Simic ramp, Gruul ramp and MonoG ramp are legit archetypes that desperately wanted a decent all encompassing removal spell.
This is that card. Wasn't high on the card when I first read it, but it's proved itself. Overestimated the drawback and underestimated the importance of an effect like this for those archetypes.
Not a high pick, but a card that should never be cut from the archetypes I mentioned.
recommended
Assuming no cards from the new set (seems silly to have a compilation of results with half the results pre set and half post.)
Edit: Forgot about some cards, added themJanuary, 25th.
Im also assuming a powered cube in my rankings. Changes a lot of the values of artifact related creatures.
IE manic vandal, Trinket mage
Green:
Song of the Dryads = 10 points.
Birthing pod = 9 points. (Have a feeling people aren't reading your message at top)
Kodama's Reach = 8 points.
Beast within = 7 points.
Awakening zone = 5 points.
Krosan Grip = 4 points.
Colorless
Tangle Wire = 10 points.
Sword of Fire and Ice = 9 points.
Coalition Relic = 8 points.
Sword of Body and Mind = 7 points.
Grafted Wargear = 6 points.
Sword of War and Peace = 5 points.
Sword of Light and Shadow = 4 points.
Sword of Feast and Famine = 3 points.
Worn Powerstone = 2 points.
Crucible of Worlds = 1 point.
Wanted to create this thread to bring this often glossed over card to cube owner's attention.
The recent printing of powerful delve cards and spell matters cards
(Treasure cruise, dig through time, murderous cut, tasigur, young pyromancer, monastery mentor)
means cantrips are better in cube than they've ever been.
Short of the "premium 3" Ponder/Preordain/Brainstorm , Serum Visions is the next most powerful cantrip for cube. One that has proven itself good and playable in a high-powered constructed format (modern). It's at it's strongest in combo, but has also proven it's good enough as a teasure-cruise/spells matter enabler as well (UR delver).
In cube, I personally value ponder/preodian/brainstorm as mid-mid-high picks. Due to their scarcity, I find them more valuable than some more powerful, but more replaceable effects. Serum visions is clearly worse, but from my experiences with it in modern, I wouldn't say it's much worse.
It also occupies a spot on the mana curve that doesn't have many competing spells. (Blue's average CMC is highest, and has the least 1 cmc cards)
fwiw, if u dont find the time for "year in review sets", I do enjoy stopping by your list thread to see your testing results with new cards and old staples that may no longer cut it
Alright, I do say that I'm free to cube again after Jan 15th. So here's my result.
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
He's not as impressive as I thought he'll be. 4/5 for about 3 mana is nice, as well as mana sink late game. But I'm just not impress with him enough to keep him in the cube.
Tasigur has been a pet card of mine for this set, so have taken a personal affinity to him, but highly recommend giving him some more chances. (or at least keep him in mind for the future when you add cards that fuel delve)
If there was a betting line on it, I'd wager quite a bit of money this guy will be a modern staple as well as an obvious include for all cubes in the future.
In a deck that moderately supports delving, he is > tarmogoyf efficiency with a smaller than serra avenger type draw back.
Card does seem strong, I havent bothered testing him because jeskai's 3 drops (individually) are all super stacked, and monastery mentor is a new addition AND seems better.
Whenever I draft a jeskai "spells matter" deck Im often glutted at 3
Blue is silly stacked so finding cuts for another 3 drop is not easy.
Electrolyze , but it's sooo close that it really doesn't matter.
So many x/1's and tokens in cube, that fork effects can devastate some decks.
My biggest problem is that those effects are by far their best against the mid-low tier archetypes , so I don't hate running proph bolt for balance reasons.
Forbid >> impersonator
Revoker > needle but I can't imagine not running needle (I did for the longest time and regretted it after testing it out)
The gifts vs research vs frantic debate depends on ur cube, but if you aren't running storm, think the answer is almost always compulsive research.
I've run the time vault/key combo to great success in my cube.
Passed it's trial run with flying colors.
HOWEVER, I don't particularly like the interaction it brings to cube.
A lot of decks have difficulty interacting it, and in the right deck it's almost too powerful.
I keep it in my cube cause it's something powerful and different, but it doesn't add much strategically.
I skimmed the argument, but assembling the pieces with Ral zarek, tezzeret , voltaic key and kiora's follower in my 465+ is pretty consistent. Kiora's follower rarely gets in the deck too...
Voltaic key almost always wheels to the time vault drafter. Since we are playing 8 mans consistantly, there's a high chance that key will be in the cube. (360/465 cards will be in every cube)
For the times voltaic key is in pack 1 (and goes last pick), but time vault is in pack 3, it's pretty common for vault to wheel in pack 3 to the player who is drafting artifacts (who likely has tezzeret and/or ral zarek).
