A lot of my inspiration originally came from TheGeb's 180 Card travel cube, and is definitely worth checking out (here).
Small Cube, Small Budget, No Problem
This cube has had a few iterations to get to its current point, and it’s certainly not done evolving yet. It originally started out as a sleeved up box of Modern Masters. I was able to get a box, but not being a huge modern player and wanting to experience what was apparently one of the best draft environments made by Wizards, I decided to slap the cards in some sleeves. It was fun, but the box I had bought wasn’t terribly powerful (two Dragon Storms… and hardly any dragons…).
From there it evolved into a 180 card travel cube. I liked the idea of keeping the cube small, idealy it meant keeping the budget from going wild and since my play group isn’t huge, it would fit perfectly. The 180 card cube was awesomely fun. It wasn’t balanced well, and certainly had flaws, but it did exactly what my friend and I wanted to do. Have an interesting stack of cards for us to do 2 player drafts from while we drank beer and ate dinner. After a momentary bump to 270, it’s finally settled at 360.
Currently the cube resides in a small travel box that I keep my Standard, Modern, Legacy and EDH decks in:
Picture of storage to come later
Driving Vision
This cube's main type of play is Winston and Winchester drafts with one of my friends at a bar. Occasionally it gets drafted with more than that, but the driving goal behind it is to keep it fun for me and the other guy I play with most often.
This means that some cards that many see as an autoinclude have been cut, and many that some people might raise an eyebrow to have been included.
We like our games to be interactive, but blow outs can be fun too just so long as it's not a regular occurrence. Things like Storm and a lot of combo aren't really welcome in the environment we play (plus we only see about 1/4 of the cube each time we draft, so they'd be dead cards more often than not).
With all of that in mind, I am always open to suggestions. I'll definitely listen, and if anyone is curious as to why particular cards are used, feel free to chime in and ask.
With the update to a full 360, I've started work on a 180 pauper travel cube. I figure I'm more willing to actually travel with cards that are worth around $50 in total, so I'm making my travel bit in the pauper vein.
Man I really appreciate the shout out! I love my 180 cube if for no other reason that a lot of folks said that it was impossible to make a good one ;). We play mine fairly often over a lunch where I work and despite it getting a little more expensive than I intended, it goes on every trip I take with my family.
I think you have a lot of great card choices in here, and the best way to figure out what's working for you is to draft it often. A few cards I love in my 180 that would fit within the budget are:
Primal Command for the flexibility. Cards that do multiple things are critical to the 180 cube. Mystic Snake it comes into play whenever (flash) and counters a spell to boot. Nekrataal a great creature with its ETB effect Skullclamp powerful card that can be used in multiple ways depending on what you need at the time ReveillarkSun Titan great for reusing ETB effects. These have been super fun in my 180 Phyrexian MetamorphPorcelain Legionnaire are great because they can be cast by anyone in a pinch. Flametounge Kavu is a solid 4 drop in red that does great duty as a kill spell and a creature.
Anyway just some cards that I like. A 180 cube is a challenge to design with so little space, but for me I have had some of the most fun tweaking this cube over time.
My friend and I have been drafting it quite a bit. We try to get it in at least once per week and it's been pretty fun. We generally stick with Winston draft (a little modified, in that you can start with any of the 3 piles when starting your choices, rather than having to always look at stack 1 first). It's worked out pretty well, and it's doing one of the things I had hoped it would do, which is help my friend in card evaluation and deck building. It's actually gotten the attention of some of my other friends who play, and I'm actually going to expand it by 90 cards. At 180, it's still draftable by 4 people, but we get up to 6 at time, so I'd like to be able to accommodate everyone, while still keeping it small enough to take places. 270 seems like the sweet spot I'm going to try and hit. Though, I want to keep a 180 list for a mental exercise.
I'll update the list sometime this weekend to reflect the 270 pool I'm working with. Not a lot of notable additions, though I'm going for more elves in Green, since Black and Red both have Zombie and tribal stuff.
One of the things I'm trying to replace is the Sol Ring. It's very good, probably too good for this cube since it outclasses everything by SO much. It's lead to turn 2 Xenagos and other stuff that's just too difficult to recover from.
