Judging Rubric Get It Away From Me — A card which should never be considered by anyone sane. Bad — It's not really worth cubing with at all. Cuttable — It's workable, but it's not cubeable. It's on the cuttable side of borderline. Borderline - It's got potential, and requires more testing. Your call. Cubeable — You can add this and probably get the wide concensus. It's solid. Not broken, but solid. Cube It — Stapled to the god damn cube. Run it. Run it like the wind.
WHITE
Aerial Maneuver
Interesting combat trick that has both the function of evasion before combat and first strike during, but combat tricks need to be stellar to be playable and this isn't. Bad.
Basilica Guards
Defender is a major downside and hurts the card a lot. I'm interested in Extort, but I don't think this is the card to test it on. Cuttable.
Court Street Denizen
Probably the white card that most intrigues me. Tapping down creatures is good, but you'll probably only get one or two activations off it — three in some games. Even so, might that be good enough? I can't quite tell. Borderline.
Daring Skyjek
Whelp, the most exciting card in Gatecrash by a far margin. Strictly better than Blade of the Sixth Pride, and the ability can actually be relevant, especially in the Boros weenie decks. Cube It.
Guildscorn Ward
Narrow protection, Aura-syndrome, not even a PT pump. Get It Away From Me.
Knight Watch
The evasive fliers like Castle Raptors is better at five mana than this. 2/2 size at this stage of the game means a lot of trading or chumping, which while good isn't what I'm looking for at this mana cost. Cuttable.
Nav Squad Commandos
The card's flavor baffles me but I'll swallow it. Not a very good card; only marginally better than Thraben Purebloods, and it's rarely worth swinging with three creatures just for this Battalion effect unless you're in a winning position. Get It Away From Me.
Shielded Passage
This only turns trades into chumps, which is too narrow for me to like it. Most cheap combat tricks will be better. Get It Away From Me.
Syndic of Tithes
This would be one of the cards to cube with in order to right out Extort in cube. A cheap creature, good stats, that allows Extort to shine (if it can). Depending on how good this is, this could be Cubeable, but for now I can't put it there given my own hesitations on Extort. Borderline.
Zarichi Tiger
Inferior to Seraph of Dawn by a huge margin. I can't approve of it given white's relatively tight 4-drop section. Get It Away From Me.
Overall: Daring Skyjek alone makes this amazing.
BLUE
Clinging Anemone
Too expensive for a defender. At four mana I want beefy fliers. Get It Away From Me.
Cloudfin Raptor
If evolve on an early 0/1 triggers as often as I suspect it does, this thing is a 2/3 flier regularly, and that's pretty insane. Definitely worth testing, and high hopes. Cubeable.
Hands of Binding
Probably the most exciting Cipher card for me. Cheap cost means that you can cipher early and get more triggers before removal, and the card itself helps get in some hits. Definitely the one to be testing. So close to a Cubeable rating — testing will see. Borderline.
Keymaster Rogue
I like Latch Seeker at uncommon, but the price of "rescuing"/"gating" a creature is too big in my opinion. Cuttable.
Last Thoughts
That's one hella expensive card. Not worth it, especially with how often the creature will get removed before you get a chance to draw a second time and make this (slightly) better than Inspiration. Get It Away From Me.
Leyline Phantom
Fun with evolve in GTC Limited, but in cube that drawback is far too large for it to be worth it. It doesn't even have evasion. Get It Away From Me.
Sage's Row Denizen
Our first mill card on an unimpressive, non-evasive body. Easy rejection. Get It Away From Me.
Scatter Arc
Comparable to the uncubed Bone to Ash, and I don't think it's better. Cuttable.
Skygames
If it had given a PT pump in addition to that evasion, I might've actually seen it. As it stands, it simple doesn't do enough for one card. Cuttable.
Spell Rupture
A more unreliable Rune Snag. I'm not a fan, but it's serviceable. Cuttable.
Overall: Not a lot, but I expected that. Cipher by nature leads to overcosted cards at common. Sad that we didn't get some more evolve creatures at common, but it might be a bit greedy after getting Cloudfin Raptor.
BLACK
Balustrade Spy
Ignoring the mill ability (which is a downside given all the graveyard stuff in cube, such as flashback), this is an unimpressive evasive body. Cuttable.
Basilica Screecher
Another cheap creature which may be good to test Extort. I'm not so much of a fan of this one, though, since the body is fairly dismal without Extort. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt at this stage, since I have no experience with Extort. Borderline.
Contaminated Ground
A terrible reprint that no one will pay much attention to. Get It Away From Me.
Corpse Blockade
An interesting ability — after all, killing things is always interesting at the very least — but probably too costly to work properly. Cuttable.
