Legendary Creature - Elf Rogue
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to one of your opponents, that creature's controller may draw a card.
"I am not at liberty to reveal my sources, but I can assure you, the price on your head is high."
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I like the elf. It would probably make it past Temporal Spring or Spitting Image in my list. I'm not cutting the other creatures in my list for sure. Those are always amazing.
Same casting cost as Trygon Predator, will probably do the same thing as Trygon Predator: eat a removal 90% of the time. You do get a turn out of it if they only have sorcery speed removal though.
I'm pretty sure it's better than Trygon Predator (behind Mystic Snake and SSS), but I don't have to cut Trygon Predator so I'll get to run all four + blue-green fetch, trop island, and breeding pool for my UG guild.
Same casting cost as Trygon Predator, will probably do the same thing as Trygon Predator: eat a removal 90% of the time. You do get a turn out of it if they only have sorcery speed removal though.
In this case, new guy is better as he might draw you a bunch of cards off of your guys swinging.
I don't think he's better at all. I'd much rather have a chance of blowing up my opponent's powerful artifacts and enchantments (which it has evasion, making the trigger more consistent) than maybe draw a card.
I don't think he's better at all. I'd much rather have a chance of blowing up my opponent's powerful artifacts and enchantments (which it has evasion, making the trigger more consistent) than maybe draw a card.
I agree. I even think the Predator is WAY better than this new guy. They aren't even close in my world (a cube world where there's plenty of really good artifacts and enchantments, but not boardstates with many creatures very often).
I think the fact that this card allows you to get mileage out of it the turn you drop it, which circumvents sorcery speed removal and allows you to time it, makes it quite a powerful card. It's not too hard to imagine situations where you draw 2 cards off of it right off the bat, with your opponent still needing to remove the creature - for 1UG. Maybe too situational to be bonkers, but it still looks really solid.
I don't think he's better at all. I'd much rather have a chance of blowing up my opponent's powerful artifacts and enchantments (which it has evasion, making the trigger more consistent) than maybe draw a card.
While I agree that Trygon Predator the better card, the Spymaster offers more than "maybe draw a card". It triggers off of any creature dealing combat damage to your opponent so it offers the chance for some very good card advantage is you have a few solid beaters or evasive dorks to team him with (which is shouldn't be too hard given the color combination.)
While I agree that Trygon Predator the better card, the Spymaster offers more than "maybe draw a card". It triggers off of any creature dealing combat damage to your opponent so it offers the chance for some very good card advantage is you have a few solid beaters or evasive dorks to team him with (which is shouldn't be too hard given the color combination.)
Yep. If this card were GW, RW, or WG it would be better, but UG is the next best color combination with this guy. He can be an absolute blow-out and doesn't need a turn to work.
This card also discourages your opponent from attacking (so he doesn't get hit on the backswing + you draw cards), so it has the added benefit of buying you time to drop a fatty and/or take control of the game. Once your opponent knows this card is in your deck, his gameplan might even change for your benefit (and if he doesn't know it's in your deck, he might get blown out). This argument works with Trygon Predator as well, but it's more fitting for the new guy IMO.
I'd also wager to say that this guy's ability is relevant more often than Trygon Predator's. What if your opponent has no relevant enchantment/artifacts out? What if he has a large flyer? Etc, etc.
This guy gives all your guys Curiosity, including himself. I think he's going to turn out much better than Trygon Predator, but only time will tell.
is roughly how I stack boros up. I think this one fits in definitely before stoutarm, possibly before legionnaire.
I'm not. I think she's quite meh. I think the can't cast spells in combat ability is pretty irrelevant and the imp ability is good, but not nearly worth running a multicolor air elemental for.
I'm not. I think she's quite meh. I think the can't cast spells in combat ability is pretty irrelevant and the imp ability is good, but not nearly worth running a multicolor air elemental for.
I can't see cutting Lightning Helix, Ajani Vengeant, Figure of Destiny for it. If I cut anything for it, it would be Duergar Hedge-Mage, but I don't see that happening.
