Pack 1 pick 1:
Restoration Angel
Serum Visions
Liliana's Reaver
Chandra's Phoenix
Fauna Shaman
Mutavault
Grim Monolith
--> Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Experiment One
Calciderm
Magus of the Moon
Thelonite Hermit
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Everflowing Chalice
Chrome Mox
Pack 1 pick 2:
Savannah Lions
Trinket Mage
Gatekeeper of Malakir
--> Hero of Oxid Ridge
Dryad Sophisticate
Rootbound Crag
Frantic Search
Remand
Selesnya Sanctuary
Restock
Memory Jar
Time Spiral
Taiga
Smash to Smithereens
Pack 1 pick 3:
Hallowed Burial
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Guul Draz Assassin
Blistering Firecat
Vines of Vastwood
Condescend
Nekrataal
Karplusan Forest
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Nature's Lore
--> Countryside Crusher
Rancor
Reflecting Pool
Pack 1 pick 4:
Yosei, the Morning Star
Court Hussar
Kokusho, the Evening Star
--> Magma Jet
Boreal Druid
Izzet Boilerworks
Sphinx's Revelation
Gnarled Scarhide
Augur of Bolas
Mox Diamond
Lightning Helix
Man-o'-War
Pack 1 pick 5:
Knight of Glory
Tidings
Hero's Downfall
Academy Ruins
--> Devil's Play
Tombstalker
Serendib Efreet
Dimir Charm
Rude Awakening
Hystrodon
Price of Progress
Pack 1 pick 6:
Celestial Purge
Mana Leak
Bloodgift Demon
--> Volcanic Island
Ohran Viper
Tundra
Dreadbore
Arcane Sanctum
Genju of the Spires
Relic of Progenitus
Pack 1 pick 7:
Sakashima's Student
Vampire Nighthawk
--> Firedrinker Satyr
Prophetic Bolt
Dungeon Geists
Kami of Ancient Law
Pithing Needle
Lake of the Dead
Dark Confidant
Pack 1 pick 8:
Mana Tithe
Silverblade Paladin
--> Broodmate Dragon
Putrid Leech
Flashfreeze
Maze of Ith
Skinrender
Tendrils of Corruption
Pack 1 pick 9:
Liliana's Reaver
--> Chandra's Phoenix
Mutavault
Calciderm
Thelonite Hermit
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Chrome Mox
Pack 2 pick 1:
Wall of Omens
Looter il-Kor
Liliana Vess
Wildfire
Brooding Saurian
Llanowar Wastes
Blood Baron of Vizkopa
Vedalken Shackles
Control Magic
Inferno Titan
Chord of Calling
Kiora, the Crashing Wave
Nightveil Specter
--> Sword of Body and Mind
Orzhov Basilica
Pack 2 pick 2:
Hand of Honor
Time Warp
Ravenous Baboons
Beast Within
Stomping Ground
--> Miscalculation
Acidic Slime
Pristine Talisman
Fleecemane Lion
Dimir Aqueduct
Mountain Valley
Dismantling Blow
Naturalize
Savage Lands
Pack 3 pick 4:
Emeria Angel
--> Wake Thrasher
Windswept Heath
Mirari's Wake
Heliod, God of the Sun
Skeletal Scrying
Lodestone Golem
Fact or Fiction
Ponder
Firestorm
Geist of Saint Traft
Descendant of Kiyomaro
Pack 3 pick 5:
Decree of Justice
Coralhelm Commander
Living Death
Rocky Tar Pit
Golgari Rot Farm
Forbid
Keiga, the Tide Star
Gideon, Champion of Justice
--> Tangle Wire
Snuff Out
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
+Tangle Wire, -Devil's Play (Devil's Play is way to inefficient for an aggressive deck and the ability to disrupt the opponent heavily is very good.)
+Wake Thrasher, -Taurean Mauler (better at being a big beater and the mana is likely fine to support it.)
I boarded wake thrasher in every game taking out lodestone golem.
Devil's play never did more then 4 damage, but it always did the last 4 damage after the opponent cleared the board. I was afraid to play tangle wire because I felt that it advantaged the slow player and hurt the aggressive player (me) the most. Is that wrong?
Are there any picks you would have done differently? The goal of the deck once I settled on red was to draft blue for counterspells, but they never happened.
That's exactly the opposite of what Tangle Wire does. It would hurt the aggressive player more than the slow player (who's content to just hit land drops if his opponent isn't doing anything) if you played it on an empty board, but you'd never drop it until you have a board. Then you spend the next few turns tapping your lands and attacking while he spends it doing nothing but playing instants and lands. Plus, it always gives a bigger advantage to whoever played it - remember that it isn't symmetrical. He taps first, you tap one less each time and you get to tap the Tangle Wire itself. Basically the worst I've ever been beaten by a UW aggressive deck with a very good control/ramp deck was when my opponent dropped a 1, dropped a 2, played Tangle Wire, dropped another 2, then Metamorphed his Tangle Wire. I was literally just sitting about one mana away from a huge play for like 5 turns and couldn't interact at all.