Death's Approach
This is an interesting card. Cheap removal that has the potential to go -4/-4 is the definition of interesting. However, how does it compare to Dead Weight? That's the really question. Creatures don't die that often in the early stages of the game, so Dead Weight is superior as cheap removal for cheap creatures. By the time at least three creatures are dead on the opponent's side, it's close to the end of the midgame, which is fairly late. However, in the lategame Death's Approach is extremely efficient, but this mana efficiency isn't as necessary. All this talk doesn't lead to much, expect probably that it is equal, if slightly inferior, to Dead Weight. Even so, I think it's worth testing. Borderline.
Devour Flesh
The option as a last-minute way of gaining some life does not outweigh how worse it is compared to Diabolic Edict in most situations. Hell, even Cruel Edict is better. Cuttable.
Grisly Spectacle
More expensive removal spell in exchange for mill, which we've already established is actually a downside. Yeah no. Cuttable.
Gutter Skulk
Who wants a vanilla 2-drop in black? No-one. Gutter Skulk.
Midnight Recovery
I will be testing this card and there's nothing you guys can say to make me think differently until I get my hands on it. =D. The temptation of yet another graveyard engine, but so much more mana efficient, is just too much for me. Borderline.
Syndicate Enforcer
A little expensive, although I'm not sure how much that matters for Extort cards (on one hand, your hand is that much closer to empty, but on the other, you have more mana to actually pay the Extort without suffering tempo losses.) Depending on how Extort does, this might have merit, but I don't think Extort will ever be powerful enough to justify it. Cuttable.
Overall: I wasn't expecting much from black — both of its mechanics in Gatecrash didn't lend itself immediately to great cards. There's nothing too interesting in here.
RED
Act of Treason
Borderline reprint. Let's move on. Borderline.
Bomber Corps
If only this had been a 2/1. I don't trust Battalion enough in the general cube deck to care for this. Cuttable.
Foundry Street Denizen
Comparable to Goblin Cohort, and probably inferior given the 1 toughness and the restriction to red creatures. And we don't even play with the Cohort. Cuttable.
Furious Resistance
That "blocking" clause just kills it for me. Cuttable.
Madcap Skills
An interesting card, forcing 2-for-1 trades most of the time, but Aura syndrome is high with this one and it will be killed by removal spell before combat. Cuttable.
Massive Raid
Usually this will deal 2 or 3 damage, which is fair but not cubeable. In the lategame when the ground gets stalled out, this will deal more, but at that point an X-spell is just superior. Actually, scratch that, an X-spell is superior in most stages of the game. Cuttable.
Mugging
Removing blockers is not better than being able to dome 2 damage. Inferior to the unplayed Shock. Cuttable.
Scorchwalker
I'm not a fan. I get the option to Lava Axe is nice, but even that's a bit restrictive with the potential to get blown out by removal and the need for an unblocked attacker. The body isn't very impressive either. That +1 toughness does mean there's the potential for trades to turn into chumps, but it's fairly narrow. I understand that Bloodrush comes with it this mad versatility that makes them instantly playable, but I don't really see it with this one. Cuttable.
Skinbrand Goblin
Red 2-drop perks my interesting, and that ability is very nice gravy. I enjoy it. Cubeable.
Tin Street Market
I hate this card the most out of the entire set. I cannot even begin to describe my irrational hatred of this card. But beside that, just play Rummaging Goblin if you're that desperate for a looter (hint: don't play Rummaging Goblin). Get It Away From Me.
Warmind Infantry
Undependable Battalion just to make the stats not horrendous. Nah. Cuttable.
Overall: I was looking forward to the Bloodrush potential in this section — more than Battalion — and I came away slightly disappointed. Even so, there are some nice cards here, definitely worth testing, especially with Bloodrush which hasn't failed to deliver some interesting packages.
GREEN
Adaptive Snapjaw
Big body with the potential to get bigger, especially with that low toughness, is interesting. However, a 6/2 is a bit fragile, and you need to play another X/3 just to make it a serviceable 7/3, and that doesn't happen as often as I would like at this late stage of the game. I'm unsure what I think of it. Borderline.
Burst of Strength
I prefer Giant Growth. I may be underestimating it, though, so I might try it out. My experience with Spidery Grasp hasn't been great, though. Borderline.
Crocanura
Super interesting to me. A cheaper Giant Spider, which is veyr good, and with the potential to get bigger. Borderline.
Forced Adaptation
Doesn't suffer too badly from Aura syndrome (well, quite so badly), but it's very slow. I'm not a fan. Get It Away From Me.
Greenside Watcher
Gates are not plentiful enough for this to fix mana, so just play Leaf Gilder. Or better yet, the many 1-drop mana elves available to us. Cuttable.
Ivy Lane Denizen
A great ability on a creature that is just too expensive for it to be worth it. Cuttable.
Naturalize
Great art. Either you run this already or you don't, so there's not much to talk about. Borderline.
Predator's Rapport
Pure lifegain? Can't even use it without a creature? Nope. Get It Away From Me.
Scab-Clan Charger
Probably the closest creature to that line between cubeability and not among any of the Bloodrush cards (Slaughterhorn is just over, Scorchwalker is a bit more under). An unimpressive body for its cost that still shuts down the assatul, and a cheap but powerful pump that is slightly worse since it cannot be used on a blocker. I just don't know, and that means it's probably worth testing. Borderline. (I'm sure people are going to disagree with me on this, like they did with Slaughterhorn.)
