Card/Deck Low Power Card Spotlight

[Grillo_Parlante]

Oh, krovikan horror is even more user unfriendly than that, since you will sometimes want to hold priority when using it. What could be better?

I really like having the upkeep clause on gladiator, as it requires a player to gauge what their likely draws will be, and how they want to use their mana on their turn, which is a level 1 skill of the game.

In a lower power format the trade off of two mana for a 3/1 body, or something to cycle, seems fine: like a form of primitive dredge.

In a higher power format, yeah, I think you have to get rid of the upkeep clause (which is too bad) since the body and cycling are fairly underwhelming, and you're just investing mana in it opportunistically. It really seems more like a card filtering tool in grindy matchups, rather than a full card, which is kind of disappointing.

 

[Grillo_Parlante]

Opinions? Sort of a fight club question:

 

[RavebornMuse]

No thanks // ok // yes please right now

 

[Aston]

I don't know how good it is but I think Intimidator Initiate would be interesting to test.

 

[Laz]

I don't know how good it is but I think Intimidator Initiate would be interesting to test.

I run Intimidator Initiate in the Scuttle-cube. In addition to caring about colour (which is basically an auto-include factor given the theme), it is actually pretty reasonable, mostly because my solution to the issue of aggressive decks being too strong in the first iteration was to add a number of creatures which were better at blocking. As such, aggressive decks (which tend to be critical mass decks) often only need to get through 1-2 blockers to represent a lot of damage, and Intimidator Initiate is a useful tool for doing that.

 

[Grillo_Parlante]

Yeah, thats what I was wondering. It looks really bad compared to the other two, but you can really set up a nasty alpha with it, or use it to chip damage in. Evasion is a big deal.

Rusalka is mostly because of the glory of being able to run a huge swarth of sac outlets for once.

Fireslinger because it seems like a reasonable aggro card, and also has utility in the R/G ramp decks with the two rangers.

In other news I was K/Oed this weekend by a 7/3 double strike trample quirion ranger /sigh

 

[Alfonzo Bonzo]

The intimidator is dependent on the quantity of red spells in your hand that you can cast, which might be good for a big burst attack, but I really like:

 

[Aston]

Other options

 

[Alphez]

Probably not what you're looking for, since they are basically multicolour cards, but these make a good Fireslinger impression.

 

[Alfonzo Bonzo]

I'm playing shadow guildmage- he's great!

 

[japahn]

A better and worse Fireslinger:

 

[Grillo_Parlante]

Thanks for the suggestions. Sparksmith and the guildmages are really great cards, but I am trying to stay away from the defacto multi-color cards and cards that can lead drafters down bad paths (hence why I don't like rally). Also, trying to stay 2cc or less.

Frenzied goblin actually looks pretty good, so its probably a battle between him and fireslinger.

 

[RavebornMuse]

Other options

Pyreheart Wolf

Pyreheart Wolf is the bee's knees and a very popular pick over here. Really batters through way more damage than you'd expect, and the Undying makes it pretty sticky. It also pairs well with things like Alesha, Who Smiles at Death or Reveillark to make it even more sticky. A+

 

[CML]

FWIW Pyreheart Wolf was a real Standard card

Frenzied G is a bit pricey to keep going and was less of a real Standard card in a much weaker format

yadda yadda

 

[kevin]

i like the effect on an enchantment much more than on a 1/1 undying

 

[Grillo_Parlante]

I was thinking about that card, but the wording on all of my fallen empires era versions is so hideous.

 

[sigh]

I was thinking about that card, but the wording on all of my fallen empires era versions is so hideous.

That is pretty hideous... shouldn't it at the very least say "that an opponent chooses to block", or "that the defending player"?

I do like the wolf, I like the frenzied G, I also like:

 

[Aston]

There's also the one with battalion, the name of which escapes me. Or the other one with battalion, which is Legion Loyalist.

 

[Eric Chan]

I did run Firefist Striker for a while, but was never sure if it was a real card - he seemed okay, but that Goblin Piker body is a little underwhelming in most cubes. Did anyone have success with that guy?

I haven't run Frenzied Goblin in some time, but I remember him being a lot better than he looks back when I did.

I'm currently gung ho on this guy

 

[Onderzeeboot]

Yeah, Heelcutter has been doing good work in my cube as well!

 

[Grillo_Parlante]

I remember reading on here that madcap skills was very strong in normal riptide cubes.

I really like the idea of strong aggro enchantments, as that seems to be a spot where a difficult to deal with pernament type can do good work fairly.

 

[Onderzeeboot]

I actually cut Madcap Skills because it resulted in too many free wins. It's that good if unanswered.

 

[Dom Harvey]

Madcap Skills is bonkers

 

[RavebornMuse]

Firefist Striker is way too weak and situational; if he's ever triggering battalion and not dying you were already gonna win anyway 99% of the time.

Goblin Heelcutter, he seems cool but we just didn't care tbh but I get that everyone else likes it. We just didn't care

I wanna run Madcap Skills but only if the small enchantment push I'm trying pans out favourably

 

[Eric Chan]

I think I like the idea of Madcap Skills more in theory than in practise. The idea is that it's a fun, combo-like way to Voltron together a giant, evasive attacker, but I suspect the way most games play out are that either a) the creature is answered, and you lose heavily in your investment, or b) the creature isn't touched, and the game ends in short order. I'm not thrilled about the idea of such a swingy, all-or-nothing aura in cube, especially for only two mana.