I'm concerned she'll actually hurt me more than help me in R/W. That combination is super aggro so her mana cost is not a selling point, and in R/W I actually want to use lots of my spells as combat tricks.
I wouldn't cut Hedge-Mage for it either. To be honest, the angel kinda sucks when you stack it up to other cube cards. I'd rather play Firemane Angel than this one, if you must have a RW angel.
I can't see cutting Lightning Helix, Ajani Vengeant, Figure of Destiny for it. If I cut anything for it, it would be Duergar Hedge-Mage, but I don't see that happening.
I'm concerned she'll actually hurt me more than help me in R/W. That combination is super aggro so her mana cost is not a selling point, and in R/W I actually want to use lots of my spells as combat tricks.
Obviously comparing her to any of the first three is laughable, and I don't think she's really even close to Hedge-Mage.
I'd also wager to say that this guy's ability is relevant more often than Trygon Predator's. What if your opponent has no relevant enchantment/artifacts out? What if he has a large flyer? Etc, etc.
I think the new guy's ability is more situational than predator's.
The new guy needs other creatures out on your side (or no blockers) to be really good.
Predator simply needs to have an enchantment (or, more relevantly) an artifact to blow up. And, with SoM block beefing up the artifact section so much, blowing up an artifact (or causing an opponent to hold off on playing it) is a much more relevant ability IMO.
Once your opponent knows this card is in your deck, his gameplan might even change for your benefit (and if he doesn't know it's in your deck, he might get blown out). This argument works with Trygon Predator as well, but it's more fitting for the new guy IMO.
I wouldn't say that the argument is more relevant for the new guy... they're relevant for both because they both require your attacker(s) to go unblocked.
And regarding the boros angel, I didn't see that they finally revealed her p/t... I first saw her yesterday when her p/t were still a mystery =/
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave :symb::symg:
Legendary Creature - Zombie Elemental (R)
Haste
Whenever Skullbriar, the Walking Grave deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Counters remain on Skullbriar as it moves to any zone other than a player's hand or library.
1/1
Looks like Slith Firewalker with an awkward casting cost and a slight upside. The haste is quite unusual in this color combination, though. Probably to help Vengevine-style comebacks from the grave (and clearly for use with the Command Zone, now that I think about it).
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave :symb::symg:
Legendary Creature - Zombie Elemental (R)
Haste
Whenever Skullbriar, the Walking Grave deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Counters remain on Skullbriar as it moves to any zone other than a player's hand or library.
1/1
Looks like Slith Firewalker with an awkward casting cost and a slight upside. The haste is quite unusual in this color combination, though. Probably to help Vengevine-style comebacks from the grave (and clearly for use with the Command Zone, now that I think about it).
I can't imagine running that as my commander. Someone skinrender's it and you can't ever get it back into the game. Ugh.
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave :symb::symg:
Legendary Creature - Zombie Elemental (R)
Haste
Whenever Skullbriar, the Walking Grave deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Counters remain on Skullbriar as it moves to any zone other than a player's hand or library.
1/1
Looks like Slith Firewalker with an awkward casting cost and a slight upside. The haste is quite unusual in this color combination, though. Probably to help Vengevine-style comebacks from the grave.
It just doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned. Maybe if it had some way of actually bringing itself back, it would be cube-worthy, but just keeping the counters while it's in the graveyard isn't going to cut it.
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave :symb::symg:
Legendary Creature - Zombie Elemental (R)
Haste
Whenever Skullbriar, the Walking Grave deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Counters remain on Skullbriar as it moves to any zone other than a player's hand or library.
1/1
Looks like Slith Firewalker with an awkward casting cost and a slight upside. The haste is quite unusual in this color combination, though. Probably to help Vengevine-style comebacks from the grave.
It just doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned. Maybe if it had some way of actually bringing itself back, it would be cube-worthy, but just keeping the counters while it's in the graveyard isn't going to cut it.
Put another way, most things I want to use my reanimation spells on are going to be better than this guy, even if he does carry over some counters.
I can't imagine running that as my commander. Someone skinrender's it and you can't ever get it back into the game. Ugh.
