(A big thanks goes out to Lanxal for the sweet banner!)
Now that I'm comfortable with the stability of Cubetutor, I'll be keeping my LIST updated via that site instead. This post will contain the most up to date photos though, as that capability has not yet been realized on Cubetutor.
Cube Bio incoming.
The Cube Photos
Organized by:
Color --> Creature/Non Creature --> CMC --> Name
The tags aren't working, generally I write the word in here, and either manually put the card tags around them (card + [] in front, /card + [] in back) or highlight the card and use the card wrapper (the single magic card back pic.)
(Although from what I see, I'm not a fan of Dauthi Trapper, too weak for what it does, Might of Oaks is better as Briarhorn, I think.
all the dauthi's arent going in there, just seeing what they all did, only way i could since a lot of sites are blocked where i am
Dauthi Horrorand Dauthi Slayer are both good. If you can get your hands on a Carnophage it would definitely help black aggro in your cube. Move Shriekmaw and Desolation Angel* to the five drops. We've all been forced to play Kavu Titan, for example, on turn two even though he's more impressive on turn 5. Anyway, Plague Sliver/Juzam Djinn are generally well received as being excellent 4 drops.
*Keeping the Angel in the 7-drop section acknowledges it as a B/W card and it therefore doesn't fit in the black section.
Doh, sorry trying to do this while working I left both those dauthi's in and moved Shriekmaw and Deso to 5cc. Plague has been in the cube for a bit, just missed him as i read off the paper to myself
-Possibly add a few more White two-drops. This is white-aggro's bread and butter. Soltari Monk, Mistral Charger, Soltari Trooper are good options, and the last two are splashable in other aggressive archetypes as well. Maybe think about removing Magus of the Disk and Adarkar Valkyrie for a few spots if necessary (I'm a fan of the Valkyrie, but in a cube this condensed, it probably doesn't quite make the cut).
-I recommend finding room for Catastrophe, as it's been the best Wrath variant in our play group by a significant margin. The flexability of Wrath or Geddon can not be overestimated.
-While I find Bringer of the Blue Dawn interesting (and I may actually give him a shot in my cube after seeing this, but I am over double the size of yours), I definitely think something like Keiga, the Tide Star should be included first. Other blue creatures not on your list that I can speak positively for are Teferi, Mage of Zalfir, Aeon Chronicler, Serendib Efreet, and Wake Thrasher. I realize these creatures are concentrated in the 5cc and 3cc slots which seem to be well-stocked at the moment, but I feel exceptions to the curve should be acceptable as to not sacrifice overall power. If you allow portal cards, the Three Kingdoms Thieving Magpie varient Lu Xun, Scholar General is very good as well (the same can be said of most portal variations of existing Cube staples such as Geddon, Wildfire, etc).
-How has Spell Burst performed? After seeing it mentioned here, I may give it a shot as my 5-color control decks in cube sometimes run out of gas as I play a ton of mana sources usually and therefore are prone to flooding. This card looks to help in those regards.
-There has to be something you want to run more than Covenant of Minds. There is even a Portal variant that the name of which escapes me that simply says "draw three" for 4U. I wouldn't run either over Concentrate or Tidings, but if splashability (is that even a word?) is a concern to you, then definitely look towards that portal card.
-How have Soul's Fire and Knollspine Invocation performed for you? I don't currently view them as strong cube cards, but it's possible I simply am not in the know as I've not played them in this format. I do think you can probably find some stronger spells for red regardless though. I don't see Demonfire on your list, and that card is similar enough in power level to Banefire that I think there is easily room for both.
-Needs Rude Awakening, period. The only card in the cube that "literally" ends the game on the spot almost every time it resolves. Other extremely powerful cards often put you in a favorable position, or give you the tools to win from there when they resolve, but this card just skips all that and says "GG".
-Blastoderm needs to be here. In any aggressive green deck, triple Lava Axe is just what the doctor ordered. Obviously it's not a direct comparison, but since you already run Calciderm (and likely ran Blastoderm at some point), you know what I mean when I say that.
-The previous comments about mana Elves and Briarhorn I also agree with.
-I could never get Mirrorweave to "click" in cube, but maybe you guys have had more luck with it that we have. The recently released Wall of Denial has been incredible for us so far, so that's something to think about. It just stops sooooooo much damage in the early turns for a control deck.
-How has Sunforger played? I'm on the fence about including it, but it seems like it has potential.
Overall, a very well thought-out and built cube. Hopefully some of this was helpful, as you've given me a few cards to keep in mind for my cube.
So, I pretty much made this cube from memory from what i have back in the states, hence the obvious cards missing that i somehow skipped over (Kiega, Kokusho, Blastoderm, Aeon)...
