Mulldrifter

Creature — Elemental

Flying

When Mulldrifter enters the battlefield, draw two cards.

Evoke (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)

Discussion (51)

Dragonsblood33 on

1 week ago

Flickerwisp , Cloudshift , Mistmeadow Witch , Turn to Mist , Mulldrifter These are some good additions

Shinwizzles on Black Rose [Budget]

2 weeks ago

Hey Strangelove, neat deck! Looks really solid budget deck; you've got a lot of really good cards that have high impact at low cost. I noticed that you're not running Ashnod's Altar . Any reason, other than budgetary, that it isn't included? Seems like a pretty sweet sac outlet.

I see that you have Falkenrath Noble in your Maybeboard, but have you considered running Zulaport Cutthroat , or the classic Blood Artist ? If you're murderin' critters every turn, both of those guys can be pretty useful. Not sure how much you're trying to avoid gaining life, in order to ensure Marchesa, the Black Rose 's Dethrone trigger, but they might prove to be useful in some conditions.

Smart to include Shriekmaw in the deck. Have you considered any other creatures with Evoke? They combo well with the Unspeakable Symbol . Ingot Chewer and Mulldrifter seem like they'd do nicely, perhaps. On the subject of abilities: looks like you've included a few Graft creatures in the deck. Have you at all thought about adding Cytoplast Manipulator ? I've had that card perform miracles in my deck. Steal a dude, +1/+1 it somehow, kill it dead, and it becomes yours!

Have you thought about adding in Treasonous Ogre to your deck? Runs similarly to Unspeakable Symbol , but with red mana instead of +1/+1 counters. Has been used to save my bacon more times than I'd care to mention in my games.

With all the ETB triggers in your deck, you may want to think about adding Noosegraf Mob , since it'll net you zombies, and sets itself up to come back easily, if the last counter isn't removed from the card. Dunno what your budget is, but you may want to consider swapping Butcher of Malakir for something like Dictate of Erebos , which can be used in hilarious ways due to the Flash ability. Another inclusion you may want to consider is River Kelpie , since you're relying heavily on Marchesa, the Black Rose 's Dethrone to pull stuff outta the 'yard. Have you put any consideration into using cards that have an Outlast-like effect? Mer-Ek Nightblade and Herald of Secret Streams seem like they could be useful in your deck.

Lastly, I noticed you don't have a Reef Worm in your deck. Not sure if that's a personal choice or what, but let me tell you, it has given many excellent performances in my deck. Being able to loop it several times has proven to be a game ender on more than one occasion.

Anyway, amazing deck! Looks like it'd be an absolute blast to play, and it can be made without breaking the bank!

winthrop on Godheaded Control

2 weeks ago

Cut the Mulldrifter and Heliod's Pilgrim for a couple Somnomancer and Bant Sureblade

SynergyBuild on Why Cyclonic Rift is not ...

2 weeks ago

In EDH, when a player with a blue source and at least mana in other sources open on a field. It is a threat. It is a threat not because of a 7 mana spell, but a 2 mana spell, not a spell that deals damage, counters spell, destroys permanents, tutors, or cheats costs, but a bounce spell.

Cyclonic Rift , C-Rift, the big wave, whatever you call it, people know it as one of the strongest, most backbreaking spells in all of EDH, if not the best card in the format.

I am here to say that is isn't.

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Part of my series on why other popular staples aren't good ( Phyrexian Arena , Rampant Growth ), or are simply not good in a specific way ( Rhystic Study ), I am not here to deny the power that a card like Cyclonic Rift has, but simply that it isn't a good enough card to warrant the hate or love that it receives.

Before I go over why it isn't good, I need to go over why at nearly every power level, it is good.

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In casual EDH, the 50% or less, the Precons, the jank, lies it's the weakest state.

