Any suggestions for archetypes that can span UBR or URG?
I am looking at building a new cube, and someone on here (so sorry I can't remember your name) suggested having themes across colour-triplets rather than colour pairs. That way there are in a way three possible colour pairs that can combine to build a deck within each theme. If in addition, there is some overlap between the themes, then the possibilities expand even further. For example, I plan to have a token theme in GWR, and a sacrifice theme in BRG, this should probably make it possible to make a deck with a sacrifice subtheme in any colour-pair not containing blue.
I really liked the idea once I started thinking about it, and I have found what I think could be some neat overlaps, but I struggle with the triplets with blue. Particularly UBR and URG.
Any suggestions?
For UBR I was thinking of just having "control", and I am considering madness for URG. RG fits well with ramp with landfall effects, so I was considering that, but I don't feel blue could ever give enough support to build this theme without green.
For reference, my other initial themes are (nothing is built yet, just starting out):
Some of these it may be possible to move around (particularly the +1/+1 theme), so I am also open to other ideas here if it means getting a better theme in UBR or URG. I am also just open to other suggestions for themes in general.
EDIT: Note that I am very likely to depower quite substantially to get this to work, so some themes that aren't viable in traditional peasant might work here. At the moment I am just interested in themes in regards to colours, and then I can worry about power level later.
You could try some form of -1 counter theme, but I don't know how you accomplish this in a singleton cube. But the 3 playable colored proliferate spells are in grixis.
You could try some form of -1 counter theme, but I don't know how you accomplish this in a singleton cube. But the 3 playable colored proliferate spells are in grixis.
I had a look at -1/-1 counters earlier, it might just be almost enough. Depending on where the power level ends up, perhaps enough wither cards could become viable. I just wished there were a few more payoff cards for this strategy. I mean, +1/+1 counters have all their lords, -1/-1 counters have ... Blowfly Infestation?
I do like the synergy the proliferate cards would have with both themes though.
But could it ever be a deck with only the RU components? The goal is not to create a "deck" for each wedge/shard, but to have a theme that can be incorporated in multiple ways using different combinations of the three colours. So for example, Abzan is the +1/+1 counter theme, so I would aim for decks with a strong +1/+1 counter (sub-)theme to be viable as both WB, WG and BG. I just don't see how I could incorporate ramp in URG without green being a requirement. But anyways, perhaps it will be a necessary thing to do, as I can't really see me not doing green ramp, and I suspect the situation would be the same for all colour combinations. (Maybe BRG, with rituals from R and B). Maybe I could throw in Izzet Signet as a "signal".
EDIT:
What blue ramp spells are there without restrictions on the use of the mana?
The blue ramp cards are artifacts. Yes every deck can use them, but the point would be that blue can make the most of them. You can easily think of a deck with rocks, sweepers, draw spells, X spells, and a jetting glasskite.
Squirrely, if you want WB Skies to be supported with some tempo plays you just need to make sure some of those are in white; Kor Hookmaster is the immediate standout, but Azorius Arrester or some other detain creatures could also fit the bill. Harm's Way is universally playable anyway, but having a few more cards like that can be a more subtle way of supporting that type of deck to stall ground troops while your flyers do their work.
There are multiple approaches to pushing archetypes in your cube; my main approach has been to find a primary and secondary archetype for each color pair, and you usually get automatic overlap anyway or unexpected draft possibilities.
Thanks again for the input. I may move the +1/+1 theme around, I think it can fit many places. For black, I was thinking of Mer-ek Nightblade, some unleash creatures, Carrion Feeder.. it might not quite get there.
Any suggestions for archetypes that can span UBR or URG?
I am looking at building a new cube, and someone on here (so sorry I can't remember your name) suggested having themes across colour-triplets rather than colour pairs.
I remember that conversation! That's how I built my cube, super excited to see what you do with the idea.
Some of my thoughts on what's been discussed so far:
White does not have a lot of creatures that benefit from spells, but it has a lot of really useful spells that fuel the theme, like Gods Willing and Shelter. Depending on how low you go with power level, Jeskai Student and Sanguinary Mage can actually be solid cards as well, just like they are in draft.
I would also suggest WGR as the +1/+1 counters theme. Rage Forger is a great lord and red creatures get the counters naturally anyway. This way you also get +1/+1 counter decks that play really differently, which is cool.
