I have twisted the rulings on common/uncommons to warrant inclusion for a large number of powerful cards, but couldn't ever justify Arachnogenesis (only an uncommon online, and only during a cube season, and only for packs that you won). So for those that have ever played it or currently play it: Is it as backbreaking as it seems like it would be? How many times is it a complete blowout for your opponent and how many times is it an expensive Fog?
I remember there were specific rules and certain cards were not allowed based on online rarity and what not in previous years polling. Any notable exclusions I should know about before I submit a list?
Monastery Swiftspear is a high pick in my cube for R or RW burn or RU spells matters. It's an amazing one drop compared to jackal pup or reckless waif. It makes blocking difficult for your opponent and gets in for the early damage.
I used to play Mesmeric Fiend, but another Brain Maggot or Tidehollow Sculler just ended up being cut. Nahiri is for the static effect for aggro or the activated ability for multiple removal spells for control. Hard to find a card in RW that can fill both roles and I really wanted to try her out. Any of the other uncommon planeswalkers anyone's had success with? Prison Term is strictly better, thank you. I have tried Mistmeadow Witch before in the earliest iteration of my cube to little avail, but I should give her another run after retooling with Crystal Shard et al.
I don't really support black aggro either way just aristocrats, but Taskmaster never seems like he's going to get more than one guy back anyway.
Anyone have experience either way?
Hoping to spur some discussion as my local cube scene has recently gotten much smaller. I have a Peasant+ cube at 375 for the rare conspiracy draft an extra pack guy. I only broke rarity for Conspiracy cards as I truly enjoyed how they altered the drafting experience... but I ended up adding conspiracies themselves as well at higher rarities. I have a very different philosophy than most of the other drafters on this site as I've lurked for years, but I still appreciate all of your insightful choices and comments about how and why you all enjoy peasant cubes. So, I love Sol Ring, Skullclamp, Mana Drain, etc. I love extremely powerful cards and interactions, so I've done my best to play the most powerful cards I can within the confines of common and uncommon cards. I play similar cards (way too many 2/1's for 1 in W), and I play cards simply because friends gave them to me and they are sentimental: foil Berserk I'm looking at you ;). I also use all forms and types of rarity including online and such. Just can't bring myself to play Arachnogenesis yet.
I tried to define my archetypes years ago when I started the cube and gave up after changing them time and time again. I tried to balance colors from hybrid cards and lost track and interest. My cube is largely a streamlined pile of good stuff that my previous playgroup liked and that I used to pander to their interests. Without further breaking rarity or spending $30k to create a powered cube, I'm looking to create balance without depowering. I'm looking to make every pick as relevant as Sol Ring, just in different ways and for different playstyles. I've waffled a lot on individual card choices, but I've come to realize they don't matter as much in larger drafts anyway. Any insight on great cards I'm overlooking or interactions I'm missing out on that are just "too good" for the average peasant cube? Link in sig and happy for any criticism, comments, or overall discussion.
I second raising Triplicate Spirits to a 2. A couple on curve creatures get you the same discount as Spectral Procession. Never a reason to scoff at 3 power worth of flying for 3-4 mana.
Find a Grand Prix event somewhere near you, just within driving distance. Almost all vendors will give you ~ $3.50 per thousand. If you get there early on a Friday you can find some deals. My most recent GP had one vendor paying $4.50 per thousand. You should do your best to fish through and remove the cards that are worth more than bulk to sell individually but good luck with the rest of it.
Most of these cards aren't one-of effects. Many can be swapped out with almost identical cards. For all the combos and more check out the infinite combo database here:
My cube is 375 for OCD reasons and Peasant plus, but mostly a peasant cube.
Here's a version with the rares cut and with no online rarity considered:
https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/list/4a3d48ae-22d7-4cac-af66-9ee6372c40e2
I don't really support black aggro either way just aristocrats, but Taskmaster never seems like he's going to get more than one guy back anyway.
Anyone have experience either way?
I tried to define my archetypes years ago when I started the cube and gave up after changing them time and time again. I tried to balance colors from hybrid cards and lost track and interest. My cube is largely a streamlined pile of good stuff that my previous playgroup liked and that I used to pander to their interests. Without further breaking rarity or spending $30k to create a powered cube, I'm looking to create balance without depowering. I'm looking to make every pick as relevant as Sol Ring, just in different ways and for different playstyles. I've waffled a lot on individual card choices, but I've come to realize they don't matter as much in larger drafts anyway. Any insight on great cards I'm overlooking or interactions I'm missing out on that are just "too good" for the average peasant cube? Link in sig and happy for any criticism, comments, or overall discussion.
Peasant+ 375
@guitarspider
Devoted Druid and Spikequill make an infinitely large creature.
Umbral Mantle and any creature that taps for 3 mana makes an infinitely large creature.