That is where all removal spells, sweepers, or countermagic is the weakest, especially bounce. If no one has threatening boards, why remove them. You'd rather spend 7 mana on a spell to improve yours most of the time, yet those games go long, the Cyclonic Rift acts as a Fog to save you, Sleep to get in for damage, or real removal if you use it on a player's end step if they have to discard just after.

Almost all cards that show heavy play at higher levels show some play at lower ones, and while the price-tag may limit it for most casual players, it does work.

At the 75% or the middle tiers of EDH, where I think EDH players mostly lie, it where it is the most powerful. IF it destroyed any number of target nonland permanents, it would be weaker, because of three reasons:

• 75% decks often use permanent-based engines to support their gameplan. Think Beast Whisperer along with a deck full of cheap elves, or Paradox Engine in a deck will a lot of Temple Bell effects and mana rocks.

• These decks and their creators often expect opponents to remove threats, so have many threats to remove.

• They try to protect against sweepers, the only punishing cards for going so wide, with anti-sweepers, think Heroic Intervention , or Boros Charm , and protect against some single-target removal with effects like Darksteel Plate .

Because of this, and because indestructible and hexproof don't protect against a mass bounce effect, along with Cyclonic Rift being the only mass bounce at instant speed that doesn't affect you at all, and doesn't target, it is truly the best anti-75% sweeper by many standards.

In the competitive setting, while not bad, it is mostly relegated to being a 2 mana Chain of Vapor or a Into the Roil that doesn't draw a card, that can let a combo deck get through stax locks once in a blue moon.

Don't get me wrong, being relegated to a slightly worse Chain of Vapor isn't an insult. Chain of Vapor is possible the best removal in cEDH, as decks like Kess consultation or P-Hulk variants Laboratory Maniac wins, and for 1 blue mana, or two in the case of Cyclonic Rift , you get to bounce their wincon as they draw off an empty deck, so they lose...

That is some powerful stuff.

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So why isn't it the best EDH card, an efficient spell in nearly any metagame? 2 options for removal, one that crushes many lists and the other a sleek and useful trick?

Because it isn't hyper-efficient, nor is it unbeatable, nor is it irreplaceable.

To start, many cEDH decks that run it run consistent amounts of countermagic to protect it's possible great effect, and numerous cards could fit the spot. It isn't alone. Blink of an Eye , the second Into the Roil has been used over it in many combo lists that more mana-efficient options and many forget the slot all-together, in favor of a cantrip or other removal spell like Abrade or whatever. It isn't very dominant there, and so is easy to explain why it wouldn't be amazing there.

In casual lists, Cyclonic Rift costs about as much as half of many of the casual decks, or even more than some entire casual decks that I have seen. Bringing money-cards wins there, as would a Consecrated Sphinx that costs less money, and I'd wager would have more powerful an effect. Again, an easy argument, but I believe it works.

The really hard place to argue against Cyclonic Rift on the surface is the middle tiers. The 75% lists. Legitimately, I think it is because in the 75% players don't consistently a highly interactive 'metagame'. They just prefer to be interactive 'ingame'.

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This comes down to theory, however, when a deck, for example, an elf list abusing the Llanowar Elves style effects along with untap effects to keep making mana, dumping it into something like Ezuri, Renegade Leader . All of that deck and many others get shut down by Null Rod . While that card may be less powerful than other cards against any random deck, as many players know exactly what decks they face, they can play to those decks.

This means general removal, like Anguished Unmaking may be worse if artifacts and walkers don't see much play, you'd rather Mortify . Or if instant speed doesn't help you much, as a lot of City of Solitude / Dosan the Falling Leaf effects exist in your meta, Vindicate , etc.

This is pretty basic knowledge, however, the point here is that there are many, many replacements for Cyclonic Rift in different metagames, and I want to share the ones, only in mono-blue, that in the 75% are why Cyclonic Rift is overrated.

This isn't to say it isn't the best, but that if many, many replacements cost way less $$$ and are occasionally better, that one card shouldn't be considered the best in every situation.