Updated the original post to the 270 list. It's essentially brand new but it's where I'm going to keep it for the time being (had this list for about 3 weeks, give or take 1 or 2 cards). This will be the platform that I start updating with better cards.
Delver of Secrets and Think Tank are on the chopping block. Delver isn't performing like I'd hoped (understandably so, since most decks that use it effectively have a crap ton of instants and sorceries, this cube doesn't really allow that. Think Tank was just a filler card to try and help Reanimator decks a bit. Though Reanimate itself is performing slightly worse than I'd hoped. These areas will need to be touched up going in, along with the mentioned boosts to red.
Brimaz, King of Oreskos will either replace Frontline Medic or Fiendslayer Paladin. More than likely he'll replace the Paladin, but currently testing without the medic.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion replacing Ajani is a permanent change. Ajani was pretty good in the 270, but Elspeth edges him out just slightly. I could see swapping them out for certain drafters, though I think Elspeth is a more enjoyable card.
Nightveil Specter is being included because one of the people in the play group likes it a lot. It's not a bad card, and it feels like a more playable card than Duskmantle Seer.
Mogg Flunkies was never played, nor has most of Red really (it's still by far the weakest color). Foundry Street Denizen was a recent addition, that I don't expect to push Red to playable, but is still a better card for Red aggro than flunkies was.
Still looking to give Red the push it needs. On the immediate acquire list are Firedrinker Satyr, Goblin Guide, Sulfuric Vortex and Black Vise. Flametongue Kavu is something I'll definitely look into (thanks TheGeb).
I think the most surprising of those changes is removing Terminus. Terminus is an awesome card, but it just wasn't seeing play. I tend to go for Akroma's Vengeance and Wrath of God, simply because they're not as atrocious as second draws, and the cycling of Akroma's Vengeance means it has early game options as well.
Pretty predictable and explainable choices there. A bit too much counter magic existed, having colorless clone is useful. Titans are more fun than Primordials.
Dark Tutelage ended with a recent "feel bad" situation of killing it's user. While that's the risk that it's designed for, I don't think the group as players are in a situation that we can play it the way it's meant to. Replaced with Demonic Tutor.
Some pretty massive changes. Don't have the time to detal them in a post, but the list in the OP has been updated. Cubetutor also has what's been taken out, so you can find that information there.
Won't have any more massive changes like the last couple. It's settling out right where I like it.
Went ahead and made the bump to 360. Added a lot of cards, took out a lot of cards and have found a spot I like at 360. The next upgrades will be getting the ONS/ZEN fetches and ABU duals. More likely I'll proxy them while I acquire them slowly.
Outside of the Fetches/ABU duals, any recommended upgrades? Comments and Criticism are very welcome!
Small changes recently. First I decided against proxies for the ABU and Fetch lands. I'm going to keep my cube as traditionalist as possible, which means only real cards, no custom errata, and singleton through English card name (though not card effect, for example Terramorphic Expanse and Evolving Wilds are both fine).
Stifle is the card most likely to be swapped back. While Opportunity was a great card, it was lacking a bit behind the creatures that can draw cards (Lu Xun and any of the looters) in terms of being main decked. Though I'm also a bit iffy on Stifle being extremely useful without Fetches.
Still no pictures, they're to come. I'll also be making a thread for my [180] Peasant Travel Cube eventually, but it's still being developed.
As always, comments questions and criticism are very welcome
Went to my LGS and found a couple cards for fairly cheap. I'm a bit sad to see Fettergeist go, but it hasn't been pulling its weight recently, and I'd like to give Capsize a shot. Elvish Archdruid is another card that I had hoped to push with more elves, but it just wasn't working at all. Hound of Griselbrand, while an awesome sword carrier, tended to be kinda bleh on its own. Hero of Oxid Ridge should be a great replacement.
Bomo's 360:
A lot of my inspiration originally came from TheGeb's 180 Card travel cube, and is definitely worth checking out (here).
