It appears from many of the M15 cards - and from what little we know about Khans of Tarkir - that the Tarkir block may have some sort of combat/token/army-building theme or subtheme. Plants like Convoke (as the returning mechanic), stuff like Military Intelligence, and the considerable quantity of good token generators in M15 seem to hint towards that theme. Theros block and M15 also offered a fairly high number of combat tricks.
If a combat and token army oriented block is indeed on the horizon, that seems like a potential treasure trove for cubers. Token effects have been historically good performers for cube and we've even seen groups expand those themes into blue and red very recently. Good token generators are typically a source of guaranteed card advantage and are used by midrange to create a wide offense, and by control to stabilize even against a strong aggro board. If we can expect to see strong token generation or anthem-type support, these could be some real gems in the set. Whereas set mechanics like Constellation have been a bit narrow in application, something referencing tokens could be of interest as there are so many cubeable effects in that genre. Of course it could be similar to Battalion or Populate, but those mechanics suffered from a lack of real flagship cards aside from semi-cubeables like Frontline Medic. I do run Sundering Growth, though.
It is a bit more of a stretch to infer a combat theme, but having very pushed combat tricks would be something that cubers have also been keen to get. More combat tricks on bodies (like Briarhorn) would be really welcome to spice up the combat phase in cubes. The likes of Harm's Way and Setessan Tactics are pretty cool and nearly there in terms of power, but still feel a little 'loose' in that they can just be dead cards at times.
So I go into the new block hoping for new token effects, particularly in black and red, and some excellent variations in combat tricks. Other than the stuff that looks slightly signposted, I would hope for a good black two drop and five drop, and maybe another green aggressive creature or two (with only one G in the cost, of course). Also, expanding red's looter ability and its newfoudn Act on Impulse/Chandra exiling-to-draw ability is probably quite likely. The existence of Deal Broker as a colourless looter could hopefully encourage something better than Rummaging Goblin even if it wasn't standard legal.
Lastly, we know of a Dragon theme later in the block. Another cubeable Dragon is highly likely, which is always exciting.
I strongly suspect Battlecry is a returning mechanic. I would very much like to get more cards with it (3 in 7 with the mechanic from MBS is a good sign for the keyword).
Fits better than Populate (that creates one single copy so it works better with a few big tokens rather than many small 1/1s) and the name itself is perfect for the implied setting.
And following from what THS did, more playable one-drops for white, black and red (and maybe green) would be very welcome.
I'm suspecting that the block will have a lot of fatties in it. I'm hoping for some staple power level 7cmc spells or something around that cost. I'd also like a more cubeable Sarkhan.
And of course as many 2 power 1 drops as they can stuff.
Well it's supposed to be the home of Sarkhan Vol so a new version of him or even a reprint would make me pretty happy. The reprinting of Dissipate also seems to hint at graveyard-matters mechanics to come, which can always be interesting. I'd love to see some new, playable reanimation effects.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is also making me wonder if searching your library is suddenly going to become important again for some reason....
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465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
A 2-power 1-drop (or two) for red. Red's insane 1R creature that it's overdue for. Perhaps another good aggro 1cc creature in green (maybe another Experiment One kinda dude). Token support in the form of 1 and 2cc cards (a 1W creature that can make/has ETB token generation?). A white Reclamation Sage caliber Disenchant-on-legs would be nice. Another red aggro closer/reach (the fated Vortex-on-legs?). 1cc hybrid cards are always welcome. A 2GG Indrik Stomphowler would be just fine. Another really good 4cc blue creature would be most welcome. I'd be happy to see an additional top-tier colorless Tinker target. A bonkers green 6-drop. Enemy manlands. A fantastic RG 2cc guild spell. Another Loam/Crucible effect. Another universally playable mana-fixing land. Another Braids effect. Another Bloodghast/Gravecrawler kinda dude. Another stellar 2cc piece of equipment. A sick black 5-drop.
...There's really a lot I'm hoping for still, as it turns out.
Well Dragons are inevitable, A) because that seems to be the entire basis of the block's story and B) they re-printed Crucible of Fire in M15.
In addition to some cool Dragon cards, I want it to feature fetch lands and wedges or shards - that's not too much to ask is it?
Ok, some of these aren't terribly realistic but I figured I'd list all my hopes and dreams
A set of changelings that are playable on their own to allow some basic tribal elements (e.g., I'd love to be able to include one-off tribal cards like Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero and Rotlung Reanimator in my cube without watering down my white section with a bunch of rebel-specific cards)
Awesome combat tricks like the OP described
Some more cards like Power Matrix that tap to boost up creatures
I heard rumors that the storyline involves the merging of shards, so here's my personal wish list:
1- Elf Tribal!!!
