Obviously, everyone runs this guy so that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about how this card is underrated. Indeed. I know it is widely considered a top five red card, but I think even that is selling it short. I think it is the best one drop in cube, and by far the best red card in cube. Cube drafting, thanks to the insane power level of the average card, is all about relative value, and Goblin Guide offers a value that is way higher than any other red one drop. Compare him to something like Lightning Bolt, which is also a highly regarded red spell, often picked P1P1. I would argue that Lightning Blot offers far less relative value, as the next 1, 2, or 3 best burn spells are far closer to Bolts power level than are the next best red aggro one drops.
I like Goblin Guide much better personally, because it is useful in every matchup, and at a more crucial (for aggro) and harder to fill cost than Vortex. It's splitting hairs though, as Vortex and Wheel of Fortune are my two and three respectively, because of their unique and powerful abilities.
Ya, Vortex. If I had to change my Goblin Guide to a Savannah Lions in order to turn my Pillage into a Sulfuric Vortex, I'd do it every single time. Goblin Guide is the sickest 1-drop, but Vortex is just the best aggro card ever.
Not me. There's nothing I'd play in a red aggro deck over Vortex.
Well on that note there's nothing I'd play over Goblin Guide in red aggro but we're just going in circles here. All hail Goblin Guide as the 1st or 2nd best red card ever.
EDIT: I'm probably not looking to try and splash a card in an aggro deck in pack 3 and I definitely wouldn't hate draft with a first pick so I can definitely seeing passing the blue awesomeness in favor of cards that support your deck.
P1P1 between Bolt and Guide, I'd probably pick Bolt, much as I like RDW. Bolt can go in a lot of different control and aggro decks, while Guide only goes in aggro. P2P1 or P3P1 I'd definitely pick it over Bolt if I were in RDW.
I'd take the Vortex if I'm already in red aggro. I passed a Recall for a Jitte for my non-blue aggro deck in the last draft we did.
I think Umezawae's Jitte is the strongest card in the entire cube and I'd pass Ancestral for it all day every day at any point in almost any deck.
Ancestral draws you into bombs, but it doesn't draw you into Jitte. Jitte draws you into Jitte, and that's just usually too much for your opponent to handle.
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I think Goblin Guide is better than Lightning Bolt in red aggro and Sulfuric Vortex is better than both of the above, not much argument here.
However, P1P1, I will choose Lightning Bolt over Goblin Guide because it is a more diverse card and you can do more with it. Lightning Bolt fits into many more archetypes (U/R counterburn, U/R/W walkers, R/G/X Wildfire, etc in addition to red-based aggro).
My argument for Vortex would be the same that you gave in the OP: relative powerlevels. Lightning Bolt is relatively easy to replace - Goblin guide is relatively hard to replace - Sulfuric Vortex is unique and irreplacable. Therefore Vortex > Guide > Bolt.
But like you said, it's splitting hairs. Both cards are absolutely fantastic for the aggro deck and having to choose between them is just mean
Not really an argument against, but I'll explain why I like Gob Guide over Vortex:
I already mentioned the cost, but its worth mentioning again. Properly filling the one slot is both vitally important to red aggro, and difficult. Second is the universal nature of GGs goodness. there is never a matchup where I don't run it. Fourth, the WCS of Vortex is far worse (though Gob guides can be bad). Finally, when I'm playing a slow control deck, I would much, much, much rather see Vortex on turn three than Guide on turn one. Goblin Guide denies me the one thing I need which is time. Vortex is deadlier, if it sticks around, but I have more time to find an answer and ensure it doesn't. Both cards apply a criminal level of pressure, and while Guide is easier to answer, it also demands an answer far faster.
I'm not convinced that when I'm playing control I'd rather see Vortex than Guide. I'm pretty sure when I'm playing a control deck the very last thing in the world that I want to see is a Vortex. Creature removal is a lot more readily available than disenchant effects are, and if you can stabilize after the Guide onslaught, you're up a couple of lands and you're stable. You're never stable against Vortex.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see either of them. They're just about the two worst things that I could potentially run into. But when I'm playing control, I'd rather see a Guide on the other side of the table than a Vortex.
I'm not convinced that when I'm playing control I'd rather see Vortex than Guide. I'm pretty sure when I'm playing a control deck the very last thing in the world that I want to see is a Vortex. Creature removal is a lot more readily available than disenchant effects are, and if you can stabilize after the Guide onslaught, you're up a couple of lands and you're stable. You're never stable against Vortex.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see either of them. They're just about the two worst things that I could potentially run into. But when I'm playing control, I'd rather see a Guide on the other side of the table than a Vortex.
It is certainly debatable, and highly dependent upon your style of control (and maybe even the aggro deck you face). I would rather see the harder to remove card on turn three because my counters, draw spells and tutors have come online.
Overall though I'm glad to see most people agree with my ranking. I hadn't seen the card discussed as an uber-bomb much, so I'm happy to see others have had the same experiences.
