Aetherling, Abyssal Persecutor, Lavinia of the Tenth, Far // Away and Turn // Burn are underpowered, but you are not losing anything important for them.
I would rather have a regular mana elf or red aggro creature than Zhur-Taa Druid in all the decks that could play it. Blood Scrivener has been testing very poor here: it is just way too hard to get Hellbent and without that it performs just worse than basically everything else that you could play in that slot. It your games last that long, there are just way better cards to give you some additional reach.
I would keep Dauthi Slayer around, since it is one of black's very few aggressive 3 drops.
Thanks for the comments. These changes are as yet untested so it's possible that none or all of these cards will be long term additions. I like to give the new cards a try and see how they perform.
I'd cut Duplicant, Loxodon Warhammer, or Isochron Scepter before cutting Scroll (so good in aggro) or Chalice (a decent mana stone). You could also cut Darksteel Ingot which is too fair for cube purposes.
I'd cut Duplicant, Loxodon Warhammer, or Isochron Scepter before cutting Scroll (so good in aggro) or Chalice (a decent mana stone). You could also cut Darksteel Ingot which is too fair for cube purposes.
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I missed Duplicant when I looked through the first time. That may actually be the cut. It also never seems to get played.
Good changes, but--as much as I love it--Stormbind is outclassed in cube these days. I like Sarkhan Vol, Savageborn Hydra, and Burning-Tree Emissary much more. I'd also either cut the Wolf-Run for another fixing land (Raging Ravine perhaps) or count Wolf-Run as a Gruul spell in place of Stormbind so you can add a fixing land. IMO, all guilds should have an equal amount of fixing lands.
Also agree with eidolon about Gilded Drake. It's better than what you were running but it's only good enough for "pet card" status in a 450 Powered cube.
I have never had Gilded Drake or Stormbind in my cube so I was curious to try them out. I remember playing Stormbind "Back in the Day". I ran Burning Tree Emissary for a while and found it underwhelming. I may give Sarkhan Vol a try if I can pick one up reasonably. That or I could move the Wolf Run into a spell slot and add a fixing land. I feel like Copperline Gorge may fit the bill better than Raging Ravine in an aggressive Gruul deck.
Gorge is really good. I'm running Ravine now because every Gruul deck will use a manland. You could make a case for either one, though. I like Sarkhan Vol more than Wolf-Run. Flinthoof Boar is another option too.
Gorge is really good. I'm running Ravine now because every Gruul deck will use a manland. You could make a case for either one, though. I like Sarkhan Vol more than Wolf-Run. Flinthoof Boar is another option too.
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rant
Took your advice and swapped Raging Ravine for Wolf Run. I still think I want to give Stormbind some time. Plus I don't have Sarkhan Vol yet
Small update today. Swapped Abrupt Decay for Varolz, the Scar-Striped.
Not sure if it's a good change or not but after playing Varolz in a buddy's cube I wanted to give it a try. I feel like Golgari has some redundancy with Decay, Deed and Pulse so Decay may not be missed. I also feel like adding a hard to kill sac outlet is never a bad thing. Ultimately it may switch back but I want to give it a few drafts first.
Swapped out Delver of Secrets, added Looter il-Kor.
Delver wasn't doing much for us and I don't really support a blue aggro or tempo deck. I noticed a lot of lists using Looter so I figured I'd give it a try.
Good swap. Even in an aggressive deck the shadow Looter is good; particularly with equipment or to draw into relevant spells in the later game.
I recently cut Gilded Drake which was a pet card in my 450. The decreased number of decks playing fatties and increasing number of ETB creatures (there's little point trading a 2-drop with a 5-drop if the latter card is only a 2/2 with deathtouch) meant that it was hard to reliably get value from it.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
I recently cut Gilded Drake which was a pet card in my 450. The decreased number of decks playing fatties and increasing number of ETB creatures (there's little point trading a 2-drop with a 5-drop if the latter card is only a 2/2 with deathtouch) meant that it was hard to reliably get value from it.
I also cut the drake after only a few weeks. I found it was often better than what I was able to swap it for.
Vesuva is an unusual card, what's it do in your cube? Has it ever done anything nuts?
Honestly, I guess I never paid attention, I thought most cubes played it. When I was building my cube I had one so I put it in. Most often it's just Maze of Ith #2. I've been thinking about Undiscovered Paradise lately so maybe I'll make the switch.
Some are testing still so please let me know what you all think or what your results have been with these cards. New cards are in the same order as the list of replacements in case there is a question about what is replacing what.