I'm going to have to disagree. I had Llanowar Elves in there until recently when i was trimming my cube down. I took him out since i had just added Noble Heirarch, which is just a much better version of this card (without the obvious synergies with imperious perfect). Wood elves thins your deck of lands, and I'm trying to build upon good CIP effects for use with Crystal Shard and Erratic Portal as well as others scattered through-out the cube. As for Creeping Mold, this card is a gem. The flexibility this card gives is something that i really like. And i can't believe you don't like Quirion Dryad. He is a great early drop for 5 color in the cube. He grows to monstrous proportions without you having to do anything, and then the opponent has to waste a turn/kill spell on him instead of one of your finishers.
-Possibly add a few more White two-drops. This is white-aggro's bread and butter. Soltari Monk, Mistral Charger, Soltari Trooper are good options, and the last two are splashable in other aggressive archetypes as well. Maybe think about removing Magus of the Disk and Adarkar Valkyrie for a few spots if necessary (I'm a fan of the Valkyrie, but in a cube this condensed, it probably doesn't quite make the cut).
I appreciate the help here. White has been one of the hardest colors to trim for me because i like all the higher cc creatures in it. I think I'm going to have to cut some of them to make room for agro though.
Adarkar Valkyrie ---> Soltari Monk
Magus of the Disk ---> Soltari Trooper
-I recommend finding room for Catastrophe, as it's been the best Wrath variant in our play group by a significant margin. The flexability of Wrath or Geddon can not be overestimated.
Yah for sure, I've been meaning to add it just haven't found what i want to take out for it. Any ideas?
-While I find Bringer of the Blue Dawn interesting (and I may actually give him a shot in my cube after seeing this, but I am over double the size of yours), I definitely think something like Keiga, the Tide Star should be included first. Other blue creatures not on your list that I can speak positively for are Teferi, Mage of Zalfir, Aeon Chronicler, Serendib Efreet, and Wake Thrasher. I realize these creatures are concentrated in the 5cc and 3cc slots which seem to be well-stocked at the moment, but I feel exceptions to the curve should be acceptable as to not sacrifice overall power. If you allow portal cards, the Three Kingdoms Thieving Magpie varient Lu Xun, Scholar General is very good as well (the same can be said of most portal variations of existing Cube staples such as Geddon, Wildfire, etc).
I'm pretty sure i already cut Bringer with the final changes i made before i left, but im not sure. I've tried out Teferi, and our playgroup didn't ever use him cause of his blue intensive mana cost. I don't think Wake Thrasher makes the cut in a cube this small. I've tried him and found him underwhelming power wise compared to other things. I've decided not to play with portal, just because the actual cards cost to much and i hate proxies.
Bringer of the Blue Dawn --> Kiega, the Tide Star
Court Hussar -------------> Aeon Chronicler
As far as the mana curve in the creature portion of blue, i'm not to worried because blue isn't an aggressive color and usually prefers to wait to play stuff.
-How has Spell Burst performed? After seeing it mentioned here, I may give it a shot as my 5-color control decks in cube sometimes run out of gas as I play a ton of mana sources usually and therefore are prone to flooding. This card looks to help in those regards.
I love this card. It's not as powerful as the rediculous Capsize, but not much is to be honest. Something I've been trying to introduce to the cube are the cards that only let players play one spell a turn (theres 3 of them). That plus Spell Burst = locked lol.
-There has to be something you want to run more than Covenant of Minds. There is even a Portal variant that the name of which escapes me that simply says "draw three" for 4U. I wouldn't run either over Concentrate or Tidings, but if splashability (is that even a word?) is a concern to you, then definitely look towards that portal card.
To be honest, I actually really like Covenant of Minds. It works in pretty much anything with blue. The only part i don't like is that its sorcery speed, but still its worked well for our playgroup.
-How have Soul's Fire and Knollspine Invocation performed for you? I don't currently view them as strong cube cards, but it's possible I simply am not in the know as I've not played them in this format. I do think you can probably find some stronger spells for red regardless though. I don't see Demonfire on your list, and that card is similar enough in power level to Banefire that I think there is easily room for both.
Due to the size of my cube, I've had to limit the number of versions of cards, like Fireball mechanics and kill spells. Since Banefire is the best one, its the fireball mechanic for red. As far as Soul's Fire, its been great. Its a staple for agro because you can usually soul's fire for 5-6 fourth turn, which isn't bad for 2R. Knollspine Invocation is pretty darned good also. How many times have you run out of steam with red because you let the game go to long and now their creatures outclass yours? This card lets you throw every ****** card you draw into a Firebolt / Flame Javelin. It doesnt take much lol.
Braids, Cabal Minion ---> Kokusho, the Evening Star
-Needs Rude Awakening, period. The only card in the cube that "literally" ends the game on the spot almost every time it resolves. Other extremely powerful cards often put you in a favorable position, or give you the tools to win from there when they resolve, but this card just skips all that and says "GG".
Interestingly enough, I just cut this card today cause i was running out of room. I guess I'll take the card i had high hopes for but has failed to deliver cause of the mana intensiveness of the ability.