This guy deserves his own thread - he's one of the top red cards in the cube, and an auto-include in any aggro deck that can run him. Maybe Sulfuric Vortex is a better aggro card, but I can't think of many others. I often pick him early.
This guy deserves his own thread - he's one of the top red cards in the cube, and an auto-include in any aggro deck that can run him. Maybe Sulfuric Vortex is a better aggro card, but I can't think of many others. I often pick him early.
Not only that--this guy deserves more than one thread. He's just that good.
I'd much rather have Goblin Guide over Savannah Lions (or more likely something worse) and change my Vortex to a Tangle Wire or Sword.
What's different here is that lions and pillage (the proposed original replacement cards) are replacement because they are much later picks than guide or vortex. You definitely don't get to replace your other first pick option with another super-highly pickable colorless card.
It would be way easier to pass Guide if the rest of the red one-drops weren't such relative trash. I'm pretty sure I also take Vortex over Guide in general, but it would be a lot easier if there were better red savannah lions to count on getting.
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Obviously, everyone runs this guy so that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about how this card is underrated. Indeed. I know it is widely considered a top five red card, but I think even that is selling it short. I think it is the best one drop in cube, and by far the best red card in cube. Cube drafting, thanks to the insane power level of the average card, is all about relative value, and Goblin Guide offers a value that is way higher than any other red one drop. Compare him to something like Lightning Bolt, which is also a highly regarded red spell, often picked P1P1. I would argue that Lightning Blot offers far less relative value, as the next 1, 2, or 3 best burn spells are far closer to Bolts power level than are the next best red aggro one drops.
Am I crazy?
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This is the thinking of a very sane and correct person.
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I like Goblin Guide much better personally, because it is useful in every matchup, and at a more crucial (for aggro) and harder to fill cost than Vortex. It's splitting hairs though, as Vortex and Wheel of Fortune are my two and three respectively, because of their unique and powerful abilities.
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It really is.
Not me. There's nothing I'd play in a red aggro deck over Vortex.
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Well on that note there's nothing I'd play over Goblin Guide in red aggro but we're just going in circles here. All hail Goblin Guide as the 1st or 2nd best red card ever.
EDIT: I'm probably not looking to try and splash a card in an aggro deck in pack 3 and I definitely wouldn't hate draft with a first pick so I can definitely seeing passing the blue awesomeness in favor of cards that support your deck.
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Guide is one of my favorite creatures, though.
I think Umezawae's Jitte is the strongest card in the entire cube and I'd pass Ancestral for it all day every day at any point in almost any deck.
Ancestral draws you into bombs, but it doesn't draw you into Jitte. Jitte draws you into Jitte, and that's just usually too much for your opponent to handle.
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I think Goblin Guide is better than Lightning Bolt in red aggro and Sulfuric Vortex is better than both of the above, not much argument here.
However, P1P1, I will choose Lightning Bolt over Goblin Guide because it is a more diverse card and you can do more with it. Lightning Bolt fits into many more archetypes (U/R counterburn, U/R/W walkers, R/G/X Wildfire, etc in addition to red-based aggro).
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Not really an argument against, but I'll explain why I like Gob Guide over Vortex:
I already mentioned the cost, but its worth mentioning again. Properly filling the one slot is both vitally important to red aggro, and difficult. Second is the universal nature of GGs goodness. there is never a matchup where I don't run it. Fourth, the WCS of Vortex is far worse (though Gob guides can be bad). Finally, when I'm playing a slow control deck, I would much, much, much rather see Vortex on turn three than Guide on turn one. Goblin Guide denies me the one thing I need which is time. Vortex is deadlier, if it sticks around, but I have more time to find an answer and ensure it doesn't. Both cards apply a criminal level of pressure, and while Guide is easier to answer, it also demands an answer far faster.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see either of them. They're just about the two worst things that I could potentially run into. But when I'm playing control, I'd rather see a Guide on the other side of the table than a Vortex.
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It is certainly debatable, and highly dependent upon your style of control (and maybe even the aggro deck you face). I would rather see the harder to remove card on turn three because my counters, draw spells and tutors have come online.
Overall though I'm glad to see most people agree with my ranking. I hadn't seen the card discussed as an uber-bomb much, so I'm happy to see others have had the same experiences.
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On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Not only that--this guy deserves more than one thread. He's just that good.
Motion to create a Goblin Guide sub forum.
<--- Went over the top, joke is dead now. <3
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Seconded.
Aside from Sulfuric Vortex, there is no red card in my cube I prefer to Guide. He's so damn good.
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What's different here is that lions and pillage (the proposed original replacement cards) are replacement because they are much later picks than guide or vortex. You definitely don't get to replace your other first pick option with another super-highly pickable colorless card.
It would be way easier to pass Guide if the rest of the red one-drops weren't such relative trash. I'm pretty sure I also take Vortex over Guide in general, but it would be a lot easier if there were better red savannah lions to count on getting.