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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day


Image from Wizards.com

Cradle Guard
Urza's Saga


Reviewed February 27, 2006

Constructed: 2.3
Casual: 3.2
Limited: 3.56

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

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Card of the Day Reviews 


Jeff Zandi

5 Time Pro Tour
Veteran

Cradle Guard

This was a hot one for limited play, back in the day. You didn't mind too much paying for this guy TWICE (thanks to his Echo 'ability'), and the idea of dropping a 4/4 trampling fattie into play on turn three (or even turn
two) was pretty hard to resist. I dimly recall seeing Cradle Guard in a few beatdown decks in constructed formats, but in general, Cradle Guard was strictly for limited. The reason is simple, in constructed, you can't afford to essentially DO NOTHING the turn after you play this creature.

CONSTRUCTED: 2.0
CASUAL: 3.0
LIMITED: 3.5
 


DeQuan
Watson

* Game Store Owner

Cradle Guard

Cradle Guard was OK as far as 4/4's go. It's was nothing exception though. Tying up your mana for that extra turn was a bit of a pain most of the time. However, lots of casuals players were still pimpin' this guy in their Echo decks. In limited play, this guy always got picked reasonably early and was sure to be a problem.

Constructed: 2

Casual: 3

Limited: 4
 


Christine
Gerhardt

Cradle Guard

Interesting. But as I've never heard of it before, I'm going to guess it wasn't much of a hit. Basically, even though it comes out as early as turn 2, you also must give up your next drop turn 3, for it to work out. If it had haste, that might make the difference, but it doesn't. Still, an interesting card.

Constructed - 2
Casual - 2/5
Limited - 3
 

BMoor

Cradle Guard
I never got to experience Echo firsthand, but the idea of a "half now, half later" mana cost is quite intriguing, especially on a card like this. Green has come to expect more than just a 4/4 trampler for 6 mana, yet it would gladly play this because it can see play on Turn 3 and swing on Turn 4 thanks to its "deffered payment plan". The idea of accelerating it out with a Llanowar Elf just gets even more ridiculous, even if it does put the Green mage at risk of losing the Elf to a Darkblast before the Echo can be paid.

Constructed- 3.0
Casual- 4.6
Limited- 4.2
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