I think there is a risk that the novelty of companion exaggerates this guy's Cubeability as a creature in your maindeck. Obviously, if it is in your Cube it will make some decks but if you take away the companion ability, would this still be a Cubeable creature?
Since it is largely speculative right now as to the how onerous the companion condition will prove to be (and how often it will even be feasible), I think a little reservation is called for.
I get your point though, as a 4-drop or 5-drop creature, in a non-companion deck, it seems awesome, no?
This seems like a solid card without companion, so we're going to include it on that basis.
I predict that being used as a companion will be rarer than people seem to think. I've never seen a deck that even comes close to having all 1-2cc permanents, and I think that in order to have access to this "8th card always in hand" you're going to have to build a Cube deck that is significantly underpowered compared to the typical deck. Also like many others are saying, it's going to be difficult to even have enough playables for this deck if you try to move in anytime after pack 1.
I think there is a risk that the novelty of companion exaggerates this guy's Cubeability as a creature in your maindeck. Obviously, if it is in your Cube it will make some decks but if you take away the companion ability, would this still be a Cubeable creature?
Since it is largely speculative right now as to the how onerous the companion condition will prove to be (and how often it will even be feasible), I think a little reservation is called for.
I get your point though, as a 4-drop or 5-drop creature, in a non-companion deck, it seems awesome, no?
Something like turn 4 Lurrus + cast Dauntless Bodyguard from your graveyard feels pretty solid...
This seems like a solid card without companion, so we're going to include it on that basis.
I predict that being used as a companion will be rarer than people seem to think. I've never seen a deck that even comes close to having all 1-2cc permanents, and I think that in order to have access to this "8th card always in hand" you're going to have to build a Cube deck that is significantly underpowered compared to the typical deck. Also like many others are saying, it's going to be difficult to even have enough playables for this deck if you try to move in anytime after pack 1.
Don't forget you can still run instant and sorcery token makers like Sram's expertise, lingering souls, etc.
1. The Companion is on permanents and excludes instants and sorceries. (I thought it was all spells)
2. If you remove the Companion clause on the card, this card is absolutely amazing in any Black- White deck.
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I am skeptical how often will it be a companion. You can legitimately not have enough playables to finish your maindeck if you treat all expensive creatures as dead picks. This is probably a risk worth taking early, but in later packs it is likely impossible.
How good is it as a normal card? Unlike Sun Titan you cannot recur fetches with it. On the bad side, on turn three it probably recurs nothing, and on turn four you would almost never have a one drop ready to be recurred. In order to generate immediate value it is at least a four drop, most likely a five drop. The body is quite bad, and dies in combat to one drops. I believe very often you will not want to engage in combat with it, on offense or defense, if you care about the engine. Additionally Churros won't survive any burn spell.
There are merits too though. It helps with recovery after a mass removal. It is a hybrid card, so the threshold for inclusion is lower. It has a very high ceiling with cards like Black Lotus. It is also a piece of life gain for black, which is always welcomed. Lifelink makes this card still useful when you are under pressure and don't have time to try and assemble a recursion.
I'm testing, but unsure if it is a permanent addition.
I just realized how good Lurrus is with Walking Ballista and Hangarback Walker. Not only do those creatures provide flood insurance without preventing Companion, but Lurrus turns Ballista into half of a Koth of the Hammer ultimate, and Hagarback plus a Sac outlet like Carrion Feeder is also very strong.
I just realized how good Lurrus is with Walking Ballista and Hangarback Walker. Not only do those creatures provide flood insurance without preventing Companion, but Lurrus turns Ballista into half of a Koth of the Hammer ultimate, and Hagarback plus a Sac outlet like Carrion Feeder is also very strong.
This doesn't work the way you probably want. You can only cast them if you want to cast it for X=1. Lurrus cares about the cmc of the spell you're casting out of your graveyard, not the card's cmc in the graveyard. If you try to cast Ballista or Hangarback for a higher X value than 1, it'll fail to meet Lurrus' casting restriction.
Ah, yeah that's not how I expected it would work. I thought it cared about the card's cmc in the grave then once it was on the stack, it wouldn't matter. That's a bit unfortunate it doesn't work.
I just realized how good Lurrus is with Walking Ballista and Hangarback Walker. Not only do those creatures provide flood insurance without preventing Companion, but Lurrus turns Ballista into half of a Koth of the Hammer ultimate, and Hagarback plus a Sac outlet like Carrion Feeder is also very strong.
This doesn't work the way you probably want. You can only cast them if you want to cast it for X=1. Lurrus cares about the cmc of the spell you're casting out of your graveyard, not the card's cmc in the graveyard. If you try to cast Ballista or Hangarback for a higher X value than 1, it'll fail to meet Lurrus' casting restriction.
As of now, Lurrus allows you to cast X spells from your graveyard with a value of whatever you like. Because X returns a value of 0 to Lurrus' ability when checked, the ability doesn't check how much mana is actually paid for the spell.
People are running Stonecoil Serpent in the deck for that reason in Arena and MTGO. Just to make it known.
That seems like a bug. According to Gatherer, Cythare should be correct.
4/17/2020 For spells with Variable Colorless in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine the spell’s converted mana cost. For example, if a permanent spell costs XW, you could cast it with X as 1 but not as 2.
As of now, Lurrus allows you to cast X spells from your graveyard with a value of whatever you like. Because X returns a value of 0 to Lurrus' ability when checked, the ability doesn't check how much mana is actually paid for the spell.
People are running Stonecoil Serpent in the deck for that reason in Arena and MTGO. Just to make it known.
As noted by jamis, this is a bug. It's even explicitly called out in the Release Notes for the set with the exact same text as jamis linked above.
