Redundancy is nice, but Danitha is a card you could justify playing without pants (in +1/+1 counters for instance), which is hugely important for this type of archetype card. If the card can end up in other decks, it's much easier to run it. Hero is just a 2/2 and that's it. So it's only redundancy for the pants ability, you'll have to make actual sacrifices to cube it and it's not nearly as good on its own even in a pants deck.
Well, after playing some games with the downshifts, I can say that Laboratory Maniac is no joke. You can play it in most control decks, and it's a pretty fun buildaround. Yesterday I managed to win three out of three games with an Azorius build. It basically boiled down to a lot of walls and defensive tools, and then a lot of draw to close out the game. Pretty fun alternate win condition.
Is the vulnerability of it getting bolted in response to you trying to mill out not a huge issue?
I was talking to my girlfriend about how poor this card is due to this fact. In a control vs control matchup, I feel like it would go something along the lines of...
It hasn't occurred as of yet that the Laboratory Maniac was removed in response. Most of the time, it resolved, 1 or 2 counterspells protected it, and the player playing it Brainstorm and Cephalid Colliseum'd out a win.
Mind you, my cube tends to be pretty slow, because we are all midrange-control players at heart.
Also of note is that they have to have that second removal spell. This card is the most late-game of late-game cards. It is likely that they don't have an answer ready. If they don't you just win on the spot. And yes, it is an awful topdeck, but most of the decks I've seen that run the maniac in my cube, topdecking hasn't been an issue. You usually run enough card-filter to circumvent the fact that it's a bit of a dead draw.
The difference between the two is that the maniac often wins the turn it comes down, regardless of the other player's life total or board state. Phantom Monster has to swing at least 7 times before it has dealt lethal damage. It's not about being able to consistently protect the maniac over a couple of turns, it's about having one critical turn where you drop the maniac and draw the rest of your deck.
I saw an article by Usman Jamil at Coolstuffinc on the downgrades of UMA for Pauper and Peasant cube. Pretty cool that these formats get covered.
For Peasant, it seems to me as if he is pretty high on the reanimator-archetype, as he was impressed by both Angel of Despair and Apprentice Necromancer. He goes as far as calling the angel the clear second best Orzhov card after Lingering Souls. He thinks the other options are not worth it, with Firewing Phoenix described as too expensive and too fragile. A last special mention is given to Laboratory Maniac but he says he "has not had much luck with it".
Ugh, i have to go drive and pick up my rite of the raging storm
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
i disagree. having redundancy for that slot is more exciting than having just one of the two. we just need good enchantments now...
Space, mostly
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
Draft it on Cubetutor here, and CubeCobra here.
Treasure Cruise did nothing wrong.
*15 minutes into a game*
Me: I will now cast Jace's Ingenuity to draw 3 cards, and thus milling myself out. I have Laboratory Maniac in play, so I win the game.
Wife: In response, I'll Lightning Bolt your Laboratory Maniac.
Me: Counterspell!
Wife: Magma Jet!
Me: ... Good game.
Control vs Aggro, it's an awful topdeck and there are plenty of better things to fill a card slot with than a 2/2 for 3.
Mind you, my cube tends to be pretty slow, because we are all midrange-control players at heart.
Also of note is that they have to have that second removal spell. This card is the most late-game of late-game cards. It is likely that they don't have an answer ready. If they don't you just win on the spot. And yes, it is an awful topdeck, but most of the decks I've seen that run the maniac in my cube, topdecking hasn't been an issue. You usually run enough card-filter to circumvent the fact that it's a bit of a dead draw.
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
WiJ
Peasant 540 Cube
I saw an article by Usman Jamil at Coolstuffinc on the downgrades of UMA for Pauper and Peasant cube. Pretty cool that these formats get covered.
For Peasant, it seems to me as if he is pretty high on the reanimator-archetype, as he was impressed by both Angel of Despair and Apprentice Necromancer. He goes as far as calling the angel the clear second best Orzhov card after Lingering Souls. He thinks the other options are not worth it, with Firewing Phoenix described as too expensive and too fragile. A last special mention is given to Laboratory Maniac but he says he "has not had much luck with it".
EDIT: Happy 2019 everyone!
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)