Sprout Swarm ---> Rude Awakening
-Blastoderm needs to be here. In any aggressive green deck, triple Lava Axe is just what the doctor ordered. Obviously it's not a direct comparison, but since you already run Calciderm (and likely ran Blastoderm at some point), you know what I mean when I say that.
Hmmm, greens creatures is already so tight right now. I've already had to cut alot of cards that i REALLY like lol. Guess I'll cut another one.
Spike Weaver ---> Blastoderm
-The previous comments about mana Elves and Briarhorn I also agree with.
Adressed above.
-I could never get Mirrorweave to "click" in cube, but maybe you guys have had more luck with it that we have. The recently released Wall of Denial has been incredible for us so far, so that's something to think about. It just stops sooooooo much damage in the early turns for a control deck.
Nope, we haven't. Every card i want Mirrorweave to use as a target is fricken legendary
Mirrorweave ----> Wall of Denial
-How has Sunforger played? I'm on the fence about including it, but it seems like it has potential.
Really, its effectiveness depends on how many targets you have in your cube, and how well you drafted that archetype while building a deck to inlcude it. I've never been mad about swinging and lightning helixing
Overall, a very well thought-out and built cube. Hopefully some of this was helpful, as you've given me a few cards to keep in mind for my cube.
Thanks for your help man. This is just the kind of thing i love about this forum!
i will second the argument for wall of denial. we put it in just to kind of supplement our already lacking UW section and it is absolutely amazing. i didn't have high hopes for it at first, but it has proved me wrong. imo, this card should be a UW staple.
and to comment on sunforger... we're about to take it out of our cube. it's RW ability is rarely abused even in a RW deck. and it's mostly just a +4/+0 which isn't terrible on it's on, but there are better equipments out there than that.
Since I'm getting the impression from your post that Rule of Law (and the possibly omitted (?) Arcane Laboratory) are cards for theme you are working on fleshing out, I would recommend cutting either Crib Swap or Arrest for Catastrophe. Both are serviceable as removal spells, but Arrest is generally going to be a worse ORing (only worse if played on a CITP creature and they have removal for the Ring, which isn't a situation that comes up enough for it to be a relevant concern), and Crib Swap in an aggressive deck lets them Fog your best creature for a turn, and in a control deck makes them have to keep in mind the 1/1 creature that is still around to pick away at their life total.
I'm going to have to disagree. I had Llanowar Elves in there until recently when i was trimming my cube down. I took him out since i had just added Noble Heirarch, which is just a much better version of this card (without the obvious synergies with imperious perfect). Wood elves thins your deck of lands, and I'm trying to build upon good CIP effects for use with Crystal Shard and Erratic Portal as well as others scattered through-out the cube. As for Creeping Mold, this card is a gem. The flexibility this card gives is something that i really like. And i can't believe you don't like Quirion Dryad. He is a great early drop for 5 color in the cube. He grows to monstrous proportions without you having to do anything, and then the opponent has to waste a turn/kill spell on him instead of one of your finishers.
the only card listed here that i can agree w/ you on it's cube worthiness is creeping mold. in a larger cube i could understand running quirion dryad as it can be really good in 3+ color builds. but even in those larger cubes the dryad should be ran along side at least one of the mana elves, possibly both. dryad isn't near as good in GX anything. it's ok, but you have to be in at least three colors for the dryad to make the cut, imo. whereas the mana elf will pretty much always make your list, no matter what sort of green deck you're building. not saying dryad is a bad card, just not a highly viable green card for smaller cubes. i feel pretty much the same way about wood elves, although i'd include it over quirion dryad for the arguments that you made in your post. citp creatures are good for cube and this one helps you ramp and thins your deck. still i'd rather have the llanowar here because three mana for a 1/1 isn't really all that great. i wouldn't play this in GX aggro for that reason alone.
Agreed on both, I wasn't too huge on Feudkiller's Verdict when I ran it, it's not bad, but Catastrophe is easily one of white's best cards. With Covenant, you'll do better than if you Concentrate if your opponent messes up, but you can't rely on that. Topdecked that Balance that you need from Covenant? Your opponent likely won't let you keep it.
I think that Crystal Shard & Erratic Portal are sufficiently broken without trying to add cards to make them more broken.
Topdecked that Balance that you need from Covenant? Your opponent likely won't let you keep it.
That's exactly why I HATECovenant of Minds. If you get what you desperately need, your opponent can say no. That sucks. I'd rather play... any other draw spell that allows me to always keep what I draw.
Hmmm, thanks everyone for your input. Going over the last few posts, i'll give you my responses:
As far as Quirion Dryad, even after all the hubub over him i still really like him, so just chalk it up as a pet card
I see your point on wood elves hence:
Wood Elves ---> Llanowar Elves
I do like Crib swap, but the creature they get is annoying.
Crib Swap ---> ?
I've been wanting to put in Catastrophe, but i don't want to many wrath effects that it makes agro worthless:
Hallowed Burial ---> Catastrophe
After the fire Covenant of Minds has taken, I can kinda see everyones point. I'VE never been let down, but I've only played the card a handful of times.
