Cards that interest me from The Hobbit (HOB)
This is my set review. Notes on The Pauper cube should be taken as just my opinions, not the rest of the committee. The second half here will focus on my bar cubes so don't fret if you don't see something that has a token, counter or even Storied, they're just not for those spaces. These posts will likely trail the spoiler releases by a week so that the prerelease pricing madness has a bit to cool down, as two of my cubes take budget into account.
The Pauper Cube
Attercop isn't flashy but I like the fact this can be a real contributor to the clock while also being a good blocker.
Mirkwood Nurturer follows in the long line of "pauper cards that let you rebuy your ETB effects". This one also just happens to be a decent rate for the body as you're almost always going to get the counter. I'm happy to rebuy the random 2 drop and have a 4/3 to start beating in with.
I think that Plunder is gonna see a lot of homes, it's a non-miserable rate to draw cards especially when you account for the first one just drawing a 4 mana draw 2. Generically good with some fun little interactions with other cards.
Rage is one of those cards where it's basically just Phyrexian Rager, but I actually just like this one a bit more as a variant that you can play with Archaeomancer style effects to keep the cards flowing and hopefully keep the army bashing in for damage.
Wargling isn't high on my personal list but I think it's reasonable especially since it just gives the whole team trample to make for a really miserable combat step on the other side of the table.
Kusoge Cube and Necropolis
This one is just for Kusoge, I think it's pretty reasonable for this to be a 6/5 and there will be times where this thing is just a 12 power beater on turn 6. I might try this out but it's likely gonna just "be on the radar".
I am a huge Putrid Leech enjoyer, being able to have it as a monocolored creature all these years later. I'll likely try this in Kusoge, pick up a second copy if I want to push black as an aggressive option in Necropolis.
I don't have the density on this one but it's a really neat idea for a card, just turning that random 1 drop turn 5 into a 3/3 flier which can still contribute. Cool card!
This one might get tested in Kusoge as an option for a green curve topper that can end games very quickly.
I think this one is gonna be a big get for the Bar cube world. Being able to mop up small bodies or exile a big one is a nice little modal spell.
I really love this one. I'm the biggest mark known to man for "recursive threat with a much of extra text on it". I don't this this is gonna be the wildest card but I at least want to give it a shot since it does just have the "this can turn a creature into another 2 points of damage" mode.
I have had a great time casting Picklock Prankster in my cubes and I think that seeing this tweak on the formula I'll like casting this one too. Goes into both of my bar cubes.
I have been big on the "if you're playing some cutesy version of Fact or Fiction, just play Fact or Fiction" mentality, but I think this one finally gets to the point where I want this as an option. I think the mind game here is really fun and one that people will find ways to leverage. Big fan of this in bar cubes.
Closing things out I'm here looking at a 4 drop that loots on ETB. Thi being able to ramp you a little as well as being a recursive creature make this great in a lot of medium powered cubes but honestly I'm mostly stoked to play this in necropolis where you might actually want to discard a nonland card for value.
Summary feelings
I have not been a huge UB enjoyer since its introduction, I think it cheapens the game and actively sucks to see thing like pizza art. That said, middle earth being upstream as inspiration for a lot of stuff in Magic, it feels just a bit less out of place here than most do. I will be happy to play a few cards from here but I'm ready to get back to proper, in-universe sets ASAP.
You can reach me by email! Omniczech@tuta.com