Modern forum
Posted on Sept. 14, 2014, 2:35 p.m. by GlistenerAgent
Why is no one playing this card? I feel that it's similar to Dark Confidant in that if it's left unchecked, it can generate a great deal of advantage. They even have the same body! In my opinion, the advantage that Cobra would generate is much more tangible and quickly realized, and allows a wider range of deckbuilding options.
pookypuppy6 says... #3
I can only suspect that, in comparing the two it comes down to cards versus mana. Mana generation is super powerful for sure... but getting an extra draw on your opponent each turn as soon as Turn 3 is a game-changer. For all the mana Lotus Cobra produces, you have to have the cards to use it. Dark Confidant draws you into gas. Mana is a tanglible benefit...but extra cards (no matter what those cards are) is even better.
Why not run both? You know, besides the price...
September 14, 2014 2:41 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #4
Seems like running them together is a solid plan. Ive found it's the inconsistency that makes Lotus Cobra less valuable, and multiples tend to be mostly redundant as you usually don't need as much mana as they can generate.
Using Bob usually means low average cmc, so fetches become useful more for instant speed responses with the cobra. It's a good card, but it's mostly unnecessary.
September 14, 2014 3:29 p.m.
theinfernumflame says... #5
I have done broken things with Lotus Cobra in modern (like in this deck), but I have to see it early, and I have to have something worth ramping into, and if it gets killed before I can get much value from it, then I'm stuck with something expensive in my hand and nowhere near casting it.
Dark Confidant , on the other hand, demands an answer, or it just sits there drawing me extra cards. I've been playing Jund in modern, and I almost never lose if I hit Dark Confidant and it survives a couple turns (there's a very notable difference in win percentage with and without it).
September 14, 2014 3:41 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #6
I'm not arguing for this card over Bob. I'm just wondering why people don't play it more. It's worse than Bob, but that's not saying much.
September 14, 2014 3:54 p.m.
alpinefroggy says... #7
Because it doesn't come down until turn 2 and doesn't create a ton of tangible value. Its a high tempo and high variance card that can allow you to do powerful things but not in a way that is meaningful all the time.
September 14, 2014 4:17 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #8
In the right deck, Lotus Cobra can do silly things. For instance:
T1- Forest , Birds of Paradise
T2- Forest , Lotus Cobra
T3- Windswept Heath (et al), sac to fetch a land, Landfall triggers twice on Cobra netting 2 mana, tap Forest s and land just fetched, BoP, POW Primeval Titan .
As you can see, one can utilize Lotus Cobra for acceleration, but it and whatever you bring out with it is vulnerable to removal. C'est la vie, I suppose. Cobra isn't on par with Bob, as they do different things. Card advantage for green would be Garruk, Primal Hunter and what not.
September 14, 2014 4:53 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #9
You can actually do T1 Birds --> T2 Cobra, KotR --> T3 9 mana, which I personally like to throw into baneslayer and Elspeth, Knight-Errant :)
September 14, 2014 4:55 p.m.
tyforthevenom says... #10
i think it could see play within an Amulet of Vigor deck list but it doesn't do much
September 14, 2014 5:30 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #11
You realize you just specified what 8/9 cards have to be if you are on the play and 8/10 on the draw. Cards have to be evaluated in their most likely scenario, not magical dream land. So Lotus Cobra has to be evaluated at 1.5 mana per turn assuming 50/50 fetch to "regular" ratio
September 14, 2014 5:43 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #12
I know, that was just a nut draw :) Again, I'm just wondering why it isn't played as a generic mana-ramper that can potentially lead to explosive board states.
September 14, 2014 5:52 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #13
I think it's just that the number of nonconditional 1-drop acclerators available makes it unnecessary, despite its potential being high.
ChiefBell says... #2
Nah. Drawing cards is way more important than ramp. Lotus cobra does its stuff more quickly (with the potential to net 2 extra mana in a turn due to fetches), however DC is still in a league of his own.
You could put Lotus in some kind of selesnya aggro deck or something. With the release of their fetchland it has more support. Could be pretty fantastic in propelling you into a 5 drop on T3.
September 14, 2014 2:39 p.m.