Blood for Bones seems really strong despite the sac a creature cost, its kind of really good for the value reanimator deck rather than cheating things into play.
Black is getting so many great cards this set I am going to have do a reexamination of my black section I think.
Who are you?
I'm Kevin and I am an analytical chemist. I live in Canada and cube mtg.
How long have you had a cube?
3 years
Why pauper?
I actually have a peasant cube, but I liked this idea so I thought I would reply anyway.
I play peasant because I love the limited experience. I think that there are some rare cards that are just bombs. Cards that if you are lucky enough to get passed or picked up in opening packs, you just win the game. I think having just commons and uncommons brings down that power enough that you can make a relatively even power level between all the different colors and guilds, but at the same time you get access to very powerful strategies that you can design your cube around if you like. Also, lets be honest, way cheaper than a power cube too. Which the latter may have been why I initially chose to make a peasant cube, but now that I have my cube refined to my liking, I prefer the peasant cube restriction.
What Pauper archetype does not work, or needs more love?
Peasant archetype that I would like to work, but I don't think is there yet is enchantment matters. I like playing cards that are versatile, cards that can work in many different types of decks, but can also shine in a archetype specific to its subtype. Something like storm is an archetype that is under powered and needs more love, but I feel its payoff cards and even support cards are not very versatile. Each of them on their own is very weak, almost unplayable and will usually end up in the sideboard. Enchantments that have powerful effects (e.g. sylvan library, oblivion ring, land tax, etc...) can shine in a number of decks, but could really make an enchantments matter deck very strong. I just don't think there are enough of those versatile cards with strong enchantment matters pay offs for those support cards cannot find places in my cube right now. Compared to other weaker archetypes, something like +1/+1 counters matter decks, the enchantment matters decks are almost laughable in my opinion.
What is one area of your cube you feel is worth brining to the spotlight?
I play a lot of GY matters cards. I like using the graveyard, library and life total as means to play cards and win games. I think it makes the drafting experience more challenging and more rewarding. In the end, it may require playing some cards that are just slightly worse of alternate versions of those cards, but still strong none-the-less. This may make the cube over all slightly less powerful when compared to other peasant cubes as I try to support different archetypes. UB is a reanimator archetype. It uses cards like thirst for knowledge, careful study, frantic search and different looters to search for the missing tool pieces by drawing lots of cards in my deck, but then also get other necessary cards in my graveyard. I use black reanimate spells, like reanimate, exhume, animate dead and other enchantment reanimate spells to get those creatures out of my graveyard and onto the battle field. I have had a turn 2 plated crusher before and it was glorious. GB is a graveyard matters archetype, the main payoff card is worm harvest and has a lot of support cards like grisly salvage, nyx weaver, satyr wayfinder, commune with the gods and different dredgers to get cards into the graveyard. Use cards with flashback, retrace, or cards like baloth null to play those cards from the GY. UR is spells matter, but plays some flashback cards and a payoff card like rise from the tides and soon cryptic serpent.
Wow, so like most everyone else, tons of cards I like. Probably ended up the most cards I have ordered from one set, although I won't be playing/testing them all right away. I will be moving my cube from 380-390 as I am finding it a lot harder to find cuts that I like and my play group has become a lot larger so I want a little more variation in the drafts.
White
Cast Out - I like this card more than a lot I think. In a bind the cycle could be very strong, but always a back up to the strength of this removal.
Vizier of Deferment -> Stonecloaker - I think this card is interesting enough to test, conditional for sure, but I think it will work out most of the time, worst case scenario I cannot setup my blink target well enough but I can blank one of my opponents attacks.
Devoted Crop-Mate - I don't think this card will make the cut, I don't play timely hordemate and I think this card is about on par with that one. Picked up a copy though.
Trial of Solidarity - I think this is the best go wide pump in white in a long time. Yes, its a sorcery speed card, but +2/+1 vigilance for 3 mana is pretty good imo. Will test.
Angler Drake - I think the card is strong and would play decently well, but I already have so many man o' war like cards and usually my wu blink or tempo decks are doing more broken things by the time this creature would hit the board. Picked this up in case I bring my cube up to 450+
Cryptic Serpent - I think this will be a super strong card, will work in any blue deck, but in spells matter just another finisher. I don't doubt that this card will hit the table for 2 mana many times.
