There have been a number of games I've been in non-aggro where I look across the table, see the Phyrexian Arena played, and it's just like 'OK time for my busted play' and their side looks really bad. If it was actually monarch and drew a card that turn, I think it would be a lot different, but waiting a turn for that first card can be really brutal/underwhelming, especially when you aren't casting it on exactly t3 or close to that.
That's the other aspect too--I don't like how my card draw spell can be Disenchanted. At least with Read the Bones and other variants I get where I need to be and can scry, but when my opponent is disenchanting the card advantage engine it's brutal to pay 3 mana and get literal nothing but baiting out a disenchant. The fact that I can destroy it feels like a major weakness in comparison to other draw spells which can only be countered and immediately get you the cards for the same life-cost. I get that Arena's role is in more grindy matchups, but getting your grind engine destroyed really sucks.
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As an aside Steve: your post says 'Notes: L' but when I quote it that doesn't show up. Just curious, what is that?
Phyrexian Arena is one of my favorite cards, but I like drafting slow, grindy decks that want an extra card per turn. Still, it works well enough for us, and even without my clear bias I don't think I would cut it.
I also love how something has to die (i.e. your 1 life) in order to get a true champion out of the fight (the champion being the card.) Flavor isn't the determining factor, but it helps.
Have been thinking this card. Does it still have a place in cube? My experience lately that it's been too slow, doesn't do anything when you cast it, and you don't get the immediacy like you would with other black draw spells. As cube has sped up, Phyrexian Arena has stayed the same speed and I'm seeing that be a liability more and more.
It's still great in slow, grindy match ups, but so are a lot of cards. It feels almost like too much of a silver bullet in that regard, and I've been thinking about cutting it.
What's your opinion? Do you still run Arena? Are you wanting to cut it? Why or why not?
Phyrexian Arena is one of my favorite cards, but I like drafting slow, grindy decks that want an extra card per turn. Still, it works well enough for us, and even without my clear bias I don't think I would cut it.
I also love how something has to die (i.e. your 1 life) in order to get a true champion out of the fight (the champion being the card.) Flavor isn't the determining factor, but it helps.
That's the other aspect too--I don't like how my card draw spell can be Disenchanted. At least with Read the Bones and other variants I get where I need to be and can scry, but when my opponent is disenchanting the card advantage engine it's brutal to pay 3 mana and get literal nothing but baiting out a disenchant. The fact that I can destroy it feels like a major weakness in comparison to other draw spells which can only be countered and immediately get you the cards for the same life-cost. I get that Arena's role is in more grindy matchups, but getting your grind engine destroyed really sucks.
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As an aside Steve: your post says 'Notes: L' but when I quote it that doesn't show up. Just curious, what is that?
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Have been thinking this card. Does it still have a place in cube? My experience lately that it's been too slow, doesn't do anything when you cast it, and you don't get the immediacy like you would with other black draw spells. As cube has sped up, Phyrexian Arena has stayed the same speed and I'm seeing that be a liability more and more.
It's still great in slow, grindy match ups, but so are a lot of cards. It feels almost like too much of a silver bullet in that regard, and I've been thinking about cutting it.
What's your opinion? Do you still run Arena? Are you wanting to cut it? Why or why not?
Also: we miss you Spike Rogue <3
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I also love how something has to die (i.e. your 1 life) in order to get a true champion out of the fight (the champion being the card.) Flavor isn't the determining factor, but it helps.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic