Ok I realize Cryptic command is really freaking good it can be anything you want for only 4 mana. The problem i have is that 1UUU is a little bit hard to cast, but more importantly I only have the second version of the card. At 360 i think cryptic command is a cube staple, but would you run the promo version (especially if some people in your playgroup didnt know all the cards abilities... or ANY of the cards abilities? I'm thinking of just slipping paper in and writing the choices
edit: i cant run the lorwyn version because i dont OWN the lorwyn version, and no LGS has one.
The ONLY reason I wouldn't run cryptic command is if the only thing I have is the promo version. Because if your playgroup doesn't know exactly what it does, then it's a headache, I would try and get a normal version ASAP.
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I've removed every textless card from my cube just because of the confusion between Mortify and Putrefy. I have had the sweet textless Cryptic in the past, but that one is way too tough unless everyone in the playgroup is familiar with all the modes.
It's (usually) the ultimate mid-late game counterspell, and I'm not near cutting it just yet. It always gets you something you want, and it's not uncommon to play it for tap and bounce for massive tempo gain.
I would never run a textless version of a such card. That WotC printed one still baffle me.
Yes. A textless Disenchant or Naturalize or Lightning Bolt or Cancel is fine, but a Command? It's neither a core card nor is it an easy to remember effect.
I wouldn't cube with any textless or foreign cards, but a textless Cryptic Command is especially egregious.
That said, CC is definitely a cube staple. Flexibility is great when you don't know what your opponent's deck holds and most of the effects are already fairly costed, making all the flexibility almost free. Triple blue isn't that bad, since this is a card that doesn't has to be cast on curve to be effective. It is still great when you have to wait a few turns until you have the appropriate mana.
I run pretty much all of the textless cards I can in my Cube. Everyone should know what the cards do. I have only English cards in my Cube for just that purpose.
The casting cost may look extremely daunting but it isn't so rough really, especially as it's not a card that requires casting on curve to be any good. Like Star Slayer said. CCC cards have be really good for their cost, and Command definitely fits the bill.
I do not use textless, foreign cards, cards with massive functional errata or unexplained expert level keywords. Cards should do what they say and say what they do.
One of the reasons I like playing on MTGO, everything works as printed and you can even click on keywords to bring up the full oracle text. I know what all the stuff does for the most part but sometimes knowing the exact oracle text makes a difference.
I'm going to necro this thread and ask if Cryptic Command is still worth it, now that we've got Mystic Confluence and other options. Triple blue is just so daunting, but they're pretty cheap these days and I may get one if the reports are good.
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Cryptic Command is still a beating, UUU isn't so bad since you don't necessarily need to curve into it. It's definitely one of the few spells worth the color intensity.
I'm going to necro this thread and ask if Cryptic Command is still worth it...
Yes, it's still worth it. Mystic Confluence is great, and arguably better than Cryptic in this format because of the cost, but decks that can play Cryptic will always play it. It's a hell of a spell.
I'm going to necro this thread and ask if Cryptic Command is still worth it, now that we've got Mystic Confluence and other options. Triple blue is just so daunting, but they're pretty cheap these days and I may get one if the reports are good.
The day that I cut Cryptic Command from my cube will be... a really weird day.
I'm going to necro this thread and ask if Cryptic Command is still worth it, now that we've got Mystic Confluence and other options. Triple blue is just so daunting, but they're pretty cheap these days and I may get one if the reports are good.
In bigger lists I would probably run both the command, and the confluence. In smaller lists I was dead set on cryptic command being the better card but Mystic Confluence is easier to cast (so more decks will want/be able to play it) and in most situations one Mana leak is sufficient. Even though you lose the "tap their board" mode, I think I want Mana leak + 2 cards at 5 cmc more often than I want Cancel + one card at 4 cmc.
In our draft yesterday I saw no 2-mana blue counters in the entire draft while a Cryptic Command was wheeled to me and that really got me thinking about the current state of Cryptic. Have we really come to the point where subpar 2-mana counters (lose focus, arcane denial and so on) are way higher picks than Cryptic Command? Imo Cryptic has always a been a high-reward, narrow, parasitic blue control payoff but I'm wondering if the payoff is enough these days. Not planning to cut it yet as blue 4-drop instants are not particularly competitive, but it's definitely creeping closer to the chopping block.
Have we really come to the point where subpar 2-mana counters (lose focus, arcane denial and so on) are way higher picks than Cryptic Command?
In a high powered Vintage cube environment, yes. While value reactive spells like Cryptic Command / Fact or Fiction / etc are still good, they're no longer a high priority because value threats / cheap answers to said value threats are more valuable in such a kill heavy meta. You can't afford to miss a land on curve or be on the draw and not have an answer to your opponent's Minsc & Boo / Flash / White Plume Adventurer / etc.
Imo Cryptic has always a been a high-reward, narrow, parasitic blue control payoff but I'm wondering if the payoff is enough these days. Not planning to cut it yet as blue 4-drop instants are not particularly competitive, but it's definitely creeping closer to the chopping block.
Cryptic Command is still worth it and not close to my chopping block at all. Using sports as an analogy, a lot of cards that used be the stars of my starting line up / first team / etc are still on the team, but they're now the second string / key role players as they take a back seat to the new starting line up of cards.
Cryptic is close to my chopping block... I’ve entertained cutting it but it's not there yet.
Being able to effect the board is a very important mode and differentiates it from simply an expensive 2 for 1 counter spell.
That being said , UUU makes it still fairly narrow. More decks are going under it than before as mana curves have dropped over the years. Proactivity is more important than being reactive more so than ever. It’s a heavy blue “good stuff” card that is no longer anything special.
I’d rank all the staple 2 cmc soft counters over it yeah
In our draft yesterday I saw no 2-mana blue counters in the entire draft while a Cryptic Command was wheeled to me and that really got me thinking about the current state of Cryptic. Have we really come to the point where subpar 2-mana counters (lose focus, arcane denial and so on) are way higher picks than Cryptic Command? Imo Cryptic has always a been a high-reward, narrow, parasitic blue control payoff but I'm wondering if the payoff is enough these days. Not planning to cut it yet as blue 4-drop instants are not particularly competitive, but it's definitely creeping closer to the chopping block.
My experience with 360-720 singleton cubes is there are several effects I would prefer more copies off IF there are competitive options. This includes:
- Hard Counters
- Fast Mana (1 CMC dorks/ Ritual Mana/ Sol Lands etc.)
- Discard effects
- Cheap Generic Burn spells
- Play extra lands a turn
- Combo Redundancy
There are also several slots that are HIGHLY competitive and you could make a strong argument that the 3rd- 4th option down would be playable I would likely agree with you:
- 2 CMC Red/ White Drops
- Control Finishers
- 3 CMC Red/ White Drops
- Dual Lands
- Red/ Black Sweepers
etc.
Cryptic Command is in the first category; I would always appreciate more hard counter spells that are more suitable for control based strategies.
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Ok I realize Cryptic command is really freaking good it can be anything you want for only 4 mana. The problem i have is that 1UUU is a little bit hard to cast, but more importantly I only have the second version of the card. At 360 i think cryptic command is a cube staple, but would you run the promo version (especially if some people in your playgroup didnt know all the cards abilities... or ANY of the cards abilities? I'm thinking of just slipping paper in and writing the choices
edit: i cant run the lorwyn version because i dont OWN the lorwyn version, and no LGS has one.
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Sure, it's hard to cast, and I wouldn't run it in a 3 colour deck, but if you can cast it, it's one of the best spells ever.
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Yes. A textless Disenchant or Naturalize or Lightning Bolt or Cancel is fine, but a Command? It's neither a core card nor is it an easy to remember effect.
I wouldn't cube with any textless or foreign cards, but a textless Cryptic Command is especially egregious.
That said, CC is definitely a cube staple. Flexibility is great when you don't know what your opponent's deck holds and most of the effects are already fairly costed, making all the flexibility almost free. Triple blue isn't that bad, since this is a card that doesn't has to be cast on curve to be effective. It is still great when you have to wait a few turns until you have the appropriate mana.
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Even if you memorized all the abilities, its also hard to memorize the order; but unlike Primal Command, I think the order won't matter anyway.
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On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
One of the reasons I like playing on MTGO, everything works as printed and you can even click on keywords to bring up the full oracle text. I know what all the stuff does for the most part but sometimes knowing the exact oracle text makes a difference.
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Yes, it's still worth it. Mystic Confluence is great, and arguably better than Cryptic in this format because of the cost, but decks that can play Cryptic will always play it. It's a hell of a spell.
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The day that I cut Cryptic Command from my cube will be... a really weird day.
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In bigger lists I would probably run both the command, and the confluence. In smaller lists I was dead set on cryptic command being the better card but Mystic Confluence is easier to cast (so more decks will want/be able to play it) and in most situations one Mana leak is sufficient. Even though you lose the "tap their board" mode, I think I want Mana leak + 2 cards at 5 cmc more often than I want Cancel + one card at 4 cmc.
In a high powered Vintage cube environment, yes. While value reactive spells like Cryptic Command / Fact or Fiction / etc are still good, they're no longer a high priority because value threats / cheap answers to said value threats are more valuable in such a kill heavy meta. You can't afford to miss a land on curve or be on the draw and not have an answer to your opponent's Minsc & Boo / Flash / White Plume Adventurer / etc.
Cryptic Command is still worth it and not close to my chopping block at all. Using sports as an analogy, a lot of cards that used be the stars of my starting line up / first team / etc are still on the team, but they're now the second string / key role players as they take a back seat to the new starting line up of cards.
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Being able to effect the board is a very important mode and differentiates it from simply an expensive 2 for 1 counter spell.
That being said , UUU makes it still fairly narrow. More decks are going under it than before as mana curves have dropped over the years. Proactivity is more important than being reactive more so than ever. It’s a heavy blue “good stuff” card that is no longer anything special.
I’d rank all the staple 2 cmc soft counters over it yeah
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My experience with 360-720 singleton cubes is there are several effects I would prefer more copies off IF there are competitive options. This includes:
- Hard Counters
- Fast Mana (1 CMC dorks/ Ritual Mana/ Sol Lands etc.)
- Discard effects
- Cheap Generic Burn spells
- Play extra lands a turn
- Combo Redundancy
There are also several slots that are HIGHLY competitive and you could make a strong argument that the 3rd- 4th option down would be playable I would likely agree with you:
- 2 CMC Red/ White Drops
- Control Finishers
- 3 CMC Red/ White Drops
- Dual Lands
- Red/ Black Sweepers
etc.
Cryptic Command is in the first category; I would always appreciate more hard counter spells that are more suitable for control based strategies.