Covenant of Minds ---> Concentrate
I like Stone Rain... alot lol. Both other cards you meantioned sets both players back. Theres nothing like accelerating into second turn Stone Rain after you went first.
Feudkillers Verdict is a gem. How is paying 4WW for +10 life and a 5/5 creature. Any situation that wouldn't put you above the other player, you're either going to A) lose anyways or B) need a gain life card to pop you up to reasonable levels to compete again. Its a nice foil to Reds massive amount of burn as well.
After reading the posts, i have 2 new cards i want to fit in.
Feudkiller's Verdict – I never liked him. Gaining some life is merely nice, and while getting a 5/5 giant, a 5/5 with no abilities on the ground isn't worth 4WW. I'd play any mass removal or other white high drop over it all the time.
Battlegrace Angel is missing. It's one of my favorites, and it also provides serious amounts of life gain, but has a far better offensive capabilities as well as a lower cost.
Just how many Disenchant effects without a body your white can take? I'd play more creature based disenchant effect instead, like Nikko-Onna, or something else entirely. I'd recommend Flickerwisp.
This section is very strong of course. Spell Burst seems subpar and Legacy's Allure is outclassed by numerous cards. I intend to cut it from my cube for that reason.
Pulse of the Forge – Flames of the Blood Hand could easily replace it. In red decks you usually don't have a lower life total and six mana (four of them red) anyway, and splashability and the lifegain prevention are enormous.
Having two massive pump effects that cost four in a small cube might make them two obvious when they happen, which takes away much of their power and fun.
G/W – Get Glare of Subdual in there. Cutting a card here is a pain but if you have to keep multicolored even, it's better than all the cards here. Personally I think it would be Gaddock Teeg or Loxodon Hierarch.
Tricolor – I think you can stay with one card for each three-colored combination in this cube easily for an extra card in each color.
Artifacts-
Volatic Key is narrow. Tezzeret's first ability is comparable to that, so I'd say it's too narrow. Oblivion Stone instead?
Masticore – Duplicant is just better. Masticore seems a lot better than it truly is, creating card disadvantage in control decks isn't hot at all. It's easily dealt with and for six mana duplicant is better. It also does wonders with reanimation and blink effects.
All of the above is only my opinion if I didn't write it like that to save space. That's a good starting point for sure. Welcome to the forum!
I agree with almost everything metamind has suggested. However, Masticore IS jut as amazing as he looks, and Yawgmoth's Will is anything BUT subpar. It's miles ahead of most of the other black spells out there. I also really like Undead Gladiator and Stupor.
Words of War is much better than the Invoation though. And the rest of metamind's suggestions are great.
Feudkiller's Verdict – I never liked him. Gaining some life is merely nice, and while getting a 5/5 giant, a 5/5 with no abilities on the ground isn't worth 4WW. I'd play any mass removal or other white high drop over it all the time. Battlegrace Angel is missing. It's one of my favorites, and it also provides serious amounts of life gain, but has a far better offensive capabilities as well as a lower cost.
Just how many Disenchant effects without a body your white can take? I'd play more creature based disenchant effect instead, like Nikko-Onna, or something else entirely. I'd recommend Flickerwisp.
-Uh, Spectral Lynx is in there On a side note, i was trying to build a mini theme using the "play one spell a turn" but until its finished, its more a tool for control, which is already to strong atm. So i'm just going to scrap the idea and move ahead with my life. Ethersworn Cannonist ---> Knight of Meadowgrain
-I don't know what else i can say about Feudkiller's Verdict other than i like the card and is played alot by my playgroup. Chalk it up as a pet card i guess. As far as battlegrace, it was in my cube for a long time, but i cut it when i was trying to lower the average cc of white to a more agressive level. It is really good so I'll try to cut something else. Rule of Law ---> Battlegrace Angel
-And Wing Shards is better than Exile. Arrest -----> Wing Shards
-Hmmm, I don't know about others, but i consider "destroy artifact and enchantment" abilities pretty strong. The cards you offered as replacement only destroy enchantments, which is considerably less useful considering the ratio of artifacts to enchantments. Per your comment though on too many of the same effects, I guess I'll cut the weakest one for something better. Return to Dust ----> Flickerwisp
Pulse of the Forge – Flames of the Blood Hand could easily replace it. In red decks you usually don't have a lower life total and six mana (four of them red) anyway, and splashability and the lifegain prevention are enormous.
-I was a little hesistant to take out Stone Rain, but then i saw i had a lot of effects like it in Molten Rain and Pillage, so I'll give Boom/Bust a shot. I had tried Wildfire, but my playgroup just doesn't use it and it ended up as 14th/15th pick alot of the time.
Stone Rain -----> Boom/Bust
-These are both good cards IMO. Heat Shimmer is great for agro and as a battle trick. You can use to effectively target kill legends at any time, add some extra pressure during a combat, replicate CIP effects, and also make a copy of enemy atker and trade. Seems pretty good to me. Unwilling Recruit has always been great to me as well. Its definately won games, especially when your army is being stopped by a resilient creature your opponent just played.