2- FETCHLANDS!
3- A non-watered-down set just because fetchlands will have insane value.
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My modern Decks: GBRJundGBR URWJeskai NahiriURW My Legacy Deck: URBGrixis DelverURB My EDH Decks: GJarad, Golgari Lich LordB GRhys, The RedeemedW RWArchangel AvacynRW UWDragonlord OjutaiUW
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is also making me wonder if searching your library is suddenly going to become important again for some reason....
Let the fetchland hype begin!
Guilty as charged. I really got my hopes up before M15. My one World Championship Edition Windswept Heath is feeling awfully lonely. I do think that allied fetches are a better bet right now than enemy fast lands or man lands, though, because we just got enemy colored pain lands in M15. But hey, maybe they just wanted to print a demon that hoses Evolving Wilds.
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465 card Unpowered cube thread. Draft it here and I'll be happy to return the favor.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is also making me wonder if searching your library is suddenly going to become important again for some reason....
Let the fetchland hype begin!
Guilty as charged. I really got my hopes up before M15. My one World Championship Edition Windswept Heath is feeling awfully lonely. I do think that allied fetches are a better bet right now than enemy fast lands or man lands, though, because we just got enemy colored pain lands in M15. But hey, maybe they just wanted to print a demon that hoses Evolving Wilds.
Notice Ob Nixilis is one of the Designer Card meaning it was made by someone who did not know what we're getting in KTK.
Force of will reprint- bring it to modern. Of course, with the new judge/online art. It sorta fits the theme of warriors and the "force of their will" so to speak.
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Playing Magic Since 1995 -
Best Standard of all time was "Scars/12/Innistrad"
Fav Cards of all time: Geist of Saint Traft; Kaalia of the Vast
Force of will will never be in standard again and at least one person at wizards keeps telling the community its a great thing force isnt in modern, Maro.
Maro has also stated development finds it way too strong for standard.
My wishlist:
DRAGONS! I shouldn't be cubing only 1 dragon (thundermaw) in my 360. I should be cubing 360 of them. Goblin guide reprinted as a dragon for all I care.
An izzet control magic spell. A friend pointed out the other day how there wasnt one. A treachery + Act of treason hybrid would be pretty awesome.
Yes, I've not once in my 17 years of playing Magic played a fetchland or tutor after turn six.
I think you missed the point. I never said that you wouldn't fetch after turn 6. Of course you would if you happened to draw a fetch land. I also never said that it was terrible for fighting tutors. I was simply adding support to the idea that the printing of Ob is meaningless when it comes to whether or not fetches are being printed because a 6 cmc card that hates on fetches is incredibly easy to play around and would not be at all effective as a hate card.
I'm kind of surprised tree of redemption wasn't legendary. It's clearly a specific tree (the executioner's tree in Thraben Cathedral) and it does a pretty unique thing.
Edit - there apparently is a legendary creature with defender - Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo - he's just pretty terrible on the scale of cards that can go in cube.
What I'd love to see is another playable alternative casting cost burn card. Like a 2 cmc sorcery speed/3 cmc instant speed bolt that lets you sac two lands (any lands, not only mountains), or discard a card at random, something like that. I love fireblast and would love to see a little bit of redundancy for that effect.
And obviously we all want to see fetch reprints for financial reasons =D
If a combat and token army oriented block is indeed on the horizon, that seems like a potential treasure trove for cubers. Token effects have been historically good performers for cube and we've even seen groups expand those themes into blue and red very recently. Good token generators are typically a source of guaranteed card advantage and are used by midrange to create a wide offense, and by control to stabilize even against a strong aggro board. If we can expect to see strong token generation or anthem-type support, these could be some real gems in the set. Whereas set mechanics like Constellation have been a bit narrow in application, something referencing tokens could be of interest as there are so many cubeable effects in that genre. Of course it could be similar to Battalion or Populate, but those mechanics suffered from a lack of real flagship cards aside from semi-cubeables like Frontline Medic. I do run Sundering Growth, though.
It is a bit more of a stretch to infer a combat theme, but having very pushed combat tricks would be something that cubers have also been keen to get. More combat tricks on bodies (like Briarhorn) would be really welcome to spice up the combat phase in cubes. The likes of Harm's Way and Setessan Tactics are pretty cool and nearly there in terms of power, but still feel a little 'loose' in that they can just be dead cards at times.