Black
Baleful Ammit - I am not sure how to evaluate the creatures with this add x -1/-1 counters to one of your creatures yet. I think I like this one the most out of all of them. Black has a lot of creature recursion and GY interaction, so this might get the first test and if the counters work out most of the time I might try some more.
Bone Picker - The card seems great if you can get the "morbid" trigger, mediocre if you cannot. Not sure I have a spot for this card right now, but picked up a copy anyway.
Supernatural Stamina - I think I want another one of these effects, not sure though. Will evaluate my black section and see if I can fit this. 50/50 right now.
Red
Bloodrage Brawler - This card is super hyped by a lot of people, I won't be playing it right away as I don't have a huge red GY theme and I think this discard will hurt a lot more than the extra 1 power will help.
Ahn-Crop Crasher - Seems great, I use to play the 2/1 haste with enter the battlefield cannot block, took it out because after its initial strike it didn't do much. The fact that this card has haste and you can choose to exert or not is great. You can also use the ability multiple times (even though every other turn) seems strong.
Bloodlust Inciter - I think this card can lead to some strong plays, I will likely test it out, but I can see it being cut relatively quickly
Green
Crocodile of the Crossing / Defiant Greatmaw / Exemplar of Strength - Again, I don't know how to evaluate these cards yet, I picked them up because I could see some of them joining my cube, but for now they are going to stay in my binder. Will likely test the black one and go from there.
Manglehorn - I like the card, but not as much as reclamation sage, if my cube increases in size or becomes a lot more artifact center could see this coming in.
Shefet Monitor - Everything my green decks want. Ramp, GY, big creature. Love it. Come on in and join your brother.
Scaled Behemoth - Yep, right in. Another hexproof big dude, I think this solidifies my green ramp targets and reanimate targets. I have a lot of cards that make either an impact when it hits the table or is very hard to remove. Makes the pay off of these strategies worth it.
Boros
Honored Crop-Champion - IMO best card of the set. Boros needed a card like this and I think this will deliver.
1
Tomebound Lich vs Shadowmage infiltrator Hmmm there can only be one....
Na, I will play both
1
I'm Kevin and I am an analytical chemist. I live in Canada and cube mtg.
How long have you had a cube?
3 years
Why pauper?
I actually have a peasant cube, but I liked this idea so I thought I would reply anyway.
I play peasant because I love the limited experience. I think that there are some rare cards that are just bombs. Cards that if you are lucky enough to get passed or picked up in opening packs, you just win the game. I think having just commons and uncommons brings down that power enough that you can make a relatively even power level between all the different colors and guilds, but at the same time you get access to very powerful strategies that you can design your cube around if you like. Also, lets be honest, way cheaper than a power cube too. Which the latter may have been why I initially chose to make a peasant cube, but now that I have my cube refined to my liking, I prefer the peasant cube restriction.
What Pauper archetype does not work, or needs more love?
Peasant archetype that I would like to work, but I don't think is there yet is enchantment matters. I like playing cards that are versatile, cards that can work in many different types of decks, but can also shine in a archetype specific to its subtype. Something like storm is an archetype that is under powered and needs more love, but I feel its payoff cards and even support cards are not very versatile. Each of them on their own is very weak, almost unplayable and will usually end up in the sideboard. Enchantments that have powerful effects (e.g. sylvan library, oblivion ring, land tax, etc...) can shine in a number of decks, but could really make an enchantments matter deck very strong. I just don't think there are enough of those versatile cards with strong enchantment matters pay offs for those support cards cannot find places in my cube right now. Compared to other weaker archetypes, something like +1/+1 counters matter decks, the enchantment matters decks are almost laughable in my opinion.
What is one area of your cube you feel is worth brining to the spotlight?