-After thinking about it, I don't know when the "uncounterable" clause would come into effect against blue, since they usually don't play anything that VF would kill. Starstorm's going in cause of its Cycling option.
Volcanic Fallout ----> Starstorm
-I don't think the conditions for either of those are that hard, especially when playing red or any variant of that ie. r/g ramp. Also, Firebolt is already in there I would like to put Rift Bolt in though... Soul's Fire -----> Rift Bolt
-Good call lol.
Pulse of the Forge ------> Flames of the Blood Hand
-I don't blame you lol. Like i said at the beginning of this thread, Black's creature base is probably the weakest at the moment. I say this because i had an abnormal amount of black spells compared to creatures, something like 37/18. So I had to get rid of a bunch of black spells and replace them with creatures, hence the gaggle of meh creatures.
-Well i don't know how i missed Bone Shredder, he's in my cube already lol. I agree on Rotlung, but I'm a really big fan of Doomed Necromancer. He can reanimate things instantly, which is always good. Not to mention you can bring him back with Reveillark.
Rotlung Reanimator ----> Dusk Urchins
Mind Twist ------------> Bone Shredder
Before people jump on me about removing Mind Twist, I did it because it creates unfun game states, which is the opposite reason for playing the cube. Obviously other cards can do the same, but this does it way to easily.
-I really want to make Reanimation an archetype in my cube. I feel like the archetype right now is a bit weak, so any help on what to cut/add to make the archetype better would be a big help. As far as this, Dread Return is coming out for Diabolic Servitude because i can't find anything else to cut for it.
Dread Return -------------> Diabolic Servitude
-I disagree with both these statement. Stupor is very strong and Yawgmoth's Will is considered by some to be the best card ever made barring the power 10... seriously, they made a thread here on it a while back. I had Yawgmoth's Bargain in the cube at one point, but it's since departed due to players not playing it.
Green-
Quirion Dryad is worse than at least ten other green two drops.
Silklash Spider – should be Arashi, the Sky Asunder Having two massive pump effects that cost four in a small cube might make them two obvious when they happen, which takes away much of their power and fun.
-See above posts, Quirion Dryad is a pet card. I was trying Silklash over Arashi, but I will probably go back because i like Arashi better. I agree with the pump effects, I will probably cut Might of Oaks for Briarthorn. I was getting around to adding Opposition, just hadn't at the moment. It's coming out till i figure out what i want to cut for Opposition.
Silklash Spider -----> Arashi, the Sky Asunder
Might of Oaks -----> Briarthorn
Squirrel Nest-------> Call of the Herd
Multicolored-
G/W – Get Glare of Subdual in there. Cutting a card here is a pain but if you have to keep multicolored even, it's better than all the cards here. Personally I think it would be Gaddock Teeg or Loxodon Hierarch.
U/R – Shadowmage Infiltrator instead of Dimir Cutpurse
Tricolor – I think you can stay with one card for each three-colored combination in this cube easily for an extra card in each color.
-I really like Glare of Subdual, and I really find Gaddock Teeg useless in all but the most rare occasions. Plus when he does work, it just pisses the opponent off lol. Simic Sky Swallower is another one that was already in my cube and just forgot to add, cya selkie! On a side note, you should really try Plaxcaster if you havent already, I REALLY like him. He makes the next two guys you play +1/+1 bigger and for two mana, you effectively keep all three safe unless your opponent wants to X for 1 himself, where X is the amount of times i can pay 2 plus 1 lol, which is really just fine with me. And then Temporal Spring is an essential Time Walk early game and is a very nice battle trick. Shadowmage goes in for Dimir as well as Dominous is out for Prophetic Bolt.
Gaddock Teeg ----> Glare of Subdual
Dimir Cutpurse ----> Shadowmage Infiltrator
Dominous of Fealty--> Prophetic Bolt
Artifacts-
Volatic Key is narrow. Tezzeret's first ability is comparable to that, so I'd say it's too narrow. Oblivion Stone instead?
Masticore – Duplicant is just better. Masticore seems a lot better than it truly is, creating card disadvantage in control decks isn't hot at all. It's easily dealt with and for six mana duplicant is better. It also does wonders with reanimation and blink effects.
All of the above is only my opinion if I didn't write it like that to save space. That's a good starting point for sure. Welcome to the forum!
-I agree with Voltaic Key. I added it cause i couln't remember what the hell i had for the spot back home. O stone has made an appearance in the cube and left just the same. Wasn't ever picked. Duplicant on the other hand is something I've Been wanting to try. So in he goes. Oh and Masticore is REALLY good.
Voltaic Key -----> Duplicant
Sorry for the long response, but i like to explain why or why i don't do things. Thanks for your help
Pulse of the Forge – Flames of the Blood Hand could easily replace it. In red decks you usually don't have a lower life total and six mana (four of them red) anyway, and splashability and the lifegain prevention are enormous.
