Hello, I am new to the forum but not new to cubing. I have a fully powered / fully pimped 540 cube comprised mostly of the usual suspect cards and supporting most major archetypes except storm. I keep the cards in my cube separated into 8 different Ultra Pro boxes (1 for each color, colorless, multi, and non basics) and whenever I do an 8 man draft, I randomly select 45 from each box, shuffle all of those up, and then make packs of 15.
I have always loved a lot of wedge and shard cards but never put any in the cube because they typically just don't work well and are too clunky and end up being dead cards in the draft too often. So what I am going to do to satisfy that itch of having those cards in *hopefully* without the normal problems is to create a separate pool of 80 cards that I will call my "Tri Color Package". The package will include a sampling of the coolest and best 3+ color cards with some attention being paid to varying mana costs (not all bombs) AS well as a number of mana fixing cards to enable the whole thing. The point is that from time to time to mix things up, instead of running my normal cube, I can instead of taking 45 from each of the standard 8 groups add 36 from each color, 35 from colorless, 20 from non basics, the standard 45 from multicolor and the entire 80 card tri color package to get to a modified 360. Here is what I have thus far, your thoughts and comments are appreciated! (All of the lands listed in the 80 except the tri lands already have a single copy in the non basic package for the original 540. Having them duplicated here will ensure that they all come in with at least one copy, and some may end up being duplicated in the 360 depending on which 22 of the 50 non basics from the original 540 get randomly put in the pool. I am fine with duplicates here because mana consistency is key I think to making 3+ color cards work in draft)
THE 80:
4 x Terramorphic Expanse
Shard/Wedge Cycle from Alara Block / Khans
1 of each Shock land (I chose shocks not duals because I happen to have an extra set of foiled original Rav shocks and they fit the theme of being fully pimped in the cube )
1 of each fetch land
2 Command Towers with a house rule that at the beginning of a match you may reveal a legendary creature from your deck to set the color identity of command tower for the rest of the match
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Exotic Orchard
1 of each Vivid land
Mana Fixing: 43
Jund Hackblade
Esper Stormblade
Bant Sureblade
Doran, the Siege Tower
Mimeoplasm
Zur the Enchanter
Sedraxis Specter
Trace of Abundance
Slave of Bolas
Supply // Demand
Madrush Cyclops
Woolly Thoctar
Nicol Bolas, PW
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Broodmate Dragon
Rafiq of the Many
Realm Razer
Lightning Angel
Maelstrom Wanderer
Animar, Soul of Elements
Rhox War Monk
Progenitus
Total multi cards: 22
Cards I am leaning towards including from Khan:
Ankle Shanker
Abzan Ascendancy
Mardu Ascendancy
Anafenza the Foremost
Temur Ascendancy
Sultai Charm
Narsei, Enlightened Master
Crackling Doom
Zurgo Helmsmasher
Total: 9 and counting
That is 74 cards which leaves 6 slots open for other cards from Khans or whatever other suggestions people have
As a side note, I am contemplating cutting the 4 terramorphic expanses from the 80 and simply giving each player 1 terramorphic expanse before the draft begins to start their pool and having each player end up with a 46 card pool. That would free up 4 slots and give a tiny boost to consistency with mana.
Your feedback on any of the above is much appreciated!
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Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
Legacy: Death and Taxes / RUG Delver
Vintage: Shops
Wow, looks like you've given it a lot of thought, especially in regards to the fixing aspect. I'm not a huge fan of the house-rule Command Tower as it means having to explain one extra thing to new players or whatever, and the extra Terramorphic Expanse for each player falls into the same bracket. Maybe I would rather include additional Mana Confluences (or the likes) rather than the Command Towers and let players draft those. I like the idea of not just including tri-colour bombs. However, some of the cards in the list are a bit dubious as tricolour cards - Madrush Cyclops and the like, compared to monocolour alternatives like Urabrask. They are just a bit weak in power and don't give much incentive to go three colours. The wedge/shard cards need to be really impactful for their cost. Think Rafiq or Maelstrom Wanderer. Progenitus may not every see play unless you run Sneak Attack, Eureka, SnT and the likes, and then it's too narrow still. I like the idea in general a lot though and you should keep the thread up to date as you include it. Look outside KtK/SoA block for other good cards.
By the way, what does Ankle Shanker do?! Can't find its spoiler.
Thanks for the feedback! Ankle Shanker is BWR2, 3/3 haste whenever it attacks creatures you control gain first strike and deathtouch until end of turn.
I thought about mana confluence instead of command tower but am concerned about life loss with all the extra shocks and fetches going in. i also dont mind explaining one extra rule because it usually takes 10-15 minutes to prep the cube and is easy to explain rules during that time.