Midnight Guard also combos with Banishing Knack et al. with any 0 costing creature for infinite etb triggers.
Peregrine Drake, Archaeomancer et al., and Ghostly Flicker gives you infinite mana.
Animate Dead et al. and Leonin Relic-Warder give you infinite etb triggers.
Krosan Restorer and Freed from the Real et al. give you infinite mana with Threshold.
Duskmantle Guildmage and Mindcrank combo when your opponent takes damage or a card goes to their graveyard.
Most of these cards aren't one-of effects. Many can be swapped out with almost identical cards. For all the combos and more check out the infinite combo database here:
2 Path to Exile
3 Mother of Runes
4 Shrine of Loyal Legions
5 Feudkiller's Verdict
6 Cloudgoat Ranger
7 Council Guardian
8 Palace Jailer
9 Voice of All
10 Guardian of the Guildpact
11 Oblivion Ring
12 Journey to Nowhere
13 Fairgrounds Warden
14 Battle Screech
15 Spectral Procession
16 Soltari Champion
17 Custodi Squire
18 Soltari Trooper
19 Pianna, Nomad Captain
20 Blinding Beam
2 Mana Drain
3 Fact or Fiction
4 Mulldrifter
5 Crystal Shard
6 Capsize
7 Propaganda
8 Whirler Rogue
9 Counterspell
10 Binding Grasp
11 Man-o'-War
12 Talrand's Invocation
13 Looter il-kor
14 Miscalculation
15 Enclave Cryptologist
16 Treasure Cruise
17 Drownyard Behemoth
18 Jetting Glasskite
19 Gush
20 Compulsive Research
2 Skinrender
3 Curse of Shallow Graves
4 Demonic Tutor
5 Nekrataal
6 Reanimate
7 Hymn to Tourach
8 Animate Dead
9 Vampire Nighthawk
10 Diabolic Servitude
11 Snuff Out
12 Murderous Cut
13 Ultimate Price
14 Bone Shredder
15 Hypnotic Specter
16 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
17 Phyrexian Rager
18 Keening Banshee
19 Barter in Blood
20 Blood Artist
2 Lightning Bolt
3 Flametongue Kavu
4 Rolling Thunder
5 Fireball
6 Young Pyromancer
7 Fireblast
8 Monastery Swiftspear
9 Goblin Heelcutter
10 Stoke the Flames
11 Staggershock
12 Chain Lightning
13 Thermo-Alchemist
14 Arc Trail
15 Pyrokinesis
16 Brimstone Volley
17 Burst Lightning
18 Reckless Waif
19 Rift Bolt
20 Meteor Blast
2 Channel
3 Sylvan Library
4 Pelakka Wurm
5 Temur Sabertooth
6 Eternal Witness
7 Regrowth
8 Joraga Treespeaker
9 Llanowar Elves
10 Briarhorn
11 Great Oak Guardian
12 Overrun
13 Plated Crusher
14 Rancor
15 Bestial Menace
16 Acidic Slime
17 Predator's Howl
18 Sprout Swarm
19 Duskwatch Recruiter
20 Treetop Village
2 Skullclamp
3 Grafted Wargear
4 Loxodon Warhammer
5 Isochron Scepter
6 Epochrasite
7 Sensei's Divining Top
8 Dismember
9 Porcelain Legionnaire
10 Bane of Bala Ged
Azorius (White Blue)
2 Cloudblazer
3 Migratory Route
4 Wall of Denial
5 Momentary Blink
Selesnya (White Green)
2 Kitchen Finks
3 Armadillo Cloak
4 Trostani's Summoner
5 Selesnya Signet
Gruul (Red Green)
2 Voltaic Brawler
3 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Firespout
5 Savage Twister
Dimir (Blue Black)
2 Psychatog
3 Lim-Dul's Vault
3 Ribbons of Night
4 Far // Away
Rakdos (Black Red)
2 Rakdos Cackler
3 Bituminous Blast
4 Murderous Redcap
5 Terminate
Simic (Blue Green)
2 Shardless Agent
3 Trygon Predator
4 Urban Evolution
5 Aether Mutation
Izzet (Red Blue)
2 Gelectrode
3 Electrolyze
4 Turn // Burn
5 Fire // Ice
Golgari (Black Green)
2 Putrid Leech
3 Catacomb Sifter
4 Dreg Mangler
5 Pharika's Mender
Orzhov (White Black)
2 Maw of the Obzedat
3 Zealous Persecution
4 Tidehollow Sculler
5 Restoration Gearsmith
Boros (White Red)
2 Lightning Helix
3 Spitemare
4 Warleader's Helix
5 Sunhome Guildmage
2 Ancient Tomb
3 Maze of Ith
4 Strip Mine
5 City of Brass
6 Gemstone Mine
7 Krosan Verge
8 Ash Barrens
9 Vivid Lands
10 Terramorphic Expanse