Mana Drain is brutal. At worst, it's Counterspell. At best, it sets you up to win in a turn or two. I think it's my favorite target for Snappy, just because getting Drained twice in one game is such a kick in the junk.
One artist that was I really liked who doesn't work with WotC anymore was DiTerlizzi. Cards like Pursuit of Knowledge, Song of Serenity, Crop Rotation just had a uniquely wistful feel that nobody else really captures.
Yes, also a big fan of DiTerlizzi. Other artists I love include Richard Kane Ferguson, Tom Wanerstrand, Terese Nielson. I'd really love it if Magic went back to having more variety of styles on card art. There's a lot of samey-ness in recent years.
Topsy Turvy was cool, but a bit too tough to completely abuse. At its baseline its an interesting lock-out piece that can buy you some tempo due to it essentially time walking on a board where your opponent is tapped out, and the ceiling is absurd,. Without the synergy pieces it's not impossible for your opponent to recover since you have to deal with the tapped aspect, but since it is your effect can you set it up to not be completely locked out. It's a fun card, but kinda confusing the first couple times it hits play.
I run un-cards, Symbol Status is probably my favorite and IMO one of the best green cards. The amount of creatures you get for 2GG is typically a solid floor and an absurd ceiling, as long as your basics have a variety of symbols. We try to vary up our basics box for this reason, which is fun in its own way since cube is part Magic history and you can touch on more than cube allows by throwing in all the random basics with weird symbols.
Magical Hacker is also a big baller too, giving decks with planeswalkers a way to speed out that incremental advantage. Hacker gives super friends a serious push in powered cubes, as sometimes that archetype is too slow/grindy for some of the busted plays, and hacker can let you ultimate with every PWer you have on the board. There are very few PWers in cube that don't end the game almost immediately once you ultimate them (and add an ultimate's worth of counters.)
Some of the cards might be good enough to make it into my conspiracy module, but I'll ignore the set for the purposes of my main cube. We use the module so infrequently that I might end up just dismantling it.
If we get any Booster Tutor type cards or cards that make sense in a normal game of Magic (the way Sword of Dungeons & Dragons does), then I'll be adding those into the conspiracy module. We add that in practically every time we all get together to draft, so I try to keep it current. It's only not a part of the cube because I still do quite a bit of two man drafts and most of those cards don't make sense there. For the most part I really dislike Un cards and the silliness of it, but I'm at least a little excited to see what Unstable has to offer cube.
If we get any Booster Tutor type cards or cards that make sense in a normal game of Magic (the way Sword of Dungeons & Dragons does), then I'll be adding those into the conspiracy module. We add that in practically every time we all get together to draft, so I try to keep it current. It's only not a part of the cube because I still do quite a bit of two man drafts and most of those cards don't make sense there. For the most part I really dislike Un cards and the silliness of it, but I'm at least a little excited to see what Unstable has to offer cube.
Earl of Squirrel is pretty much a real magic card, the ability is new/different but that's no different from any other new abilities that come out in sets, pretty similar to that mono white knight commander too. Earl might not end up being good enough, but the only thing that's truly 'un' about it is the flavor and the expansion symbol.
Curse is pretty strong, not currently running it but it's on my back burner.
Usually I'll try a set at least a couple times. I did a bunch more with Ixalan, and it was generally awful, so I'll be a bit hesitant when the next set in the block comes out because Ixalan was such a mess.
I play itand it is pretty strong in any deck planning to go wide and doesn't leave you as open to a mid combat blow out as traditional anthem effects tend to. Its not necessarily a high pick in most packs early on but later in the draft it gets a lot more appealing when you have an idea of your creature base. I would
I usually try to draft each new set once or twice to get feel for it and possibly open the rares/mythics that are above my budget.
One of the primary advantages of tokens is how well they can set up a defense for you. And one of the big advantages of Anthem effects is that they can bolster your token blockers to allow them to trade up in combat. Since Curse only works on offense, it ended up being mediocre in token shells. It was better in go-wide aggro than in token decks, and that ultimately left it too narrow to continue taking up real estate in the cube. With a +1/+1 counter theme or something, it could be pretty good. I think Drana, Liberator of Malakir pretty much set the bar for what this kind of effect should look like in the cube.
I like retail draft still, but since I don't have enough time to do both, I pretty much exclusively cube now.
Curse of Predation is strong when you’re on the offensive, but isn’t doing you much favors when you’re not in the position to attack. Nissa, Voice of Zendikar ended up being better than I thought and works both ends while making / pumping tokens. I can’t justify both Curse and Nissa at 540.
I don’t do much retail draft anymore, not much time and I’d rather cube anyways. I still try and make it to pre-releases when I can though.
I don't have quite the same lukewarm feeling about Curse as it seems some of the others here do. Sure, it's only good on offense, but that has't been too much of a negative for me. I also think it's just fine in a tokens shell. The last time I drafted it I was in a GW beat down deck that also had Captain's Claws. It was really fun and easy to overwhelm the opponent with an army of big guys. Which is another thing about this Curse. Even without the token maker to create a new dude every turn, just on a board of two or three guys (which isn't uncommon in any aggro deck) the counters can get out of hand really quick and make your creatures just monstrous in combat.
I do like retail draft, but honestly, I just don't make much time for Magic at all outside of cube and the occasional venture into pauper on MTGO. I haven't played any sanctioned limited tournaments since M15 and even that was on MTGO and because, I believe, they offered a free sealed event for some reason. I haven't been in an LGS tournament since the Return to Ravnica prerelease.