So I go into the new block hoping for new token effects, particularly in black and red, and some excellent variations in combat tricks. Other than the stuff that looks slightly signposted, I would hope for a good black two drop and five drop, and maybe another green aggressive creature or two (with only one G in the cost, of course). Also, expanding red's looter ability and its newfoudn Act on Impulse/Chandra exiling-to-draw ability is probably quite likely. The existence of Deal Broker as a colourless looter could hopefully encourage something better than Rummaging Goblin even if it wasn't standard legal.
Lastly, we know of a Dragon theme later in the block. Another cubeable Dragon is highly likely, which is always exciting.
What are other groups hoping to get from Tarkir?
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Fits better than Populate (that creates one single copy so it works better with a few big tokens rather than many small 1/1s) and the name itself is perfect for the implied setting.
And following from what THS did, more playable one-drops for white, black and red (and maybe green) would be very welcome.
My cube
My cube on Cube tutor
I'm OP_Forever. I'll be putting this in my signature for a while so everyone know I change my nickname.
Former DCI L2 Judge
My old Cube podcast on ManaDeprived, with Goodking and artbcnco: http://manadeprived.com/podcasts/mtgin3d/
You can find me on Twitter as well.
And of course as many 2 power 1 drops as they can stuff.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is also making me wonder if searching your library is suddenly going to become important again for some reason....
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Let the fetchland hype begin!
Former DCI L2 Judge
My old Cube podcast on ManaDeprived, with Goodking and artbcnco: http://manadeprived.com/podcasts/mtgin3d/
You can find me on Twitter as well.
...There's really a lot I'm hoping for still, as it turns out.
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!
In addition to some cool Dragon cards, I want it to feature fetch lands and wedges or shards - that's not too much to ask is it?
1- Elf Tribal!!!
2- FETCHLANDS!
3- A non-watered-down set just because fetchlands will have insane value.
GBRJundGBR
URWJeskai NahiriURW
My Legacy Deck:
URBGrixis DelverURB
My EDH Decks:
GJarad, Golgari Lich LordB
GRhys, The RedeemedW
RWArchangel AvacynRW
UWDragonlord OjutaiUW
However, I don't understand the hype around fetchlands unless Landfall is getting reprinted.
-Commander-
UBGMill, Sidisi, and Other ShenanigansGBU
WUBRGShingeki no TazriGRBUW
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!
Guilty as charged. I really got my hopes up before M15. My one World Championship Edition Windswept Heath is feeling awfully lonely. I do think that allied fetches are a better bet right now than enemy fast lands or man lands, though, because we just got enemy colored pain lands in M15. But hey, maybe they just wanted to print a demon that hoses Evolving Wilds.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Notice Ob Nixilis is one of the Designer Card meaning it was made by someone who did not know what we're getting in KTK.
It's also worth noting that a 6 cmc card is completely worthless for hating on fetches.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
I think we will be seeing a lot of cheap equipment.
Yes, I've not once in my 17 years of playing Magic played a fetchland or tutor after turn six.
Job's a good 'un!
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Force of will reprint- bring it to modern. Of course, with the new judge/online art. It sorta fits the theme of warriors and the "force of their will" so to speak.
Best Standard of all time was "Scars/12/Innistrad"
Fav Cards of all time: Geist of Saint Traft; Kaalia of the Vast
My 360 Pauper Cube
CubeTutor
My 360 Core Set Cube
CubeTutor
Maro has also stated development finds it way too strong for standard.
My wishlist:
DRAGONS! I shouldn't be cubing only 1 dragon (thundermaw) in my 360. I should be cubing 360 of them. Goblin guide reprinted as a dragon for all I care.
An izzet control magic spell. A friend pointed out the other day how there wasnt one. A treachery + Act of treason hybrid would be pretty awesome.
A good rakdos planeswalker preferrably at 1RB.
And all 10 fetches in the new border.
thats my cube
I think you missed the point. I never said that you wouldn't fetch after turn 6. Of course you would if you happened to draw a fetch land. I also never said that it was terrible for fighting tutors. I was simply adding support to the idea that the printing of Ob is meaningless when it comes to whether or not fetches are being printed because a 6 cmc card that hates on fetches is incredibly easy to play around and would not be at all effective as a hate card.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
I'm kind of surprised tree of redemption wasn't legendary. It's clearly a specific tree (the executioner's tree in Thraben Cathedral) and it does a pretty unique thing.
Edit - there apparently is a legendary creature with defender - Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo - he's just pretty terrible on the scale of cards that can go in cube.
What I'd love to see is another playable alternative casting cost burn card. Like a 2 cmc sorcery speed/3 cmc instant speed bolt that lets you sac two lands (any lands, not only mountains), or discard a card at random, something like that. I love fireblast and would love to see a little bit of redundancy for that effect.
And obviously we all want to see fetch reprints for financial reasons =D
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588