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Replacements:

Aether Gale , sorcery, only hits six things, has to hit your things if you don't have enough targets of only your opponents, targets, etc. Yes, there are reasons this is clearly worse.

Why is it better? Politically, you don't have to hit cards from players you team with. Similarly, if you like the Howling Mine on someone's field, don't bounce it. Someone Banishing Light ed someone else's threat you can't deal with? Don't bounce it.

Also, 18 cents. Compared to ~20 dollars and I think it is a steal for budget lists.

Also, it is 2 mana cheaper, despite not being an occasional Disperse .

Evacuation , the downside is simple, it doesn't hit non-creatures, and bounces your own things.

The upsides are for decks that want their own things bounced. ETB effects like Mulldrifter (You can respond to the sacrifice on evoke if you want!), Archaeomancer (infinite sweepers by returning Evacuation , or just recur another card), Duplicant , Solemn Simulacrum , etc.

It is 5 mana too, still an instant, and is only 2-3 dollars right now.

Other options for this could be AEtherize , Whelming Wave , Inundate , Engulf the Shore , Profaner of the Dead , or Scourge of Fleets if you just want mass creature bounce, each with ups and downs, some that only hit opposing creatures, some that are instants, some with graveyard synergies, etc.

For mass nonland bounce that doesn't target? There are tons of options, plenty with lower mana costs than Cyclonic Rift .

Take Coastal Breach . It does a mass bounce for just 4 mana (with 3 opponents), leaving you enough to rebuild first, and being able to be cast much faster, making up slightly for the sorcery speed.

Or Crush of Tentacles , 6 mana? 5 mana and an 8/8, it needs to be in a deck with enough cheap drops to hit surge to be worth it, but an option.

Devastation Tide is a personal favorite, if you run Aminatou, Brainstorm , a lot of scry, Mystical Tutor , Long-Term Plans , Jace, the Mind Sculptor , or are lucky, it is a 2 mana bounce everything. Really strong, however, sorcery (unless you cast it with Miracle on an opponents turn.

Run really high mana cards? Displacement Wave can be better,

Like a big creature attached? Kederekt Leviathan . It even comboes with flicker effects, or can be repeated for 2 mana with an effect like Animate Dead or 3 mana at instant speed whenever with Necromancy in black/blue.

Only need to target one player for political reasons? River's Rebuke .

A lot of one color in the meta? Wash Out

Artifacts/Enchantments? Reduce to Dreams

Even outside of bounce effects, Ixidron can do work xD

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Point is, there are options. Even outside of blue, sweepers that can get around the normal protection is seriously strong. Terminus , Hallowed Burial , along with most mass exile effects in white from Play of the Game to Final Judgement / Descend upon the Sinful to the new Urza's Ruinous Blast , etc. Mercilous Eviction in W/B, the -x/-x effects in black like Toxic Deluge or Black Sun's Zenith , etc. in any color, Perilous Vault exists.

These are half of why I think Cyclonic Rift is overrated. Not because it isn't great at what it does, but that it isn't that much better than the rest.

The other half is simple.

Every color (sorry colorless) has answers to Cyclonic Rift off the top of my head.

White? Teferi's Protection , Lapse of Certainty it.

Blue? Swan Song it. Dispel it.

Black? Many lists abuse cards like Inquisition of Kozilek or other discard to remove powerful cards from opposing decks.

Red? Pyroblast or Red Elemental Blast are cEDH staples and are very efficient.

Green? Ugh... Yeah, I guess some colors don't have answers...

EDIT: griffstick said Seedtime . This is beautiful xD

(Gutteral Response if they ever make hybrid legal in mono-colored xD)

That's all. Thoughts?

