Agreed with Metamind. Tireless Tracker has been consistently impressive and is typically a medium-high pick and pretty much always makes the cut in any green deck.
I didn't even include Tireless Tracker at first. I only gave it a try after reading many glowing reviews of this card. It turned out to be better than I expected... but overall it was just ok. Not as amazing as many make the card seem.
The core problem is that it is a 3/2 rather than a 2/3. If it were a 2/3, it probably would be as amazing as many say it is. Tracker is a card that gives you more and more value the longer it stays in play. However, having only 2 thoughness on a 3-drop directly works against your desire of having it stay in play as long as possible. If you drop it on curve (or later, without having an immediate land drop + 2 mana ready), it simply can't be used in combat without dying, because there are so so many 2 power creatures in cube, even among 1- and 2-drops. A turn 3 Bygone Bishop can immediately defend me against an aggro onslaught while coming out alive to give me card advantage on the following turns. Tireless Tracker on the other hand would in that rather common situation either awkwardly trade down or not defend me at all.
In conclusion, Tracker is close to being a great card, but due to its printed stats, it is just ok.
After years of resistance, my group is ready to add DFCs to the cube. I've got Avacyn, the 4 non-Chandra Origins flipwalkers, Huntmaster, and Garruk Relentless as likely includes for a 400-card powered cube. Anything I'm missing? Any strong opinions against the ones I've mentioned? I see that Huntmaster in fewer lists than I remember, so maybe he's been eclipsed.
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I've liked prowler in cubes w/o aggressive support, since it works pretty great in midrange decks too as it gives those decks some boost in the control match up and something to trade with aggressive deck's early threats if need be.
I'm currently supporting Splinter Combo and I realized that most of the cube lists here do not. Is there any particular glaring reason for not supporting it?
I support it. I imagine most people here don't because the number of underwhelming pieces you have to run to support it (splinter twin, pester mite, and deceiver exarch wouldn't make the cut in any cube without the combo) but I've enjoyed the combo in application, especially since it doesn't feel unfair i.e. there are answers if you choose to provide them.
For me, it's because I have to dedicate slots to the combo that don't see play elsewhere, and that the wins with the combo are automatic and largely uninteractive. It just doesn't really interest me or my playgroup very much, despite certainly being powerful enough to run if you want to.
Thanks for the replies. I suspected it was because people didn't want dedicate slots to cards that are very narrow, but I figured I should ask anyways. I can also see why some people think its very uninteractive.
@Salmo, do you have a link to your cube? I've checked out your site before, but I'm not sure which cube list is yours. Is it Skylar's? You should also make more drafting videos, they're a lot of fun to watch!
@Salmo, do you have a link to your cube? I've checked out your site before, but I'm not sure which cube list is yours. Is it Skylar's? You should also make more drafting videos, they're a lot of fun to watch!
Yeah, that's sky's (which I'm sure he hasn't been updating), and thanks! I don't have an updated list at all, but I really should do one.
Also, cool! I haven't worked on the site in a bit since I've focused more on personal creative writing/larger cube projects (I have a never-ending cube book/guide in the works) and my computer is currently not working, but it's nice knowing you enjoyed them and would watch more. I stopped writing articles for a variety of other reasons too, though videos will be a reasonable thing to re-look at once I fix my computer problems. (Old cracked version of Windows 7 corrupted my user profile, so now I need to update my computer but I have no idea how to when I can't access it/get into safe mode. Blah blah blah who ******* cares.)
Not sure about staple, but I'm happy running both. I like running one anthem, and I think that's the best, and Secure is such a unique card that is pretty powerful--especially with an anthem--that it doesn't feel out of place.
Since I'm cutting Ajani Goldmane, I'm thinking for finding room for Spear. My cut might be Soltari Champion but then I'm still down an anthem. I like Secure the Wastes, but I think it pales when compared to Sram's Expertise, Spectral Procession, and the white planeswalkers that generate tokens.
If Expertise turns out to be an inconsistent mechanic (or less consistent than we hoped) I could see it being better than Sram's Expertise. There's a lot of value in the scalability and instant speed of Secure the Wastes.
Since I'm cutting Ajani Goldmane, I'm thinking for finding room for Spear. My cut might be Soltari Champion but then I'm still down an anthem. I like Secure the Wastes, but I think it pales when compared to Sram's Expertise, Spectral Procession, and the white planeswalkers that generate tokens.
Cheers,
rant
rant,
If I were you I would keep the Spear and not worry about being down an anthem. Also, I would cut Heretical Healer for Nighthawk.
@Rantipole: I agree with B8R in that if you were going to try the spear like I am, I would just cut the Champion or Ajani for it and not worry if you're short one. You still have plenty. I'm currently waiting to see if testing experiences have shown that Sram's Expertise is stronger than Secure the Wastes on average. I still think Spectral Procession is the superior card to Sram's Expertise as well and that's why the expertise is only contending with Secure the Wastes in my cube. I'm just not sure how often I'll be able to hit the 2-3 CMC drop in conjunction with the expertise to make it worth it.
I don't run Secure the Wastes currently, so my cut for Sram's will be Ajani. Not sure what to cut for Spear. Soltari Champion is the likely prospect but I may try to find something else. I like shadow creatures, as do my drafters.
I like this change suggested above as well. I feel Champion and Spear are pretty comparable. I ran Champion for a while, and I'm going to switch to Spear to test the differences.
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The core problem is that it is a 3/2 rather than a 2/3. If it were a 2/3, it probably would be as amazing as many say it is. Tracker is a card that gives you more and more value the longer it stays in play. However, having only 2 thoughness on a 3-drop directly works against your desire of having it stay in play as long as possible. If you drop it on curve (or later, without having an immediate land drop + 2 mana ready), it simply can't be used in combat without dying, because there are so so many 2 power creatures in cube, even among 1- and 2-drops. A turn 3 Bygone Bishop can immediately defend me against an aggro onslaught while coming out alive to give me card advantage on the following turns. Tireless Tracker on the other hand would in that rather common situation either awkwardly trade down or not defend me at all.
In conclusion, Tracker is close to being a great card, but due to its printed stats, it is just ok.
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
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In a powered cube that small, you can probably pass on Huntmaster.
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Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
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@Salmo, do you have a link to your cube? I've checked out your site before, but I'm not sure which cube list is yours. Is it Skylar's? You should also make more drafting videos, they're a lot of fun to watch!
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
Yeah, that's sky's (which I'm sure he hasn't been updating), and thanks! I don't have an updated list at all, but I really should do one.
Also, cool! I haven't worked on the site in a bit since I've focused more on personal creative writing/larger cube projects (I have a never-ending cube book/guide in the works) and my computer is currently not working, but it's nice knowing you enjoyed them and would watch more. I stopped writing articles for a variety of other reasons too, though videos will be a reasonable thing to re-look at once I fix my computer problems. (Old cracked version of Windows 7 corrupted my user profile, so now I need to update my computer but I have no idea how to when I can't access it/get into safe mode. Blah blah blah who ******* cares.)
Regardless, thanks for your support
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I have a quick question for you guys: Do you guys think Spear of Heliod or Secure the Wastes is a staple at 450? Have how those cards played out?
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
My 630 Card Powered Cube
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My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Cheers,
rant
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rant,
If I were you I would keep the Spear and not worry about being down an anthem. Also, I would cut Heretical Healer for Nighthawk.
Cheerio mate,
B8R
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
Cheers,
rant
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