Probably Rimrock Knight first for me. None are great but he's a combat trick, something that is kind of rare in cube, and hence he's often card advantage. The alternate frame/art is awesome. Then Stormblood Berserker, then Chaser last. Berserker is switched on more than off, but terrible in those games where you're on the draw and your 2/1 can't get through or gets removed somehow.
Basri's Lieutenant > Warleader >> Archon, unless you have some weird enchantment matters theme. Basri is generically pretty good for his mana, but more so if you have some Persist or +1/+1 synergies. Even in a stacked white four section, I like him quite a bit.
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer > Saheeli, the Gifted > Sprite Dragon. Hybrid Saheeli is a super-versatile pick for artifacts matter deck, or spells matter deck, and fits into way more of these since it's a hybrid. It's also a win-con for counterburn.
With Skyclave Apparition absolutely killing it in modern, I've been wanting to get him into my 540 power cube somehow. How have people who included him found him?
It's better than both of those cards ...unless they're combo cards for you.
They are right now, which is the problem... I don't support humans though, so that part doesn't matter. I aslo feel like apparition fills a lot of the dame combo space as fiend hunter given their similarly worded old style triggers... But it doesn't fill all of it of course.
If you're running Sun Titan/'Lark/Guide for Fiend Hunter (+ sac outlets, obv) and you're using Blackblade as a backup combo for Archangel+Ballista/Trike (+ backup points for Humans/Polymorph), I think they're both too important to replace with Apparition. Otherwise, Skyclave is better than either.
I actually want to make a general comment about red two drops:
Gore-House Chainwalker is what I use as the baseline - 2 mana for 3 power. Single Red, splashable in any aggro/ spells matter deck. Very stable - does not require additional land drop, does not opponent to have spells in graveyard, no double red requirement, no requirement for additional instant/ sorceries/ no requirements for bloodthirst etc.
The consensus in this forum (for both constructed and limited) is the strength of red based aggro deck is more based off the number of relevant aggro cards drafted and less on the quality of the creatures themselves.
I find if you're not sure which creatures to play, I would just play a few more vanilla aggro two drops like:
With Skyclave Apparition absolutely killing it in modern, I've been wanting to get him into my 540 power cube somehow. How have people who included him found him?
I hate to have to rank these three ... they are all good!
Fiend Hunter has some application in a flicker based deck where you can stack the ETB flicker trigger on top the exile - giving you a two for 1.
Blackblade is a very resilient card in aggro decks .. If I have to pick, I would cut Blackblade as he feels a bit more narrow as Hunter/ Skyclave are more flexible in archetypes
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Definitely Soul Shatter > Eat to Extinction. Soul Shatter is IMO the best Hero's downfall option
Court of Ire needs to be tested. My inclination is Court of Ire is stronger than Frenzy.
- Frenzy is an incredibly strong build around for red aggro/ artifact Mud decks. Any deck with lower curve/ high mana is good for frenzy. I might bring this card back - but I cut it because of all the draw 7s already in the cube.
- Court of Ire seems to be at its best in red based midrange/ wildfire decks. Losing Monarchy isn't the worst - being able to shoot 2 damage per turn is a pretty good - even if it comes at the expense of a card.
I'm not a fan of either Dream Eater/ Frost Titan. I would give it to the titan for its 6/6 body.
Glint-Sleeve unless you have an enchantment package.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Experimental Frenzy has been a bomb for us, and we’re currently testing Court of Ire which seems fine but nowhere near Experimental Frenzy. Glint-sleeve Siphoner has been great for several years and isn’t in danger of leaving. We don’t Cube any of the others in the post.
Thanks a lot!! I'm finishing cube changes after CMR. I hope that 2021 we will play all the games we can't in 2020 due to quarantine. Some questions in Multicolor sections:
1. I'm not thrilled with these. You could run Archangel if you want another reanimator/Natural Order target. Muldrotha and Ghired seem OK.
2. I think Ashiok beats Thief.
I'll take the unpopular choice of Thief over Ashiok. Ashiok is a solid card but is replaceable as an all-around good value walker, whereas Thief helps push a more aggressive Dimir deck. Same reason I like Fallen Shinobi in Dimir.
Omen of the Sea > Deep Analysis
Entity > Crusader
Neither.
Archon > Approach.
I recently replaced Tezz, AOB with Fallen Shinobi based upon trends I'm seeing in cubes which are similar in makeup to my own and not really having the artifact package for Tezzeret.
Wow.. Why i think both are a must?
In case i had to choose i would go with duress in both cases powered or unpowered.
There are so many brutal PWs at 4cmc.
Duress if you are running one. I run both, but I think I could probably get away without running inquisition in unpowered. I'd still run both, but since you are at 360 unpowered so space is tight and there aren't as many backbreaking turn 1-2 plays, I think you can probably get by without inquisition.
2 - Basri's Lieutenant vs Archon of Sun's Grace vs Leonin Warleader ? What order ?