I'd say 50% of drafts there's someone who "assembles" some sort of time vault combo... It's often one of the more powerful decks too.
We are running a high buyin cube rotisserie draft for my cube very soon.. Good friend of mine who's picking second thinks he'g going to pick time vault second over lotus/sol-ring.
I want merciless eviction, but choose two instead of choose 1
So you mean Austere Command? (Obviously a little stronger because Exile, hits PWs, doesn't need to spend both modes to hit all creatures, but you get the idea)
I want merciless eviction, but choose two instead of choose 1
So you mean Austere Command? (Obviously a little stronger because Exile, hits PWs, doesn't need to spend both modes to hit all creatures, but you get the idea)
Nope, I mean austere command that exiles, hits more creatures and hits planeswalkers =P
I glossed over this card at first but it might be a sleeper.
I might be underestimating the option of playing one or the other. Both are good in different situations.
Also the 1 damage to target player OR creature could be really relevant.
I'm leaning towards it not being good enough, but this card is my pick for sleeper of the set if there is one
This is that card. Wasn't high on the card when I first read it, but it's proved itself. Overestimated the drawback and underestimated the importance of an effect like this for those archetypes.
Not a high pick, but a card that should never be cut from the archetypes I mentioned.
recommended
Thanks for including tho
Edit: Forgot about some cards, added themJanuary, 25th.
Im also assuming a powered cube in my rankings. Changes a lot of the values of artifact related creatures.
IE manic vandal, Trinket mage
White:
Brimaz, King of Oreskos = 10 points.
Mirran Crusader = 9 points.
Blade Splicer = 8 points.
Spectral Procession = 7 points.
Hallowed Spiritkeeper = 6 points.
Silverblade Paladin = 5 points
Flickerwisp = 4 points.
Soltari Champion = 3 points.
Mirror Entity = 2 points.
Banisher Priest = 1 point.
Blue:
True-Name Nemesis = 10 points.
Vendilion Clique = 9 points.
Trinket Mage = 8 points.
Man-o'-War = 7 points.
Pestermite = 6 points. (Im giving pestermite some points with the assumption of twin-combo)
Serendib Efreet = 5 points.
Kira, Great Glass spinner = 4 points.
Aether adept = 3 points.
Sea gate oracle = 2 points.
Chasm skulker = 1 point.
Black:
Ophiomancer = 10 points.
Flesh Carver = 9 points.
Lifebane Zombie = 8 points.
Herald of Torment = 7 points.
Geralf's Messenger = 6 points.
Vampire Nighthawk = 5 points.
Grim Harsupex = 4 points.
Master of the Feast = 3 points.
Bone Shredder = 2 points
Hypnotic Spectre = 1 points.
Red:
Goblin Rabblemaster = 10 points.
Imperial Recruiter = 9 points.
Manic Vandal = 8 points.
Feldon of the Third Path = 7 points.
Chandra's Pheonix = 6 points.
Keldon Vandals = 5 points.
Prophetic Flamespeaker = 4 points.
Fire Imp = 3 points.
Hordeling outburst = 2 points.
Countryside crusher = 1 point.
Green:
Eternal Witness = 10 points.
Reclamation Sage= 9 points.
Courser of Kruphix = 8 points.
Yavimaya Elder = 7 points.
Viridian Shaman = 6 points.
Boon Satyr = 5 points.
Call of the herd = 4 points
Troll Ascetic = 3 points.
Somberwald Sage = 2 points.
Wolfir Avenger = 1 points.
Multicolored:
Lingering Souls = 10 points.
Geist of St Traft = 9 points.
Kitchen Finks = 8 points.
Edric, Spymaster of Trest = 7 points
Psychatog = 6 points.
Knight of the Reliquary = 5 points.
Trygon Predator = 4 points.
Shadowmage Infiltrator = 3 points.
Loxodon Smiter = 2 points.
Shardless Agent = 1 point.
Colorless
Phyrexian Metamorph = 10 points.
White:
Council's Judgment = 10 points.
Oblivion Ring = 9 points.
Banishing Light = 8 points.
Ajani, Caller of the pride = 7 points
Spear of Heliod = 6 points.
Glorious Anthem = 5 points.
Blue:
Tinker = 10 points.
Vedalken Shackles = 9 points.
Forbid = 8 points.
Show and Tell = 7 points.
Thirst for Knowledge = 6 points.
Jace Beleren = 5 points.
Timetwister = 4 points.
Compulsive Research = 3 points.
Frantic Search = 2 points.
Dissolve = 1 point.
Black:
Recurring Nightmare = 10 points.