Small Cube, Small Budget, No Problem
This cube has had a few iterations to get to its current point, and it’s certainly not done evolving yet. It originally started out as a sleeved up box of Modern Masters. I was able to get a box, but not being a huge modern player and wanting to experience what was apparently one of the best draft environments made by Wizards, I decided to slap the cards in some sleeves. It was fun, but the box I had bought wasn’t terribly powerful (two Dragon Storms… and hardly any dragons…).
From there it evolved into a 180 card travel cube. I liked the idea of keeping the cube small, idealy it meant keeping the budget from going wild and since my play group isn’t huge, it would fit perfectly. The 180 card cube was awesomely fun. It wasn’t balanced well, and certainly had flaws, but it did exactly what my friend and I wanted to do. Have an interesting stack of cards for us to do 2 player drafts from while we drank beer and ate dinner. After a momentary bump to 270, it’s finally settled at 360.
Currently the cube resides in a small travel box that I keep my Standard, Modern, Legacy and EDH decks in:
Driving Vision
This cube's main type of play is Winston and Winchester drafts with one of my friends at a bar. Occasionally it gets drafted with more than that, but the driving goal behind it is to keep it fun for me and the other guy I play with most often.
This means that some cards that many see as an autoinclude have been cut, and many that some people might raise an eyebrow to have been included.
We like our games to be interactive, but blow outs can be fun too just so long as it's not a regular occurrence. Things like Storm and a lot of combo aren't really welcome in the environment we play (plus we only see about 1/4 of the cube each time we draft, so they'd be dead cards more often than not).
With all of that in mind, I am always open to suggestions. I'll definitely listen, and if anyone is curious as to why particular cards are used, feel free to chime in and ask.
Card List:
WW White WW
Creatures:
W:
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Mother of Runes
Soldier of the Pantheon
Steppe Lynx
Student of Warfare
WW:
Accorder Paladin
Fencing Ace
Imposing Sovereign
Kor Skyfisher
Precinct Captain
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
WWW:
Banisher Priest
Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Emancipation Angel
Fiend Hunter
Fiendslayer Paladin
Flickerwisp
Intrepid Hero
Mirran Crusader
Mirror Entity
Silverblade Paladin
Emeria Angel
WWWW:
Hero of Bladehold
Restoration Angel
Seraph of the Sword
WWWWW
Baneslayer Angel
Cloudgoat Ranger
Herald of War
Karmic Guide
Reveillark
WWWWWW+:
Sun Titan
Eternal Dragon
Non-creatures:
Ajani, Caller of the Pride
Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Ethersworn Canonist
Mana Tithe
Path to Exile
Swords to Plowshares
Disenchant
Otherworldly Journey
Unexpectedly Absent
White Sun's Zenith
Balance
Armageddon
Wrath of God
Terminus
Land Tax
Oblivion Ring
Faith's Fetters
Spear of Heliod
UU Blue UU
Creatures:
U
Enclave Cryptologist
UU:
Looter il-Kor
Phantasmal Image
UUU:
Deceiver Exarch
Fettergeist
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Man-o'-War
Pestermite
UUUU:
Dungeon Geists
Glen Elendra Archmage
Lu Xun, Scholar General
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Phyrexian Metamorph
Sower of Temptation
Venser, Shaper Savant
UUUUU:
Meloku the Clouded Mirror
Mulldrifter
UUUUUU:
Aetherling
Consecrated Sphinx
Frost Titan
Keiga, the Tide Star
Non-creatures:
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Brainstorm