Wizards uses the word iconic to refer to each color's 'big' signature creature type (Angel, Sphinx, Demon, Dragon, Hydra), which is where the name Iconic Masters came from. Unfortunately, this lingo isn't shared by most of the playing community. What would you have named the set, instead?
Channel is awesome. It's so explosive, and one of the cards that can push green over the top when other non-green decks are ramping too. Big fan, I wouldn't run it in an unpowered cube since the ceiling is a bit too high but its perfect in powered.
They should just call them something like 'The Masters Series' and have a sequence of numbers for the later sets. It doesn't really matter to me, as long as it's clear that it's a non-standard legal draft/pack set.
It's definitely not bad, it might not be necessary but having a threat on your mana stone is nice. It doesn't fix, which is an actual problem, but having a creature can be better.
I don't have any specific idols, but I admire certain individuals for a variety of reasons, and try to be the best version of myself partly based on seeing their example.
If you prefer the colorless rocks to a guild cycle, this is a good one to include. But I don't think it's necessary if you're running Signets/Talisman.
I like Guardian Idol, mana rocks that have multiple functions are always good in my book. Not the best mana rock though since it doesn’t fix mana, but it’s very serviceable.
If you prefer the colorless rocks to a guild cycle, this is a good one to include. But I don't think it's necessary if you're running Signets/Talisman.
I generally agree with this statement for powered cubes, but unpowered cubes can still use more love when it comes to Tinker fodder and colorless support at larger cube sizes.
Never liked Persecutor in cube. I'd rather use a different creature, and aim my removal at my opponent's stuff.
Worst card I've ever lost to... I play a lot of Old School Magic, so there's constantly stuff being used in that format that's no good. I was killed by a Stone-Throwing Devils once (granted it was being buffed by an Unholy Strength and a Bad Moon, but still). Didn't feel good.
Yes, also a big fan of DiTerlizzi. Other artists I love include Richard Kane Ferguson, Tom Wanerstrand, Terese Nielson. I'd really love it if Magic went back to having more variety of styles on card art. There's a lot of samey-ness in recent years.
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
I run un-cards, Symbol Status is probably my favorite and IMO one of the best green cards. The amount of creatures you get for 2GG is typically a solid floor and an absurd ceiling, as long as your basics have a variety of symbols. We try to vary up our basics box for this reason, which is fun in its own way since cube is part Magic history and you can touch on more than cube allows by throwing in all the random basics with weird symbols.
Magical Hacker is also a big baller too, giving decks with planeswalkers a way to speed out that incremental advantage. Hacker gives super friends a serious push in powered cubes, as sometimes that archetype is too slow/grindy for some of the busted plays, and hacker can let you ultimate with every PWer you have on the board. There are very few PWers in cube that don't end the game almost immediately once you ultimate them (and add an ultimate's worth of counters.)
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
The basic lands will be cool though.
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.
Earl of Squirrel is pretty much a real magic card, the ability is new/different but that's no different from any other new abilities that come out in sets, pretty similar to that mono white knight commander too. Earl might not end up being good enough, but the only thing that's truly 'un' about it is the flavor and the expansion symbol.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
Curse of Predation
Do you enjoy playing retail draft, or does cube completely scratch the drafting itch for you?
Usually I'll try a set at least a couple times. I did a bunch more with Ixalan, and it was generally awful, so I'll be a bit hesitant when the next set in the block comes out because Ixalan was such a mess.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I usually try to draft each new set once or twice to get feel for it and possibly open the rares/mythics that are above my budget.
I like retail draft still, but since I don't have enough time to do both, I pretty much exclusively cube now.
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!
I don’t do much retail draft anymore, not much time and I’d rather cube anyways. I still try and make it to pre-releases when I can though.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
I do like retail draft, but honestly, I just don't make much time for Magic at all outside of cube and the occasional venture into pauper on MTGO. I haven't played any sanctioned limited tournaments since M15 and even that was on MTGO and because, I believe, they offered a free sealed event for some reason. I haven't been in an LGS tournament since the Return to Ravnica prerelease.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
Channel
Wizards uses the word iconic to refer to each color's 'big' signature creature type (Angel, Sphinx, Demon, Dragon, Hydra), which is where the name Iconic Masters came from. Unfortunately, this lingo isn't shared by most of the playing community. What would you have named the set, instead?
I would've called Iconic Masters -- Magic: More cards that needed a reprint. Nothing about the set feels Iconic to me at all.
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!
They should just call them something like 'The Masters Series' and have a sequence of numbers for the later sets. It doesn't really matter to me, as long as it's clear that it's a non-standard legal draft/pack set.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I would've just called it Eternal Masters II. It's not Iconic to me beyond a few cards.
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
Guardian Idol
Do you or have you ever had an idol?
I don't have any specific idols, but I admire certain individuals for a variety of reasons, and try to be the best version of myself partly based on seeing their example.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
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!
I generally agree with this statement for powered cubes, but unpowered cubes can still use more love when it comes to Tinker fodder and colorless support at larger cube sizes.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
Abyssal Persecutor
What's the worst card you've ever lost to?
Worst card I've ever lost to... I play a lot of Old School Magic, so there's constantly stuff being used in that format that's no good. I was killed by a Stone-Throwing Devils once (granted it was being buffed by an Unholy Strength and a Bad Moon, but still). Didn't feel good.
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 my early Magic playing days when people played with some bad cards, I was killed by a Tablet of Epityr enchanted with Animate Artifact and Firebreathing and made unblockable by Dwarven Warriors. That was a stupid game.
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963