I'm running these in my 360 list, but quite a few others are running 450 lists without including any of them. I wax and wane on them myself, but I'm curious to hear from you guys. If you run them, why? If you don't, why not?
I morph Exalted Angel to have a quick 4/5 flying lifelinker.
I morph Willbender because it allows me to redirect spells and abilities, and sometimes your opponent knowing is half the battle (actually, Dr. Mindbender would be a pretty sweet Willbender alter now that I think of it).
I morph Bane of the Living to sweep the board, while often leaving a big beasty on the battlefield.
I morph Blistering Firecat because sometimes I just can't hit 3 red mana.
I morph Nantuko Vigilante because I like having a naturalize effect that I don't have to use right away while still leaving a decent body around.
Basically, in the context of cube, Morph is a clunky means to an end on a handful of good cards. It doesn't have the surprise factor it did in Onslaught block, but it gets the job done.
I love all those Morph creatures. I use exactly those 5, so that their exact identities aren't telegraphed, and they all play very solidly on their own. Decks with 2 morphs can be randomly awesome; showing them an Exalted Angel in game 1 just to have them blown out by a Willbender in game 2. I think it's a fun and interesting mechanic, and I think those 5 cards in the OP specifically are really good. I ran all 5 of them at 360, and I continue to play them as my cube group (and thus, cube) expand.
I think Exalted Angel is far and away the best of the 5, but I think the other 4 are worth running just for the reasons wtwlf listed--although I think Blistering Firecat is the least essential.
One question for people who do run them: do you find them to be a hindrance for new players? They're so unintuitive and clunky.
I morph Blistering Firecat because sometimes I just can't hit 3 red mana.
you can also morph this guy to pick up an equipment, or to increase board presence and then burn a first striker+unmorph on turn 4, or later in the game as a defensive measure. the morph on firecat turns a card that would be pure player burn into something much more versatile.
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.
you can also morph this guy to pick up an equipment, or to increase board presence and then burn a first striker+unmorph on turn 4, or later in the game as a defensive measure. the morph on firecat turns a card that would be pure player burn into something much more versatile.
Exactly this. I love Firecat, because 7 damage is a lot, and it's a much more versatile creature than it looks.
Dwarven Blastminer's also not bad, but I found its cost to activate was kinda awkward in aggressive decks (and its body size wasn't necessarily what midrange decks wanted either.) I liked it more back in the day, before cards like Lightning Mauler came out.
I don't think Morph is that difficult to understand past the first time. I feel like you are underestimating your players' ability to roll with the history of Magic.
I use 2 morphs in each color, in order to help disguise them; I haven't really considered taking any of them out besides Zombie Cutthroat, but he brings back a lot of hysterical memories from Onslaught block.
I could definitely see cutting one of each color if I was going to shrink my cube, but they're pretty popular right now. I know whenever my opponent plays a morph it's that game of "ugh, what morphs did I see in the draft this time??"
I think the only that is a staple is the Exalted Angel. Vilgilante is good too. Bane is good, but on chopping block. The other 2 simply doesn't cut it at 360 anymore.
I think the only that is a staple is the Exalted Angel. Vilgilante is good too. Bane is good, but on chopping block. The other 2 simply doesn't cut it at 360 anymore.
I'm actually surprised by how many people love Blistering Firecat. There is so much competition for that slot, and I just don't see how it's better than the other cards. I hate Ball Lightning, so maybe I'm biased.
I don't like Ball Lightning in the cube either. But Blistering Firecat is a totally different beast. Not only does it bash for 7, but it doesn't have to be a creature that dies at the end of turn if you don't want it to be, and you don't need RRR.
I don't like Ball Lightning in the cube either. But Blistering Firecat is a totally different beast. Not only does it bash for 7, but it doesn't have to be a creature that dies at the end of turn if you don't want it to be, and you don't need RRR.
Hmm I don't know about that comparison... It would be more like saying I don't like an Anthem that costs 3 with an echo of 1W and you don't get the effect until you pay the echo - if Glorious Anthem was bad for me.