Restoration Angel
Serum Visions
Liliana's Reaver
Chandra's Phoenix
Fauna Shaman
Mutavault
Grim Monolith
--> Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Experiment One
Calciderm
Magus of the Moon
Thelonite Hermit
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Everflowing Chalice
Chrome Mox
Pack 1 pick 2:
Savannah Lions
Trinket Mage
Gatekeeper of Malakir
--> Hero of Oxid Ridge
Dryad Sophisticate
Rootbound Crag
Frantic Search
Remand
Selesnya Sanctuary
Restock
Memory Jar
Time Spiral
Taiga
Smash to Smithereens
Pack 1 pick 3:
Hallowed Burial
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Guul Draz Assassin
Blistering Firecat
Vines of Vastwood
Condescend
Nekrataal
Karplusan Forest
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Nature's Lore
--> Countryside Crusher
Rancor
Reflecting Pool
Pack 1 pick 4:
Yosei, the Morning Star
Court Hussar
Kokusho, the Evening Star
--> Magma Jet
Boreal Druid
Izzet Boilerworks
Sphinx's Revelation
Gnarled Scarhide
Augur of Bolas
Mox Diamond
Lightning Helix
Man-o'-War
Pack 1 pick 5:
Knight of Glory
Tidings
Hero's Downfall
Academy Ruins
--> Devil's Play
Tombstalker
Serendib Efreet
Dimir Charm
Rude Awakening
Hystrodon
Price of Progress
Pack 1 pick 6:
Celestial Purge
Mana Leak
Bloodgift Demon
--> Volcanic Island
Ohran Viper
Tundra
Dreadbore
Arcane Sanctum
Genju of the Spires
Relic of Progenitus
Pack 1 pick 7:
Sakashima's Student
Vampire Nighthawk
--> Firedrinker Satyr
Prophetic Bolt
Dungeon Geists
Kami of Ancient Law
Pithing Needle
Lake of the Dead
Dark Confidant
Pack 1 pick 8:
Mana Tithe
Silverblade Paladin
--> Broodmate Dragon
Putrid Leech
Flashfreeze
Maze of Ith
Skinrender
Tendrils of Corruption
Pack 1 pick 9:
Liliana's Reaver
--> Chandra's Phoenix
Mutavault
Calciderm
Thelonite Hermit
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Chrome Mox
Pack 1 pick 10:
Savannah Lions
Trinket Mage
Gatekeeper of Malakir
Dryad Sophisticate
Frantic Search
--> Restock
Pack 1 pick 11:
Hallowed Burial
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
--> Blistering Firecat
Vines of Vastwood
Nekrataal
Pack 1 pick 12:
Yosei, the Morning Star
Court Hussar
--> Izzet Boilerworks
Gnarled Scarhide
Pack 1 pick 13:
Academy Ruins
Tombstalker
--> Serendib Efreet
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Celestial Purge
Bloodgift Demon
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Lake of the Dead
------ SOM ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Wall of Omens
Looter il-Kor
Liliana Vess
Wildfire
Brooding Saurian
Llanowar Wastes
Blood Baron of Vizkopa
Vedalken Shackles
Control Magic
Inferno Titan
Chord of Calling
Kiora, the Crashing Wave
Nightveil Specter
--> Sword of Body and Mind
Orzhov Basilica
Pack 2 pick 2:
Hand of Honor
Time Warp
Ravenous Baboons
Beast Within
Stomping Ground
--> Miscalculation
Acidic Slime
Pristine Talisman
Fleecemane Lion
Dimir Aqueduct
Mountain Valley
Dismantling Blow
Naturalize
Savage Lands
Pack 2 pick 3:
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Brain Freeze
Hypnotic Specter
Kargan Dragonlord
Exploration
Sunken Ruins
Epochrasite
Strangleroot Geist
Firebolt
Gruul Turf
Blightning
Myr Battlesphere
--> Bonesplitter
Pack 2 pick 4:
Vampire Lacerator
--> Urabrask the Hidden
Birthing Pod
Verdant Catacombs
Ravages of War
Momentary Blink
Lion's Eye Diamond
Snapcaster Mage
Maelstrom Pulse
Diregraf Ghoul
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Pack 2 pick 5:
Akroma's Vengeance
--> Gathan Raiders
Tectonic Edge
Gilded Lotus
Necromancy
Repeal
Faithless Looting
Slagstorm
Steppe Lynx
Flooded Grove
Battlefield Forge
Pack 2 pick 6:
Nyx-Fleece Ram
Into the Roil
Yawgmoth's Will
--> Grim Lavamancer
Primal Command
Sulfurous Springs
Molten Rain
Silver Knight
Sphere of the Suns
Volcanic Fallout
Pack 2 pick 7:
Soldier of the Pantheon
Hinder
Pain Seer
Empty the Warrens
Enclave Cryptologist