Slaughterhorn
A lot of discussion has gone into this card, which you can read here. Mad versatility, aggressive body, relevant Giant Growth-esque pump (remember, only attackers!) — all very good things. Cubeable.
Spire Tracer Silhana Ledgewalker, is that you? What? No hexproof? Oh, ok. On the card itself, given the competition at this mana cost (Llanowar Elves and friends say hello), I can't see it. Cuttable.
Wildwood Rebirth
If you're observant, you'll notice that this is just a more expensive Raise Dead. Instant speed doesn't do anything for me. Get It Away From Me.
Overall: Some good candidates, but nothing that really popped out (beside the Slaughterhorn, and that for all the discussion it's generated more than anything else.)
MULTICOLOR
Drakewing Krasis
Trample is mostly irrelevant, but ignoring that it's a nice aggressive evasive body for its cost. In multicolor, though, it doesn't do much, especially with Assault Zeppelid as its competition. Cuttable.
Hydroform
Comparable to Winged Coatl. On one hand, it has the option to deal damage as well, as a bad Lava Spike. On the other hand, the Coatl can take down big beefy ground guys. Since I don't even play the Coatl, I don't see this working out either. Cuttable.
Kingpin's Pet
I actually think this is the best common Extort creature, but unfortunately in the more restrictive section. Even so, I think it's comparable with Shrieking Grotesque and even might aspire to be an inferior Blind Hunter, so I may just try him out. Borderline.
Mortus Strider
Infinite chump blocker has its merits, but not in the restrictive UB section. Cuttable.
Paranoid Delusions
Cheap Cipher, yay! Purely mill, nay! Get It Away From Me.
Primal Visitation
Very rarely will you be able to make the haste relevant, since you'd have to play both at the same time. Just as a +3/+3, it doesn't work for its insanely expensive price. Cuttable.
Psychic Strike
A two-color Cancel that isn't better for that added restriction. No thanks. Get It Away From Me.
Purge the Profane
Two life is not worth the extra color and mana. And we don't even play Mind Rot to begin with. Cuttable.
Ruination Wurm
Gigantic vanillas is nothing new in common. RG will do fine with its cheaper guys, thank you. Cuttable.
Shambleshark
Flash allows it to ambush creatures and for the UG player to hold up counterspells (play this EOT if you don't counter anything). There's potential as a 3/2, possibly 4/3, for 2 mana. Loving it. Cubeable.
Skyknight Legionnaire
Reprint with new art (terrible? excellent? You decide.) Cubeable.
Wojek Halberdiers
Cheap creature with three power. Battalion is unreliable but a nice addition, like with Daring Skyjek. I dig it. Cubeable.
Zhur-Taa Swine
Now here's a large RG creature with potential, and a beautiful Bloodrush. Sadly, RG just isn't looking for it. Shame. Borderline.
Overall: This is the multicolor set, right? Of course there would be some awesome treats in here. =D
HYBRID/FUNCTIONAL MULTICOLOR
Beckon Apparition
Reprint, and not a particularly interesting one. Get It Away From Me.
Bioshift
Relevant in Gatecrash with evolve, not in cube. Get It Away From Me.
Deathcult Rogue
Another Noggle Bandit card. It doesn't do enough just as a simple unblockable creature for the restrictive multicolor slots. Cuttable.
Dutiful Thrull
Infinite blocker is sweet, but not that great. Cuttable.
Frilled Oculus
This would've been so good as monoblue, but as it stands I'm not that big of a fan given how tight UG is. Still, I think it might have potential despite the tough competition. Borderline.
Horror of the Dim UB already has some sweet nonsense in it. This is far too overcosted to make it in. Cuttable.
Pit Fight
Excellent as a green card, but there's just no room in RG. If you have no reservations for running it as a green card, then go right ahead. Cubeable.
Towering Thunderfist
As a RW card, I don't see this working out at all. Frankly the ability is so dismal that it's basically a red card, and even then I don't see it better than stuff like Gerrard's Irregulars. Cuttable.
Overall: Much like Return to Ravnica, the hybrid cards aren't that great here.
COLORLESS
Armored Transport
Very interesting, aggressive ability. Definitely some testworthy merit in here. Borderline.
Prophetic Prism
Reprint with shiny new art. A fine card then, a fine card now. Borderline.
Razortip Whip
Doesn't do enough at all for me to enjoy it. Get It Away From Me.
Riot Gear
Far too expensive for the small boost. Cuttable.
Skyblinder Staff
Ditto with the comment on Riot Gear above. Cuttable.
Gruul Guildgate & co.
I loved them when they first came out in Return to Ravnica, and I still love them now that the cycle is finished. Not much more to say that hasn't already been said. Cube It.
Overall: A lot more artifacts than the 0 from Return to Ravnica, but nothing that interesting.
Now I wonder what Dragon's Maze is going to bring to end this block?
I agree on pretty much all of your ratings, except for Riot Gear. That card looks fiendishly good. It gives decent stat boosts, and is relevant in most decks. Sure it's just worse than Vulshok Morningstar, but what isn't. It definitely should be regarded as cubable. Not a slamdunk, just good stuff.
If Frilled Oculus was mono blue I would consider it. In U/G the competition is too tight, and it's still worse that pretty much every green 2 drop ever. I love Darkthicket Wolf, because when you attack they have to respect the possible pump, and then take 2 power to the face, where as the same trick for 1 power is not worth it.
Anyway awesome work. You did well covering the cards.
The set itself really is less impressive because the mechanics are much less diverse.
Bloodrush wants attackers
Battalion wants multi-attackers
Cipher is overcosted spells to stick on the few evasive creatures you have
Evolve is very stat driven, and having to keep playing bigger things is ok, but don't expect more than 2x +1/+1 in most games before it dies, trades, or stops growing
Extort is mana hungry and the few cards it can be on are in slots already crammed to the hilt.
-I will try Pit Fight for Scuzzback Mauraders
-Make the 3/1 change-over
-Think about flash shark
-probably add the bloodrush goblin for another 2 drop in red
-look and fail to find anything in blue to cut for cipher or the raptor atm
-change my ub hybrid card
-add martial glory for Gobline Legionnaire till I see the need to have the wojek, or am convinced otherwise.
Overall this set has let down the constant upgrading we have been spoiled by in the last 2 yrs or so with INN block (BLue got overhauled and Seraph is so amazing)
90%+ agree, and cuttable to me = not worth wasting time
Nice review as always, Lanxal. I am generally in agreement with your assessments, with the exception of one card. I think that Shadow Slice might be better than it appears on first blush.
Shadow Slice
This is just an Aura that says "+3/+0". For five mana. I'll pass. Get It Away From Me.
While it might not be amazing, it should definitely not be viewed as a +3/+0 Aura. It shouldn't be too hard for black to set up situations where you cause an opponent to lose six life with just this card the turn you cast it, with the potential to do more if your opponent doesn't find answers. 5 mana is quite expensive, so, in my mind, this makes this card Borderline.
If Frilled Oculus was mono blue I would consider it. In U/G the competition is too tight, and it's still worse that pretty much every green 2 drop ever. I love Darkthicket Wolf, because when you attack they have to respect the possible pump, and then take 2 power to the face, where as the same trick for 1 power is not worth it.
I really like Frilled Oculus. It's a shame it probably doesn't make it as an UG card.
Extort I'm not so confident, but I'm willing to give it half a chance.
Also I think that the difference between Riot Gear and Vulshok Morningstar isn't enough that one is a Staple first pick and the other is Cuttable. Toughness is the more important stat imo so the difference isn't huge.
I agree on pretty much all of your ratings, except for Riot Gear. That card looks fiendishly good. It gives decent stat boosts, and is relevant in most decks. Sure it's just worse than Vulshok Morningstar, but what isn't. It definitely should be regarded as cubable. Not a slamdunk, just good stuff.
As of Riot Gear, I'm really still on the fence. It's hard to like a card when you have a much much and strictly better card available already, but hey... Lightning Bolt is a card and we still play Chain Lightning, so I guess it's testworthy.
I'm really skeptical, but this wouldn't be the first time I wrote things off and was wrong. Prove me wrong! =D
Basilica Screecher: Now unless Extort turns out to be a half broken ability, I don't think this terrible body could ever be worth it, certainly not in 360 card cubes. Cuttable for me.
I have to agree as a knee-jerk reaction. Syndics and Kingpin's Pet seems much better Extort candidates to me.
Death's Approach: Dead Weight is just way better, and even that is only a Borderline card given the competition it faces. The fact that this thing doesn't kill anything during the first few turns (which is where CC1 removal spells normally shine), kills it for me.
This is possible. I'm definitely going to try it out to be sure, though.
Shadow Ally Denizen: As most people, I am unsure how good the Denizens are going to be. But this one has the least efficient body and one of the least powerful triggers among all of them, so I doubt it's anything but Cuttable.
Mostly it's how cheap it is that makes me intrigued. Testing probably will happen.
Lastly, I am less excited about the Bloodrush cards than most people in general, so I'd probably rank most of them slightly lower than you. But that is really only preference and I might very well be proven wrong.
I share the skepticism. I think testing will have to prove who's right.
Nice review as always, Lanxal. I am generally in agreement with your assessments, with the exception of one card. I think that Shadow Slice might be better than it appears on first blush.
While it might not be amazing, it should definitely not be viewed as a +3/+0 Aura. It shouldn't be too hard for black to set up situations where you cause an opponent to lose six life with just this card the turn you cast it, with the potential to do more if your opponent doesn't find answers. 5 mana is quite expensive, so, in my mind, this makes this card Borderline.
I think, in terms of power level, it's comparable to Auras. It's so expensive and it doesn't give +3/+0 for combat with other creatures. I'm more of a fan of Deviant Glee, frankly.
GATECRASH SET REVIEW
Let's wrap it up with the latter half of the guilds.
Follow this review with the MTGS spoilers.
Judging Rubric
Get It Away From Me — A card which should never be considered by anyone sane.
Bad — It's not really worth cubing with at all.
Cuttable — It's workable, but it's not cubeable. It's on the cuttable side of borderline.
Borderline - It's got potential, and requires more testing. Your call.
Cubeable — You can add this and probably get the wide concensus. It's solid. Not broken, but solid.
Cube It — Stapled to the god damn cube. Run it. Run it like the wind.
WHITE
Aerial Maneuver
Interesting combat trick that has both the function of evasion before combat and first strike during, but combat tricks need to be stellar to be playable and this isn't. Bad.
Angelic Edict
Iona's Judgment reprint. Overcosted then, overcosted now. Bad.
Assault Griffin
Another reprint, this time on the cuttable side of borderline. It's a fine card, but white has plenty of strong four drops such as Seraph of Dawn and Coalition Honor Guard. Cuttable.
Basilica Guards
Defender is a major downside and hurts the card a lot. I'm interested in Extort, but I don't think this is the card to test it on. Cuttable.
Court Street Denizen
Probably the white card that most intrigues me. Tapping down creatures is good, but you'll probably only get one or two activations off it — three in some games. Even so, might that be good enough? I can't quite tell. Borderline.
Daring Skyjek
Whelp, the most exciting card in Gatecrash by a far margin. Strictly better than Blade of the Sixth Pride, and the ability can actually be relevant, especially in the Boros weenie decks. Cube It.
Guildscorn Ward
Narrow protection, Aura-syndrome, not even a PT pump. Get It Away From Me.
Knight Watch
The evasive fliers like Castle Raptors is better at five mana than this. 2/2 size at this stage of the game means a lot of trading or chumping, which while good isn't what I'm looking for at this mana cost. Cuttable.
Nav Squad Commandos
The card's flavor baffles me but I'll swallow it. Not a very good card; only marginally better than Thraben Purebloods, and it's rarely worth swinging with three creatures just for this Battalion effect unless you're in a winning position. Get It Away From Me.
Shielded Passage
This only turns trades into chumps, which is too narrow for me to like it. Most cheap combat tricks will be better. Get It Away From Me.
Smite
Narrow reprint. Not much to say. Cuttable.
Syndic of Tithes
This would be one of the cards to cube with in order to right out Extort in cube. A cheap creature, good stats, that allows Extort to shine (if it can). Depending on how good this is, this could be Cubeable, but for now I can't put it there given my own hesitations on Extort. Borderline.
Zarichi Tiger
Inferior to Seraph of Dawn by a huge margin. I can't approve of it given white's relatively tight 4-drop section. Get It Away From Me.
Overall: Daring Skyjek alone makes this amazing.
BLUE
Clinging Anemone
Too expensive for a defender. At four mana I want beefy fliers. Get It Away From Me.
Cloudfin Raptor
If evolve on an early 0/1 triggers as often as I suspect it does, this thing is a 2/3 flier regularly, and that's pretty insane. Definitely worth testing, and high hopes. Cubeable.
Hands of Binding
Probably the most exciting Cipher card for me. Cheap cost means that you can cipher early and get more triggers before removal, and the card itself helps get in some hits. Definitely the one to be testing. So close to a Cubeable rating — testing will see. Borderline.
Keymaster Rogue
I like Latch Seeker at uncommon, but the price of "rescuing"/"gating" a creature is too big in my opinion. Cuttable.
Last Thoughts
That's one hella expensive card. Not worth it, especially with how often the creature will get removed before you get a chance to draw a second time and make this (slightly) better than Inspiration. Get It Away From Me.
Leyline Phantom
Fun with evolve in GTC Limited, but in cube that drawback is far too large for it to be worth it. It doesn't even have evasion. Get It Away From Me.
Metropolis Sprite
Comparable to Stormfront Pegasus, but that constant mana payment isn't good. I'm not a fan. Cuttable.
Sage's Row Denizen
Our first mill card on an unimpressive, non-evasive body. Easy rejection. Get It Away From Me.
Scatter Arc
Comparable to the uncubed Bone to Ash, and I don't think it's better. Cuttable.
Skygames
If it had given a PT pump in addition to that evasion, I might've actually seen it. As it stands, it simple doesn't do enough for one card. Cuttable.
Spell Rupture
A more unreliable Rune Snag. I'm not a fan, but it's serviceable. Cuttable.
Totally Lost
Temporal Spring is good, but this is just overcosted. Cuttable.
Way of the Thief
Trick of the Trade is superior, and unplayed. As is Spectral Flight. Get It Away From Me.
Overall: Not a lot, but I expected that. Cipher by nature leads to overcosted cards at common. Sad that we didn't get some more evolve creatures at common, but it might be a bit greedy after getting Cloudfin Raptor.
BLACK
Balustrade Spy
Ignoring the mill ability (which is a downside given all the graveyard stuff in cube, such as flashback), this is an unimpressive evasive body. Cuttable.
Basilica Screecher
Another cheap creature which may be good to test Extort. I'm not so much of a fan of this one, though, since the body is fairly dismal without Extort. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt at this stage, since I have no experience with Extort. Borderline.
Contaminated Ground
A terrible reprint that no one will pay much attention to. Get It Away From Me.
Corpse Blockade
An interesting ability — after all, killing things is always interesting at the very least — but probably too costly to work properly. Cuttable.
Death's Approach
This is an interesting card. Cheap removal that has the potential to go -4/-4 is the definition of interesting. However, how does it compare to Dead Weight? That's the really question. Creatures don't die that often in the early stages of the game, so Dead Weight is superior as cheap removal for cheap creatures. By the time at least three creatures are dead on the opponent's side, it's close to the end of the midgame, which is fairly late. However, in the lategame Death's Approach is extremely efficient, but this mana efficiency isn't as necessary. All this talk doesn't lead to much, expect probably that it is equal, if slightly inferior, to Dead Weight. Even so, I think it's worth testing. Borderline.
Devour Flesh
The option as a last-minute way of gaining some life does not outweigh how worse it is compared to Diabolic Edict in most situations. Hell, even Cruel Edict is better. Cuttable.
Grisly Spectacle
More expensive removal spell in exchange for mill, which we've already established is actually a downside. Yeah no. Cuttable.
Gutter Skulk
Who wants a vanilla 2-drop in black? No-one. Gutter Skulk.
Midnight Recovery
I will be testing this card and there's nothing you guys can say to make me think differently until I get my hands on it. =D. The temptation of yet another graveyard engine, but so much more mana efficient, is just too much for me. Borderline.
Shadow Alley Denizen
Comparable to Intimidator Initiate. Not sure if it's better or worse, but definitely a testworthy candidate. Borderline.
Shadow Slice
This is just an Aura that says "+3/+0". For five mana. I'll pass. Get It Away From Me.
Slate Street Ruffian
An interesting ability, but giving your opponent the choice is never great to me. There are better cards out there, such as Dauthi Marauder or Ravenous Skirge. Cuttable.
Syndicate Enforcer
A little expensive, although I'm not sure how much that matters for Extort cards (on one hand, your hand is that much closer to empty, but on the other, you have more mana to actually pay the Extort without suffering tempo losses.) Depending on how Extort does, this might have merit, but I don't think Extort will ever be powerful enough to justify it. Cuttable.
Overall: I wasn't expecting much from black — both of its mechanics in Gatecrash didn't lend itself immediately to great cards. There's nothing too interesting in here.
RED
Act of Treason
Borderline reprint. Let's move on. Borderline.
Bomber Corps
If only this had been a 2/1. I don't trust Battalion enough in the general cube deck to care for this. Cuttable.
Ember Beast
Another boring reprint. Mogg Flunkies is better. Cuttable.
Foundry Street Denizen
Comparable to Goblin Cohort, and probably inferior given the 1 toughness and the restriction to red creatures. And we don't even play with the Cohort. Cuttable.
Furious Resistance
That "blocking" clause just kills it for me. Cuttable.
Madcap Skills
An interesting card, forcing 2-for-1 trades most of the time, but Aura syndrome is high with this one and it will be killed by removal spell before combat. Cuttable.
Massive Raid
Usually this will deal 2 or 3 damage, which is fair but not cubeable. In the lategame when the ground gets stalled out, this will deal more, but at that point an X-spell is just superior. Actually, scratch that, an X-spell is superior in most stages of the game. Cuttable.
Mugging
Removing blockers is not better than being able to dome 2 damage. Inferior to the unplayed Shock. Cuttable.
Scorchwalker
I'm not a fan. I get the option to Lava Axe is nice, but even that's a bit restrictive with the potential to get blown out by removal and the need for an unblocked attacker. The body isn't very impressive either. That +1 toughness does mean there's the potential for trades to turn into chumps, but it's fairly narrow. I understand that Bloodrush comes with it this mad versatility that makes them instantly playable, but I don't really see it with this one. Cuttable.
Skinbrand Goblin
Red 2-drop perks my interesting, and that ability is very nice gravy. I enjoy it. Cubeable.
Structural Collapse
Expensive Demolsih with damage attached. Not very good. Get It Away From Me.
Tin Street Market
I hate this card the most out of the entire set. I cannot even begin to describe my irrational hatred of this card. But beside that, just play Rummaging Goblin if you're that desperate for a looter (hint: don't play Rummaging Goblin). Get It Away From Me.
Warmind Infantry
Undependable Battalion just to make the stats not horrendous. Nah. Cuttable.
Overall: I was looking forward to the Bloodrush potential in this section — more than Battalion — and I came away slightly disappointed. Even so, there are some nice cards here, definitely worth testing, especially with Bloodrush which hasn't failed to deliver some interesting packages.
GREEN
Adaptive Snapjaw
Big body with the potential to get bigger, especially with that low toughness, is interesting. However, a 6/2 is a bit fragile, and you need to play another X/3 just to make it a serviceable 7/3, and that doesn't happen as often as I would like at this late stage of the game. I'm unsure what I think of it. Borderline.
Burst of Strength
I prefer Giant Growth. I may be underestimating it, though, so I might try it out. My experience with Spidery Grasp hasn't been great, though. Borderline.
Crocanura
Super interesting to me. A cheaper Giant Spider, which is veyr good, and with the potential to get bigger. Borderline.
Forced Adaptation
Doesn't suffer too badly from Aura syndrome (well, quite so badly), but it's very slow. I'm not a fan. Get It Away From Me.
Greenside Watcher
Gates are not plentiful enough for this to fix mana, so just play Leaf Gilder. Or better yet, the many 1-drop mana elves available to us. Cuttable.
Ivy Lane Denizen
A great ability on a creature that is just too expensive for it to be worth it. Cuttable.
Naturalize
Great art. Either you run this already or you don't, so there's not much to talk about. Borderline.
Predator's Rapport
Pure lifegain? Can't even use it without a creature? Nope. Get It Away From Me.
Scab-Clan Charger
Probably the closest creature to that line between cubeability and not among any of the Bloodrush cards (Slaughterhorn is just over, Scorchwalker is a bit more under). An unimpressive body for its cost that still shuts down the assatul, and a cheap but powerful pump that is slightly worse since it cannot be used on a blocker. I just don't know, and that means it's probably worth testing. Borderline. (I'm sure people are going to disagree with me on this, like they did with Slaughterhorn.)
Slaughterhorn
A lot of discussion has gone into this card, which you can read here. Mad versatility, aggressive body, relevant Giant Growth-esque pump (remember, only attackers!) — all very good things. Cubeable.
Spire Tracer
Silhana Ledgewalker, is that you? What? No hexproof? Oh, ok. On the card itself, given the competition at this mana cost (Llanowar Elves and friends say hello), I can't see it. Cuttable.
Verdant Haven
Comparable to Fertile Ground. I don't think the two life is worth the extra mana. Cuttable.
Wildwood Rebirth
If you're observant, you'll notice that this is just a more expensive Raise Dead. Instant speed doesn't do anything for me. Get It Away From Me.
Overall: Some good candidates, but nothing that really popped out (beside the Slaughterhorn, and that for all the discussion it's generated more than anything else.)
MULTICOLOR
Drakewing Krasis
Trample is mostly irrelevant, but ignoring that it's a nice aggressive evasive body for its cost. In multicolor, though, it doesn't do much, especially with Assault Zeppelid as its competition. Cuttable.
Executioner's Swing
Better Avenging Arrow in a much more restrictive section does not bode well for it. Pillory of the Sleepless is much better. Cuttable.
Hydroform
Comparable to Winged Coatl. On one hand, it has the option to deal damage as well, as a bad Lava Spike. On the other hand, the Coatl can take down big beefy ground guys. Since I don't even play the Coatl, I don't see this working out either. Cuttable.
Kingpin's Pet
I actually think this is the best common Extort creature, but unfortunately in the more restrictive section. Even so, I think it's comparable with Shrieking Grotesque and even might aspire to be an inferior Blind Hunter, so I may just try him out. Borderline.
Martial Glory
A more expensive but more flexible Giant Growth doesn't do it for me. Cuttable.
Mortus Strider
Infinite chump blocker has its merits, but not in the restrictive UB section. Cuttable.
Paranoid Delusions
Cheap Cipher, yay! Purely mill, nay! Get It Away From Me.
Primal Visitation
Very rarely will you be able to make the haste relevant, since you'd have to play both at the same time. Just as a +3/+3, it doesn't work for its insanely expensive price. Cuttable.
Psychic Strike
A two-color Cancel that isn't better for that added restriction. No thanks. Get It Away From Me.
Purge the Profane
Two life is not worth the extra color and mana. And we don't even play Mind Rot to begin with. Cuttable.
Ruination Wurm
Gigantic vanillas is nothing new in common. RG will do fine with its cheaper guys, thank you. Cuttable.
Shambleshark
Flash allows it to ambush creatures and for the UG player to hold up counterspells (play this EOT if you don't counter anything). There's potential as a 3/2, possibly 4/3, for 2 mana. Loving it. Cubeable.
Skyknight Legionnaire
Reprint with new art (terrible? excellent? You decide.) Cubeable.
Wojek Halberdiers
Cheap creature with three power. Battalion is unreliable but a nice addition, like with Daring Skyjek. I dig it. Cubeable.
Zhur-Taa Swine
Now here's a large RG creature with potential, and a beautiful Bloodrush. Sadly, RG just isn't looking for it. Shame. Borderline.
Overall: This is the multicolor set, right? Of course there would be some awesome treats in here. =D
HYBRID/FUNCTIONAL MULTICOLOR
Beckon Apparition
Reprint, and not a particularly interesting one. Get It Away From Me.
Bioshift
Relevant in Gatecrash with evolve, not in cube. Get It Away From Me.
Deathcult Rogue
Another Noggle Bandit card. It doesn't do enough just as a simple unblockable creature for the restrictive multicolor slots. Cuttable.
Disciple of the Old Ways
A relevant red ability, but this card is not better than Horned Kavu or Kird Ape that don't even need first strike. Cuttable.
Dutiful Thrull
Infinite blocker is sweet, but not that great. Cuttable.
Frilled Oculus
This would've been so good as monoblue, but as it stands I'm not that big of a fan given how tight UG is. Still, I think it might have potential despite the tough competition. Borderline.
Horror of the Dim
UB already has some sweet nonsense in it. This is far too overcosted to make it in. Cuttable.
Pit Fight
Excellent as a green card, but there's just no room in RG. If you have no reservations for running it as a green card, then go right ahead. Cubeable.
Shattering Blow
Disenchant is much better. Get It Away From Me.
Towering Thunderfist
As a RW card, I don't see this working out at all. Frankly the ability is so dismal that it's basically a red card, and even then I don't see it better than stuff like Gerrard's Irregulars. Cuttable.
Overall: Much like Return to Ravnica, the hybrid cards aren't that great here.
COLORLESS
Armored Transport
Very interesting, aggressive ability. Definitely some testworthy merit in here. Borderline.
Millennial Gargoyle
Ack, just one mana off the dream. Cuttable.
Prophetic Prism
Reprint with shiny new art. A fine card then, a fine card now. Borderline.
Razortip Whip
Doesn't do enough at all for me to enjoy it. Get It Away From Me.
Riot Gear
Far too expensive for the small boost. Cuttable.
Skyblinder Staff
Ditto with the comment on Riot Gear above. Cuttable.
Gruul Guildgate & co.
I loved them when they first came out in Return to Ravnica, and I still love them now that the cycle is finished. Not much more to say that hasn't already been said. Cube It.
Overall: A lot more artifacts than the 0 from Return to Ravnica, but nothing that interesting.
Now I wonder what Dragon's Maze is going to bring to end this block?
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
If Frilled Oculus was mono blue I would consider it. In U/G the competition is too tight, and it's still worse that pretty much every green 2 drop ever. I love Darkthicket Wolf, because when you attack they have to respect the possible pump, and then take 2 power to the face, where as the same trick for 1 power is not worth it.
Anyway awesome work. You did well covering the cards.
Bloodrush wants attackers
Battalion wants multi-attackers
Cipher is overcosted spells to stick on the few evasive creatures you have
Evolve is very stat driven, and having to keep playing bigger things is ok, but don't expect more than 2x +1/+1 in most games before it dies, trades, or stops growing
Extort is mana hungry and the few cards it can be on are in slots already crammed to the hilt.
-I will try Pit Fight for Scuzzback Mauraders
-Make the 3/1 change-over
-Think about flash shark
-probably add the bloodrush goblin for another 2 drop in red
-look and fail to find anything in blue to cut for cipher or the raptor atm
-change my ub hybrid card
-add martial glory for Gobline Legionnaire till I see the need to have the wojek, or am convinced otherwise.
Overall this set has let down the constant upgrading we have been spoiled by in the last 2 yrs or so with INN block (BLue got overhauled and Seraph is so amazing)
90%+ agree, and cuttable to me = not worth wasting time
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
While it might not be amazing, it should definitely not be viewed as a +3/+0 Aura. It shouldn't be too hard for black to set up situations where you cause an opponent to lose six life with just this card the turn you cast it, with the potential to do more if your opponent doesn't find answers. 5 mana is quite expensive, so, in my mind, this makes this card Borderline.
Sig courtesy of Disappointing Signet Inc.
My Cubes:
Goblin Pile Shuffler's 360 Card Pauper Cube - updated 1/4/2014
Goblin Pile Shuffler's 270 Card One-Drop Cube - updated 1/4/2014
I really like Frilled Oculus. It's a shame it probably doesn't make it as an UG card.
Extort I'm not so confident, but I'm willing to give it half a chance.
I'm really skeptical, but this wouldn't be the first time I wrote things off and was wrong. Prove me wrong! =D
Thank you!
I have to agree as a knee-jerk reaction. Syndics and Kingpin's Pet seems much better Extort candidates to me.
This is possible. I'm definitely going to try it out to be sure, though.
Mostly it's how cheap it is that makes me intrigued. Testing probably will happen.
I share the skepticism. I think testing will have to prove who's right.
I think, in terms of power level, it's comparable to Auras. It's so expensive and it doesn't give +3/+0 for combat with other creatures. I'm more of a fan of Deviant Glee, frankly.
I just noticed. Hehehe, I think I've come up with a recurring joke.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2