I'm sure we are all familiar with this card and its applications, and I see that it's in most cubes, including mine, but I'm just curious as to what your impression of this card is these days. I'm not going to say it's a bad card by any means, but I'm certainly seeing it end up on the side lines more and more as it has a decaying power level as the game progress and as such it's starting to feel like it might be on the chopping block one day soon in favor of cards that might open new archetypes. Have any of you been paying attention to the frequency of play this card sees?
It is rarely side board material here. Aggro decks want it to drop two creatures turn one. Midrange can drop their power stuff turn 2 or 3. In control it is not really needed as it is not trustworthy enough.
Comboish decks like it as they can get explosives starts.
All in all it is unique card which will most likely stay in our cube for years to come. Also the smaller your cube, the better as it will power out higher quality stuff.
That's really my issue with the card though, it's great turns 1-4 but then it just kind of durdles a bit.Then again my cube tends to be more Fish-Combo-Midranged focused than most cubes and Storm isn't exactly a major aspect but I'll probably add another Storm Card soon. So that might be part of it, but it still seems like there could be better cards to support those other strategies as a whole.
That's a major draw to this card, that and the fact that it's a majorly iconic card that I'm hard pressed to remove.
Playing a card two turns early is so ridiculous it's not even fair. I don't think every black deck wants Dark Ritual but most do. There are naysayers in my group on the subject of Dark Ritual but they're wrong. I love when my group undervalues a card. More for me.
Black Lotus is broken, right? And basically two thirds of that and tied to a single color is still pretty much off every reasonable chart, which means just not off the cube chart. I know that moment when cards start to fall out of favor because their disadvantages seem to become more and more relevant; just force yourself to play it a little more in adequate decks to remind yourself of how good the card actually is.
I think this is one of the cards that make cube what it is: Powerful, very iconic, and enables some of the most ridiculous interactions ever.
Specialities about the cube: U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
It fits into any black deck, be it aggro, ramp or control, and enables some powerful plays. Mono-black or nearly-mono-black aggro is a common archetype here and DR is one of the key cards. I don't think I'd ever consider it near the chopping block, and a 'better' version will not be printed.
Personally, I'd happily cube with a version of Dark Ritual that produced only 3 colorless mana. You just don't see this kind of acceleration anymore. If you're not digging fast mana I could see cutting it, but not for power reasons.
I love Dark Ritual. Any combination of early costed cards cast together on T1 is just bonkers, as is a 3-drop. And using it through the first 3-4 turns to power out your curve-toppers is just sick. It's a bad topdeck, but so are Moxen for all the same reasons. I think it's a staple.
In MODO cube, I've had (or at least seen) some of all: Liliana T1, Phyrexian Obliterator T2, Razormane Masticore T3, or even Grave Titan T4. Every single one of them can pretty much win the game if you're lucky.
Specialities about the cube: U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
Dark Ritual is awesome, move along, nothing to see here.
Seriously though this thread is just going to be two arguments:
"Dark Ritual is card disadvantage"
"Dark Ritual enabled me to do this insane play on turn X"
I've also had dark ritual dig me out of the "1 black mana source, X of anything else" hole quite often. While card advantage is a very important thing to consider when evaluating a card, some overly fetishize its significance.
It's not garbage after turn 3 at all. 6-drops on T4 are pretty good, and so are 7cc cards on T5.
It's not really a 1-shot Sol Ring either, because the turn you play it you have access to more mana, and it can't be destroyed before you can get full value from the card.
Dark Ritual is a great card. It's not a good top deck but you can say that about so many cards in the cube that for what it does do I excuse it as a weak top deck.
My favorite simple and classic play with Dark Ritual is just Turn 1 Hippie or the new version which is Vampire Nighthawk.
Ramp is ramp is ramp is ramp. It doesn't matter the color or the turn. If you can get ahead on mana, and actually do something with it, then you have advantage. The "Dark Rit is card disadvantage" argument is nonsense. But then again, when it comes to cube, most "Card Disadvantage" arguments fall flat.
I personally love Dark Rit and have used it many times to get me out of jams. I've also tossed it into decks that splash black but have some double cost cards, just in case I get in a jam and it can get me out of it.
This thread is making me wanna give it a shot in my Peasant Cube. I may not be running broken stuff to power out like Grave Titan, but hey, nothing's wrong with landing Shriekmaw and friends a couple turns early.
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My Black & Silver Cube [360/Peasant/Draft It! EDH Decks: - Reya Dawnbringer // - Mistform Ultimus // - Balthor the Defiled // - Urabrask the Hidden // - Mirri, Cat Warrior
So I just played R/B in my cube with Dark Ritual and I pretty much liked the card most of the time, it even let me wreck some players I shouldn't have. So it's obviously staying.
Now here's some things I disagree with when it comes to the card:
1.) It is not comparable to moxen as moxen take the place of a land and are artifacts, thus enabling things like Tezz, Tinker, and Goblin Welder.
2.) It is not particularly comparable to Black Lotus as that allows you to cast 4 drops on turn one, instead of three drops, and is not restricted to any one colour both in casting and mana generation.
3.) It is not comparable to one drops, in terms of power drop off throughout the course of a game, as you want a critical mass of one drops so that you're assured a one drop in your opening hand and where as Dark Ritual is a one of that you're never assured of.
The most devastating plays for us off dark ritual weren't dropping a threat on turn 1. It was playing hatred on turn 3
Although... I guess I should also consider T1 necropotence...
As to the main point of this thread: I love the card and consider it an absolute staple. I consider it an excellent compliment to just about any cube and am happy to draft it in a variety of archetypes. Despite the card disadvantage, it just does awesome things.
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While I agree in principle, which T1 play based on Dark Ritual is decisive? They give you a huge edge, but nothing that a timely removal or a bigger creature couldn't make up for. I think Skullclamp, Sol Ring or Chalice of the Void (not related to cube), or even Delver, revealing Mana Leak on upkeep, are much more devastating.
Specialities about the cube: U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
Dark Ritual doesn't decide games on T1. At all. It can put you to an advantage on T1, which is exactly what every card in your deck should be trying to do for you.
I'm sure we are all familiar with this card and its applications, and I see that it's in most cubes, including mine, but I'm just curious as to what your impression of this card is these days. I'm not going to say it's a bad card by any means, but I'm certainly seeing it end up on the side lines more and more as it has a decaying power level as the game progress and as such it's starting to feel like it might be on the chopping block one day soon in favor of cards that might open new archetypes. Have any of you been paying attention to the frequency of play this card sees?
Comboish decks like it as they can get explosives starts.
All in all it is unique card which will most likely stay in our cube for years to come. Also the smaller your cube, the better as it will power out higher quality stuff.
I feel compelled to repeat everything I hear
That's a major draw to this card, that and the fact that it's a majorly iconic card that I'm hard pressed to remove.
I think this is one of the cards that make cube what it is: Powerful, very iconic, and enables some of the most ridiculous interactions ever.
450, Peasant*, unpowered**
Specialities about the cube:
U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
450, Peasant*, unpowered**
Specialities about the cube:
U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
Seriously though this thread is just going to be two arguments:
"Dark Ritual is card disadvantage"
"Dark Ritual ennabled me to do this insane play on turn X"
Blimpy's Aggro-Focused Cube (powered 360)
I'm always open to suggestions on how to improve my cube. Take a look and ask a question, or give a constructive critique whenever you can.
I've also had dark ritual dig me out of the "1 black mana source, X of anything else" hole quite often. While card advantage is a very important thing to consider when evaluating a card, some overly fetishize its significance.
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/3pq
It's not really a 1-shot Sol Ring either, because the turn you play it you have access to more mana, and it can't be destroyed before you can get full value from the card.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
My favorite simple and classic play with Dark Ritual is just Turn 1 Hippie or the new version which is Vampire Nighthawk.
Draft my cube!
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I personally love Dark Rit and have used it many times to get me out of jams. I've also tossed it into decks that splash black but have some double cost cards, just in case I get in a jam and it can get me out of it.
Great card.
MY CUBE!
EDH Decks
Tomorrow, The Pitcher's Name
EDH Decks:
- Reya Dawnbringer // - Mistform Ultimus // - Balthor the Defiled // - Urabrask the Hidden // - Mirri, Cat Warrior
Now here's some things I disagree with when it comes to the card:
1.) It is not comparable to moxen as moxen take the place of a land and are artifacts, thus enabling things like Tezz, Tinker, and Goblin Welder.
2.) It is not particularly comparable to Black Lotus as that allows you to cast 4 drops on turn one, instead of three drops, and is not restricted to any one colour both in casting and mana generation.
3.) It is not comparable to one drops, in terms of power drop off throughout the course of a game, as you want a critical mass of one drops so that you're assured a one drop in your opening hand and where as Dark Ritual is a one of that you're never assured of.
wait...you don't like it because it's like a one shot of the best (second best?) card in the cube, except it makes better mana?
Cube list thread
Cubetutor
I like games that aren't decided on turn 1.
The most devastating plays for us off dark ritual weren't dropping a threat on turn 1. It was playing hatred on turn 3
Although... I guess I should also consider T1 necropotence...
As to the main point of this thread: I love the card and consider it an absolute staple. I consider it an excellent compliment to just about any cube and am happy to draft it in a variety of archetypes. Despite the card disadvantage, it just does awesome things.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
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My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
While I agree in principle, which T1 play based on Dark Ritual is decisive? They give you a huge edge, but nothing that a timely removal or a bigger creature couldn't make up for. I think Skullclamp, Sol Ring or Chalice of the Void (not related to cube), or even Delver, revealing Mana Leak on upkeep, are much more devastating.
450, Peasant*, unpowered**
Specialities about the cube:
U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
Dark Ritual doesn't decide games on T1. At all. It can put you to an advantage on T1, which is exactly what every card in your deck should be trying to do for you.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!