace itself, at the cost of 2B and an unknown amount of life. It doesn't even generate card advantage until the second turn. And while it nets more cards the longer it's out, it gets more dangerous to your own survival, too.
There are just so many cards I would rather run that I can't ever see wanting Tutelage.
Night's Whisper - Cheaper mana, immediate draw, locked in at 2 life Blood Pact - Same mana, locked at two life, instant speed, draws 2 immediately, and can be used to burn out an opponent in a pinch Painful Lesson - Sorcery Blood Pact Read the Bones - Scry plus immediate draw
That doesn't even count the cheaper ones that act as sac outlets or cards like Ambition's Cost.
I also dislike the number of external reminders like Day/Night, Tempted by the Ring, Dungeon, Initiative, Monarch, etc. It's getting ridiculous. As someone who won't even run printings that fail to explain set-specific mechanics (for example, Usher of the Fallen has one printing that explains Boast and one that does not, or the recent Reality Shift without reminder text describing manifest), I especially dislike cards that force my drafters to remember all the intricacies of a mechanic that may be too obscure or from a set they skipped.
So Bitter Chill was spoiled... Is this just better than Bubble Snare? Not having a 1 mana mode sucks, but paying 2 and always getting the tap+no untap is good I think. Also a small consolation prize for when the creature gets blinked or sacrificed or whatever.
Brothers War already gave us a strictly better Bubble Snare in the form of Weakstone's Subjugation (can target artifacts like a tapped Sol Ring or uncrewed Untethered Express, more splashable at 3U rather than 2UU, and employs an ETB cost rather than kicker which saves mana if it gets countered). Bitter Chill will often be better than Bubble Snare (half the mana) and will only cost one more mana if the creature is already tapped. Combined with the death trigger, I would absolutely run Bitter Chill over Bubble Snare any day. The only question is whether I would choose it over Weakstone's Subjugation, and I'm not sure, though I am leaning toward yes.
I really like Lord Skitter's Butcher. Lots of versatility, two modes that work well for aristocrats (extra body or sac outlet), and potential for a lethal swing. And if you blink it, you can even use the second ability to sac the token from the first ability.
Angel of Despair may have recently been outclassed, but it will remain my favorite card - awesome art and a powerful ETB ability in colors than allow it to be recurred either by blinking or through reanimation, all stapled to a big flying body. What's not to love?
I like the card. I just don't like the wording and worry it'll make drafters stumble if they haven't seen it before.
Otherwise, Basalt Monolith would work all on its own.
The auto-blog is annoying, but I wonder how many people just don't notice the checkbox for "Create Blog Post."
I try to remember, but sometimes I forget.
Maybe they add the cards as they acquire them? I know I don't update unless I've already acquired the card (though that usually means I buy them all in one order and then swap them all out when they arrive).
Or they just decided to try another card after they had already done the main changes. I know with LOTR, I thought I had added everything, then I decided to try one more card, and it got its own post.
I would ignore followers as a criteria for selecting cubes - I've never used that feature and don't know how relevant it is.I don't want to be a gatekeeper or elitist, but I kind of agree with n00b1n8r here. If the net is spread too far and includes too many cubes whose owners aren't part of the conversation here, it dilutes the stats as relating to actual MTGSalvation cubes. At the same time, I get that it opens us up to a broader conversation because it gets outside perspective and keeps us from becoming an echo chamber. Tough call, but I look forward to seeing the results either way.When making changes, there is a checkbox "Create Blog Post" that determines whether one is created or not. I generally try to uncheck it if I'm just upgrading art (like regular Abrade to full art promo Abrade that I just got my hands on) or adjusting card tags. But I keep it checked for actual Add/Remove card changes.
And I try to remember to label set posts, but I'm about 50/50 on that.
Delirium is fantastic against massive creatures and Blightsteel Colossus.
Batwing Brume and Rakdos Charm are great against swarms.
Inkshield turns a massive attack to your advantage.
Taunt from the Rampart is great for turning the entire table against itself.
Other cards that turn a wincon against its controller include:
Tainted Remedy makes short work of lifegain decks. False Cure can do some damage if there's one big instance of lifegain.
Haunting Wind and Magnetic Mine against artifact/treasure decks.
Acidic Soil, Ankh of Mishra, Price of Progress, Polluted Bonds, Treacherous Terrain, Zo-Zu the Punisher all punish ramp decks.
Netherborn Phalanx also punishes swarms.
Narset's Reversal can stop/copy a winning spell.
Dismiss into Dream shuts down voltron decks and similar targeting decks.
And other punishment cards:
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed punishes noncreature decks.
Burning-Tree Shaman, Harsh Mentor, Immolation Shaman all punish activated ability decks.
Don't Blink annoys me, but only because I have so many blink decks (Kardur, Sefris, Zur, Aminatou, Niv-Mizzet Reborn to name a few), plus the sheer number of decks I run Ghostway and Eerie Interlude as board wipe protection. Funnily enough, though, I will probably acquire a copy for my Zur Astral Slide deck, because I can blink a bunch of my opponents' creatures and then cast Don't Blink to get rid of them. It even has cycling, so it's a perfect fit in the deck.
Cheeky House-Mouse - Vanilla body is fine, but the flexibility with the adventure is nice.
Embereth Veteran - Yes, it's a red 2/1 for R, but I'm undecided because I'm not sure I want to add role tokens.
Lord Skitter's Butcher - Flexible ETB, 2 modes work well with aristocrats, and the 3rd is great for a finishing attack.
Stroke of Midnight - I rarely go after land anyway, so this will usually be even better than Generous Gift/Beast Within.
Woodland Acolyte - The creature alone is nothing great, but with the adventure, it's a pretty good card. Just don't know if I want to use a guild slot.
There are just so many cards I would rather run that I can't ever see wanting Tutelage.
Night's Whisper - Cheaper mana, immediate draw, locked in at 2 life
Blood Pact - Same mana, locked at two life, instant speed, draws 2 immediately, and can be used to burn out an opponent in a pinch
Painful Lesson - Sorcery Blood Pact
Read the Bones - Scry plus immediate draw
That doesn't even count the cheaper ones that act as sac outlets or cards like Ambition's Cost.
Brothers War already gave us a strictly better Bubble Snare in the form of Weakstone's Subjugation (can target artifacts like a tapped Sol Ring or uncrewed Untethered Express, more splashable at 3U rather than 2UU, and employs an ETB cost rather than kicker which saves mana if it gets countered).
Bitter Chill will often be better than Bubble Snare (half the mana) and will only cost one more mana if the creature is already tapped. Combined with the death trigger, I would absolutely run Bitter Chill over Bubble Snare any day. The only question is whether I would choose it over Weakstone's Subjugation, and I'm not sure, though I am leaning toward yes.