Liliana of the Veil = 9 points.
Necromancy = 8 points.
Toxic Deluge = 7 points.
Hero's Downfall = 6 points.
Phyrexian Arena = 5 points.
Curse of the shallow graves = 4 points.
Read the bones = 3 points.
Pox = 2 points.
Necropotence = 1 point.
Red:
Sulfuric Vortex = 10 points.
Wheel of Fortune = 9 points.
Arc Lightning = 8 points.
Char = 7 points.
Staggershock = 6 points.
Brimstone Volley = 5 points.
Pillage = 4 points.
Molten rain = 3 points.
Hammer of purphoros = 2 points.
Chaos warp = 1 point.
Green:
Song of the Dryads = 10 points.
Birthing pod = 9 points. (Have a feeling people aren't reading your message at top)
Kodama's Reach = 8 points.
Beast within = 7 points.
Awakening zone = 5 points.
Krosan Grip = 4 points.
Multicolored:
Dack Fayden = 10 points.
Vindicate = 9 points.
Maelstrom Pulse = 8 points.
Detention Sphere = 7 points.
Pernicious Deed = 6 points.
Sultai Charm = 5 points
Ashiok, Nightmare weaver = 4 points.
Absorb = 3 points.
Domri Rade = 2 points.
Goblin Trenches = 1 point.
Colorless
Tangle Wire = 10 points.
Sword of Fire and Ice = 9 points.
Coalition Relic = 8 points.
Sword of Body and Mind = 7 points.
Grafted Wargear = 6 points.
Sword of War and Peace = 5 points.
Sword of Light and Shadow = 4 points.
Sword of Feast and Famine = 3 points.
Worn Powerstone = 2 points.
Crucible of Worlds = 1 point.
White:
Stoneforge Mystic = 10 points.
Wall of omens = 9 points.
Containment Priest = 8 points.
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben = 7 points.
Accorder Paladin = 6 points.
Soltari trooper= 5 points.
Soltari monk= 4 points.
Soltari Priest= 3 points.
Imposing Soverign = 2 Points.
Kor Skyfisher = 1 Point
Blue:
Snapcaster Mage = 10 points.
Phantasmal Image = 9 points.
Looter il-Kor = 8 points.
Spellskite = 7 points.
Gilded Drake = 6 points.
Waterfront Bouncer = 5 points.
Voidmage Prodigy = 4 points.
Corralhelm Commander = 3 Points
Black:
Dark Confidant = 10 points.
Pack Rat = 9 points.
Bloodghast = 8 points.
Oona's Prowler = 7 points.
Blood Artist = 6 points.
Nazumi graverobber = 5 points.
Spiteful Returned = 4 points.
Blood scrivner = 3 points.
Reassembling skeleton = 2 points.
Red:
Young Pyromancer = 10 points.
Hellspark Elemental = 9 points.
Keldon Marauders = 8 points.
Stormblood Berzerker = 7 points.
Plated Geopede = 6 points.
Lightning Mauler = 5 points.
War-Name Aspirant = 4 points.
Borderland Marauder = 3 points.
Gorehouse Chainwalker = 2 points.
Green:
Lotus Cobra = 10 points.
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary = 9 points.
Tarmogoyf = 8 points.
Scavenging Ooze = 7 points.
Sylvan Caryatid = 6 points.
Sakura-Tribe Elder = 5 points.
Wall of Roots = 4 points.
Fauna Shaman = 3 points.
Wild Mongrel = 2 points.
Vinelasher Kudzu = 1 point.
Multicolored:
Baleful Strix = 10 points.
Qasali Pridemage = 9 points.
Voice of Resurgence = 8 points
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden = 7 points.
Fleecemane Lion = 6 points.
Lotleth Troll = 5 points.
Coiling Oracle = 4 points.
Spike Jester = 3 points.
Kiora's Follower = 2 points.
Burning-tree Emissary = 1 point.
Colorless
Phyrexian Revoker = 10 points.
Porcelain Legionnaire = 9 points.
White:
Balance = 10 points.
Unexpectedly Absent = 9 points.
Disenchant = 8 points.
Journey to nowhere = 7 points
Eternal Dragon = 6 points.
Seal of Cleansing = 5 points.
Blue:
Time Walk = 10 points.
Mana Drain = 9 points.
Mana Leak = 8 points.
Miscalculation = 7 points.
Counterspell = 6 points.
Remand = 5 points.
Into the Roil = 4 points.
Cyclonic Rift = 3 points.
Negate = 2 points.
Essence scatter = 1 point.
Black:
Demonic Tutor = 10 points.
Animate Dead = 9 points.
Bitterblossom = 8 points.
Hymn to Tourach = 7 points.