3 - Sprite Dragon vs Saheeli, Sublime Artificer vs Saheeli, the Gifted ? What order ?
Basri's Lieutenant > Warleader >> Archon, unless you have some weird enchantment matters theme. Basri is generically pretty good for his mana, but more so if you have some Persist or +1/+1 synergies. Even in a stacked white four section, I like him quite a bit.
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer > Saheeli, the Gifted > Sprite Dragon. Hybrid Saheeli is a super-versatile pick for artifacts matter deck, or spells matter deck, and fits into way more of these since it's a hybrid. It's also a win-con for counterburn.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Lieutenant (if you support the combo elements); Archon (if you support an enchantment theme) ...otherwise Warleader
Artificer > Gifted > Dragon
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My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
Is Skyclave Apparition better than Fiend Hunter or Gideon Blackblade for example? Only so many 1WW options to consider swapping him for...
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My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
They are right now, which is the problem... I don't support humans though, so that part doesn't matter. I aslo feel like apparition fills a lot of the dame combo space as fiend hunter given their similarly worded old style triggers... But it doesn't fill all of it of course.
My 36+ Commander Decks: TAPPEDOUT
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
Gore-House Chainwalker is what I use as the baseline - 2 mana for 3 power. Single Red, splashable in any aggro/ spells matter deck. Very stable - does not require additional land drop, does not opponent to have spells in graveyard, no double red requirement, no requirement for additional instant/ sorceries/ no requirements for bloodthirst etc.
The consensus in this forum (for both constructed and limited) is the strength of red based aggro deck is more based off the number of relevant aggro cards drafted and less on the quality of the creatures themselves.
I find if you're not sure which creatures to play, I would just play a few more vanilla aggro two drops like:
Robber of the Rich
Gore-House Chainwalker
These two cards are a stable two drop that could fit into a lot of decks. Sure they may not be the best, but they do a decent job.
I hate to have to rank these three ... they are all good!
Fiend Hunter has some application in a flicker based deck where you can stack the ETB flicker trigger on top the exile - giving you a two for 1.
Blackblade is a very resilient card in aggro decks .. If I have to pick, I would cut Blackblade as he feels a bit more narrow as Hunter/ Skyclave are more flexible in archetypes
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
2 - Dream Eater vs Frost Titan ?
3 - Experimental Frenzy vs Court of Ire ?
4 - Eat to Extinction vs Soul Shatter ?
Definitely Soul Shatter > Eat to Extinction. Soul Shatter is IMO the best Hero's downfall option
Court of Ire needs to be tested. My inclination is Court of Ire is stronger than Frenzy.
- Frenzy is an incredibly strong build around for red aggro/ artifact Mud decks. Any deck with lower curve/ high mana is good for frenzy. I might bring this card back - but I cut it because of all the draw 7s already in the cube.
- Court of Ire seems to be at its best in red based midrange/ wildfire decks. Losing Monarchy isn't the worst - being able to shoot 2 damage per turn is a pretty good - even if it comes at the expense of a card.
I'm not a fan of either Dream Eater/ Frost Titan. I would give it to the titan for its 6/6 body.
Glint-Sleeve unless you have an enchantment package.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
Siphoner > Aphemia, unless you have a deep enchantment theme.
Frosty > Eater, since I can play Titan in Wildfire decks and stuff.
Frenzy > Court; cheaper and has some high upside interactions.
Eat > Shatter. Shatter was actively bad when we tested it, and was absolutely the worst 3+cc removal option in black.
..........
But for what it's worth, I don't like any of these cards for the cube very much.
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My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
This part right here.
Cheers,
rant
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Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
1 - Deep Analysis vs Omen of the Sea ?
2 - Mirror Entity vs Mirran Crusader ?
3 - Kiora Bests the Sea God vs Agent of Treachery ?
4 - Archon of Coronation vs Approach of the Second Sun ? I understand that diferent cards, but I need to know about the Approach of the Second Sun performance
Entity > Crusader.
Kiora if you need it as a Rector target, otherwise Agent.
Archon > Approach, but the latter is more fun and interesting.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
1- Rank these "rainbow" cards for cube:
Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign
Realm Razer
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Ghired, Conclave Exile
Empyrial Archangel
Chromium, the Mutable
2 - Thief of Sanity vs Ashiok, Nightmare Muse ?
2 - 5cc Ashiok > Thief. I think that Ashiok is quite good.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
2. I think Ashiok beats Thief.
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
Entity > Crusader
Neither.
Archon > Approach.
I recently replaced Tezz, AOB with Fallen Shinobi based upon trends I'm seeing in cubes which are similar in makeup to my own and not really having the artifact package for Tezzeret.
I've got one for you. Cut one for Elder Gargaroth - Acidic Slime or Kalonian Hydra
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
Wow.. Why i think both are a must?
In case i had to choose i would go with duress in both cases powered or unpowered.
There are so many brutal PWs at 4cmc.
Always both.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588