--> Ancient Tomb
Capsize
Master of Waves
Wood Elves
Pack 2 pick 8:
Braids, Cabal Minion
Ulvenwald Tracker
Boros Garrison
Goblin Ruinblaster
Creeping Tar Pit
Spell Pierce
Mold Shambler
--> Stormblood Berserker
Pack 2 pick 9:
Wall of Omens
--> Looter il-Kor
Liliana Vess
Wildfire
Llanowar Wastes
Nightveil Specter
Orzhov Basilica
Pack 2 pick 10:
Beast Within
Fleecemane Lion
Dimir Aqueduct
Mountain Valley
Naturalize
--> Savage Lands
Pack 2 pick 11:
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Sunken Ruins
--> Firebolt
Gruul Turf
Blightning
Pack 2 pick 12:
Vampire Lacerator
Momentary Blink
Lion's Eye Diamond
--> Maelstrom Pulse
Pack 2 pick 13:
Akroma's Vengeance
Faithless Looting
--> Slagstorm
Pack 2 pick 14:
Sulfurous Springs
--> Volcanic Fallout
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Empty the Warrens
------ AVR ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Lingering Souls
Blue Elemental Blast
Stupor
Cunning Sparkmage
Birds of Paradise
Rugged Prairie
Sun Titan
Molten-Tail Masticore
Crumbling Necropolis
Celestial Flare
Keranos, God of Storms
Karn Liberated
Savannah
Izzet Charm
--> Bonfire of the Damned
Pack 3 pick 2:
Catastrophe
Thassa, God of the Sea
Graveborn Muse
--> Fireblast
All Suns' Dawn
Fire-Lit Thicket
Flooded Strand
Vengevine
Narcolepsy
Oblivion Stone
Pristine Angel
Flinthoof Boar
Misdirection
Nightscape Familiar
Pack 3 pick 3:
Elite Vanguard
Makeshift Mannequin
Stromkirk Noble
Indrik Stomphowler
Isolated Chapel
Reanimate
Xenagos, the Reveler
Reckless Charge
--> Phyrexian Metamorph
Sea Gate Oracle
Meloku the Clouded Mirror
Cursed Scroll
Undermine
Pack 3 pick 4:
Emeria Angel
--> Wake Thrasher
Windswept Heath
Mirari's Wake
Heliod, God of the Sun
Skeletal Scrying
Lodestone Golem
Fact or Fiction
Ponder
Firestorm
Geist of Saint Traft
Descendant of Kiyomaro
Pack 3 pick 5:
Decree of Justice
Coralhelm Commander
Living Death
Rocky Tar Pit
Golgari Rot Farm
Forbid
Keiga, the Tide Star
Gideon, Champion of Justice
--> Tangle Wire
Snuff Out
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Pack 3 pick 6:
Condemn
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Persecute
Krosan Grip
Flood Plain
Pentad Prism
Orcish Lumberjack
--> Phyrexian Revoker
Chain Lightning
Breeding Pool
Pack 3 pick 7:
Armageddon
Entomb
--> Taurean Mauler
Azorius Chancery
Loam Lion
Sorin's Thirst
Sacred Foundry
Elixir of Immortality
Phyrexian Rager
Pack 3 pick 8:
Mystical Tutor
Bogardan Hellkite
Eureka
Burning of Xinye
--> Sulfuric Vortex
Mentor of the Meek
Damnation
Woolly Thoctar
Pack 3 pick 9:
Cunning Sparkmage
Sun Titan
--> Molten-Tail Masticore
Crumbling Necropolis
Celestial Flare
Keranos, God of Storms
Izzet Charm
Pack 3 pick 10:
Graveborn Muse
All Suns' Dawn
--> Oblivion Stone
Pristine Angel
Misdirection
Nightscape Familiar
Pack 3 pick 11:
Elite Vanguard
Makeshift Mannequin
Reanimate
Reckless Charge
--> Cursed Scroll
Pack 3 pick 12:
Skeletal Scrying
--> Lodestone Golem
Geist of Saint Traft
Descendant of Kiyomaro
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Living Death
Rocky Tar Pit
Golgari Rot Farm
Pack 3 pick 14:
Condemn
--> Orcish Lumberjack
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Loam Lion
Creatures
Spells
Any suggestions will be read and thought about and more than likely responded to.
+Wake Thrasher, -Taurean Mauler (better at being a big beater and the mana is likely fine to support it.)
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
Devil's play never did more then 4 damage, but it always did the last 4 damage after the opponent cleared the board. I was afraid to play tangle wire because I felt that it advantaged the slow player and hurt the aggressive player (me) the most. Is that wrong?
Are there any picks you would have done differently? The goal of the deck once I settled on red was to draft blue for counterspells, but they never happened.