-1/-1 counters did not really work for me when I tried to draw it up. All the proliferate cards (Thrummingbird) are always just better as splash cards in the +1/+1 decks, because of density. It's really easy to turn every color into a +1/+1 color too, so I decided against the "counter counter" theme to keep themes more distinct. Also relevant if you decide on which colors should be your +1/+1 colors, because you may have to think about cutting stuff in other colors. Blue and Black don't naturally have those counters, whereas red would look differently without creatures that gain counters naturally.
I am looking at building a new cube, and someone on here (so sorry I can't remember your name) suggested having themes across colour-triplets rather than colour pairs. That way there are in a way three possible colour pairs that can combine to build a deck within each theme. If in addition, there is some overlap between the themes, then the possibilities expand even further. For example, I plan to have a token theme in GWR, and a sacrifice theme in BRG, this should probably make it possible to make a deck with a sacrifice subtheme in any colour-pair not containing blue.
I really liked the idea once I started thinking about it, and I have found what I think could be some neat overlaps, but I struggle with the triplets with blue. Particularly UBR and URG.
Any suggestions?
For UBR I was thinking of just having "control", and I am considering madness for URG. RG fits well with ramp with landfall effects, so I was considering that, but I don't feel blue could ever give enough support to build this theme without green.
For reference, my other initial themes are (nothing is built yet, just starting out):
WUB: Aggro skies
WUR: non-creature spells matters/prowess
WUG: Blink/bounce
WBR: Go wide aggro, team pump
WBG: +1/+1 counters
WRG: Tokens
UBR: ?..Sweeper control..?
UBG: Graveyard matters, reanimate/flashback, self-mill.
URG: ?...madness..?
BRG: Sacrifice/morbid
Some of these it may be possible to move around (particularly the +1/+1 theme), so I am also open to other ideas here if it means getting a better theme in UBR or URG. I am also just open to other suggestions for themes in general.
EDIT: Note that I am very likely to depower quite substantially to get this to work, so some themes that aren't viable in traditional peasant might work here. At the moment I am just interested in themes in regards to colours, and then I can worry about power level later.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
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
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
I had a look at -1/-1 counters earlier, it might just be almost enough. Depending on where the power level ends up, perhaps enough wither cards could become viable. I just wished there were a few more payoff cards for this strategy. I mean, +1/+1 counters have all their lords, -1/-1 counters have ... Blowfly Infestation?
I do like the synergy the proliferate cards would have with both themes though.
But could it ever be a deck with only the RU components? The goal is not to create a "deck" for each wedge/shard, but to have a theme that can be incorporated in multiple ways using different combinations of the three colours. So for example, Abzan is the +1/+1 counter theme, so I would aim for decks with a strong +1/+1 counter (sub-)theme to be viable as both WB, WG and BG. I just don't see how I could incorporate ramp in URG without green being a requirement. But anyways, perhaps it will be a necessary thing to do, as I can't really see me not doing green ramp, and I suspect the situation would be the same for all colour combinations. (Maybe BRG, with rituals from R and B). Maybe I could throw in Izzet Signet as a "signal".
EDIT:
What blue ramp spells are there without restrictions on the use of the mana?
I can't afford Mana Drain, but could it be worth it to break rarity for Drain Power? Ha hummm..
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
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
There are multiple approaches to pushing archetypes in your cube; my main approach has been to find a primary and secondary archetype for each color pair, and you usually get automatic overlap anyway or unexpected draft possibilities.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
I remember that conversation! That's how I built my cube, super excited to see what you do with the idea.
Some of my thoughts on what's been discussed so far:
White does not have a lot of creatures that benefit from spells, but it has a lot of really useful spells that fuel the theme, like Gods Willing and Shelter. Depending on how low you go with power level, Jeskai Student and Sanguinary Mage can actually be solid cards as well, just like they are in draft.
I would also suggest WGR as the +1/+1 counters theme. Rage Forger is a great lord and red creatures get the counters naturally anyway. This way you also get +1/+1 counter decks that play really differently, which is cool.
-1/-1 counters did not really work for me when I tried to draw it up. All the proliferate cards (Thrummingbird) are always just better as splash cards in the +1/+1 decks, because of density. It's really easy to turn every color into a +1/+1 color too, so I decided against the "counter counter" theme to keep themes more distinct. Also relevant if you decide on which colors should be your +1/+1 colors, because you may have to think about cutting stuff in other colors. Blue and Black don't naturally have those counters, whereas red would look differently without creatures that gain counters naturally.