Updated with quite a number of changes, including downsizing the entire cube. Still haven't purchased Planechase yet, so cards legal as of Planechase have not been added.
Still having problems with my spoiler tags in the gold section...
I like most of the changes... bar a few of the gold drops, cutting sol ring, and about 4 or 5 lands that I would've kept in over the M10 dual cycle (which is an okay cycle, but now you've got uneven amounts of fixing for even amounts of gold cards...?)
I think I'd add in the enemy fetches to balance with the M10 lands to have all color combinations an equal shot at drafting their fixers.
I like most of the changes... bar a few of the gold drops, cutting sol ring, and about 4 or 5 lands that I would've kept in over the M10 dual cycle (which is an okay cycle, but now you've got uneven amounts of fixing for even amounts of gold cards...?)
I think I'd add in the enemy fetches to balance with the M10 lands to have all color combinations an equal shot at drafting their fixers.
Some of the gold cuts, sol ring, etc. were because I don't actually own the cards. I had them in my cube originally, with the intention of purchasing them. Now, I have my actual cube up. When I get those cards, I'll update again.
I do actually have the enemy fetch lands in the cube; I just forgot to list them. Good catch!
The cube was completely revamped based on a fundamental change - no foils are allowed. This forced me to take out many of the older cards that were reprinted as foil promos, thus downsizing the cube as a whole. The change also allowed me to rethink everything about the cube and resulted in, I think, a much tighter focus.
Thanks. I really put a lot of thought into my choices, and I don't think the power level is that huge of a drop-off from a traditional cube.
What I'm really looking for are better gold choices than Debtor's Knell and Soul Manipulation in their respective colors. But that's going to have to wait until at least the fall large set.
What I'm really looking for are better gold choices than Debtor's Knell and Soul Manipulation in their respective colors. But that's going to have to wait until at least the fall large set.
Nemesis of Reason is a 2-3 turn clock that can play defence very well with its 7 toughness butt. This and the fact that its black makes it strong against most non-white removal.
Well, I'm speaking hypothetically here, since I've never played with him, but it seems to me that "playing defense" is irrelevant if you're using him as a 2-3 turn clock.
Besides that, if they answer him, he's netted you nothing and you've given your opponent reanimation targets.
knowing when to attack and when to hold back is a key part of magic, the fact that it does both well is a bonus. As for giving them reanimation targets, thats match-up dependent and as far as i'm concerned, if i'm on the mill plan with Nemesis, i should have answers for what ever they plan on doing anyways. It's a finisher card like Oona, only instead of tapping out, you just attack. (I'm not saying this is better then Oona in any way, i'm just pointing out the obvious parallel between the two)
Well, I'm not going to convince you to run it. I think it's mediocre. I'd go with Agony Warp in all honesty... I was just giving you options because you said you were looking for another legitimate UB card.
Question for the group: Without Tinker, should I still be playing Inkwell Leviathan? The creature is great and all, but the casting cost seems prohibitive, even for a control deck.
Question for the group: Without Tinker, should I still be playing Inkwell Leviathan? The creature is great and all, but the casting cost seems prohibitive, even for a control deck.
If not, what should I be playing instead?
It would probably only see play in reanimator if you're not running Tinker (and/or Goblin Welder). If you don't support him then run a cheaper blue finisher.
But then a convenience store with trampleshroud is pretty powerful if you can afford it.
True. I'm just not sure many games will get to that point of being able to cast him. Reanimation is pretty light in my cube, too.
Then cut it.
If it doesn't see play, no reason to keep it in. Blue has other good finishers that aren't contingent on reanimation/tinker/etc... Use one of those instead.
For some reason I was two cards over in blue, so:
- Tezzeret the Seeker: less powerful/more costly artifacts make him not so good at 5 mana
- Inkwell Leviathan: no Tinker/Goblin Welder make him not so good at 9 mana
Glad to hear it. I'm hoping that this along with the other changes I've made to the cube will push aggro to the point of being just as playable as mid-range and control.
Just cubed for six hours, give or take. Some of my thoughts:
Signets - They tend to be drafted very late in packs, and are barely being played. This may be a product of having suboptimal draft numbers (sometimes 6, sometimes only 4), and of players not seeing the ones in their colors. Are there more versatile and/or desirable ways to color fix/mana ramp in the artifact spot? My guess is not, since conventional wisdom has all 10 Signets in most cubes.
Green 4cc Creatures - When narrowing my cube down to the tightest 360 cards I could find, I ended up cutting Ravenous Baloth and Master of the Wild Hunt. I maintain that the four cards in that spot (Blastoderm, Chameleon Colossus, Vengevine, and [CARD]Wickerbough Elder) are all better. But should I cut something else for these guys? They just seem so good, and I kept wishing that the green creatures I was drafting were one of the two.
Crucible of Worlds/Life From the Loam - Am I missing something here? Rarely do I find myself in situations where I wish either of these cards was in my deck. Are these just "build around me" cards or am I missing some important interactions in which these are useful in any number of decks?
I've been out of playing for about a year. But in preparation for a Cube-vitational event I'm hosting with some friends, I'm revamping the cube to make it both larger (to accommodate up to 10 drafters) and up-to-date with current sets.
Still having problems with my spoiler tags in the gold section...
I think I'd add in the enemy fetches to balance with the M10 lands to have all color combinations an equal shot at drafting their fixers.
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!
Some of the gold cuts, sol ring, etc. were because I don't actually own the cards. I had them in my cube originally, with the intention of purchasing them. Now, I have my actual cube up. When I get those cards, I'll update again.
