Secrets of Strixhaven Pauper Card Review (for Brews and Bad Decks)
I am extremely new to Pauper, so I may be way off on these assessments, but “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.”
Andrew's Secrets of Strixhaven Review for Legacy
{Dig Site Inventory}
How many {Homestead Courages} is too many?
{Elite Interceptor}
Another pseudo-{Thraben Inspector}. I think the potential upside of tapping a blocker is important for white weenie to finish the game. This may outweigh the downside of losing the “draw a card” if this gets killed early.
{Send in the Pest}
I can see this in a [u][b]-splash {Archaeomancer} pile with {Cornered by Black Mages}; another flicker deck variant. The life gain is helpful in a [r]-Madness world.
{Zealous Lorecaster}
This is the third blinkable, version of this effect in [r] — {Anarchist} only hits sorceries. Four toughness is hardy enough to survive a bolt or prevent attacks from a lot of creatures. [5][r] is a lot, but maybe there’s a [r][b][w] {Exhume}/{Ephemerate} deck with {Wilt in the Heat} and a few other cards from this set.
{Follow the Lumarets}
This is likely competing with {Winding Way} and {Lead the Stampede}. I don’t see it replacing either. You have to jump through a hoop to make it worth casting for an upside of two cards in hand compared to four or five.
{Inkling Mascot}
Surveil off spells is reminiscient of {Dragon’s Rage Channeler}. Perhaps this will see play alongside {Breathless Knight}?
{Pest Mascot}
There are plenty of ways to gain small amounts of life in Pauper. This can get out of [r] removal range quickly, dodges {Snuff Out}, and most importantly, it has Trample.
{Pursue the Past}
{Sneaky Snacker} says, “hi!” (as well as Eidolons). This is a solid upgrade to {Thrilling Discovery}, which you might also want if on Eidolons. Discarding one instead of two is much easier, and having flashback is better than not having flashback.
{Spirit Mascot}
{Sneaky Snacker} says, “hi!” (as well as Eidolons). {Spirit Mascot} can get big, fast. The downsides are susceptibility to {Blue Elemental Blast}, {Hydroblast}, and {Snuff Out}. [w][r] can be challenging to produce on turn two. {Spirit Mascot} will see play, but I’m not sure how good it will be.
{Stadium Tidalmage}
“Enters or attacks” caught my eye. It loots rather than rummages. Maybe there’s a Madness/Snacker/Eidolon thing here.
Maybe get to [4] mana with the popular {Cleaning Wildfire} tech. This is one of the few creatures in Pauper that can generate value when built around.
{Visionary’s Dance}
Discard this early to dig for whatever you need. Late game, {Archaeomancer} it back to build an army. One or two of these in Jeskai or Flicker Tron may be worth testing.
{Wilt in the Heat}
If you can cast this for [w][r] regularly, it can answer {Tolarian Terror}, {Cryptic Serpent}, or {Gurmag Angler}. Otherwise, [4] mana is just too slow/expensive. {Archaeomancer} shines again here.
Maybe [w][r] control is possible with this set. {Ephemerate} on {Ardent Elementalist}/{Revolutionist}/{Zealous Lorecaster} would be easier on the mana than going three colors.
{Page, Loose Leaf}
This card is already seeing success in Cycle Storm.
Where else might this find a home?
{Winding Way}/{Lead the Stampede} decks? {Ghostly Flicker}/{Ephemerate} decks? {Page, Loose Leaf} creates interesting deck-building criteria that I’m all for.
{Potioner’s Trove}
Since Burn is a top archetype, playing {Potioner's Trove} in a multicolor control deck might not be the worst idea.
Activated Surveil Lands
{Forum of Amity}, {Spectacle Summit}, {Titan's Grave}, {Fields of Strife}, {Paradox Garden}.
Surveil is much better than Scry, so much so that a few of these might see play.
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Featured image: {Dig Site Inventory} by Alexandre Honoré