Force Spike
Mystical Tutor
Rapid Hybridization
Counterspell
Impulse
Mana Leak
Remand
Forbid
Psionic Blast
Cryptic Command
Fact or Fiction
Foil
Condescend
Misdirection
Ancestral Vision
Preordain
Strategic Planning
Tinker
Deep Analysis
Stifle
Upheaval
Control Magic
Opposition
Treachery
Bident of Thassa
Faerie Conclave
BB Black BB
Creatures:
B:
Carnophage
Diregraf Ghoul
Gravecrawler
Viscera Seer
BB:
Blood Artist
Blood Scrivener
Bloodghast
Knight of Infamy
Pack Rat
Vampire Hexmage
BBB:
Doomed Necromancer
Geralf's Messenger
Hypnotic Specter
Lifebane Zombie
Ophiomancer
Vampire Nighthawk
Xathrid Necromancer
BBBB:
Ashling, the Extinguisher
Braids, Cabal Minion
Desecration Demon
Disciple of Bolas
Liliana's Reaver
BBBBB:
Bloodgift Demon
Shriekmaw
BBBBBB+:
Grave Titan
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
Tombstalker
Non-creatures:
Liliana of the Dark Realms
Sorin Markov
Dark Ritual
Tragic Slip
Diabolic Edict
Doom Blade
Go for the Throat
Hero's Downfall
Death Denied
Duress
Reanimate
Thoughtseize
Chainer's Edict
Demonic Tutor
Exhume
Hymn to Tourach
Sign in Blood
Last Rites
Toxic Deluge
Black Sun's Zenith
Animate Dead
Phyrexian Arena
Recurring Nightmare
RR Red RR
Creatures:
R:
Firedrinker Satyr
Foundry Street Denizen
Goblin Guide
Grim Lavamancer
Jackal Pup
Kird Ape
Legion Loyalist
Spikeshot Elder
Stonewright
Stromkirk Noble
RR:
Ash Zealot
Gore-House Chainwalker
Kargan Dragonlord
Lightning Mauler
Mogg War Marshal
Plated Geopede
Torch Fiend
Young Pyromancer
RRR:
Ball Lightning
Chandra's Phoenix
Guttersnipe
Squee, Goblin Nabob
RRRR:
Avalanche Riders
Flametongue Kavu
Hellrider
Hound of Griselbrand
RRRRR:
Siege-Gang Commander
Thundermaw Hellkite
Zealous Conscripts
RRRRRR+:
Godo, Bandit Warlord
Inferno Titan
Greater Gargadon
Non-creatures:
Chandra, Pyromaster
Koth of the Hammer
Lightning Bolt
Shock
Lightning Strike
Magma Jet
Char
Faithless Looting
Arc Trail
Mizzium Mortars
Incendiary Command
Red Sun's Zenith
Tempt with Vengeance
Wildfire
Bonfire of the Damned
Sulfuric Vortex
Sneak Attack
Hammer of Purphoros
GG Green GG
Creatures:
G:
Avacyn's Pilgrim
Birds of Paradise
Elvish Mystic
Fyndhorn Elves
Joraga Treespeaker
Llanowar Elves
Ulvenwald Tracker
GG:
Mayor of Avabruck
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Scavenging Ooze
Strangleroot Geist
Sylvan Caryatid
Wall of Blossoms
GGG:
Caller of the Claw
Elvish Archdruid
Eternal Witness
Imperious Perfect
Troll Ascetic
GGGG:
Chameleon Colossus
Deadbridge Goliath
Mold Shambler
Thrun, the Last Troll
GGGGG:
Acidic Slime
Deranged Hermit
Kalonian Hydra
Thragtusk
Wolfir Silverheart
GGGGGG+:
Primeval Titan
Avenger of Zendikar
Giant Adephage
Terastodon
Woodfall Primus
Non-creatures:
Garruk Relentless
Garruk, Primal Hunter
Birthing Pod
Beast Within
Krosan Grip
Farseek
Rampant Growth
Call of the Herd
Kodama's Reach
Spoils of Victory
Bramblecrush
Harmonize
Rude Awakening
Green Sun's Zenith
Tooth and Nail
Rancor
Curse of Predation
Bow of Nylea
WUBRG Multicolored WUBRG
WUAzoriusWU::
Judge's Familiar
Meddling Mage
Medomai the Ageless
Detention Sphere
Celestial Colonnade
Glacial Fortress
Hallowed Fountain
UBDimirUB:
Nightveil Specter
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Baleful Strix
Recoil
Creeping Tar Pit
Drowned Catacomb
Watery Grave
BRRakdosBR:
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
Murderous Redcap
Olivia Voldaren
Dreadbore
Blood Crypt
Dragonskull Summit
Lavaclaw Reaches
RGGruulRG:
Bloodbraid Elf
Sarkhan Vol
Xenagos, the Reveler
Kessig Wolf Run
Raging Ravine
Rootbound Crag
Stomping Ground
GWSelesnyaGW:
Dryad Militant
