Hey everyone! I did not see an archetype thread for Simic Flash, but it is an archetype I have increasingly seen mentioned here and there as of late. I wanted to create a thread in order to see what exactly it's all about, and see what I was missing.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like the "archetype" is simply creatures in blue and green that have Flash (or can otherwise be used on the opponent's turn in some way). This pairs well with blue counterspells and instant speed removal spells because you can keep all of your mana open when passing to an opponent's turn but still use all of that mana in their end step by flashing in creatures at instant speed. Is there more to this archetype, or does that about summarize it?
If that summary is correct, the there does not seem to be any central cards that specifically reward flashing things in... aside from maybe Nightpack Ambusher. It seems like rather than being built around some critical supporting cards, this is an archetype that can be supported just by making sure your cube has a critical mass of flashable creatures in it. In looking at my own cube and some other lists, I am seeing the following commonly run flash creatures:
Is that set of cards really enough to support a Simic Flash archetype? Currently, in my personal 540 cube, I run all of the above but Torrential Gearhulk and Great Oak Guardian. If including these two cards would be enough to push this critical mass over the edge and make Simic Flash a supported archetype by proxy, I would be interested in doing that - but I have no experience with building for this archetype, so I was hoping to hear from someone who did.
I know I used to also run Mystic Snake which has been squeezed out of my cube by the absurd simic cards printed in recent years, but that card (and its cousin Frilled Mystic) seem like they could also work here, especially as a signpost card that this is a supported archetype. I've also seen Bounding Krasis thrown around, which is another card that works with twin as well as being a flash card for this archetype, just like Great Oak Guardian.
I am very interested to hear what people have to say about this archetype and what things I may be missing!
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
I think simic flash is kind of like blink in that it is more of a deck that happens outside of explicit support due to the nature of flash creatures in blue and green.
Some more good ones to keep an eye on if it is something you are considering. wildborn preserver - good mana sink for green and plays with counters which are often a subtheme in simic sweet-gum recluse - brand new and still testing this guy but is super fun with the cascade and again plays with the counters theme. Voracious greatshark can be used as a counter or to eat a smaller attacking creature. also good on crack backs for lethal.
and my old favourite Briarhorn is a great way to include a combat trick. unsuspecting but always solid. providing a 6/6 blocker to take out an attacking titan, make an unfavourable trade for an opponent in combat, or get in that last needed damage. All on a flexible evoke creature.
Visserdrix touched on the subject, but mana sinks go a long way to making the archetype work well. Cards like Duskwatch Recruiter and Biogenic Ooze can work very well if you can afford to take a turn off.
Likewise, werewolves (Duskwatch Recruiter again and Mayor of Avabruck) can easily flip on your turn without actually wasting it since you will play on opponents turn.
Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! I appreciate the help in filling me in about this archetype. I'll have to think more on whether I want to try to find room in my cube for the more specific cards mentioned above or not, but this definitely helped point me in the right direction of what kinds of things to include if I did decide to try out this archetype!
Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like the "archetype" is simply creatures in blue and green that have Flash (or can otherwise be used on the opponent's turn in some way). This pairs well with blue counterspells and instant speed removal spells because you can keep all of your mana open when passing to an opponent's turn but still use all of that mana in their end step by flashing in creatures at instant speed. Is there more to this archetype, or does that about summarize it?
If that summary is correct, the there does not seem to be any central cards that specifically reward flashing things in... aside from maybe Nightpack Ambusher. It seems like rather than being built around some critical supporting cards, this is an archetype that can be supported just by making sure your cube has a critical mass of flashable creatures in it. In looking at my own cube and some other lists, I am seeing the following commonly run flash creatures:
C
Ancient Stone Idol
G
Nightpack Ambusher
Great Oak Guardian
U
Snapcaster Mage
Brazen Borrower
Vendilion Clique
Venser, Shaper Savant
Torrential Gearhulk
Hullbreacher
Cubes that also support the Splinter Twin combo additionally provide these as flash creatures as well:
Pestermite
Deceiver Exarch
Is that set of cards really enough to support a Simic Flash archetype? Currently, in my personal 540 cube, I run all of the above but Torrential Gearhulk and Great Oak Guardian. If including these two cards would be enough to push this critical mass over the edge and make Simic Flash a supported archetype by proxy, I would be interested in doing that - but I have no experience with building for this archetype, so I was hoping to hear from someone who did.
I know I used to also run Mystic Snake which has been squeezed out of my cube by the absurd simic cards printed in recent years, but that card (and its cousin Frilled Mystic) seem like they could also work here, especially as a signpost card that this is a supported archetype. I've also seen Bounding Krasis thrown around, which is another card that works with twin as well as being a flash card for this archetype, just like Great Oak Guardian.
I am very interested to hear what people have to say about this archetype and what things I may be missing!
My 36+ Commander Decks: TAPPEDOUT
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
Some more good ones to keep an eye on if it is something you are considering.
wildborn preserver - good mana sink for green and plays with counters which are often a subtheme in simic
sweet-gum recluse - brand new and still testing this guy but is super fun with the cascade and again plays with the counters theme.
Voracious greatshark can be used as a counter or to eat a smaller attacking creature. also good on crack backs for lethal.
and my old favourite Briarhorn is a great way to include a combat trick. unsuspecting but always solid. providing a 6/6 blocker to take out an attacking titan, make an unfavourable trade for an opponent in combat, or get in that last needed damage. All on a flexible evoke creature.
Likewise, werewolves (Duskwatch Recruiter again and Mayor of Avabruck) can easily flip on your turn without actually wasting it since you will play on opponents turn.
Also white has a bunch of good support IMO for this with
Restoration Angel, Secure the Wastes, Settle the Wreckage, Cast Out, Archangel Avacyn.
My 450ish 1vs1 cube
My 36+ Commander Decks: TAPPEDOUT