A Cube is a Limited environment made from a collection of the strongest cards in Magic history. Packs are randomly put together from the cube, and from there any number of Limited formats can be played again and again, reshuffling the same cards in endless iterations. A cube is the opportunity to learn about what makes a Limited environment good, how archetypes can be supported or controlled, and about how cards interact on a higher level. But most of all? It is a community that is obsessed, and memories that don't fade, and fun like you've never seen before.
Here is a quick glossary of notable threads in the Cube Forum. If you're looking for something specific & cube-related, chances are it can be found here.
i love that Ajani Caller of the Unplayable is #1 on that m13 list -- also dude's hatred for low-CMC creatures means his cube probably plays like avr limited
i love that Ajani Caller of the Unplayable is #1 on that m13 list -- also dude's hatred for low-CMC creatures means his cube probably plays like avr limited
The day wtwlf hates low cmc creatures is probably going to be the apocalypse.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to Cube but don't have one? Check the map if anyone is in your area and get cubing!
Those set reviews are close to useless anyway, since the players who write them have close to no experience with the cards at that point. (This is not directed at any person in particular or restricted to the reviews for cube cards.)
If you compare the predictions from the last review here with what actually sees play, you get an average error off 4 ranks, compared to an average error of 6 ranks by arranging the top 20 completely at random.
I agree, I think the reviews are just a fun recap of the cards that got everyone excited during spoiler season.
Those set reviews are close to useless anyway, since the players who write them have close to no experience with the cards at that point. (This is not directed at any person in particular or restricted to the reviews for cube cards.)
If you compare the predictions from the last review here with what actually sees play, you get an average error off 4 ranks, compared to an average error of 6 ranks by arranging the top 20 completely at random.
I think describing set reviews (not just wtwlf's but others) as close to useless is a bit harsh. They help alert me to the cards I want to look out for for my cube from a new set. I'm not concerned about the accuracy of the rankings: if a card is rated 4-6 points higher or lower than the consensus that is fine. I want the reviews to be sensitive (cards that are cube worthy are not missed) but specific (not too much noise from cards that are possibly worth including in larger cubes, may warrant further testing, blah, blah, blah...)
Some cube reviewers, particularly Usman, do test cards in proxy form before they are released, so even if their experience is limited, it will be greater than mine.
If you are comparing the ranking with the numbers of cards actually played, I think this may be distorted by card availability or people waiting for prices to drop when cards rotate out of standard. I would love to include Ash Zealot in my cube, but have been completely unable to trade for one.
Ultimately, I agree that these reviews are a snapshot by an individual at a single point in time. I think it would be reasonable to include the most recent set reviews - maybe from the last year or for standard-legal sets - but then remove them.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
If you just take the cards with the most comments (maybe with an additional damping factor that takes the time into account to reduce the impact of the first spoiled cards) you will get a very similar list.
We get to 3-5 full cycles (number of cards drafted=number of cards in the cube) a week and it still takes me about 2 months before I have a rough estimation about a cards powerlevel in my own cube. Even if you can increase your testing efficiency through seeding, you are not able to test too many cards this way without decreasing the validity of your results because those cards might interact with each other.
You also have to find a way to find a consensus based on conflicting feedback from different members of your testing team.
What existing cards have to be reevaluated with the addition of a card?
Do you even have to re-balance some sections?
So when someone someone posts a review shortly after the set is spoiled and make it sound as if it is not about the expected performance in their own particular list, but the cards overall performance, I am truly skeptical, especially when the only information given to a card is rephrasing its oracle text.
I agree with you, but it seems like most people are just making good stuff cubes and throwing in whatever the highly hyped cards on -- some of which are clearly powerful and some of which are just getting the biggest buzz. Some cards definitely slip through the cracks of these reviews -- Thragtusk in m13? Ajani and a bunch of other roleplayer cards in front of him..really? Even when the set came out that was obviously wrong.
i love that Ajani Caller of the Unplayable is #1 on that m13 list -- also dude's hatred for low-CMC creatures means his cube probably plays like avr limited
Clearly you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
I don't have a hatred for low CMC creatures at all. I've been advocating aggro support and lowering curves for cubes my entire posting history. I want good playable 1-drops more than anyone else.
My cube is pretty damn lean and fast, particularly for a 540 list. The CMC is still under three even after the expansion.