Hmm I don't know about that comparison... It would be more like saying I don't like an Anthem that costs 3 with an echo of 1W and you don't get the effect until you pay the echo - if Glorious Anthem was bad for me.
It doesn't have echo at all. You're in complete control over when you want to Morph it. Sometimes it's better to leave it face-down for a bit until it can get in for the kill. Maybe you have a Sword you want it to carry, who knows. But the fact that it can do multiple different things for the caster ...and take 1/3 of their life away in one swing... is pretty awesome.
It doesn't have echo at all. You're in complete control over when you want to Morph it. Sometimes it's better to leave it face-down for a bit until it can get in for the kill. Maybe you have a Sword you want it to carry, who knows. But the fact that it can do multiple different things for the caster ...and take 1/3 of their life away in one swing... is pretty awesome.
I agree that it is a good card, but I would be curious to hear from everyone why it is better than the other red 4-drops. My example wasn't any worse than the Jihad/Glorious Anthem comparison, you have to admit... Haha.
Edit - Where would you rank Blistering Firecat among these creatures:
I count it as a 3-drop. Because it gets played for 3 mana. And requires less mana than that to morph.
And I think the Anthem/Jihad comparison is pretty apt when you look at Firecat/Lightning.
But... It's a Gray Ogre for 3 mana! Do you consider all of these morphs to take the 3-drop slot? And there's no way you're willing to back down on the Jihad/Glorious Anthem claim?? I just don't know how to argue with that comparison, because it makes no sense to me.
But... It's a Gray Ogre for 3 mana! Do you consider all of these morphs to take the 3-drop slot? And there's no way you're willing to back down on the Jihad/Glorious Anthem claim?? I just don't know how to argue with that comparison, because it makes no sense to me.
All the morphs that take less than 3 mana to unmorph I consider 3-drops. Why would I classify them elsewhere? Why would I put Firecat in the 4cc slot when it doesn't play like a 4-drop? I have to have at least 3 mana for them. They come down on T3 quite often. I never need more than 3 mana to use them. It seems perfectly logical to classify them there.
Also:
Jihad requires WWW for an anthem type effect. It could be really good, but it's narrow and mana intensive.
Ball Lightning requires RRR for a Ball Lightning type effect. It could be really good, but it's narrow and mana intensive.
Glorious Anthem is less mana intensive, and can see play in more decks. Because of that, it's a better card.
Blistering Firecat is less mana intensive, and can see play in more decks. Because of that, it's a better card.
I don't see why that comparison seems so absurd to you.
All the morphs that take less than 3 mana to unmorph I consider 3-drops. Why would I classify them elsewhere? Why would I put Firecat in the 4cc slot when it doesn't play like a 4-drop? I have to have at least 3 mana for them. They come down on T3 quite often. I never need more than 3 mana to use them. It seems perfectly logical to classify them there.
Also:
Jihad requires WWW for an anthem type effect. It could be really good, but it's narrow and mana intensive.
Ball Lightning requires RRR for a Ball Lightning type effect. It could be really good, but it's narrow and mana intensive.
Glorious Anthem is less mana intensive, and can see play in more decks. Because of that, it's a better card.
Blistering Firecat is less mana intensive, and can see play in more decks. Because of that, it's a better card.
I don't see why that comparison seems so absurd to you.
You spend 3 mana on both Jihad and Glorious Anthem with Glorious Anthem being strictly less mana intensive by 1 white mana, but you spend 3 mana on Ball Lightning and 5 mana on Blistering Firecat for the Firecat to be less mana intensive by 1 red mana. That is a huge difference. This is in addition to the fact that Jihad is a weird, inconsistent pump spell for all white creatures, and Glorious Anthem is a consistent pump spell for all of your own creatures with no strings attached.
