Bell striker is sweet and a staple. I rarely use the dash mode, but I think that's probably an anomaly since the times when that's relevant aren't the rarest. (Sorcery speed answers, top deck for immediate pressure.)
Children of Men is awesome. It's less history and more dystopian future. They use a *lot* of long shots, but it works well because it really captures the intensity and makes the world seem that much more real.
Zurgo is no Goblin Guide, but also is no slouch. The blocking limitation is only relevant in games where you're losing hard, and dash isn't bad when you don't have this guy in your opening hand, or when you can abuse ETB abilities.
Zurgo is great. I think Dash is a bigger upside than the blocking limitation is as a drawback, so I think Zurgo is probably better than Isamaru for your average aggro deck.
Can 12 Monkeys count as an "alternate history" movie? If not, how about The Terminator?
Zurgo's pretty easily the second best red aggro 1-drop after Goblin Guide. The kinds of decks that want Zurgo don't really care about the blocking restriction, and having the option to Dash him in lets you bring in a surprise attacker in the later game as well as give you a bit of Wrath insurance.
Can 12 Monkeys count as an "alternate history" movie? If not, how about The Terminator?
Hmmm, maybe I picked something too obscure for the bonus question. Here's a definition of alternate history from Wikipedia:
Alternate history or alternative history (British English),[1][2] sometimes abbreviated as AH,[3] is a genre of fiction consisting of stories in which one or more historical events occur differently. These stories usually contain "what if" scenarios at crucial points in history and present outcomes other than those in the historical record.
Probably the most famous example is Philip K. Dick's novel The Man in the High Castle, which Amazon has adapted into a TV series that's finished its second season. Both are excellent, and I recommend checking them out. Probably my favorite example, though, is the clever and disturbing mockumentary C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, exploring an alternate history/present where the South won the American Civil War. You can watch it free here.
Since Zurgo Bellstriker is essentially the product of an alternate timeline in MTG lore, hence my inspiration for this week's bonus question.
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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.
Zurgo is here to stay. Too far ahead of the competition to skip. It is the rare case of an aggressive two drop that also has interesting abilities and relevant synergies.
I don't run Nicol Bolas because I'm real selective about 3-color cards I play. Other than the tribrids, I only play Wild Nacatl to help Xg aggro. Nicol Bolas is cool and if ran a grixis card, this would be it, but I just don't have room right now.
My biggest hope for Amonkhet is shard tribrids. But I would love a Nicol Bolas with an easier casting cost, like 3UBR, that did something Nicol Bolas-ish.
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I can't say I'm pleased to see you and must warn you I may have to do something about it.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: URDelver
Modern: UGRDelver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
It's currently my favorite Grixis-centric card, and it's a lot of fun as a payoff card. It's not the greatest cube card in the world, but it's always a crowd-pleaser and I don't feel like it's out of place in cube at all.
I really wish there would be a way to cast the new Nicol without playing all three colors. Tri-colored cards are too narrow if they are meant to be hardcast.
I really wish there would be a way to cast the new Nicol without playing all three colors. Tri-colored cards are too narrow if they are meant to be hardcast.
I believe WoTC's new policy is to make sure that every color can enjoy the exciting gameplay mechanic of making undercosted dudes and then turning them sideways. Clearly the future of magic.
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I don't run it either, 8 mana plus 3 colors makes it a bit narrow, but I have had players ask me if it's in my cube. On Kenji Egashira's streams of the MTGO Modern Cube it's become a bit of a running joke that even though he can't resist the tempation to run Nicol Bolas, it pretty much guarantees he's not going to win the draft.
My biggest hope for Amonkhet is shard tribrids.
That would be sweet, and if we had a Grixis tri-brid Nicol Bolas I'd probably give it a shot in my Dimir or Izzet section.
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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.
It's currently my favorite Grixis-centric card, and it's a lot of fun as a payoff card. It's not the greatest cube card in the world, but it's always a crowd-pleaser and I don't feel like it's out of place in cube at all.
My exact feelings as well. It's nice being able to represent magic's big baddies:
- The Eldrazi: Emrakul / Ulamog are great cards in their own right and were focused on in the storyline. While Kozilek is also pretty good, he always played second fiddle to Ulamog both in the story line and in gameplay.
- Phyrexians: lots of Phyrexian cards in the cube with Elesh Norn being the current figure head.
- Nicol Bolas and his agents: While I currently play three 3-colored cards, Nicol Bolas is the only true one because Sphinx of the Steel Wind / Hellkite Overlord are very easily cheated into play while Bolas can only be Eureka'd.
I really wish there would be a way to cast the new Nicol without playing all three colors. Tri-colored cards are too narrow if they are meant to be hardcast.
BONUS QUESTIONWith Dark Intimations in AER, it looks like we might be getting a new version of Nicol Bolas soon. What do you think that might look like?
A process similar to natural selection will determine what is left in the cube in the long term. Cards that get played, are fun in game and in the draft and powerful enough compared to their competitors will stay. The rest will get cut sooner or later. What gets tested is based mostly on theorycraft, desires of members of the playgroup, good results from fellow cube owners, precedents of similar cards and performance in other formats.
Duress is great of course, it is of the few answers to instant and sorceries not in blue in the cube.
Yep, Duress is great. The first in a long line of excellent 1cc black discard spells. Without Duress, we probably wouldn't have other heavy hitters like Inquisition of Kozilek or Thoughtseize. And even with those also in the mix, Duress is still great.
