It seems like even if we don't get a ton of cube cards from DGM that it doesn't seem as disappointing as GTC. There are a lot of quality cards being previewed that are just enough under the bar to keep from being cubed, but that's different from just a bunch of duds, imo.
I already have as many cube cards I'll be adding from DGM as I have in my cube from GTC, and we're only 80 cards spoiled into a set that's like half its size.
The best comparison to Legion's Initiative is Boros Charm.
Both represent extra damage to your opponent, and both provide protection from Wraths and other removal.
Boros Charm's wrath/removal protection seems better in most cases, due to it being instant speed, and a surprise to your opponent.
The four damage mode on Boros Charm also seems more consistent at dealing damage particularly in cube decks (getting four extra damage in with the +1/+0 on Legion's Initiative seems like it would not be a regular occurrence)
The only thing that the enchantment has over the Charm is that you can have your cake and eat it too, to a degree. You can potentially get extra damage AND protect against removal. I just don't think it makes up for the sheer efficiency and surprise of Boros Charm. Not to mention, the damage pump on the Initiative only works on your red creatures, and not your white ones in a R/W deck.
Also, the Enchantment is a Mythic Rare. Goodness me, I just noticed that.
That is the most disappointing part to me. Nothing about the card feels mythic. The rarity is not Lotus Cobra bad, but its effect doesn't seem too splashy, outside of a rare Boros blink deck that can abuse a bunch of ETB triggers. And even then, it isn't the card itself being mythic, it's the rest of your cards collectively giving you the awesome moment.
That is the most disappointing part to me. Nothing about the card feels mythic. The rarity is not Lotus Cobra bad, but its effect doesn't seem too splashy, outside of a rare Boros blink deck that can abuse a bunch of ETB triggers. And even then, it isn't the card itself being mythic, it's the rest of your cards collectively giving you the awesome moment.
Its an allusion to a lotus, which has been mythic rare since the rarity's inception. I don't understand why people hate on lotus cobra being mythic. It feels mythic, its related to mythic cards, its flavor is mythic.
Its an allusion to a lotus, which has been mythic rare since the rarity's inception. I don't understand why people hate on lotus cobra being mythic. It feels mythic, its related to mythic cards, its flavor is mythic.
Because it is a utility creature that produces mana, the exact kind of card that shouldn't be a mythic. Slapping the word "Lotus" on it does not make it mythic. Is this card a mythic rare?
Lotus Elf G
Creature - Elf Plant Druid
T: Add G to your mana pool.
1/1
No it is still a common. And I'm not sure what this "has been mythic rare since the rarity's inception" thing is. Lotus Cobra is the first any only card with the word Lotus on it to have been printed at mythic (not counting lotus petal, all FTV cards are printed at mythic).
I don't know why they printed Cobra at mythic. It didn't need to be and it didn't sell more packs as a result. Zendikar was opened by the truck load for fetch lands.
So GB enchantment seems bomby. If you are supporting academy rector in your cube I would look at that card.
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The more I think about Turn//Burn the more I actually want to play it. The fact that it deals with Thragtusk, Angel of Serenity, and more makes me pretty happy with it. Sure it's not the most elegant of cards, nor is it the most powerful of effects but it does fill a unique slot.
The more I think about Turn//Burn the more I actually want to play it. The fact that it deals with Thragtusk, Angel of Serenity, and more makes me pretty happy with it. Sure it's not the most elegant of cards, nor is it the most powerful of effects but it does fill a unique slot.
No one seems to like turn to from but the first time I turn a Geralf's Messsenger into a 0/1 and torch it. I will be very happy.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
Using it on Angel of Serenity seems like a big frown for you. If it loses all its abilities, you won't get your guys back (that they likely removed). Sounds like it would only be good if they targeted their own guys in the yard, which seems possible but the less likely scenario.
Ok. I'm deeply embarrassed that I only just noticed that the Turn side of Turn//Burn is 2U not 1U. That's not as good as I thought and definitely puts it out of contention for my four card section. I was sure it was spoiled as a superior Ovinize with a red side.
For me, I think it's an awesome design, a cool card, and it feels a little like Recoil in that it takes something one color can do, something another color can do, and combines them to create something neither of them should be able to do (Destroy Target Creature even if it has Indestructible)
That said, I don't think my cube needs it in the R/U guild section. In that sense, it's kind of like Aftershock. It's an effect that the colors don't usually get, but it's overcosted enough that most decks will choose not to run it. At least in my cube, splashing is easy enough, people will draft fixing and splash an additional color to get that effect at a more reasonable cost before they run the overcosted version.
Turn//Burn is close to being cubeable because you don't have to pay both sides all the time. That's the beauty of the Fuse mechanic (and all Kicker based mechanics). Unfortunately, the individual sides just aren't quite good enough on their own to make it playable.
TL;DR: I love the design, but it's not quite good enough to crack my 450 unpowered cube.
There are some pretty juicy targets for Notion Thief, but not sure if enough. Sylvan Library, Brainstorm, Faithless Looting, Consecrated Sphinx, Yawghmoth's Bargain, Wheel of Fortune, Memory Jar, Prime Speaker Zegana, Looter il-Kor etc. Sounds fun
There are some pretty juicy targets for Notion Thief, but not sure if enough. Sylvan Library, Brainstorm, Faithless Looting, Consecrated Sphinx, Yawghmoth's Bargain, Wheel of Fortune, Memory Jar, Prime Speaker Zegana, Looter il-Kor etc. Sounds fun
Just for the record, I don't think it's very good against Consecrated Sphinx. In fact, I think it's the other way around. If they have a Consecrated Sphinx and you draw a card with this guy out, you lose the game.