As of now, Lurrus allows you to cast X spells from your graveyard with a value of whatever you like. Because X returns a value of 0 to Lurrus' ability when checked, the ability doesn't check how much mana is actually paid for the spell.
People are running Stonecoil Serpent in the deck for that reason in Arena and MTGO. Just to make it known.
As noted by jamis, this is a bug. It's even explicitly called out in the Release Notes for the set with the exact same text as jamis linked above.
Good old spaghetti code.
Duly noted. I mostly brought it up as it would be my conjecture that many players will rely on how the computer interprets things to decide what is and isn't acceptable within the rules, because they likely don't check the release notes (myself included). Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Once per game, any time you could cast a sorcery (during your main phase when the stack is empty), you can pay 3 generic mana to put your companion from your sideboard into your hand. This is a special action, not an activated ability.
Will likely not play this with the companion clause anyway. Unlike Lutri, this is still playable in the main deck. Hopefully the price drops and this is much affordable now.
Lurrus is still a servicable maindeck 3-drop even with the companion errata, but the errata makes him far less powerful as a companion. Lurrus decks are mostly aggro decks, and I don't want to pay 6, even for a free 3/2.
will test as a maindeck option. may even use acetone on a foil to remove the stupid companion mechanic from the card. would have much preferred a straight up ban to having to include cards with incorrect rules text in my cube.
Honestly, I'm just going to put Lutri and Lurrus in and pretend the errata never happened.
The update isn't written on the card and my cube is my rules anyway, I could make companions free if I wanted (I really don't).
Lutri is a bit much, sure, but Lurrus has not only a deckbuilding cost, but a drafting cost, no need for players to be paying for him 4 different ways.
Honestly, I'm just going to put Lutri and Lurrus in and pretend the errata never happened.
The update isn't written on the card and my cube is my rules anyway, I could make companions free if I wanted (I really don't).
Lutri is a bit much, sure, but Lurrus has not only a deckbuilding cost, but a drafting cost, no need for players to be paying for him 4 different ways.
I'm also playing these two, but instead I'm using the extended art versions, which not only look better but don't have any incorrect rules text.
Just like to note that the latest reprint of Lurrus in March of the Machines fix the incorrect rule text for anyone who is bothered by it. And the card itself is still plenty strong even without the companion text.
Yeah Clamp, so true! Can't wait to clamp my stuff and get them back!
I get your point though, as a 4-drop or 5-drop creature, in a non-companion deck, it seems awesome, no?
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I predict that being used as a companion will be rarer than people seem to think. I've never seen a deck that even comes close to having all 1-2cc permanents, and I think that in order to have access to this "8th card always in hand" you're going to have to build a Cube deck that is significantly underpowered compared to the typical deck. Also like many others are saying, it's going to be difficult to even have enough playables for this deck if you try to move in anytime after pack 1.
Something like turn 4 Lurrus + cast Dauntless Bodyguard from your graveyard feels pretty solid...
Don't forget you can still run instant and sorcery token makers like Sram's expertise, lingering souls, etc.
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1. The Companion is on permanents and excludes instants and sorceries. (I thought it was all spells)
2. If you remove the Companion clause on the card, this card is absolutely amazing in any Black- White deck.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
How good is it as a normal card? Unlike Sun Titan you cannot recur fetches with it. On the bad side, on turn three it probably recurs nothing, and on turn four you would almost never have a one drop ready to be recurred. In order to generate immediate value it is at least a four drop, most likely a five drop. The body is quite bad, and dies in combat to one drops. I believe very often you will not want to engage in combat with it, on offense or defense, if you care about the engine. Additionally Churros won't survive any burn spell.
There are merits too though. It helps with recovery after a mass removal. It is a hybrid card, so the threshold for inclusion is lower. It has a very high ceiling with cards like Black Lotus. It is also a piece of life gain for black, which is always welcomed. Lifelink makes this card still useful when you are under pressure and don't have time to try and assemble a recursion.
I'm testing, but unsure if it is a permanent addition.
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I just realized how good Lurrus is with Walking Ballista and Hangarback Walker. Not only do those creatures provide flood insurance without preventing Companion, but Lurrus turns Ballista into half of a Koth of the Hammer ultimate, and Hagarback plus a Sac outlet like Carrion Feeder is also very strong.e: nevermind, see Cythare's reply
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As of now, Lurrus allows you to cast X spells from your graveyard with a value of whatever you like. Because X returns a value of 0 to Lurrus' ability when checked, the ability doesn't check how much mana is actually paid for the spell.
People are running Stonecoil Serpent in the deck for that reason in Arena and MTGO. Just to make it known.
This user has language problems due to their mental health problems and sometimes may not use the best wording to explain their thoughts.
Draft the "'What Is This Nonsense?'" casual cube.
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Duly noted. I mostly brought it up as it would be my conjecture that many players will rely on how the computer interprets things to decide what is and isn't acceptable within the rules, because they likely don't check the release notes (myself included). Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
This user has language problems due to their mental health problems and sometimes may not use the best wording to explain their thoughts.
Draft the "'What Is This Nonsense?'" casual cube.
Will likely not play this with the companion clause anyway. Unlike Lutri, this is still playable in the main deck. Hopefully the price drops and this is much affordable now.
The update isn't written on the card and my cube is my rules anyway, I could make companions free if I wanted (I really don't).
Lutri is a bit much, sure, but Lurrus has not only a deckbuilding cost, but a drafting cost, no need for players to be paying for him 4 different ways.
I'm also playing these two, but instead I'm using the extended art versions, which not only look better but don't have any incorrect rules text.
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