Kitchen Finks
Knight of the Reliquary
Selesnya Charm
Stirring Wildwood
Sunpetal Grove
Temple Garden
WBOrzhovWB:
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Tidehollow Sculler
Lingering Souls
Vindicate
Fetid Heath
Godless Shrine
Isolated Chapel
BGGolgariBG:
Deathrite Shaman
Lotleth Troll
Vraska the Unseen
Putrefy
Llanowar Wastes
Overgrown Tomb
Woodland Cemetery
UGSimicUG:
Lorescale Coatl
Trygon Predator
Mystic Snake
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Breeding Pool
Hinterland Harbor
Yavimaya Coast
URIzzetUR:
Ral Zarek
Izzet Charm
Electrolyze
Dack Fayden
Cascade Bluffs
Steam Vents
Sulfur Falls
RWBorosRW:
Figure of Destiny
Boros Charm
Lightning Helix
Aurelia's Fury
Clifftop Retreat
Rugged Prairie
Sacred Foundry
Alara Tri Color Lands:
Savage Lands
Jungle Shrine
Seaside Citadel
Arcane Sanctum
Crumbling Necropolis
123 Colorless 321
Creatures:
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Phyrexian Revoker
Lodestone Golem
Solemn Simulacrum
Myr Battlesphere
Non-creatures:
Everflowing Chalice
Black Vise
Bonesplitter
Mana Vault
Pithing Needle
Skullclamp
Coldsteel Heart
Ratchet Bomb
Sphere of the Suns
Swiftfoot Boots
Umezawa's Jitte
Basalt Monolith
Darksteel Ingot
Sword of Feast and Famine
Sword of Body and Mind
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of War and Peace
Tangle Wire
Icy Manipulator
Nevinyrral's Disk
Thran Dynamo
Gilded Lotus
Utility Lands:
City of Brass
Evolving Wilds
Grand Coliseum
Maze of Ith
Mutavault
Strip Mine
Terramorphic Expanse
Thespian's Stage
With the update to a full 360, I've started work on a 180 pauper travel cube. I figure I'm more willing to actually travel with cards that are worth around $50 in total, so I'm making my travel bit in the pauper vein.
Tappedout
Cubetutor
Current wish list:
Outdated
[180] Travel Cube --> [270] Travel Cube
270 Travel Cube ---> 360 Full cube
Old 270 cube:
WW White WW
Creatures:
Soldier of the Pantheon
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Mother of Runes
Imposing Sovereign
Precinct Captain
Kor Skyfisher
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Ethersworn Canonist
Banisher Priest*
Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Emancipation Angel
Fiendslayer Paladin
Flickerwisp
Intrepid Hero
Mirran Crusader*
Mirror Entity
Emeria Angel
Kongming, 'Sleeping Dragon'
Restoration Angel*
Cloudgoat Ranger*
Herald of War
Reveillark
Sun Titan*
Non-creatures:
Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Mana Tithe
Path to Exile
Swords to Plowshares*
Otherworldly Journey*
Unexpectedly Absent
White Sun's Zenith
Balance
Cenn's Enlistment*
Wrath of God
Akroma's Vengeance*
Terminus
Honor of the Pure
Oblivion Ring
Spear of Heliod
UU Blue UU
Creatures:
Omenspeaker
Phantasmal Image
Deceiver Exarch
Fettergeist
Grand Architect*
Man-o'-War
Dungeon Geists
Glen Elendra Archmage
Lu Xun, Scholar General
Talrand, Sky Summoner
Venser, Shaper Savant*
Phyrexian Metamorph*
Meloku the Clouded Mirror
Mulldrifter*
Aetherling
Consecrated Sphinx
Frost Titan*
Keiga, the Tide Star
Non-creatures:
Jace, the Mind Sculptor*
Force Spike
Mystical Tutor
Rapid Hybridization*
Counterspell
Impulse*
Mana Leak
Dissolve
Psionic Blast
Cryptic Command
Fact or Fiction*
Vanishment
Opportunity
Blue Sun's Zenith
Preordain
Strategic Planning
Talrand's Invocation
Upheaval
Control Magic
Bident of Thassa*
BB Black BB
Creatures:
Viscera Seer
Blood Artist
Blood Scrivener
Bloodghast
Pack Rat
Harbor Bandit
Lifebane Zombie
Ophiomancer
Phyrexian Crusader
Vampire Nighthawk*
Xathrid Necromancer
Ashling, the Extinguisher
Braids, Cabal Minion
Desecration Demon