You draw a card, Sphinx ability asks them if they'd like to draw 2. They say yes, this guy replaces both draws and you draw 2. Each of those draws trigger sphinx and they keep choosing "yes" on the may. This guy isn't a may, so you just keep drawing and drawing and die.
That said, otherwise I agree with you. The idea of using it with Wheel of Fortune makes me really happy, though that's probably not enough to actually cube it.
I really like him. I'll definately want him in some EDH decks, but I may consider him for my cube as well just because he seems like such a fun card to play with.
I'd be pretty happy casting a T3 Jace(1) and then main phase casting the Thief to turn the +1 into "draw 2 cards", Memory Jarring for 14 uncounterable cards or turning the Phyrexian Arena into one of the worst enchantments ever (during your upkeep take 1 damage and your opponent draws a card)
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
I think Notion Thief is probably fine for a multiplayer/EDH cube where the odds of another player having a draw effect are much higher. I agree that he's too narrow for 1v1.
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I already have as many cube cards I'll be adding from DGM as I have in my cube from GTC, and we're only 80 cards spoiled into a set that's like half its size.
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Both represent extra damage to your opponent, and both provide protection from Wraths and other removal.
Boros Charm's wrath/removal protection seems better in most cases, due to it being instant speed, and a surprise to your opponent.
The four damage mode on Boros Charm also seems more consistent at dealing damage particularly in cube decks (getting four extra damage in with the +1/+0 on Legion's Initiative seems like it would not be a regular occurrence)
The only thing that the enchantment has over the Charm is that you can have your cake and eat it too, to a degree. You can potentially get extra damage AND protect against removal. I just don't think it makes up for the sheer efficiency and surprise of Boros Charm. Not to mention, the damage pump on the Initiative only works on your red creatures, and not your white ones in a R/W deck.
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Sure, I didn't mention that because it is the least played (in my experience) option on Boros Charm. It's still relevant though.
Also, the Enchantment is a Mythic Rare. Goodness me, I just noticed that.
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That is the most disappointing part to me. Nothing about the card feels mythic. The rarity is not Lotus Cobra bad, but its effect doesn't seem too splashy, outside of a rare Boros blink deck that can abuse a bunch of ETB triggers. And even then, it isn't the card itself being mythic, it's the rest of your cards collectively giving you the awesome moment.
Its an allusion to a lotus, which has been mythic rare since the rarity's inception. I don't understand why people hate on lotus cobra being mythic. It feels mythic, its related to mythic cards, its flavor is mythic.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=484979
Because it is a utility creature that produces mana, the exact kind of card that shouldn't be a mythic. Slapping the word "Lotus" on it does not make it mythic. Is this card a mythic rare?
Lotus Elf G
Creature - Elf Plant Druid
T: Add G to your mana pool.
1/1
No it is still a common. And I'm not sure what this "has been mythic rare since the rarity's inception" thing is. Lotus Cobra is the first any only card with the word Lotus on it to have been printed at mythic (not counting lotus petal, all FTV cards are printed at mythic).
I don't know why they printed Cobra at mythic. It didn't need to be and it didn't sell more packs as a result. Zendikar was opened by the truck load for fetch lands.
So GB enchantment seems bomby. If you are supporting academy rector in your cube I would look at that card.
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No one seems to like turn to from but the first time I turn a Geralf's Messsenger into a 0/1 and torch it. I will be very happy.
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On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
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That said, I don't think my cube needs it in the R/U guild section. In that sense, it's kind of like Aftershock. It's an effect that the colors don't usually get, but it's overcosted enough that most decks will choose not to run it. At least in my cube, splashing is easy enough, people will draft fixing and splash an additional color to get that effect at a more reasonable cost before they run the overcosted version.
Turn//Burn is close to being cubeable because you don't have to pay both sides all the time. That's the beauty of the Fuse mechanic (and all Kicker based mechanics). Unfortunately, the individual sides just aren't quite good enough on their own to make it playable.
TL;DR: I love the design, but it's not quite good enough to crack my 450 unpowered cube.
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Exactly. I like the card a lot, but it's ultimately going to miss the cut.
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http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=504131
I won't be cubing it at 450, but it's a fun anti-draw card for constructed formats. Take that Sphinx's Revelation.
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Just for the record, I don't think it's very good against Consecrated Sphinx. In fact, I think it's the other way around. If they have a Consecrated Sphinx and you draw a card with this guy out, you lose the game.
You draw a card, Sphinx ability asks them if they'd like to draw 2. They say yes, this guy replaces both draws and you draw 2. Each of those draws trigger sphinx and they keep choosing "yes" on the may. This guy isn't a may, so you just keep drawing and drawing and die.
That said, otherwise I agree with you. The idea of using it with Wheel of Fortune makes me really happy, though that's probably not enough to actually cube it.
I'd be pretty happy casting a T3 Jace(1) and then main phase casting the Thief to turn the +1 into "draw 2 cards", Memory Jarring for 14 uncounterable cards or turning the Phyrexian Arena into one of the worst enchantments ever (during your upkeep take 1 damage and your opponent draws a card)
This alone is making me want to cube the Thief.
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