You mana burn to get below your opponent's life total and pulse them and get it back, so that you can do it again and again until they die. Pulse of the Fields is commonly used in a similar fashion.
(A big thanks goes out to Lanxal for the sweet banner!)
Now that I'm comfortable with the stability of Cubetutor, I'll be keeping my LIST updated via that site instead. This post will contain the most up to date photos though, as that capability has not yet been realized on Cubetutor.
Cube Bio incoming.
The Cube Photos
Organized by:
Color --> Creature/Non Creature --> CMC --> Name
(CubeTutor & MTGS)
360 Peasant Cube!
Custom Cube
RWU Miracles RWU
(Although from what I see, I'm not a fan of Dauthi Trapper, too weak for what it does, Might of Oaks is better as Briarhorn, I think.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
(CubeTutor & MTGS)
360 Peasant Cube!
Custom Cube
RWU Miracles RWU
Wood Elves
Creeping Mold
Quirion Dryad
My Tribal cube
My 93/94 old school cube
My Artifact cube
My Hearthstone Quiz App for iOS
Dauthi Horrorand Dauthi Slayer are both good. If you can get your hands on a Carnophage it would definitely help black aggro in your cube. Move Shriekmaw and Desolation Angel* to the five drops. We've all been forced to play Kavu Titan, for example, on turn two even though he's more impressive on turn 5. Anyway, Plague Sliver/Juzam Djinn are generally well received as being excellent 4 drops.
*Keeping the Angel in the 7-drop section acknowledges it as a B/W card and it therefore doesn't fit in the black section.
(CubeTutor & MTGS)
360 Peasant Cube!
Custom Cube
RWU Miracles RWU
-Possibly add a few more White two-drops. This is white-aggro's bread and butter. Soltari Monk, Mistral Charger, Soltari Trooper are good options, and the last two are splashable in other aggressive archetypes as well. Maybe think about removing Magus of the Disk and Adarkar Valkyrie for a few spots if necessary (I'm a fan of the Valkyrie, but in a cube this condensed, it probably doesn't quite make the cut).
-I recommend finding room for Catastrophe, as it's been the best Wrath variant in our play group by a significant margin. The flexability of Wrath or Geddon can not be overestimated.
-While I find Bringer of the Blue Dawn interesting (and I may actually give him a shot in my cube after seeing this, but I am over double the size of yours), I definitely think something like Keiga, the Tide Star should be included first. Other blue creatures not on your list that I can speak positively for are Teferi, Mage of Zalfir, Aeon Chronicler, Serendib Efreet, and Wake Thrasher. I realize these creatures are concentrated in the 5cc and 3cc slots which seem to be well-stocked at the moment, but I feel exceptions to the curve should be acceptable as to not sacrifice overall power. If you allow portal cards, the Three Kingdoms Thieving Magpie varient Lu Xun, Scholar General is very good as well (the same can be said of most portal variations of existing Cube staples such as Geddon, Wildfire, etc).
-How has Spell Burst performed? After seeing it mentioned here, I may give it a shot as my 5-color control decks in cube sometimes run out of gas as I play a ton of mana sources usually and therefore are prone to flooding. This card looks to help in those regards.
-There has to be something you want to run more than Covenant of Minds. There is even a Portal variant that the name of which escapes me that simply says "draw three" for 4U. I wouldn't run either over Concentrate or Tidings, but if splashability (is that even a word?) is a concern to you, then definitely look towards that portal card.
-How have Soul's Fire and Knollspine Invocation performed for you? I don't currently view them as strong cube cards, but it's possible I simply am not in the know as I've not played them in this format. I do think you can probably find some stronger spells for red regardless though. I don't see Demonfire on your list, and that card is similar enough in power level to Banefire that I think there is easily room for both.
-No Kokusho, the Evening Star? Card is fantastic, and definitely worth including.
-Needs Rude Awakening, period. The only card in the cube that "literally" ends the game on the spot almost every time it resolves. Other extremely powerful cards often put you in a favorable position, or give you the tools to win from there when they resolve, but this card just skips all that and says "GG".
-Blastoderm needs to be here. In any aggressive green deck, triple Lava Axe is just what the doctor ordered. Obviously it's not a direct comparison, but since you already run Calciderm (and likely ran Blastoderm at some point), you know what I mean when I say that.
-The previous comments about mana Elves and Briarhorn I also agree with.
-I could never get Mirrorweave to "click" in cube, but maybe you guys have had more luck with it that we have. The recently released Wall of Denial has been incredible for us so far, so that's something to think about. It just stops sooooooo much damage in the early turns for a control deck.
-How has Sunforger played? I'm on the fence about including it, but it seems like it has potential.
Overall, a very well thought-out and built cube. Hopefully some of this was helpful, as you've given me a few cards to keep in mind for my cube.
