I've been running this archetype for a while to moderate success, would like to see if there are any other voices of experience, recommendations, et cetera (sparked by just learning that Kazanu Blademaster is a card.
So... part 1 what makes this a usable archetype, in my mind, is you have access to three "lord" cards that can increase power:
Supporting a Soldier tribal theme in a white section is certainly reasonable, as you have shown. The problem with themes of this type is you want to avoid adding cards specifically to support a theme that aren't playable outside of that specific theme's deck. For this reason, I could see playing Veteran Swordsmith and Cenn's Tactician because they're both fine but not exciting outside of the Soldier deck, but are very strong in that deck. On the other hand, I would not want to include Daru Warchief because it is 100% unplayable outside of the Soldier deck. Having cards that are unplayable outside of a specific deck reduces the tension during drafting because once you settle into a deck, you just get all of the cards for that deck because no one else wants them.
You're totally right that a 2/3 for 2WW is a bad card in a vacuum (obviously), but I also feel like he's a necessary evil to keep the archetype somewhat pushed -- kind of like how Exhume is the worst reanimator effect if played during normal gameplay circumstances, but very strong in a specific archetype that's supported by "looting" effects.
I wouldn't play any of the other "lords" listed for exactly that reason, though, but thus far am happy with exactly one card like that.
I also had Undead Warchief for a while -- being a 3/2, and effectively adding 5/4 stats with one ither Zombie on board certainly is tons better. Unfortunately, every other Lord effect for that tribe is super narrow, and the mass of good-enough creatures isn't quite there.
So... part 1 what makes this a usable archetype, in my mind, is you have access to three "lord" cards that can increase power:
Other Peasant-legal lord-ish effects, none of which seem usable:
(not particularly tempted by of these four)
The second part of the archetype is simply that a good portion of creatures you already want to cube are Soldiers anyway.
In just mono-white, here's every one I'm playing, sorted by casting cost:
Adds up to 18, out of 41 total creatures... plus token support from Cloudgoat Ranger and Raise the Alarm
The non-white Soldier cards I cube are:
These are the other Soldier-type creatures from the CubeTutor "average" 720-card Peasant list:
and outside of white:
And, while I'm at it, some MORE at least remotely cubable, mono-white cards from a broad magiccards.info search:
and, finally, three changelings:
... phew! Anyway, would love to hear some input from this community. Thanks in advance.
CubeTutor: www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/72
Thread: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=512410
I wouldn't play any of the other "lords" listed for exactly that reason, though, but thus far am happy with exactly one card like that.
I also had Undead Warchief for a while -- being a 3/2, and effectively adding 5/4 stats with one ither Zombie on board certainly is tons better. Unfortunately, every other Lord effect for that tribe is super narrow, and the mass of good-enough creatures isn't quite there.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article