I'm not saying the Cradle is better than Tolarian Academy, but only specific, probably already broken decks can make Tolarian Academy over the top broken. This card practically breaks itself in half.
Posted By:
BongRipper420
(11/1/2012 11:18:03 AM)
I run 3 maindeck and 1 in my sideboard (to wish for) plus an Academy. With lots of 0-drop critters (Walkers, Ornithopters, and kobolds), a Mirror Gallery, and some Ley Druids, I can easily generate 50-80 mana in a few turns. The Academy beats the Cradle on power, but not by that much.
Posted By:
Motion2Dismiss
(1/5/2010 10:02:25 PM)
Oh yeah, and there was still mana burn at the time.
Posted By:
themlsna
(6/24/2010 5:02:38 AM)
It says a lot about Urza's Saga that the Cradle here was actually overshadowed by more powerful lands in its day.
You should remember that in those days Green was objectively the worst color in Magic and had been for the entire history. A card like this basically seemed like a gesture of pity.
Posted By:
Weary_PSI
(9/1/2010 12:37:52 AM)
The thing about Urza block was that there were so many powerful cards like this that they all didn't really seem that insanely powerful, and only a few of them were truly broken.
The cradle is not nearly as powerful as Tolarian Academy - that unimaginably broken land was banned one tournament after it was released - but it is still legalized speed and perfect for green.
Posted By:
Laguz
(8/31/2009 5:58:51 AM)
MetalCrisis - say what you will; you missed out on one of the best blocks ever printed.
Posted By:
TheLegendary
(8/13/2009 12:28:35 AM)
I graduated from the Academy, but I'd like to play in the Mother's Forest for awhile...maybe bring some of my saproling friends along for some fun.
Posted By:
Lateralis0ne
(12/26/2009 11:14:36 PM)
I run this in a mono-black rat deck, it's that good...Marrow-Gnawer ensures that your colorless mana costs (on say, Nighteyes the Desecrator) are no object.
Posted By:
izzet_guild_mage
(1/12/2010 11:28:44 AM)
A great card by itself which can produce ridiculously high amounts of mana, especially with M10 rulings which erased mana burn.
The only drawback is that it won't do anything unless you have a creature in play, but this won't be a problem in creature-based decks most of the time.
It's also fun when used along with Land Creatures (currently the only existant one being Dryad Arbor)
Posted By:
Mode
(10/15/2009 12:26:39 PM)
This can break a token deck like nothing has been broken before. Wonderful card.
Posted By:
surewhynot
(6/16/2010 3:05:58 PM)