Disciple of Bolas
Liliana's Reaver*
Shadowborn Demon
Shriekmaw*
Grave Titan*
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni*
Tombstalker
Non-creatures:
Liliana of the Dark Realms
Dark Ritual*
Tragic Slip
Doom Blade*
Go for the Throat*
Hero's Downfall
Death Denied*
Duress*
Reanimate
Thoughtseize
Chainer's Edict*
Demonic Tutor
Hymn to Tourach*
Sign in Blood
Toxic Deluge
Black Sun's Zenith
Recurring Nightmare
RR Red RR
Creatures:
Firedrinker Satyr*
Goblin Guide
Grim Lavamancer
Kird Ape
Ash Zealot
Goblin Wardriver
Gore-House Chainwalker
Lightning Mauler
Mogg War Marshal
Plated Geopede
Young Pyromancer
Chandra's Phoenix
Guttersnipe
Squee, Goblin Nabob
Flametongue Kavu
Hellrider
Hound of Griselbrand*
Ogre Battledriver*
Siege-Gang Commander*
Thundermaw Hellkite
Zealous Conscripts
Inferno Titan*
Non-creatures:
Chandra, Pyromaster
Lightning Bolt
Shock
Desperate Ritual*
Magma Jet
Searing Blood
Char*
Faithless Looting
Mizzium Mortars
Burn at the Stake
Incendiary Command
Red Sun's Zenith
Tempt with Vengeance
Goblin Bombardment
Sulfuric Vortex
Hammer of Purphoros
GG Green GG
Creatures:
Birds of Paradise
Elvish Mystic
Fyndhorn Elves*
Llanowar Elves
Flinthoof Boar
Kalonian Tusker*
Mayor of Avabruck*
Scavenging Ooze*
Strangleroot Geist*
Sylvan Caryatid
Wall of Blossoms*
Caller of the Claw
Elvish Archdruid
Eternal Witness
Imperious Perfect*
Boon Satyr
Chameleon Colossus*
Deadbridge Goliath*
Elvish Piper
Mold Shambler
Thrun, the Last Troll
Acidic Slime*
Deranged Hermit*
Kalonian Hydra
Thragtusk
Wolfir Silverheart
Primeval Titan*
Avenger of Zendikar
Terastodon*
Non-creatures:
Garruk Relentless
Kodama's Reach
Bramblecrush
Harmonize
Green Sun's Zenith*
Tooth and Nail
Rancor
Curse of Predation
Bow of Nylea
WUBRG Multicolored WUBRG
Azorius:
Judge's Familiar*
Meddling Mage*
Detention Sphere
Dimir:
Nightveil Specter
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Baleful Strix
Rakdos:
Dreadbore*
Murderous Redcap
Olivia Voldaren
Selesnya:
Kitchen Finks
Knight of the Reliquary*
Dryad Militant
Izzet:
Izzet Charm*
Electrolyze
Steam Augury
Golgari:
Deathrite Shaman
Lotleth Troll
Vraska the Unseen
Gruul:
Kessig Wolf Run*
Sarkhan Vol
Xenagos, the Reveler
Simic:
Lorescale Coatl*
Prophet of Kruphix
Mystic Snake
Orzhov:
Sin Collector*
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad*
Lingering Souls
Boros:
Aurelia's Fury
Boros Charm
Lightning Helix
123 Colorless 321
Creatures:
Myr Sire*
Solemn Simulacrum
Myr Battlesphere
Non-creatures:
Everflowing Chalice*
Black Vise
Bonesplitter*
Pithing Needle
Relic of Progenitus
Skullclamp
Sol Ring
Wayfarer's Bauble
Coldsteel Heart
Ratchet Bomb
Sphere of the Suns
Swiftfoot Boots
Chromatic Lantern
Darksteel Ingot*
Sword of Body and Mind
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of War and Peace
Tangle Wire*
Icy Manipulator*
Nevinyrral's Disk
Thran Dynamo*
Gilded Lotus*
Shocks:
Blood Crypt
Breeding Pool
Godless Shrine
Hallowed Fountain
Temple Garden
Sacred Foundry
Steam Vents
Stomping Ground
Overgrown Tomb
Watery Grave
Vivids:
Vivid Crag
Vivid Creek
Vivid Grove*
Vivid Marsh*
Vivid Meadow*
Allied Pair Buddies:
Dragonskull Summit
Drowned Catacomb
Glacial Fortress
Sunpetal Grove
Rootbound Crag
Utility Lands:
City of Brass
Grand Coliseum
Mutavault
Strip Mine
Terramorphic Expanse*
Tappedout
Cubetutor
I think you have a lot of great card choices in here, and the best way to figure out what's working for you is to draft it often. A few cards I love in my 180 that would fit within the budget are:
Primal Command for the flexibility. Cards that do multiple things are critical to the 180 cube.