Blistering Firecat doesn't do what you want it to until you spend 4+ mana on it. If you want Blistering Firecat to have its full effect, you can't play a 4-drop on turn 4 or even turn 5. This is why it competes with other 4-drops. You have to choose whether or not you want your Blistering Firecat or another 4-drop on turn 4. Yes, it gives you the option to have a Gray Ogre on turn 3 and play a 4-drop on turn 4, but then you are competing with more 4 or 5-drops on turn 5 if you ever want your Blistering Firecat. The key is asking which cards it competes with.
You spend 3 mana on both Jihad and Glorious Anthem with Glorious Anthem being strictly less mana intensive by 1 white mana, but you spend 3 mana on Ball Lightning and 5 mana on Blistering Firecat for the Firecat to be less mana intensive by 1 red mana. That is a huge difference. This is in addition to the fact that Jihad is a weird, inconsistent pump spell for all white creatures, and Glorious Anthem is a consistent pump spell for all of your own creatures with no strings attached.
The point is that the effects on the cards are similar, but different in some key ways. And the cards they're comparing to require triple-color commitment and they don't. I don't see why the comparison through that context seems so impossible.
Blistering Firecat doesn't do what you want it to until you spend 4+ mana on it. If you want Blistering Firecat to have its full effect, you can't play a 4-drop on turn 4 or even turn 5. This is why it competes with other 4-drops. You have to choose whether or not you want your Blistering Firecat or another 4-drop on turn 4. Yes, it gives you the option to have a Gray Ogre on turn 3 and play a 4-drop on turn 4, but then you are competing with more 4 or 5-drops on turn 5 if you ever want your Blistering Firecat. The key is asking which cards it competes with.
I am looking at what they compete with. I don't have to morph it on turn 4. So it's not competing with my 4-drops. It comes down on T3, which means it competes with my 3-drops.
Do you count Student of Warfare as a 2-drop because it needs WW to be invested into it after it's cast before it becomes more than a Mons's Goblin Raiders? If not, why not? It's the same logic you apply to why Firecat needs to be a 4-drop, right? Because it's just a Gray Ogre unless you pump the other mana into it immediately or on the turn after? If Student of Warfare takes up your 2nd turn, wouldn't you count it as a 2-drop for the exact same reason?
I'm running these in my 360 list, but quite a few others are running 450 lists without including any of them. I wax and wane on them myself, but I'm curious to hear from you guys. If you run them, why? If you don't, why not?
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I morph Willbender because it allows me to redirect spells and abilities, and sometimes your opponent knowing is half the battle (actually, Dr. Mindbender would be a pretty sweet Willbender alter now that I think of it).
I morph Bane of the Living to sweep the board, while often leaving a big beasty on the battlefield.
I morph Blistering Firecat because sometimes I just can't hit 3 red mana.
I morph Nantuko Vigilante because I like having a naturalize effect that I don't have to use right away while still leaving a decent body around.
Basically, in the context of cube, Morph is a clunky means to an end on a handful of good cards. It doesn't have the surprise factor it did in Onslaught block, but it gets the job done.
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One question for people who do run them: do you find them to be a hindrance for new players? They're so unintuitive and clunky.
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you can also morph this guy to pick up an equipment, or to increase board presence and then burn a first striker+unmorph on turn 4, or later in the game as a defensive measure. the morph on firecat turns a card that would be pure player burn into something much more versatile.
Exactly this. I love Firecat, because 7 damage is a lot, and it's a much more versatile creature than it looks.
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I use 2 morphs in each color, in order to help disguise them; I haven't really considered taking any of them out besides Zombie Cutthroat, but he brings back a lot of hysterical memories from Onslaught block.
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I could definitely see cutting one of each color if I was going to shrink my cube, but they're pretty popular right now. I know whenever my opponent plays a morph it's that game of "ugh, what morphs did I see in the draft this time??"
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Yep, my thoughts exactly.
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I don't like Ball Lightning in the cube either. But Blistering Firecat is a totally different beast. Not only does it bash for 7, but it doesn't have to be a creature that dies at the end of turn if you don't want it to be, and you don't need RRR.
It's like saying you don't like Glorious Anthem because Jihad was bad for you.