Those are set previews technically speaking, not set reviews. They're not meant to be gospel, just fun cards to try out in cubes (before the sets are even released). Ajani isn't a super bomb, but it's still a pretty damn good cube card.
And my cube plays nothing like AVR limited. More like triple Zendikar. We always have a lot of aggro at the table (wins about 1/3 of the drafts, just like it should).
So are we not doing a power ranking for 2012? Or does that come later in the year?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently playing in EDH:
W Jazal Goldmane WR Daretti, Scrap Savant R B Ghoulcaller Gisa BUG Prime Speaker ZeganaUG UG Edric, Spymaster of Trest UGBG Nath, of the Gilt-Leaf BG RG Ruric Thar, the Unbowed RGUB Dragonlord Silumgar UB UBG Damia, Sage of Stone UBGWUG Roon of the Hidden Realm WUG WRG Marath, Will of the Wild WRGBRG Prossh, Skyrider of Kher BRG WUB Sydri, Galvanic Genius WUBUBR Thraximundar UBR URG Yasova Dragonclaw URGWUR Zedruu, the Greathearted WUR WBG Daghatar the Adamant WBGWUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
I am looking for software or a site to reorder my decklist. I built it on MTGO so there is no order. Is there anything that will accept this raw text file as an input and then arrange the cards as I desire? (Primary sort by colour, secondard sort by CMC)
Theres probably already a place for this, but I was wondering where I could find a guide to making a cube, specifically on one set, I was looking at conspiracy as a fun cube, and I wanted to see what I would need to do, and how much it would cost, ext. Thanks!
Wow, that was 2010. Time flies. It is kind of cool to read over those results and see what's changed and what hasn't, though. Kor Skyfisher came in seventh place in white 2s and it's literally the only creature on that list that I'm still running today. Interesting.
Here is a quick glossary of notable threads in the Cube Forum. If you're looking for something specific & cube-related, chances are it can be found here.
The Official Cube Discussion Thread
The Pauper Cube Discussion Thread
The Peasant Cube Discussion Thread
The MODO Cube Discussion Thread
The "This or That" Discussion Thread (Card comparisons for cube.)
The Basic Land Discussion Thread
The (Archived) Card Evaluation Thread (Search here for old discussion on cards.)
The Sleeves & Storage Discussion Thread
The Altered/Pimp Cube Cards Discussion Thread
The Card Æsthetics Evaluation Thread
Cards and Archetype Discussion Compendium
Cube Comparison Results Thread by eidolon232
Shards of Alara
Shards of Alara
Conflux
Alara Reborn
Zendikar
Zendikar
Worldwake
Rise of the Eldrazi
Scards of Mirrodin
Scars of Mirrodin
Mirrodin Besieged
New Phyrexia
Innistrad
Innistrad
Dark Ascension
Avacyn Restored
Return to Ravnica
Return to Ravnica
Gatecrash
Core Sets
M2011
M2012
Special Sets
Duel Decks: Phyrexia Vs. The Coalition
Commander
Rise of the Eldrazi, by DerBK (& Re-Review)
Scars of Mirrodin, by DerBK (& Re-Review)
Mirrodin Besieged, by DerBK
New Phyrexia, by DerBK
Dark Ascension, by DerBK
Avacyn Restored, by Sylar teh Evil
Avacyn Restored, by DerBK
Top 20 Avacyn Restored Cards, by wtwlf123
Top 20 Return to Ravnica Cards, by wtwlf123
Top 15 Return to Ravnica Cards, by Demagogue
Top 20 Gatecrash Cards, by wtwlf123
Top 20 Dragon's Maze Cards, by wtwlf123
Magic 2011, by DerBK
Top 20 Magic 2013 Cards, by wtwlf123
"Cube" Tag on MTGSalvation Articles
The Critical Turn and its role in Cube Design, by TakeABow
Cube Power Rankings 2009
Cube Power Rankings 2010
Cube Power Rankings 2011
Multiplayer Cube Power Rankings 2012
Project "Rank Everything"
Ranking the Planeswalkers
Cube Comparison Result Thread
ChannelFireball.com Cube Articles/Videos
Starcitygames.com "Cube Holistic Wisdom" Article Series by Usman Jamil
Starcitygames.com "Darksteele Cube" Article Series by Thea Steele
"The Third Power" Podcast Series by Usman & Antknee42
"Joys of Cubing" Podcast Series by kojiro
Tappedout.net Cube Lists
Deckstats.net Cube List Analysis
Cubetutor.com Cube Lists, and Discussion Thread
If you see a potential resource not already on this list, PM one of us moderators to get it on here! =D
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Infraction for trolling.