Mystic Snake it comes into play whenever (flash) and counters a spell to boot.
Nekrataal a great creature with its ETB effect
Skullclamp powerful card that can be used in multiple ways depending on what you need at the time
Reveillark Sun Titan great for reusing ETB effects. These have been super fun in my 180
Phyrexian Metamorph Porcelain Legionnaire are great because they can be cast by anyone in a pinch.
Flametounge Kavu is a solid 4 drop in red that does great duty as a kill spell and a creature.
Anyway just some cards that I like. A 180 cube is a challenge to design with so little space, but for me I have had some of the most fun tweaking this cube over time.
Welcome to the travel cube club!
I'll update the list sometime this weekend to reflect the 270 pool I'm working with. Not a lot of notable additions, though I'm going for more elves in Green, since Black and Red both have Zombie and tribal stuff.
One of the things I'm trying to replace is the Sol Ring. It's very good, probably too good for this cube since it outclasses everything by SO much. It's lead to turn 2 Xenagos and other stuff that's just too difficult to recover from.
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Cubetutor
Delver of Secrets and Think Tank are on the chopping block. Delver isn't performing like I'd hoped (understandably so, since most decks that use it effectively have a crap ton of instants and sorceries, this cube doesn't really allow that. Think Tank was just a filler card to try and help Reanimator decks a bit. Though Reanimate itself is performing slightly worse than I'd hoped. These areas will need to be touched up going in, along with the mentioned boosts to red.
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Out---->In
Duskmantle Seer ----> Nightveil Specter
Mogg Flunkies ----> Foundry Street Denizen
Frontline Medic ----> Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Ajani, Caller of the Pride ----> Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Brimaz, King of Oreskos will either replace Frontline Medic or Fiendslayer Paladin. More than likely he'll replace the Paladin, but currently testing without the medic.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion replacing Ajani is a permanent change. Ajani was pretty good in the 270, but Elspeth edges him out just slightly. I could see swapping them out for certain drafters, though I think Elspeth is a more enjoyable card.
Nightveil Specter is being included because one of the people in the play group likes it a lot. It's not a bad card, and it feels like a more playable card than Duskmantle Seer.
Mogg Flunkies was never played, nor has most of Red really (it's still by far the weakest color). Foundry Street Denizen was a recent addition, that I don't expect to push Red to playable, but is still a better card for Red aggro than flunkies was.
Still looking to give Red the push it needs. On the immediate acquire list are Firedrinker Satyr, Goblin Guide, Sulfuric Vortex and Black Vise. Flametongue Kavu is something I'll definitely look into (thanks TheGeb).