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I'm going to have to disagree. I had Llanowar Elves in there until recently when i was trimming my cube down. I took him out since i had just added Noble Heirarch, which is just a much better version of this card (without the obvious synergies with imperious perfect). Wood elves thins your deck of lands, and I'm trying to build upon good CIP effects for use with Crystal Shard and Erratic Portal as well as others scattered through-out the cube. As for Creeping Mold, this card is a gem. The flexibility this card gives is something that i really like. And i can't believe you don't like Quirion Dryad. He is a great early drop for 5 color in the cube. He grows to monstrous proportions without you having to do anything, and then the opponent has to waste a turn/kill spell on him instead of one of your finishers.
I appreciate the help here. White has been one of the hardest colors to trim for me because i like all the higher cc creatures in it. I think I'm going to have to cut some of them to make room for agro though.
Adarkar Valkyrie ---> Soltari Monk
Magus of the Disk ---> Soltari Trooper
Yah for sure, I've been meaning to add it just haven't found what i want to take out for it. Any ideas?
I'm pretty sure i already cut Bringer with the final changes i made before i left, but im not sure. I've tried out Teferi, and our playgroup didn't ever use him cause of his blue intensive mana cost. I don't think Wake Thrasher makes the cut in a cube this small. I've tried him and found him underwhelming power wise compared to other things. I've decided not to play with portal, just because the actual cards cost to much and i hate proxies.
Bringer of the Blue Dawn --> Kiega, the Tide Star
Court Hussar -------------> Aeon Chronicler
As far as the mana curve in the creature portion of blue, i'm not to worried because blue isn't an aggressive color and usually prefers to wait to play stuff.
I love this card. It's not as powerful as the rediculous Capsize, but not much is to be honest. Something I've been trying to introduce to the cube are the cards that only let players play one spell a turn (theres 3 of them). That plus Spell Burst = locked lol.
To be honest, I actually really like Covenant of Minds. It works in pretty much anything with blue. The only part i don't like is that its sorcery speed, but still its worked well for our playgroup.
Due to the size of my cube, I've had to limit the number of versions of cards, like Fireball mechanics and kill spells. Since Banefire is the best one, its the fireball mechanic for red. As far as Soul's Fire, its been great. Its a staple for agro because you can usually soul's fire for 5-6 fourth turn, which isn't bad for 2R. Knollspine Invocation is pretty darned good also. How many times have you run out of steam with red because you let the game go to long and now their creatures outclass yours? This card lets you throw every ****** card you draw into a Firebolt / Flame Javelin. It doesnt take much lol.
Braids, Cabal Minion ---> Kokusho, the Evening Star
Interestingly enough, I just cut this card today cause i was running out of room. I guess I'll take the card i had high hopes for but has failed to deliver cause of the mana intensiveness of the ability.
Sprout Swarm ---> Rude Awakening
Hmmm, greens creatures is already so tight right now. I've already had to cut alot of cards that i REALLY like lol. Guess I'll cut another one.
Spike Weaver ---> Blastoderm
Adressed above.
Nope, we haven't. Every card i want Mirrorweave to use as a target is fricken legendary
Mirrorweave ----> Wall of Denial
Really, its effectiveness depends on how many targets you have in your cube, and how well you drafted that archetype while building a deck to inlcude it. I've never been mad about swinging and lightning helixing
Thanks for your help man. This is just the kind of thing i love about this forum!
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and to comment on sunforger... we're about to take it out of our cube. it's RW ability is rarely abused even in a RW deck. and it's mostly just a +4/+0 which isn't terrible on it's on, but there are better equipments out there than that.
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what is up with the pink font? is it just me? Makes it hard for me to read and go through ur cube.
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the only card listed here that i can agree w/ you on it's cube worthiness is creeping mold. in a larger cube i could understand running quirion dryad as it can be really good in 3+ color builds. but even in those larger cubes the dryad should be ran along side at least one of the mana elves, possibly both. dryad isn't near as good in GX anything. it's ok, but you have to be in at least three colors for the dryad to make the cut, imo. whereas the mana elf will pretty much always make your list, no matter what sort of green deck you're building. not saying dryad is a bad card, just not a highly viable green card for smaller cubes. i feel pretty much the same way about wood elves, although i'd include it over quirion dryad for the arguments that you made in your post. citp creatures are good for cube and this one helps you ramp and thins your deck. still i'd rather have the llanowar here because three mana for a 1/1 isn't really all that great. i wouldn't play this in GX aggro for that reason alone.
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I'd cut Covenant of Minds. Why let your opponent determine the quality/quantity of the cards you're going to draw? Concentrate, Tidings and Opportunity are all much, much better.
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Agreed on both, I wasn't too huge on Feudkiller's Verdict when I ran it, it's not bad, but Catastrophe is easily one of white's best cards. With Covenant, you'll do better than if you Concentrate if your opponent messes up, but you can't rely on that. Topdecked that Balance that you need from Covenant? Your opponent likely won't let you keep it.
Agreed there too.