-:ER:
The day wtwlf hates low cmc creatures is probably going to be the apocalypse.
The Great Cube Map!
My Powered Cube
Draft it here!
360 Unpowered Cube | Cubetutor
Added.
Removed, and fixed. =D
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
If you wanted to include it.
[Remixes] - [The Brutal Cube - 360 Powered] - [My Cube Article] - ['Print-This' Wishlist]
Added.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Well, he does give low cost creatures a bad name by endorsing junk like Poucing Jaguar
I agree, I think the reviews are just a fun recap of the cards that got everyone excited during spoiler season.
I think describing set reviews (not just wtwlf's but others) as close to useless is a bit harsh. They help alert me to the cards I want to look out for for my cube from a new set. I'm not concerned about the accuracy of the rankings: if a card is rated 4-6 points higher or lower than the consensus that is fine. I want the reviews to be sensitive (cards that are cube worthy are not missed) but specific (not too much noise from cards that are possibly worth including in larger cubes, may warrant further testing, blah, blah, blah...)
Some cube reviewers, particularly Usman, do test cards in proxy form before they are released, so even if their experience is limited, it will be greater than mine.
If you are comparing the ranking with the numbers of cards actually played, I think this may be distorted by card availability or people waiting for prices to drop when cards rotate out of standard. I would love to include Ash Zealot in my cube, but have been completely unable to trade for one.
Ultimately, I agree that these reviews are a snapshot by an individual at a single point in time. I think it would be reasonable to include the most recent set reviews - maybe from the last year or for standard-legal sets - but then remove them.
My 380 Beginners’ Cube on Cube Tutor
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
I agree with you, but it seems like most people are just making good stuff cubes and throwing in whatever the highly hyped cards on -- some of which are clearly powerful and some of which are just getting the biggest buzz. Some cards definitely slip through the cracks of these reviews -- Thragtusk in m13? Ajani and a bunch of other roleplayer cards in front of him..really? Even when the set came out that was obviously wrong.
Clearly you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
I don't have a hatred for low CMC creatures at all. I've been advocating aggro support and lowering curves for cubes my entire posting history. I want good playable 1-drops more than anyone else.
My cube is pretty damn lean and fast, particularly for a 540 list. The CMC is still under three even after the expansion.
Those are set previews technically speaking, not set reviews. They're not meant to be gospel, just fun cards to try out in cubes (before the sets are even released). Ajani isn't a super bomb, but it's still a pretty damn good cube card.
And my cube plays nothing like AVR limited. More like triple Zendikar. We always have a lot of aggro at the table (wins about 1/3 of the drafts, just like it should).
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
W Jazal Goldmane W R Daretti, Scrap Savant R
B Ghoulcaller Gisa B UG Prime Speaker ZeganaUG
UG Edric, Spymaster of Trest UG BG Nath, of the Gilt-Leaf BG
RG Ruric Thar, the Unbowed RG UB Dragonlord Silumgar UB
UBG Damia, Sage of Stone UBG WUG Roon of the Hidden Realm WUG
WRG Marath, Will of the Wild WRG BRG Prossh, Skyrider of Kher BRG
WUB Sydri, Galvanic Genius WUB UBR Thraximundar UBR
URG Yasova Dragonclaw URG WUR Zedruu, the Greathearted WUR
WBG Daghatar the Adamant WBG WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
I think ranking is due soon and is pretty important service that Cubers provide to the larger community.
Ux Whirza
Rb Goblins
Legacy
U Urza Stompy
Duel Commander
Sai, Master Thopterist
Ux Whirza
Rb Goblins
Legacy
U Urza Stompy
Duel Commander
Sai, Master Thopterist
Modern
Commander
Cube
<a href="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/the-cube-forum/cube-lists/588020-unpowered-themed-enchantment-an-enchanted-evening">An Enchanted Evening Cube </a>
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=467049
The link got mangled a bit. Here you go.
Project "Rank Everything"
[Developing] 430+ Peasant Cube Thread --- [and on Cube Cobra]
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.