Depends on the context. I think I like the raw power of Smash more in powered cubes or cubes with a bunch of 2-cmc rocks / signets. Otherwise I like this more. Really just comes down to your preference of raw power vs flexibility.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm happy there is a decent promo art for Abrade, but that doesn't mean the art is especially good. If anything it's just forgettable and boring. Nothing like all of the black aoe game day promos. Those have all been sick so far. ALL OF 'EM.
Comparing Abrade to smash to smithereens comes down to your design philosophy and cube envrionment.
In a high powered cube with a high density of artifacts, smash to smithereens is the more powerful card and it's not remotely close.
In an agressive shell, smash is a effectively a 2 mana 2 for 1, which is MUCH more powerful than a versatile 1 for 1 with overcosted modes.
In a large , unpowered cube with medium-low artifact density, this becomes much more attractive as, smash will often be a 0 for 1 if it lacks targets...
As far as cube design philosophy goes, abrade is the more ARCHETYPE versatile, as it can happily see play in control decks or ramp shells, where the 3 damage of smash to smithereens is not close to worth a card...
Smash rarely misses a main deck in my cube (even in control), so that archetype versatility is less important. In a cube with lower artifact density, that starts becoming much more important.
In a high powered cube with a high density of artifacts, smash to smithereens is the more powerful card and it's not remotely close.
In an agressive shell, smash is a effectively a 2 mana 2 for 1, which is MUCH more powerful than a versatile 1 for 1 with overcosted modes.
In a large , unpowered cube with medium-low artifact density, this becomes much more attractive as, smash will often be a 0 for 1 if it lacks targets...
A lucid vision indeed. This is exactly why Abrade will likely be a permanent addition to my cube, and Smash to Smithereens has been purposefully omitted.
One thing nobody's mentioned in this direct comparison: Isochron Scepter loves Abrade, and is lukewarm on Smash.
I played with this card in a draft on Tuesday. Very strong.
My cube has both a lot of direct damage and a lot of powerful artifacts. I found the shatter mode on this card more than makes up for an inability to hit players.
Depends on the context. I think I like the raw power of Smash more in powered cubes or cubes with a bunch of 2-cmc rocks / signets. Otherwise I like this more. Really just comes down to your preference of raw power vs flexibility.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
In a high powered cube with a high density of artifacts, smash to smithereens is the more powerful card and it's not remotely close.
In an agressive shell, smash is a effectively a 2 mana 2 for 1, which is MUCH more powerful than a versatile 1 for 1 with overcosted modes.
In a large , unpowered cube with medium-low artifact density, this becomes much more attractive as, smash will often be a 0 for 1 if it lacks targets...
As far as cube design philosophy goes, abrade is the more ARCHETYPE versatile, as it can happily see play in control decks or ramp shells, where the 3 damage of smash to smithereens is not close to worth a card...
Smash rarely misses a main deck in my cube (even in control), so that archetype versatility is less important. In a cube with lower artifact density, that starts becoming much more important.
Last Updated 02/07/24
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A lucid vision indeed. This is exactly why Abrade will likely be a permanent addition to my cube, and Smash to Smithereens has been purposefully omitted.
One thing nobody's mentioned in this direct comparison: Isochron Scepter loves Abrade, and is lukewarm on Smash.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
My cube has both a lot of direct damage and a lot of powerful artifacts. I found the shatter mode on this card more than makes up for an inability to hit players.
Here's my cube! Give it a draft!
(Spoiler: Possible staple material, definitely worth trying out over your least favorite Incinerate clone.)