(Brilliant Plan is the name of the splashable Concentrate, but Petals of Insight is better, but then again, Concentrate is better than that. I would try to make room for Aeon Chronicler as it's not only a great finisher, but card draw as well.)
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That's exactly why I HATE Covenant of Minds. If you get what you desperately need, your opponent can say no. That sucks. I'd rather play... any other draw spell that allows me to always keep what I draw.
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Ah yes, I thought that I was missing something. Good call.
I'm not a huge fan of Stone Rain, it doesn't do enough on its own, I think that Boom/Bust or Tectonic Break would be better for the slot.
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But I think I'm one of the few...
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As far as Quirion Dryad, even after all the hubub over him i still really like him, so just chalk it up as a pet card
I see your point on wood elves hence:
Wood Elves ---> Llanowar Elves
I do like Crib swap, but the creature they get is annoying.
Crib Swap ---> ?
I've been wanting to put in Catastrophe, but i don't want to many wrath effects that it makes agro worthless:
Hallowed Burial ---> Catastrophe
After the fire Covenant of Minds has taken, I can kinda see everyones point. I'VE never been let down, but I've only played the card a handful of times.
Covenant of Minds ---> Concentrate
I like Stone Rain... alot lol. Both other cards you meantioned sets both players back. Theres nothing like accelerating into second turn Stone Rain after you went first.
Feudkillers Verdict is a gem. How is paying 4WW for +10 life and a 5/5 creature. Any situation that wouldn't put you above the other player, you're either going to A) lose anyways or B) need a gain life card to pop you up to reasonable levels to compete again. Its a nice foil to Reds massive amount of burn as well.
After reading the posts, i have 2 new cards i want to fit in.
Boom/Bust
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Words of War is much better than the Invoation though. And the rest of metamind's suggestions are great.
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-Uh, Spectral Lynx is in there On a side note, i was trying to build a mini theme using the "play one spell a turn" but until its finished, its more a tool for control, which is already to strong atm. So i'm just going to scrap the idea and move ahead with my life.
Ethersworn Cannonist ---> Knight of Meadowgrain
Rule of Law ---> Battlegrace Angel
Arrest -----> Wing Shards
Return to Dust ----> Flickerwisp
Stone Rain -----> Boom/Bust
Soul's Fire -----> Rift Bolt
-Good call lol.
Pulse of the Forge ------> Flames of the Blood Hand
-Agreed.
Knollspine Invocation -----> Words of War
-Well i don't know how i missed Bone Shredder, he's in my cube already lol. I agree on Rotlung, but I'm a really big fan of Doomed Necromancer. He can reanimate things instantly, which is always good. Not to mention you can bring him back with Reveillark.
Rotlung Reanimator ----> Dusk Urchins
Mind Twist ------------> Bone Shredder
Before people jump on me about removing Mind Twist, I did it because it creates unfun game states, which is the opposite reason for playing the cube. Obviously other cards can do the same, but this does it way to easily.
-I really want to make Reanimation an archetype in my cube. I feel like the archetype right now is a bit weak, so any help on what to cut/add to make the archetype better would be a big help. As far as this, Dread Return is coming out for Diabolic Servitude because i can't find anything else to cut for it.
-I disagree with both these statement. Stupor is very strong and Yawgmoth's Will is considered by some to be the best card ever made barring the power 10... seriously, they made a thread here on it a while back. I had Yawgmoth's Bargain in the cube at one point, but it's since departed due to players not playing it.
-See above posts, Quirion Dryad is a pet card. I was trying Silklash over Arashi, but I will probably go back because i like Arashi better. I agree with the pump effects, I will probably cut Might of Oaks for Briarthorn. I was getting around to adding Opposition, just hadn't at the moment. It's coming out till i figure out what i want to cut for Opposition.
-I really like Glare of Subdual, and I really find Gaddock Teeg useless in all but the most rare occasions. Plus when he does work, it just pisses the opponent off lol. Simic Sky Swallower is another one that was already in my cube and just forgot to add, cya selkie! On a side note, you should really try Plaxcaster if you havent already, I REALLY like him. He makes the next two guys you play +1/+1 bigger and for two mana, you effectively keep all three safe unless your opponent wants to X for 1 himself, where X is the amount of times i can pay 2 plus 1 lol, which is really just fine with me. And then Temporal Spring is an essential Time Walk early game and is a very nice battle trick. Shadowmage goes in for Dimir as well as Dominous is out for Prophetic Bolt.
Dominous of Fealty--> Prophetic Bolt
-I agree with Voltaic Key. I added it cause i couln't remember what the hell i had for the spot back home. O stone has made an appearance in the cube and left just the same. Wasn't ever picked. Duplicant on the other hand is something I've Been wanting to try. So in he goes. Oh and Masticore is REALLY good.
Voltaic Key -----> Duplicant
Sorry for the long response, but i like to explain why or why i don't do things. Thanks for your help
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You mana burn to get below your opponent's life total and pulse them and get it back, so that you can do it again and again until they die. Pulse of the Fields is commonly used in a similar fashion.
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