Post phantom nerf, that is. Not only does it help the Phantom player, it also helps people flying against Phantoms because now you'll know not only their maneuver, but their decloak right after because of the nerf to decloak. This coupled with it already being kind of a steal for 1 point seems like it would be very strong. Flying a HWK in your list? Slap an Intel Agent in it for a single point more. Flying a generic phantom? Intel Agent. Have an extra crew slot on your Decimator or Lambda? Intel Agent.

I'm still waiting for Adrenaline Rush to become the powerhouse we all knew it should be. That and Steam Augury, but that's a horse of a different color.

Post phantom nerf, that is. Not only does it help the Phantom player, it also helps people flying against Phantoms because now you'll know not only their maneuver, but their decloak right after because of the nerf to decloak. This coupled with it already being kind of a steal for 1 point seems like it would be very strong.

Well, a Phantom with an Intel Agent has two options, unless I'm missing something (Quite possible, I'm not looking at the specific wording while typing this).

1. Let the Agent catch a ship currently at Range 1-2, and then decloak with that knowledge
2. Decloak into Range 1-2 of an enemy, then capture their knowledge for a fellow ship, or a barrel-roll if they're a higher level than you.

Either way, it's bloody solid. And sneaky, and scales with player ability. I approve!

I'm still waiting for Adrenaline Rush to become the powerhouse we all knew it should be.

Defenders, natch.

That and Steam Augury, but that's a horse of a different color.

Red and Blue specifically.

It's potent as-is, but a 5 mana sorcery is too high a cost unless it will actively win you the game these days.

Still, with Zendicar looming again, high-mana-cost is likely to be very viable.

Decloak happens at the start of the activation phase, but after all the other start of the activation phase abilities trigger. So you wouldn't be able to decloak and than Intel agent.

I had a three day argument with people when Steam Augury was first spoiled, and they swore up and down it would see standard play because it was "just like Fact or Fiction." I told them it would be a dollar rare within three months. Look at who ended up being right...

Still, with Zendicar looming again, high-mana-cost is likely to be very viable.

Zendikar.

I'm not sure a higher curve was because of Zendikar itself. There were some viable ramp effects, of course, but it was the titans that really pushed it upwards of six, and Prime-Time in particular.

think im now going to try

"Whisper" (32)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Enhanced Scopes (1)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Total: 39

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

now what to do with the other 61 points

If you've got the ability to make use of the knowledge, and a spare crew slot somewhere, Intelligence Agent is a very nice card.

I'd imagine it supports low pilot skill arc dodgers very, very well - say, a support shuttle with a pack of Alpha Squadron interceptors...

I'm not sure a higher curve was because of Zendikar itself. There were some viable ramp effects, of course, but it was the titans that really pushed it upwards of six, and Prime-Time in particular.

Things like Explore, and especially Lotus Cobra, led for some shenanigans in the Zendikar block.

But if we're talking Standard New Phyrexia-Zendikar, Stone Blade was literally the only deck that mattered.

Sure, but ramp is still just a means to an end. What were people ramping into before the titans dropped? Avenger of Zendikar, maybe. Lotus Cobra was more mana fixer than ramp, and I only recall seeing it in some niche bant decks. Primeval Titan is really what broke the format open; before that I think jund was the only dominant archetype in standard.