Yeah, it's certainly 'to each their own'. I used to be 'mono-promo foil' but that has changed as I realize I want the cards to look as good to my eyes as possible. That means that I will likely upgrade cards to 'pimper' languages when possible without much trouble, and if I like foils better than regular versions, I'll do that too (I recently changed my Japanese Rolling Earthquake to the foil one, not only to eliminate a language barrier but to also save wear on the more expensive version), so I've realized that I have no rhyme or reason and that it's just on an individual card basis.
If I like the way the new Ravages looks, I'll try to trade for it, but at this point I need to acquire other cards before 'upgrading' my English P3K, ya know?
-AA
P.S. Appreciate but would never play expensive Summer cards. Had a Summer Demonic years ago and was scared to death to play it and damage it.
Why does 4 toughness irk you? 3 toughness is the big barrier, which dies to most red burn spells. 4 SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the number of spells that can kill it when it attacks.
Yeah, obviously cards like Watchwolf are relics of the past. Same with auras in a removal-heavy world. But EC has been available all the years I've had my Cube, but I've run those cards over it.
GW is an embarrassment of riches, and this card falls behind at least 2-3 Cubes' worth of GW cards before I would want to play this one. It just doesn't do enough compared to what else is out there in the combination. I've had my Cube for a long time, and cards I have played (and considered) over this one include:
Kitchen Finks
Knight of the Reliquary
Mirari's Wake
Gaddock Teeg
Voice of Resurgence
Qasali Pridemage
Dryad Militant
Armadillo Cloak (and by extension, Unflinching Courage)
Sigarda, Host of Herons
Loxodon Hierarch
Glare of Subdual
Fleecemane Lion
Behemoth Sledge
Loxodon Smiter
Watchwolf (I know, right? Hooray for power creep!)
Obviously some of these cards saw play before newer cards were printed, but every one of them was on my radar for what my Cube needed for Eladamri's Call.
I have matching lands in my Cube, and as I work on my new set of lands (foil ZEN Avons) I want them to be matching because I love looking at them. Same thing with my Odyssey Plains #333s...beautiful.
I don't have a mono-black deck really, but black decks that feature cards like Bloodghast and/or Nether Traitor, demons (Obs, Herald, Percy, Desecration), Arenas, PWs (Lilis) or some new additions with which I've been impressed like Nightveil Specter. He often comes into play and drains for 4-7, which is pretty darn good in a lot of circumstances (as a direct damage finisher, as another way to get into the late game vs attacking decks, as a way to refuel the 'cards for life' theme black has...)
I've been happy. My black fives are currently: Shriekmaw, Merchant, and Bloodgift Demon (who is solid but not awesome).
I also ran Ob dude for a while when he came out, but honestly with my push towards lots of B symbols Grey Merchant has been better sooner in the game. He's still on my on-deck binder, but I want to try the PW before going back to the dude.
I feel like people are forgetting how awesome it is to Repeal a token for U or a 1-drop from the aggro deck for 1U and DRAW A CARD. It helps in tempo, and it is especially awesome in control vs. aggro, as making it to the later phases of the game favors control greatly. What better way to get there than to bounce a creature cheaply AND draw a card? Obviously it isn't as good against fatties in a 'state of emergency', but the value of the 'early bounce' is a little understated in this discussion so far I think.
Well TCGPlayer.com is the most similar site here, and that is where I derived the prices listed above. They just started doing foreign cards, too, so that will help on that front...but the prices are still higher I'm guessing. I think the shipping overseas part scares a lot of folks as it can be expensive, combined with monetary conversions, possible customs issues...
Personally, I love having a contact or three to help me with MCM buys. But I'm not sure there is an easy market to sell in the US that is totally secure and worth it, or else it would already exist, right? (maybe?)
What do you mean, exactly? Are prices much cheaper there? I like Magiccardmarket for that reason sometimes (cheaper stuff), but they don't allow US addresses/customers.
If I like the way the new Ravages looks, I'll try to trade for it, but at this point I need to acquire other cards before 'upgrading' my English P3K, ya know?
-AA
P.S. Appreciate but would never play expensive Summer cards. Had a Summer Demonic years ago and was scared to death to play it and damage it.
-AA
-AA
-AA
Kitchen Finks
Knight of the Reliquary
Mirari's Wake
Gaddock Teeg
Voice of Resurgence
Qasali Pridemage
Dryad Militant
Armadillo Cloak (and by extension, Unflinching Courage)
Sigarda, Host of Herons
Loxodon Hierarch
Glare of Subdual
Fleecemane Lion
Behemoth Sledge
Loxodon Smiter
Watchwolf (I know, right? Hooray for power creep!)
Obviously some of these cards saw play before newer cards were printed, but every one of them was on my radar for what my Cube needed for Eladamri's Call.
-AA
-AA
-AA
I've been happy. My black fives are currently: Shriekmaw, Merchant, and Bloodgift Demon (who is solid but not awesome).
-AA
-AA
-AA
-AA
-AA
-AA
Personally, I love having a contact or three to help me with MCM buys. But I'm not sure there is an easy market to sell in the US that is totally secure and worth it, or else it would already exist, right? (maybe?)
-AA
-AA