I do actually have the enemy fetch lands in the cube; I just forgot to list them. Good catch!
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!
What I'm really looking for are better gold choices than Debtor's Knell and Soul Manipulation in their respective colors. But that's going to have to wait until at least the fall large set.
Tidehollow Sculler and Agony Warp.
Or
Angel of Despair and Nemesis of Reason.
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'll try some of those other suggestions out (and maybe Nemesis of Reason, if you can convince me.)
Besides that, if they answer him, he's netted you nothing and you've given your opponent reanimation targets.
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!
If not, what should I be playing instead?
It would probably only see play in reanimator if you're not running Tinker (and/or Goblin Welder). If you don't support him then run a cheaper blue finisher.
But then a convenience store with trampleshroud is pretty powerful if you can afford it.
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Then cut it.
If it doesn't see play, no reason to keep it in. Blue has other good finishers that aren't contingent on reanimation/tinker/etc... Use one of those instead.
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!
For some reason I was two cards over in blue, so:
- Tezzeret the Seeker: less powerful/more costly artifacts make him not so good at 5 mana
- Inkwell Leviathan: no Tinker/Goblin Welder make him not so good at 9 mana
I had Seal of Cleansing in white, which is not available in a modern frame, so:
Seal of Cleansing --> Honor of the Pure
Also:
Soul Manipulation --> Agony Warp
Debtor's Knell --> Tidehollow Sculler
Wilcard land section identical to wtwlf123's
Because of the wildcard land section, we also get:
Celestial Colonnade --> Plumeveil
Creeping Tar Pit --> Nemesis of Reason
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!
Signets - They tend to be drafted very late in packs, and are barely being played. This may be a product of having suboptimal draft numbers (sometimes 6, sometimes only 4), and of players not seeing the ones in their colors. Are there more versatile and/or desirable ways to color fix/mana ramp in the artifact spot? My guess is not, since conventional wisdom has all 10 Signets in most cubes.
Green 4cc Creatures - When narrowing my cube down to the tightest 360 cards I could find, I ended up cutting Ravenous Baloth and Master of the Wild Hunt. I maintain that the four cards in that spot (Blastoderm, Chameleon Colossus, Vengevine, and [CARD]Wickerbough Elder) are all better. But should I cut something else for these guys? They just seem so good, and I kept wishing that the green creatures I was drafting were one of the two.
Crucible of Worlds/Life From the Loam - Am I missing something here? Rarely do I find myself in situations where I wish either of these cards was in my deck. Are these just "build around me" cards or am I missing some important interactions in which these are useful in any number of decks?
Proposed changes:
WHITE
- Mistral Charger
- Stormfront Pegasus
+ Goldmeadow Harrier
+ Accorder Paladin
+ Leonin Relic-Warder
+ Silver Knight
+ Mirran Crusader
+ Stonecloaker
+ Hero of Bladehold
+ Hokori, Dust Drinker
+ Sun Titan
+ Revoke Existence
+ Arrest
+ Hallowed Burial
+ Elspeth Tirel
BLUE
- Jushi Apprentice
- Trinket Mage
- Body Double
- Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
- Vesuvan Shapeshifter
- Draining Whelk
+ Riftwing Cloudskate
+ Spellstutter Sprite
+ Aether Adept
+ Sea Gate Oracle
+ Willbender
+ Draining Whelk
+ Conundrum Sphinx
+ Inkwell Leviathan
+ Pact of Negation
+ Spell Snare
+ Daze
+ Delay
+ Preordain
+ Remove Soul
+ Jace's Ingenuity
+ Mind Control
+ Tezzeret the Seeker
BLACK
- Stupor
+ Fume Spitter
+ Guul Draz Assassin
+ Nantuko Shade
+ Liliana's Specter
+ Skinrender
+ Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
+ Grave Titan
+ Inquisition of Kozilek
+ Go For the Throat
+ Dread Return
+ Black Sun's Zenith
+ Mind Shatter
RED
- Smash to Smithereens
- Flame Javelin
- Demonfire
+ Gorilla Shaman
+ Grim Lavamancer
+ Spikeshot Elder
+ Ember Hauler
+ Goblin Wardriver
+ Cunning Sparkmage
+ Manic Vandal
+ Hero of Oxid Ridge
+ Inferno Titan
+ Arc Trail
+ Pillage
+ Red Sun's Zenith
+ Koth of the Hammer
+ Barbarian Ring
GREEN
- Rude Awakening
+ Fauna Shaman
+ Viridian Emissary
+ Wall of Roots
+ Imperious Perfect
+ Master of the Wild Hunt
+ Oracle of Mul Daya
+ Obstinate Baloth
+ Thrun, the Last Troll
+ Cultivate
+ Edge of Autumn
+ Explore
+ Naturalize
ARTIFACT
+ Phyrexian Revoker
+ Perilous Myr
+ Cathodion
+ Molten-Tail Masticore
+ Precursor Golem
+ Steel Hellkite
+ Wurmcoil Engine
+ Chimeric Mass
+ Brittle Effigy
+ Talisman of Dominance
+ Talisman of Impulse
+ Talisman of Indulgence
+ Talisman of Progress
+ Talisman of Unity
+ Everflowing Chalice
+ Ratchet Bomb
+ Crystal Ball
+ Mimic Vat
+ Worn Powerstone
+ Thran Dynamo
+ Serrated Arrows
+ All is Dust
+ Basilisk Collar
+ Sword of Body and Mind
+ Sword of Feast and Famine
+ Bonehoard
LAND
+ Blinkmoth Nexus
+ Evolving Wilds
+ Tectonic Edge
+ Terramorphic Expanse