I dont how you feel about this, but I like having a face to people I am talking. And as we are a somehow small but personal community here anyways I wanted to ask if there is an interest to get faces to the accounts here via facebook with posting a link to ones facebook page? If it is allowed of course.
For me blue based aggro is a very interesting archetype that got some tools over the past years that it might actually be really competitive in cube. I didnt want to start a SCD thread for every card, and I know there is a MCD thread about blue tempo, but I thought to make the discussion a bit more professional. While there might not be the raw power of red or white based aggressive decks, blue based aggro has so many tricks and ways to cause a headache to your opponent.
Creatures
Snapcaster Mage: It has flash, is a 2/1 and brings back a cheap counter. I think he is an obvious premium pick
Looter il-kor: I see him as a 1/1 unblockable with an upside in this context.
Man-o'-War / Aether Adept: These cards are solid key components, as they potentially time walk and bring a body to the field.
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner: For me, this is the best creature for blue based aggro. It basically makes your creatures immune to spot removal. On its own its a 2/2 flyer for three.
Vendilion Clique: Right behind comes this guy. Very aggressive pt, flying, flash and I get their Wrath of God ... wow. Easy first pick.
Venser, Shaper Savant: We all know, how flexible he is and on top of that he is a nice curve topper.
Dungeon Geists:3/3 flyer for 4 and blue based removal. Also on curve. A top pick for this kind of deck.
Geist of Saint Traft: If you are looking at white this guy is a beating. Kills them quick alone and holds a sword very good.
[CARD]
Edric, Spymaster of Trest[/CARD]: With all those flyers out, he should trigger often enough to make him worth splashing.
These are the cards I run. Now lets come to the creatures I dont run.
Pestermite: Has everything blue aggro wants. Flash, flying, can fog a creature or tap down a blocker. But he might be too expensive?
Wake Thrasher: I was never sure about this guy. He is just so bad against any red deck. Otherwise he can grow very fast. Notice, that his only use is the offense.
Supporting cards
--> Equipment of any form: Especially with all the flyers this archetype provides.
--> Standstill: I added this card a few months ago and really enjoy it. Just put out some dudes and put in a favorable board position, play this and .... wait ;-).
I am sure, that I forgot some cards. Maybe you have other experiences with some cards I run or have experience with cards I dont run or even have new cards to through in the discussion.
In my opinion Consecrated Sphinx and Keiga, the Tide Star are the best blue six drops. After those two opinions differ.
Some like Morphling, others -including me- prefer Sphinx of Jwar Isle.
Frost Titan is the weakest Titan for cube, but he has a strong ability like Tamiyo, the Moon Sage which can be used as "removal" or mana denial. His color specific ability protects him somehow (better in combination with counter spells like Mana Leak or Miscalculation) but for me it should have been 3 or 4 mana.
Nevertheless I liked this card in standard and asked myself if it could find a niche in cube?
His effect is obviously very good, but he is rather expensive and somehow in the wrong color. Now with heavy support in reanimator and ramp in some cubes and the addition of Sneak Attack to some cubes, do we have to re-evaluate the card?
I recently realized, that his effect isnt a may effect. While I think a 4/4 for 5 with potential Naturalize effect is very good, there are better effects for this in green. Do you still think he is 360 material?
I like blue tempo and I like bounce. Cuberfauss added him to his core list. He has two modes, both which are fine. Its either a delayed Mist Raven for two or a immediate Mist Raven for 5. I know that both choices arent the best, but the card is very versatile. Also the turn Cloudskate comes into play can be a huge blowout, because you its free and second you can set up the turn before.
We all know how strong Cursed Scroll is. Sure Magus is a 1/1 and thus can be removed much more often than the artifact. BUT it can hold a sword and can be searched up by Ranger of Eos.
Is he worth a try at 450 or 500?
The effect is obviously absurd. I think its the best miracle card together with Entreat the Angels. Its a way better Earthquake with miracle. Without miracle it is still ok. The question is: Is it better than Earthquake or Devil's Play or is it not comparable to those cards?
After I saw this card in action I think its the only miracle card, that is also playable in cube. At worst it is still an Air Elemental. With all the library manipulation I think one might trigger the miracle more often than not. I hope for some discussion on this one outside of "I dont like miracle" ;-).
For me blue based aggro is a very interesting archetype that got some tools over the past years that it might actually be really competitive in cube. I didnt want to start a SCD thread for every card, and I know there is a MCD thread about blue tempo, but I thought to make the discussion a bit more professional. While there might not be the raw power of red or white based aggressive decks, blue based aggro has so many tricks and ways to cause a headache to your opponent.
CreaturesSupporting cardsI am sure, that I forgot some cards. Maybe you have other experiences with some cards I run or have experience with cards I dont run or even have new cards to through in the discussion.
In my opinion Consecrated Sphinx and Keiga, the Tide Star are the best blue six drops. After those two opinions differ.
Some like Morphling, others -including me- prefer Sphinx of Jwar Isle.
Frost Titan is the weakest Titan for cube, but he has a strong ability like Tamiyo, the Moon Sage which can be used as "removal" or mana denial. His color specific ability protects him somehow (better in combination with counter spells like Mana Leak or Miscalculation) but for me it should have been 3 or 4 mana.
Nevertheless I liked this card in standard and asked myself if it could find a niche in cube?
+ equipment is very strong in cube
+ +1/2 is relevant --> maindeckable and not dead if opponent doesnt have equipment.
+ costs only one to equip
His effect is obviously very good, but he is rather expensive and somehow in the wrong color. Now with heavy support in reanimator and ramp in some cubes and the addition of Sneak Attack to some cubes, do we have to re-evaluate the card?
++ A one mana reanimator enabler
+ Good with Life from the Loam/Crucible of Worlds
+ Ok with draw spells for potentially having more lands
- Opponent decides
- As a real discard spell only really good if you can empty the complete hand.
Now that he gets cut from some cubes I think he deserves a thread.
Creating five 2/2 is really good, but you pay 10 mana for that. He is good with cheating into play, though.
I recently realized, that his effect isnt a may effect. While I think a 4/4 for 5 with potential Naturalize effect is very good, there are better effects for this in green. Do you still think he is 360 material?
I like blue tempo and I like bounce. Cuberfauss added him to his core list. He has two modes, both which are fine. Its either a delayed Mist Raven for two or a immediate Mist Raven for 5. I know that both choices arent the best, but the card is very versatile. Also the turn Cloudskate comes into play can be a huge blowout, because you its free and second you can set up the turn before.
We all know how strong Cursed Scroll is. Sure Magus is a 1/1 and thus can be removed much more often than the artifact. BUT it can hold a sword and can be searched up by Ranger of Eos.
Is he worth a try at 450 or 500?