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Hmm I don't know about that comparison... It would be more like saying I don't like an Anthem that costs 3 with an echo of 1W and you don't get the effect until you pay the echo - if Glorious Anthem was bad for me.
It doesn't have echo at all. You're in complete control over when you want to Morph it. Sometimes it's better to leave it face-down for a bit until it can get in for the kill. Maybe you have a Sword you want it to carry, who knows. But the fact that it can do multiple different things for the caster ...and take 1/3 of their life away in one swing... is pretty awesome.
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I agree that it is a good card, but I would be curious to hear from everyone why it is better than the other red 4-drops. My example wasn't any worse than the Jihad/Glorious Anthem comparison, you have to admit... Haha.
Edit - Where would you rank Blistering Firecat among these creatures:
1 Ravenous Baboons
1 Oxidda Scrapmelter
1 Avalanche Riders
1 Keldon Champion
1 Hellrider
1 Hero of Oxid Ridge
1 Hound of Griselbrand
1 Rakka Mar
1 Goblin Ruinblaster
I can see a good argument for it being better than Hound of Griselbrand, but I don't think I like it more than any of those other cards.
And I think the Anthem/Jihad comparison is pretty apt when you look at Firecat/Lightning.
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But... It's a Gray Ogre for 3 mana! Do you consider all of these morphs to take the 3-drop slot? And there's no way you're willing to back down on the Jihad/Glorious Anthem claim?? I just don't know how to argue with that comparison, because it makes no sense to me.
All the morphs that take less than 3 mana to unmorph I consider 3-drops. Why would I classify them elsewhere? Why would I put Firecat in the 4cc slot when it doesn't play like a 4-drop? I have to have at least 3 mana for them. They come down on T3 quite often. I never need more than 3 mana to use them. It seems perfectly logical to classify them there.
Also:
Jihad requires WWW for an anthem type effect. It could be really good, but it's narrow and mana intensive.
Ball Lightning requires RRR for a Ball Lightning type effect. It could be really good, but it's narrow and mana intensive.
Glorious Anthem is less mana intensive, and can see play in more decks. Because of that, it's a better card.
Blistering Firecat is less mana intensive, and can see play in more decks. Because of that, it's a better card.
I don't see why that comparison seems so absurd to you.
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You spend 3 mana on both Jihad and Glorious Anthem with Glorious Anthem being strictly less mana intensive by 1 white mana, but you spend 3 mana on Ball Lightning and 5 mana on Blistering Firecat for the Firecat to be less mana intensive by 1 red mana. That is a huge difference. This is in addition to the fact that Jihad is a weird, inconsistent pump spell for all white creatures, and Glorious Anthem is a consistent pump spell for all of your own creatures with no strings attached.
Blistering Firecat doesn't do what you want it to until you spend 4+ mana on it. If you want Blistering Firecat to have its full effect, you can't play a 4-drop on turn 4 or even turn 5. This is why it competes with other 4-drops. You have to choose whether or not you want your Blistering Firecat or another 4-drop on turn 4. Yes, it gives you the option to have a Gray Ogre on turn 3 and play a 4-drop on turn 4, but then you are competing with more 4 or 5-drops on turn 5 if you ever want your Blistering Firecat. The key is asking which cards it competes with.
The point is that the effects on the cards are similar, but different in some key ways. And the cards they're comparing to require triple-color commitment and they don't. I don't see why the comparison through that context seems so impossible.
I am looking at what they compete with. I don't have to morph it on turn 4. So it's not competing with my 4-drops. It comes down on T3, which means it competes with my 3-drops.
Do you count Student of Warfare as a 2-drop because it needs WW to be invested into it after it's cast before it becomes more than a Mons's Goblin Raiders? If not, why not? It's the same logic you apply to why Firecat needs to be a 4-drop, right? Because it's just a Gray Ogre unless you pump the other mana into it immediately or on the turn after? If Student of Warfare takes up your 2nd turn, wouldn't you count it as a 2-drop for the exact same reason?
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