You are cutting too many aggro cards here. Even though we are getting some nice aggro toys, if you don't maintain a critical mass aggro won't be competitive. Bouncer is really good, and I don't understand wanting to cut Phyrexian Arena.
The bolded additions are just not strong enough at 450 IMO, but they aren't terrible by any means.
You are cutting too many aggro cards here. Even though we are getting some nice aggro toys, if you don't maintain a critical mass aggro won't be competitive. Bouncer is really good, and I don't understand wanting to cut Phyrexian Arena.
The bolded additions are just not strong enough at 450 IMO, but they aren't terrible by any means.
Cheers,
rant
I don't see where anything is in bold. I'm curious as to which changes you're referring to.
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1 Frost Titan
1 Dauthi Slayer
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Wall of Denial
1 Dimir Charm
1 Burning-Tree Emissary
1 Izzet Chronarch
1 Aetherling
1 Blood Scrivener
1 Abyssal Persecutor
1 Lavinia of the Tenth
1 Far // Away
1 Zhur-Taa Druid
1 Turn // Burn
I still need to add Ral Zarek and Voice of Resurgence. I haven't been able to acquire foil copies yet. I will probably be replacing Prophetic Bolt and Knight of the Reliquary
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rant
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Thanks for the comments. These changes are as yet untested so it's possible that none or all of these cards will be long term additions. I like to give the new cards a try and see how they perform.
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rant
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I missed Duplicant when I looked through the first time. That may actually be the cut. It also never seems to get played.
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1 Silver Knight
1 Mist Raven
1 Zhur-Taa Druid
1 Juggernaut
1 Isochron Scepter
1 Porcelain Legionnaire
1 Gilded Drake
1 Stormbind
1 Molten-Tail Masticore
1 Erratic Portal
I think mostly good changes. Any thoughts good or bad?
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Took your advice and swapped Raging Ravine for Wolf Run. I still think I want to give Stormbind some time. Plus I don't have Sarkhan Vol yet
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Not sure if it's a good change or not but after playing Varolz in a buddy's cube I wanted to give it a try. I feel like Golgari has some redundancy with Decay, Deed and Pulse so Decay may not be missed. I also feel like adding a hard to kill sac outlet is never a bad thing. Ultimately it may switch back but I want to give it a few drafts first.
Also added Timetwister back in, swapped out Gilded Drake
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Delver wasn't doing much for us and I don't really support a blue aggro or tempo deck. I noticed a lot of lists using Looter so I figured I'd give it a try.
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I recently cut Gilded Drake which was a pet card in my 450. The decreased number of decks playing fatties and increasing number of ETB creatures (there's little point trading a 2-drop with a 5-drop if the latter card is only a 2/2 with deathtouch) meant that it was hard to reliably get value from it.
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"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." -Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
I also cut the drake after only a few weeks. I found it was often better than what I was able to swap it for.
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Honestly, I guess I never paid attention, I thought most cubes played it. When I was building my cube I had one so I put it in. Most often it's just Maze of Ith #2. I've been thinking about Undiscovered Paradise lately so maybe I'll make the switch.
Edit: Made the switch to Undiscovered Paradise
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1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Glorious Anthem
1 Elspeth Tirel
1 Waterfront Bouncer
1 Dungeon Geists
1 Vampire Lacerator
1 Dauthi Horror
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Spikeshot Elder
1 Blistering Firecat
1 Chandra's Phoenix
1 Pyroclasm
1 Shrine of Burning Rage
1 Ulvenwald Tracker
1 Stormbind
1 Prophetic Bolt
1 Soldier of the Pantheon
1 Spear of Heliod
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Omenspeaker
1 Thassa, God of the Sea
1 Tormented Hero
1 Nighthowler
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Firedrinker Satyr
1 Ember Swallower
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Lightning Strike
1 Hammer of Purphoros
1 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Xenagos, the Reveler
1 Steam Augury
Some are testing still so please let me know what you all think or what your results have been with these cards. New cards are in the same order as the list of replacements in case there is a question about what is replacing what.
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You are cutting too many aggro cards here. Even though we are getting some nice aggro toys, if you don't maintain a critical mass aggro won't be competitive. Bouncer is really good, and I don't understand wanting to cut Phyrexian Arena.
The bolded additions are just not strong enough at 450 IMO, but they aren't terrible by any means.
Cheers,
rant
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I don't see where anything is in bold. I'm curious as to which changes you're referring to.
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