Ugh, indeed. I hadn't thought about it with -1/-1 counters. I suppose you could let him go to your graveyard instead of the command zone and return him to your hand via Morbid Plunder or similar to ditch the counters but that's still a huge weakness for a commander to have right after a block with a heavy -1/-1 countr theme.
Put another way, most things I want to use my reanimation spells on are going to be better than this guy, even if he does carry over some counters.
Okay I love this card. I think it is probably in the 4-5 spot. However I do think that it is a card that needs to be tested. When I'm in UG I often have random elves and stuff lying around. The fact that this ability has "haste" makes me think it won't be uncommon to swing in with a few durdles the turn you play him. He also is clearly amazing with the small, utility blue flyers. Oh and this stacks on cards that already draw a card when they connect.
That said, I don't think most cubes should or will run him. He is a 2/2 for 3 with no evasion and only helps when he or other creatures connect. That said I'd encourage people with larger cubes to give him a shot. He also seems like an auto-include for those people pushing/supporting blue tempo.
Lastly, I think the design of this card is genius for multiplayer. "Feel free to attack me, but don't you want to draw cards?"
Bonus love points for the amusing interaction with Evil Presents.
Edit: Keep in mind people's expectations for this set & cube should be kept low. There are <60 new cards, all of which were designed with multiplayer in mind and all of which were designed to not become big players in Legacy. The small number of cards combined with two facets that keep power level down for a 1v1 cube are big limiting factors.
Okay I love this card. I think it is probably in the 4-5 spot. However I do think that it is a card that needs to be tested. When I'm in UG I often have random elves and stuff lying around. The fact that this ability has "haste" makes me think it won't be uncommon to swing in with a few durdles the turn you play him. He also is clearly amazing with the small, utility blue flyers. Oh and this stacks on cards that already draw a card when they connect.
That said, I don't think most cubes should or will run him. He is a 2/2 for 3 with no evasion and only helps when he or other creatures connect. That said I'd encourage people with larger cubes to give him a shot. He also seems like an auto-include for those people pushing/supporting blue tempo.
Yeah, I think this card is a shoe-in for people that have more creatures in blue than the average cube. UG-Dudes.dec can be really strong with an effect like this on the board. Splash for some creatures with shadow, or something like Hero of Bladehold and you create some massive card advantage.
In the end, I think it will definitely make some people's list as a 4th card when they compare it to typical 1-for-1.5's like Temporal Spring.
Edric, Spymaster of Trest 1GU
Legendary Creature - Elf Rogue
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to one of your opponents, that creature's controller may draw a card.
"I am not at liberty to reveal my sources, but I can assure you, the price on your head is high."
Illus. Volkan Baga
2/2
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It is certainly better than both of those. Voidslime is definitly arguable, but lorescale is very bad.
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:symg::symu:
Lorescale Coatl
Mystic Snake
Simic Sky Swallower (Foil)
Snakeform (Foil)
Temporal Spring (Foil)
Trygon Predator
Voidslime
I think it could replace Temporal Spring maybe.
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In this case, new guy is better as he might draw you a bunch of cards off of your guys swinging.
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I agree. I even think the Predator is WAY better than this new guy. They aren't even close in my world (a cube world where there's plenty of really good artifacts and enchantments, but not boardstates with many creatures very often).
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I think the fact that this card allows you to get mileage out of it the turn you drop it, which circumvents sorcery speed removal and allows you to time it, makes it quite a powerful card. It's not too hard to imagine situations where you draw 2 cards off of it right off the bat, with your opponent still needing to remove the creature - for 1UG. Maybe too situational to be bonkers, but it still looks really solid.
Definitely testing it.
is roughly how I stack boros up. I think this one fits in definitely before stoutarm, possibly before legionnaire.
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Yep. If this card were GW, RW, or WG it would be better, but UG is the next best color combination with this guy. He can be an absolute blow-out and doesn't need a turn to work.