Youre right about madrush cyclops. Progenitus has sneak attack, heartbeat of spring, eureka, show n tell, oath of druids, reanimation package, and natural order as enablers. Is that enough?
What other cards do you think are dubious inclusions? Do you have suggestions for better cards that im missing? Thanks!
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Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
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Vintage: Shops
Thanks for the feedback! Ankle Shanker is BWR2, 3/3 haste whenever it attacks creatures you control gain first strike and deathtouch until end of turn.
Oh, that's not an amazing card.
I thought about mana confluence instead of command tower but am concerned about life loss with all the extra shocks and fetches going in. i also dont mind explaining one extra rule because it usually takes 10-15 minutes to prep the cube and is easy to explain rules during that time.
How about one extra Mana Confluence, and one extra Grand Coliseum? Or two Coliseums?
Youre right about madrush cyclops. Progenitus has sneak attack, heartbeat of spring, eureka, show n tell, oath of druids, reanimation package, and natural order as enablers. Is that enough?
I would say so, yes!
What other cards do you think are dubious inclusions? Do you have suggestions for better cards that im missing? Thanks!
Regardless of mana distribution, a three colour card has to be incredibly versatile (Sultai Charm) or have a huge impact (Rafiq, Nicol Bolas, Broodmate Dragon) to be worth stretching for during drafts. The only ones that really do it for me from the list you provided:
Jund Hackblade Esper Stormblade Bant Sureblade
Doran, the Siege Tower (maybe)
Mimeoplasm
Zur the Enchanter
Sedraxis Specter
Trace of Abundance
Slave of Bolas Supply // Demand (Hide//Seek is not terrible in this vein) Madrush Cyclops Woolly Thoctar
Nicol Bolas, PW
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Broodmate Dragon
Rafiq of the Many
Realm Razer (maybe)
Lightning Angel
Maelstrom Wanderer
Animar, Soul of Elements Rhox War Monk
Progenitus
Crime//Punishment (really good) and Catch//Release, and some of the other fuse cycle are pretty decent.
I actually think the only kind-of-appealing cube cards from KTK other than the Sultai Charm are ones you haven't listed. Duneblast and the Sultai Khan are pretty good and Sidisi does archetype stuff too, with reanimator. All the cards I crossed out wouldn't really draw me into the three colours, as they aren't so much stronger than monocolour alternatives that I would risk a more difficult mana base. The ones listed (maybe) are borderline. There are also good tri-cards that aren't really three colours, like Nacatl and Rattleclaw Mystic. Hopefully KTK will bring more strong 3 colour cards.
I really like Lavalanche as a tri color. You can also run 5 color cards or cards that benefit from multi colored environs like All Suns' Dawn. These may help achieve the feel you want without necessarily being clunky.
Totally not worth it imo. Just run whatever 3 colour cards that you think can compete with the rest of the cube. I would only draft the Shard/wedge pack just to get my hands on extra fixing, not to run three colour cards. Barely any of them are that exciting, or meaningfully better than mono-coloured or two colour cards at their respective mana costs.
Thanks for the feedback! Ankle Shanker is BWR2, 3/3 haste whenever it attacks creatures you control gain first strike and deathtouch until end of turn.
Thanks for tip on linking cards. Here is an updated list. I also figured I could include two cost cards that are otherwise very difficult to cast without all the extra mana fixing. And the pump creatures become very good if people are running a lot of MC.