Diabolic Edict = 6 points.
Chainer's Edict = 5 points.
Go for the Throat = 4 points.
Dance of the Dead = 3 points.
Exhume = 2 points.
Smallpox = 1 point.
Red:
Arc Trail = 10 points.
Searing Blaze = 9 points
Magma Jet = 8 points.
Smash to Smithereens = 7 points.
Incinerate = 6 points.
Lightning Strike = 5 points.
Searing Blood = 4 points.
Green:
Survival of the Fittest = 10 points.
Sylvan Library = 9 points.
Regrowth = 8 points.
Channel = 7 points.
Life from the loam = 6 points.
Explore = 5 points.
Farseek = 4 points.
Multicolored:
Boros Charm = 10 points.
Izzet Charm = 9 points.
Dreadbore = 8 points.
Selesnya Charm = 7 points.
Lim-Dul's Vault = 6 points.
Colorless
Umezawa's Jitte = 10 points.
Grim Monolith = 9 points.
Signets = 8 points.
Winter Orb = 7 points.
Mind Stone = 6 points.
Scroll Rack = 5 points.
Coldsteel heart = 4
Everflowing Chalice = 3 points.
sarcastic reply deserved!
Wanted to create this thread to bring this often glossed over card to cube owner's attention.
The recent printing of powerful delve cards and spell matters cards
(Treasure cruise, dig through time, murderous cut, tasigur, young pyromancer, monastery mentor)
means cantrips are better in cube than they've ever been.
Short of the "premium 3" Ponder/Preordain/Brainstorm , Serum Visions is the next most powerful cantrip for cube. One that has proven itself good and playable in a high-powered constructed format (modern). It's at it's strongest in combo, but has also proven it's good enough as a teasure-cruise/spells matter enabler as well (UR delver).
In cube, I personally value ponder/preodian/brainstorm as mid-mid-high picks. Due to their scarcity, I find them more valuable than some more powerful, but more replaceable effects. Serum visions is clearly worse, but from my experiences with it in modern, I wouldn't say it's much worse.
It also occupies a spot on the mana curve that doesn't have many competing spells. (Blue's average CMC is highest, and has the least 1 cmc cards)
Tasigur has been a pet card of mine for this set, so have taken a personal affinity to him, but highly recommend giving him some more chances. (or at least keep him in mind for the future when you add cards that fuel delve)
If there was a betting line on it, I'd wager quite a bit of money this guy will be a modern staple as well as an obvious include for all cubes in the future.
In a deck that moderately supports delving, he is > tarmogoyf efficiency with a smaller than serra avenger type draw back.
Whenever I draft a jeskai "spells matter" deck Im often glutted at 3
Blue is silly stacked so finding cuts for another 3 drop is not easy.
If he's getting rave reviews I may test tho
So many x/1's and tokens in cube, that fork effects can devastate some decks.
My biggest problem is that those effects are by far their best against the mid-low tier archetypes , so I don't hate running proph bolt for balance reasons.
Forbid >> impersonator
Revoker > needle but I can't imagine not running needle (I did for the longest time and regretted it after testing it out)
The gifts vs research vs frantic debate depends on ur cube, but if you aren't running storm, think the answer is almost always compulsive research.
Passed it's trial run with flying colors.
HOWEVER, I don't particularly like the interaction it brings to cube.
A lot of decks have difficulty interacting it, and in the right deck it's almost too powerful.
I keep it in my cube cause it's something powerful and different, but it doesn't add much strategically.
I skimmed the argument, but assembling the pieces with Ral zarek, tezzeret , voltaic key and kiora's follower in my 465+ is pretty consistent. Kiora's follower rarely gets in the deck too...
Voltaic key almost always wheels to the time vault drafter. Since we are playing 8 mans consistantly, there's a high chance that key will be in the cube. (360/465 cards will be in every cube)
For the times voltaic key is in pack 1 (and goes last pick), but time vault is in pack 3, it's pretty common for vault to wheel in pack 3 to the player who is drafting artifacts (who likely has tezzeret and/or ral zarek).
I'd say 50% of drafts there's someone who "assembles" some sort of time vault combo... It's often one of the more powerful decks too.
We are running a high buyin cube rotisserie draft for my cube very soon.. Good friend of mine who's picking second thinks he'g going to pick time vault second over lotus/sol-ring.
But certainly goes in less decks due to being harder to cast and requires better fixing
Nope, I mean austere command that exiles, hits more creatures and hits planeswalkers =P
I might be underestimating the option of playing one or the other. Both are good in different situations.
Also the 1 damage to target player OR creature could be really relevant.
I'm leaning towards it not being good enough, but this card is my pick for sleeper of the set if there is one