This card also discourages your opponent from attacking (so he doesn't get hit on the backswing + you draw cards), so it has the added benefit of buying you time to drop a fatty and/or take control of the game. Once your opponent knows this card is in your deck, his gameplan might even change for your benefit (and if he doesn't know it's in your deck, he might get blown out). This argument works with Trygon Predator as well, but it's more fitting for the new guy IMO.
I'd also wager to say that this guy's ability is relevant more often than Trygon Predator's. What if your opponent has no relevant enchantment/artifacts out? What if he has a large flyer? Etc, etc.
This guy gives all your guys Curiosity, including himself. I think he's going to turn out much better than Trygon Predator, but only time will tell.
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.
I'm not. I think she's quite meh. I think the can't cast spells in combat ability is pretty irrelevant and the imp ability is good, but not nearly worth running a multicolor air elemental for.
I can't see cutting Lightning Helix, Ajani Vengeant, Figure of Destiny for it. If I cut anything for it, it would be Duergar Hedge-Mage, but I don't see that happening.
I'm concerned she'll actually hurt me more than help me in R/W. That combination is super aggro so her mana cost is not a selling point, and in R/W I actually want to use lots of my spells as combat tricks.
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Obviously comparing her to any of the first three is laughable, and I don't think she's really even close to Hedge-Mage.
I think the new guy's ability is more situational than predator's.
The new guy needs other creatures out on your side (or no blockers) to be really good.
Predator simply needs to have an enchantment (or, more relevantly) an artifact to blow up. And, with SoM block beefing up the artifact section so much, blowing up an artifact (or causing an opponent to hold off on playing it) is a much more relevant ability IMO.
I wouldn't say that the argument is more relevant for the new guy... they're relevant for both because they both require your attacker(s) to go unblocked.
And regarding the boros angel, I didn't see that they finally revealed her p/t... I first saw her yesterday when her p/t were still a mystery =/
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Legendary Creature - Zombie Elemental (R)
Haste
Whenever Skullbriar, the Walking Grave deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Counters remain on Skullbriar as it moves to any zone other than a player's hand or library.
1/1
Looks like Slith Firewalker with an awkward casting cost and a slight upside. The haste is quite unusual in this color combination, though. Probably to help Vengevine-style comebacks from the grave (and clearly for use with the Command Zone, now that I think about it).
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None of the other spoiled cards impress me much. That angel desperately needs vigilance to be anywhere close to cubeable.
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I can't imagine running that as my commander. Someone skinrender's it and you can't ever get it back into the game. Ugh.
It just doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned. Maybe if it had some way of actually bringing itself back, it would be cube-worthy, but just keeping the counters while it's in the graveyard isn't going to cut it.
Put another way, most things I want to use my reanimation spells on are going to be better than this guy, even if he does carry over some counters.
EDIT
Ugh, indeed. I hadn't thought about it with -1/-1 counters. I suppose you could let him go to your graveyard instead of the command zone and return him to your hand via Morbid Plunder or similar to ditch the counters but that's still a huge weakness for a commander to have right after a block with a heavy -1/-1 countr theme.
Put another way, most things I want to use my reanimation spells on are going to be better than this guy, even if he does carry over some counters.
That said, I don't think most cubes should or will run him. He is a 2/2 for 3 with no evasion and only helps when he or other creatures connect. That said I'd encourage people with larger cubes to give him a shot. He also seems like an auto-include for those people pushing/supporting blue tempo.
Lastly, I think the design of this card is genius for multiplayer. "Feel free to attack me, but don't you want to draw cards?"
Bonus love points for the amusing interaction with Evil Presents.
Edit: Keep in mind people's expectations for this set & cube should be kept low. There are <60 new cards, all of which were designed with multiplayer in mind and all of which were designed to not become big players in Legacy. The small number of cards combined with two facets that keep power level down for a 1v1 cube are big limiting factors.
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Yeah, I think this card is a shoe-in for people that have more creatures in blue than the average cube. UG-Dudes.dec can be really strong with an effect like this on the board. Splash for some creatures with shadow, or something like Hero of Bladehold and you create some massive card advantage.
In the end, I think it will definitely make some people's list as a 4th card when they compare it to typical 1-for-1.5's like Temporal Spring.
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