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Delver of Secrets ----> Deceiver Exarch
Think Tank ----> Pact of Negation
Rift Bolt ----> Magma Jet
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WWWhite
Out ---> In
Fencing Ace ---> Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Knight of Glory ---> Kor Skyfisher
True Believer ---> Steppe Lynx
Serene Master ---> Mother of Runes
Luminate Primordial ---> Sun Titan
Heliod, God of the Sun ---> Reveillark
Angel of Serenity ---> Restoration Angel
Darksteel Mutation ---> Mana Tithe
Terminus ---> Balance
I think the most surprising of those changes is removing Terminus. Terminus is an awesome card, but it just wasn't seeing play. I tend to go for Akroma's Vengeance and Wrath of God, simply because they're not as atrocious as second draws, and the cycling of Akroma's Vengeance means it has early game options as well.
UUBlue
Out ---> In
Diluvian Primordial ---> Frost Titan
Talrand's Invocation ---> Phyrexian Metamorph
Dissolve ---> Psionic Blast
Pact of Negation ---> Mystical Tutor
Pretty predictable and explainable choices there. A bit too much counter magic existed, having colorless clone is useful. Titans are more fun than Primordials.
BBBlack
Knight of Infamy ---> Bloodghast
Sepulchral Primordial ---> Grave Titan
Dark Tutelage ---> Demonic Tutor
Dark Tutelage ended with a recent "feel bad" situation of killing it's user. While that's the risk that it's designed for, I don't think the group as players are in a situation that we can play it the way it's meant to. Replaced with Demonic Tutor.
RRRed
This got the most overhaul. A lot of changes here, and it's still being worked with.
Out ---> In
Krenko, Mob Boss ---> Ogre Battledriver
Foundry Street Denizen ---> Firedrinker Satyr
Ember Swallower ---> Goblin Guide
Legion Loyalist ---> Kird Ape
Archetype of Aggression ---> Flametongue Kavu
Reforge the Soul ---> Thundermaw Hellkite
Lava Spike ---> Sulfuric Vortex
Reverberate ---> Grim Lavamancer
Reforge the Soul will most likely be put back in. But it wasn't seeing a lot of play and I needed slots to test the newer red cards.
GGGreen
Out ---> In
Experiment One ---> Thragtusk
Sylvan Primordial ---> Primeval Titan
Garruk, Primal Hunter ---> Garruk Relentless
Naturalize ---> Bramblecrush
Garruk Relentless is a bit of an experiment. He's easier to splash than Primal Hunter, but is weaker. He might come out.
Gold and Colorless are still in the works. I'll have those updates posted shortly, then I'll edit the main post.
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Won't have any more massive changes like the last couple. It's settling out right where I like it.
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Outside of the Fetches/ABU duals, any recommended upgrades? Comments and Criticism are very welcome!
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Second, I made some changes after getting a few cards from Conspiracy/LGS/Modern Event Deck:
Out ---> In
Opportunity--->Stifle
Talrand's Invocation--->Misdirection
Steam Augury--->Dack Fayden
Falkenrath Aristocrat--->Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
Prophet of Kruphix--->Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Myr Sire--->Basalt Monolith
Grafted Wargear--->Sword of Feast and Famine
Stifle is the card most likely to be swapped back. While Opportunity was a great card, it was lacking a bit behind the creatures that can draw cards (Lu Xun and any of the looters) in terms of being main decked. Though I'm also a bit iffy on Stifle being extremely useful without Fetches.
Still no pictures, they're to come. I'll also be making a thread for my [180] Peasant Travel Cube eventually, but it's still being developed.
As always, comments questions and criticism are very welcome
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Out ---> In
Fettergeist ---> Capsize
Foil---> Compulsive Research
Izzet Charm---> Dack's Duplicate
Swiftfoot Boots---> Worn Powerstone
Olivia Voldaren---> Falkenrath Aristocrat
Thespian's Stage---> Thawing Glaciers
Hound of Griselbrand---> Hero of Oxid Ridge
Elvish Archdruid---> Sakura-Tribe Elder
Went to my LGS and found a couple cards for fairly cheap. I'm a bit sad to see Fettergeist go, but it hasn't been pulling its weight recently, and I'd like to give Capsize a shot. Elvish Archdruid is another card that I had hoped to push with more elves, but it just wasn't working at all. Hound of Griselbrand, while an awesome sword carrier, tended to be kinda bleh on its own. Hero of Oxid Ridge should be a great replacement.
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