I play a lot of GY matters cards. I like using the graveyard, library and life total as means to play cards and win games. I think it makes the drafting experience more challenging and more rewarding. In the end, it may require playing some cards that are just slightly worse of alternate versions of those cards, but still strong none-the-less. This may make the cube over all slightly less powerful when compared to other peasant cubes as I try to support different archetypes. UB is a reanimator archetype. It uses cards like thirst for knowledge, careful study, frantic search and different looters to search for the missing tool pieces by drawing lots of cards in my deck, but then also get other necessary cards in my graveyard. I use black reanimate spells, like reanimate, exhume, animate dead and other enchantment reanimate spells to get those creatures out of my graveyard and onto the battle field. I have had a turn 2 plated crusher before and it was glorious. GB is a graveyard matters archetype, the main payoff card is worm harvest and has a lot of support cards like grisly salvage, nyx weaver, satyr wayfinder, commune with the gods and different dredgers to get cards into the graveyard. Use cards with flashback, retrace, or cards like baloth null to play those cards from the GY. UR is spells matter, but plays some flashback cards and a payoff card like rise from the tides and soon cryptic serpent.
1
White
Cast Out - I like this card more than a lot I think. In a bind the cycle could be very strong, but always a back up to the strength of this removal.
Vizier of Deferment -> Stonecloaker - I think this card is interesting enough to test, conditional for sure, but I think it will work out most of the time, worst case scenario I cannot setup my blink target well enough but I can blank one of my opponents attacks.
Devoted Crop-Mate - I don't think this card will make the cut, I don't play timely hordemate and I think this card is about on par with that one. Picked up a copy though.
Trial of Solidarity - I think this is the best go wide pump in white in a long time. Yes, its a sorcery speed card, but +2/+1 vigilance for 3 mana is pretty good imo. Will test.
Trueheart duelist -> Syndic of Tithes - I think the duelist will fit in more decks than the Syndic. Nice easy switch.
Blue
Angler Drake - I think the card is strong and would play decently well, but I already have so many man o' war like cards and usually my wu blink or tempo decks are doing more broken things by the time this creature would hit the board. Picked this up in case I bring my cube up to 450+
Cryptic Serpent - I think this will be a super strong card, will work in any blue deck, but in spells matter just another finisher. I don't doubt that this card will hit the table for 2 mana many times.
Black
Baleful Ammit - I am not sure how to evaluate the creatures with this add x -1/-1 counters to one of your creatures yet. I think I like this one the most out of all of them. Black has a lot of creature recursion and GY interaction, so this might get the first test and if the counters work out most of the time I might try some more.
Bone Picker - The card seems great if you can get the "morbid" trigger, mediocre if you cannot. Not sure I have a spot for this card right now, but picked up a copy anyway.
Supernatural Stamina - I think I want another one of these effects, not sure though. Will evaluate my black section and see if I can fit this. 50/50 right now.
Red
Bloodrage Brawler - This card is super hyped by a lot of people, I won't be playing it right away as I don't have a huge red GY theme and I think this discard will hurt a lot more than the extra 1 power will help.
Ahn-Crop Crasher - Seems great, I use to play the 2/1 haste with enter the battlefield cannot block, took it out because after its initial strike it didn't do much. The fact that this card has haste and you can choose to exert or not is great. You can also use the ability multiple times (even though every other turn) seems strong.
Bloodlust Inciter - I think this card can lead to some strong plays, I will likely test it out, but I can see it being cut relatively quickly
Green
Crocodile of the Crossing / Defiant Greatmaw / Exemplar of Strength - Again, I don't know how to evaluate these cards yet, I picked them up because I could see some of them joining my cube, but for now they are going to stay in my binder. Will likely test the black one and go from there.
Manglehorn - I like the card, but not as much as reclamation sage, if my cube increases in size or becomes a lot more artifact center could see this coming in.
Shefet Monitor - Everything my green decks want. Ramp, GY, big creature. Love it. Come on in and join your brother.
Scaled Behemoth - Yep, right in. Another hexproof big dude, I think this solidifies my green ramp targets and reanimate targets. I have a lot of cards that make either an impact when it hits the table or is very hard to remove. Makes the pay off of these strategies worth it.
Boros
Honored Crop-Champion - IMO best card of the set. Boros needed a card like this and I think this will deliver.
1