NinjaKitty778 on Geral's Roon Deck

3 weeks ago

Ok well first things first you need to look at what your commander wants from you. Roon has the ability to manipulate creatures on the battlefield: whether they're your own or an opponent. He can blink opponents creatures from combat if there is one that's causing you grief, blink a big defender in the way of one of your attacks, and (most importantly) he can blink your own creatures and cause their ETB effects to trigger. So we'll need creatures that can:

1) Ramp 2) Control the Battlefield 3) Generate some Card Advantage/Utility/Tutor 4) Enable Aggro

Now of course given Roon's colors there is lots of room to pop in some great non-creature spells as well. We're looking for anything that can grab us whatever we need from our creature toolbox, manipulate the field to our advantage, and of course some effective removal as well.

So for ramp I'm thinking:

- Coiling Oracle - Farhaven Elf - Oracle of Mul Daya - Sakura-Tribe Elder - Selvala, Heart of the Wilds - Solemn Simulacrum - Wood Elves - Blighted Woodland - Cultivate - Kodama's Reach - Sol Ring

For Battlefield control:

- Acidic Slime - Angel of Serenity - Bane of Progress - Duplicant - Knight of Autumn - Reclamation Sage - Terastodon - Venser, Shaper Savant - Austere Command - Supreme Verdict - Cyclonic Rift - Eerie Interlude - Aura Shards

Card Advantage/Utility/Tutor

- Ephara, God of the Polis - Eternal Witness - Karmic Guide - Mulldrifter - Prime Speaker Zegana - Recruiter of the Guard - Reveillark - Seedborn Muse - Sun Titan - Woodland Bellower - Eldritch Evolution - Green Sun's Zenith - Tooth and Nail - Wargate - Chord of Calling - Eladamri's Call - Birthing Pod - Garruk, Caller of Beasts - Venser, the Sojourner

Aggro Enablers:

- Avenger of Zendikar - Brago, King Eternal - Craterhoof Behemoth

And those are just to name a few cards. Of course you have access to a lot of ETB copy stuff like Clever Impersonator that turn into whatever you want it to turn into when you blink it in; they can really turn the tide in your favor. I did up a proto-type deck here: Roon Proto-Type. Give it a test run and let me know what you think about it.

Lemur16 on Ruuuun

4 weeks ago

I would rather to not play more clones Mana curve actually works pretty well Mulldrifter is op when u Evoke him then flicker 5 mana draw 4 cards Trostani Summoner is very good win con I'm also testing Lumbering Battlement And ive cutted Peregrine Drake Because he was not casual

Forkbeard on Roon of the Hidden Realm: Transcendent Rhino

4 weeks ago

Not only have I not tried Faerie Artisans , I didn't know it existed until you posted it, haha. Certainly a fun and possibly political card, but I personally prefer having control over what I'm cloning versus relying on what my opponents cast.

I like Frilled Mystic a lot. Mystic Snake is DEN's BFF so having some snake redundancy in here wouldn't hurt, that's a good call.

I am running a little light for card draw. That said, I have so much recursion & tutor in here that it's usually not a problem if I'm needing to replenish my mit. Mulldrifter is a house here so do I like the idea of having a second option with Cloudblazer . I ran PSZ for a while but ended up swapping her out due to her casting cost + reliance on my board state.

Some good ideas here Patryn - I'm definitely thinking about slotting in Frilled Mystic + Cloudblazer , cheers!

semsandberg on Muldrotha: Needs help

1 month ago

Hey bobobo77,

Muldrotha is an awesome commander and as I see you have a great base here. I have some suggestions for you. First I would add some mana-dorks like: Llanowar Elves , Elvish Mystic , Fyndhorn Elves , Boreal Druid , Elves of Deep Shadow or Sakura-Tribe Elder , Wood Elves . With Muldrotha often it works like Meren of Clan Nel Toth , you need a Grave Pact , Dictate of Erebos and a Butcher of Malakir . Than you can use all the AristocraticStuff like Spore Frog , Fauna Shaman , Mulldrifter , Shriekmaw , Fleshbag Marauder , Plaguecrafter , Eternal Witness and I highly recommend you The Gitrog Monster .

That's some thoughts. If you like, check out my Sidisi the Land reanimator-deck.