Card choices and changes are mostly made by myself and my friend. The two of us have been the main contributors to the cube as far as the physical cards. We do try to find a way to keep the more popular cards that our players really like to play, even if we'd personally be ok with cutting them. And we try to ask for feedback on new additions or cards that have been in a while, but we don't personally play that often for whatever reason.
Duress is an answer to the majority of the cube's most powerful and problematic spells, for B. It's a must-play card, IMO.
As Metamind says, a lot of what determines cube-worthiness is automatic, because it's a process of observing how well the cards function in the environment. My playgroup provides feedback on the cards and how they play, and ultimately I make the determination to keep or cut cards. There are a lot of factors that get rolled up into those decisions, but ultimately I just do what I think is best for my players.
Calling a card a cube staple is done too often, but Duress really deserves it. I think it's the second best 1-mana discard spell, so it really should be run in even the smallest cubes.
I'm the final word on what comes in and out of my cube, but it's mostly through periods of trial and error and some input from my usual gang.
It may not have the fanfare of Thoughtsieze or IoK, but Duress is one of the best discard spells you could ask for. The only time it gets weak is when you're up against aggro, but even then you might hit something really worthwhile.
I'm actually not running duress, not too sure why, I'll have to add it in when I get a chance.
I am sole decision maker for my cube, the people I play with don't play outside of cube so they don't keep up to new cards that much. I get feedback of card choices when I can though.
I love Duress. Great card in the suite of discard spells that every cube should have.
Almost everyone in my playgroup has their own cube that they like to tweak and experiment with and we all love playing with the different cubes so everyone is the one in charge of their own cube. Everyone has their own that they own and manage for fun.
Children of Men is awesome. It's less history and more dystopian future. They use a *lot* of long shots, but it works well because it really captures the intensity and makes the world seem that much more real.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
Probably something Heinlein.
Can 12 Monkeys count as an "alternate history" movie? If not, how about The Terminator?
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!
Hmmm, maybe I picked something too obscure for the bonus question. Here's a definition of alternate history from Wikipedia:
Probably the most famous example is Philip K. Dick's novel The Man in the High Castle, which Amazon has adapted into a TV series that's finished its second season. Both are excellent, and I recommend checking them out. Probably my favorite example, though, is the clever and disturbing mockumentary C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, exploring an alternate history/present where the South won the American Civil War. You can watch it free here.
Since Zurgo Bellstriker is essentially the product of an alternate timeline in MTG lore, hence my inspiration for this week's bonus question.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Draft my cube!
Watch me stream!
Right now it's probably Man in the High Castle, just cause that's on my mind atm.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
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!
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Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
BONUS QUESTION
With Dark Intimations in AER, it looks like we might be getting a new version of Nicol Bolas soon. What do you think that might look like?
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
My biggest hope for Amonkhet is shard tribrids. But I would love a Nicol Bolas with an easier casting cost, like 3UBR, that did something Nicol Bolas-ish.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
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!
The list on cube cobra
Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
Oath of Nissa?
This is actually my only tricolored card that needs all 3 colors to be good.
That would be sweet, and if we had a Grixis tri-brid Nicol Bolas I'd probably give it a shot in my Dimir or Izzet section.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
My exact feelings as well. It's nice being able to represent magic's big baddies:
- The Eldrazi: Emrakul / Ulamog are great cards in their own right and were focused on in the storyline. While Kozilek is also pretty good, he always played second fiddle to Ulamog both in the story line and in gameplay.
- Phyrexians: lots of Phyrexian cards in the cube with Elesh Norn being the current figure head.
- Nicol Bolas and his agents: While I currently play three 3-colored cards, Nicol Bolas is the only true one because Sphinx of the Steel Wind / Hellkite Overlord are very easily cheated into play while Bolas can only be Eureka'd.
I totally made this joke in the Oath of Nissa thread.
Whatever it is, I hope it costs less than 8 mana.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Duress
BONUS QUESTION
"Who decides what is worthy of your cube?"
- Spike Rogue, Random Card of the Day Thread praetor
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
Duress is great of course, it is of the few answers to instant and sorceries not in blue in the cube.
The list on cube cobra
Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
Card choices and changes are mostly made by myself and my friend. The two of us have been the main contributors to the cube as far as the physical cards. We do try to find a way to keep the more popular cards that our players really like to play, even if we'd personally be ok with cutting them. And we try to ask for feedback on new additions or cards that have been in a while, but we don't personally play that often for whatever reason.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
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As Metamind says, a lot of what determines cube-worthiness is automatic, because it's a process of observing how well the cards function in the environment. My playgroup provides feedback on the cards and how they play, and ultimately I make the determination to keep or cut cards. There are a lot of factors that get rolled up into those decisions, but ultimately I just do what I think is best for my players.
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!
I'm the final word on what comes in and out of my cube, but it's mostly through periods of trial and error and some input from my usual gang.
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
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I am the king of my cube.
I am sole decision maker for my cube, the people I play with don't play outside of cube so they don't keep up to new cards that much. I get feedback of card choices when I can though.
Almost everyone in my playgroup has their own cube that they like to tweak and experiment with and we all love playing with the different cubes so everyone is the one in charge of their own cube. Everyone has their own that they own and manage for fun.
Draft my cube!
Watch me stream!