MTG Salvation

So, I've been looking for some colored artifact ramp that doesn't necessarily fixes you (i.e., no Sphere of the Suns or Coalition Relic) and I remembered these. They look like fun cards that go not only in control decks (obviously) but also in some ramp-into-fatty-archetype; I believe that green is the best color for that, but I want to "bleed" that ability into other colors a bit.

I'm thinking about them for the ~720 card range. Did anyone try them? What are your thoughts?

Quote from Wildfire393

2 cmc acceleration is generally better. Try Marble Diamond et al.

Thank you for the suggestion. I've thought about them, and I have Fire Diamond in my list to help Big Red/Wildfire.dec.
The 2 mana accelerants are cheaper, but these can potentially give you 2 additional mana if you really need it. Does that seem worthwhile?

Quote from mrbrightside

Thank you for the suggestion. I've thought about them, and I have Fire Diamond in my list to help Big Red/Wildfire.dec.
The 2 mana accelerants are cheaper, but these can potentially give you 2 additional mana if you really need it. Does that seem worthwhile?

I really don't think so. The ability to go from 2 to 4 is such an important spot in the curve to ramp at. I think I'd play Sky Diamond over Eye of Ramos in pretty much every deck.

The only one that might be better than its respective Diamond would be the green one, but that card's not very good because green has a HUGE suite of better ramp available to it already.

I run them in my Weatherlight Cube and they're ok. Note however that the average cmc in that Cube is a little higher than in the average Cube, so the double mana 'bump' (tap + sac) is a lot more relevant. If your Cube is more traditional, I wouldn't bother with them, but in a slower Cube or in an EDH Cube, I think they're fine.

Use the new keystones instead.

Quote from bondafong

Use the new keystones instead.

This, if you really want 3CC mana rocks, use the new ones. A built in creature is better then one extra mana if you sac it. They also fix two colours.

Or even better use more 2 cc mana rocks.

The 2 mana accelerants are cheaper, but these can potentially give you 2 additional mana if you really need it. Does that seem worthwhile?

It's definitely worthwhile if you want to support big ramp & especially if you don't want to force green for that to be playable.

Most decks want want 2cmc rocks that fix their mana like signets and talismans or fellwar stone, but for any real nongreen ramp to be viable you definitely need rocks that boost you by at least 2 mana.

That said, idk if these are your best options although they do have awesome flavor; I'd look at
Mana Vault
Worn Powerstone
Thran Dynamo
Grim Monolith
Basalt Monolith
I'd consider any of these before the Ramos artifacts if color fixing is no object. These can all do some pretty crazy things if you have the bombs to cast.

Also you could look at
Mind Stone
Dreamstone Hedron
These would be good if you want a bit more utility in your mana rocks

Man, these rocks were so hyped when they came out at rare, and I bought into it. Good to know you weren't fooled, dude. Nowadays they could arguably be printed at uncommon or even common with no qualms (see Manalith as DerBK kindly pointed out, or keyrunes).

He's looking for stuff that doesn't fix your mana, which renders most of these suggestions irrelevant.

I thought about it, and I just decided to use the Diamond cycle, as well as (almost) every nonfixing 2CMC mana rock (I will add Fractured Powerstone in my next update, and I am presently considering Manakin).

How about the Myr, then?
Easier to remove, given they're creatures as well, but still 2CC and not colour-fixers...

It's ridiculous even by 1999 standards that these are rares. I will also echo the sentiment that they are pretty outclassed these days, particularly by cards like Coalition Relic and Chromatic Lantern. Hell, I'd even cube with Darksteel Ingot before these.