I have always loved a lot of wedge and shard cards but never put any in the cube because they typically just don't work well and are too clunky and end up being dead cards in the draft too often. So what I am going to do to satisfy that itch of having those cards in *hopefully* without the normal problems is to create a separate pool of 80 cards that I will call my "Tri Color Package". The package will include a sampling of the coolest and best 3+ color cards with some attention being paid to varying mana costs (not all bombs) AS well as a number of mana fixing cards to enable the whole thing. The point is that from time to time to mix things up, instead of running my normal cube, I can instead of taking 45 from each of the standard 8 groups add 36 from each color, 35 from colorless, 20 from non basics, the standard 45 from multicolor and the entire 80 card tri color package to get to a modified 360. Here is what I have thus far, your thoughts and comments are appreciated! (All of the lands listed in the 80 except the tri lands already have a single copy in the non basic package for the original 540. Having them duplicated here will ensure that they all come in with at least one copy, and some may end up being duplicated in the 360 depending on which 22 of the 50 non basics from the original 540 get randomly put in the pool. I am fine with duplicates here because mana consistency is key I think to making 3+ color cards work in draft)
THE 80:
4 x Terramorphic Expanse
Shard/Wedge Cycle from Alara Block / Khans
1 of each Shock land (I chose shocks not duals because I happen to have an extra set of foiled original Rav shocks and they fit the theme of being fully pimped in the cube )
1 of each fetch land
2 Command Towers with a house rule that at the beginning of a match you may reveal a legendary creature from your deck to set the color identity of command tower for the rest of the match
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Exotic Orchard
1 of each Vivid land
Mana Fixing: 43
Jund Hackblade
Esper Stormblade
Bant Sureblade
Doran, the Siege Tower
Mimeoplasm
Zur the Enchanter
Sedraxis Specter
Trace of Abundance
Slave of Bolas
Supply // Demand
Madrush Cyclops
Woolly Thoctar
Nicol Bolas, PW
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Broodmate Dragon
Rafiq of the Many
Realm Razer
Lightning Angel
Maelstrom Wanderer
Animar, Soul of Elements
Rhox War Monk
Progenitus
Total multi cards: 22
Cards I am leaning towards including from Khan:
Ankle Shanker
Abzan Ascendancy
Mardu Ascendancy
Anafenza the Foremost
Temur Ascendancy
Sultai Charm
Narsei, Enlightened Master
Crackling Doom
Zurgo Helmsmasher
Total: 9 and counting
That is 74 cards which leaves 6 slots open for other cards from Khans or whatever other suggestions people have
As a side note, I am contemplating cutting the 4 terramorphic expanses from the 80 and simply giving each player 1 terramorphic expanse before the draft begins to start their pool and having each player end up with a 46 card pool. That would free up 4 slots and give a tiny boost to consistency with mana.
Your feedback on any of the above is much appreciated!
Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
Legacy: Death and Taxes / RUG Delver
Vintage: Shops
By the way, what does Ankle Shanker do?! Can't find its spoiler.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
I thought about mana confluence instead of command tower but am concerned about life loss with all the extra shocks and fetches going in. i also dont mind explaining one extra rule because it usually takes 10-15 minutes to prep the cube and is easy to explain rules during that time.
Youre right about madrush cyclops. Progenitus has sneak attack, heartbeat of spring, eureka, show n tell, oath of druids, reanimation package, and natural order as enablers. Is that enough?
What other cards do you think are dubious inclusions? Do you have suggestions for better cards that im missing? Thanks!
Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
Legacy: Death and Taxes / RUG Delver
Vintage: Shops
Oh, that's not an amazing card.
How about one extra Mana Confluence, and one extra Grand Coliseum? Or two Coliseums?
I would say so, yes!
Regardless of mana distribution, a three colour card has to be incredibly versatile (Sultai Charm) or have a huge impact (Rafiq, Nicol Bolas, Broodmate Dragon) to be worth stretching for during drafts. The only ones that really do it for me from the list you provided:
Jund HackbladeEsper StormbladeBant SurebladeDoran, the Siege Tower (maybe)
Mimeoplasm
Zur the Enchanter
Sedraxis Specter
Trace of Abundance
Slave of Bolas
Supply // Demand(Hide//Seek is not terrible in this vein)Madrush CyclopsWoolly ThoctarNicol Bolas, PW
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Broodmate Dragon
Rafiq of the Many
Realm Razer (maybe)
Lightning Angel
Maelstrom Wanderer
Animar, Soul of Elements
Rhox War MonkProgenitus
Crime//Punishment (really good) and Catch//Release, and some of the other fuse cycle are pretty decent.
Cards I am leaning towards including from Khan:
Ankle Shanker (maybe)
Abzan AscendancyMardu AscendancyAnafenza the ForemostTemur AscendancySultai Charm
Narsei, Enlightened Master (maybe)
Crackling DoomZurgo Helmsmasher (maybe)
I actually think the only kind-of-appealing cube cards from KTK other than the Sultai Charm are ones you haven't listed. Duneblast and the Sultai Khan are pretty good and Sidisi does archetype stuff too, with reanimator. All the cards I crossed out wouldn't really draw me into the three colours, as they aren't so much stronger than monocolour alternatives that I would risk a more difficult mana base. The ones listed (maybe) are borderline. There are also good tri-cards that aren't really three colours, like Nacatl and Rattleclaw Mystic. Hopefully KTK will bring more strong 3 colour cards.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
http://cubetutor.com/cubeblog/993
http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/23690
Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
Legacy: Death and Taxes / RUG Delver
Vintage: Shops
Juju Alters - Altered MTG Cards
Worse, it's a 2/2 not a 3/3.
Possible new additions:
Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
Legacy: Death and Taxes / RUG Delver
Vintage: Shops
Professor
Powered 540 Cube fully foiled and altered
Legacy: Death and Taxes / RUG Delver
Vintage: Shops