Not convinced on all of these yet. I may keep Reflector Mage and cut Geist instead, but am undecided.
EDIT: I know this is from a month ago, but I've also decided to cut Rotting Regisaur to add Order of Midnight, and didn't feel like a post just for that.
I'm cutting Treasure Cruise to add Arcane Denial, not the other way around. I'd considered Arcane Denial in the past, but never got around to finding a cut for it until now.
I've made some Commander Legends updates, and also added support for draw-denial as well as Humans. Finally, there were a couple swaps that didn't get documented.
I don't think I'd want to lose Manglehorn. I like it better than some of the other cards you are keeping. Maybe cut Beanstalk Giant?
Cheers,
rant
Manglehorn was already a card that was sort of on the line for me in unpowered - there just wasn't another 3-drop I really wanted. Hesitant to cut Beanstalk Giant instead but it might be correct. Beanstalk was a replacement for Kodama's Reach, which I'd still been running, but it's possible I don't need that high a density of that effect.
Forgot to actually make the above adjustments here. I ended up making most of them, but didn't add Thraben Inspector. Additionally, I made a two more switches:
The switch to Spell Pierce was for a couple reasons - I didn't own a Force of Negation and didn't see myself picking one up too soon, and reading others' experiences with it as on-par with Spell Pierce made me decide to add it back in.
I mostly added Birthing Pod because I really like the new judge foil, and Nightpack Ambusher seemed like a fine card to cut since that was a sort of "up in the air" slot.
Circling back, I made the noted swap above of Finale of Glory and brought Accorder Paladin back in. I still like Harmonious Archon in tokens, and Secure the Wastes has been a much better roleplayer than Finale due to being an instant.
I also decided to cut Deep Analysis to bring back Meloku. I think it's notably below most of the others for me and is also a change that doesn't affect either artifacts or reanimator strategies.
Still on the fence about Aether Grid/Shrine. I agree that making room for the extra creature is probably correct, but haven't had an opportunity to add test either of the other two noted (as they were both added during my cube expansion). It's probably just a question of which is better to keep - although I'm expecting the cut to be Ghirapur Aether Grid.
Unrelated, I'm also considering The Eldest Reborn and Elspeth Conquers Death to the cube now based on others' notes, possibly for Corpse Dance and Sevinne's Reclamation, largely because I don't own the latter two. I'm not convinced Reclamation isn't worth also having, though, since they go in different decks.
Regarding Seasoned Hallowblade, I hadn't actually considered cutting something at a different CMC for some reason. I like cutting Finale of Glory here, I think.
For Barrin, I didn't realize the synergy with Meloku. Whirler Rogue was my other consideration, although I'm trying to do more to make artifacts enticing. This is also why Ghirapur Aether Grid is in the cube - I'm testing it to see if it helps with that archetype. If the latter ends up really underperforming, it's a reasonable spot to add Berserker back in. I'll have to think on the other options with Meloku.
Life // Death is already in the Golgari section, but I'm down to bring in Lotleth Troll. My experience with both Lotleth Troll and Grim Flayer is pretty limited. Regarding Qasali Pridemage, I didn't really want to have both it andKnight of Autumn taking up two guild slots, but it does increase the chance that one of them makes it into the draft at this size.
Fiddled with a few additional minor changes. I'm cutting most of the nonblue signets (Orzhov and Rakdos are also staying in), and then axing Jegantha, Kaheera, Umori, and Keruga. I think the other 6 companions are fine with the changes to companion, but we'll see.
Making some additional changes to support the artifact archetype. Also planning to review the symmetrical use of Signets & Talismans across guilds, but haven't gotten around to that yet.
Dance of the Dead should be in the list. I added it when I went from 495 to 630.
I also like Chandra, Flamecaller slightly more myself, but since I'm just doing virtual drafts for now during lockdown, there's no cost to swapping temporarily, and I don't really want a draft with both of them in it.
FWIW, I've also added Brokkos, Apex of Forever in place of Tasigur to see how it looks in this weekend's draft(s). I'm hopeful, but not optimistic.
Court of Grace -> Rick, Steadfast Leader
Court of Cunning -> Condescend
Fall from Favor -> Hypnotic Sprite
Court of Bounty -> Nightpack Ambusher
Reflector Mage -> Glenn, the Voice of Calm
Not convinced on all of these yet. I may keep Reflector Mage and cut Geist instead, but am undecided.
EDIT: I know this is from a month ago, but I've also decided to cut Rotting Regisaur to add Order of Midnight, and didn't feel like a post just for that.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
White:
Dragon Hunter -> Champion of the Parish
Accorder Paladin -> Thalia's Lieutenant
Skyclave Apparition -> Mirror Entity
Spectral Procession -> Court of Grace
Blue:
Arcane Artisan -> Hullbreacher
Jace, Mirror Mage -> Jace Beleren
Treasure Cruise -> Arcane Denial
Condescend -> Court of Cunning
Tezzeret, Artifice Master -> Fall from Favor
Black:
Drana, Liberator of Malakir -> Opposition Agent
Gnarled Scarhide -> Xathrid Necromancer
Plague Engineer -> Bastion of Remembrance
Red:
Light Up the Stage -> Wheel of Misfortune
Green:
Sylvan Caryatid -> Mayor of Avabruck
Cultivate -> Court of Bounty
Multicolor:
Drown in the Loch -> Notion Thief
Lurrus of the Dream-Den -> General Kudro of Drannith
Tasigur, the Golden Fang -> Leovold, Emissary of Trest
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Red:
Stromkirk Noble -> Spikefield Hazard
Shrine of Burning Rage -> Valakut Awakening
Magma Jet -> Roil Eruption
Multicolor:
Prairie Stream -> Adarkar Wastes
Temple of Enlightenment -> Seachrome Coast
Sunken Hollow -> Underground River
Temple of Deceit -> Fetid Pools (adjusting the cut for the Pathway land)
Sheltered Thicket -> Karplusan Forest
Razorverge Thicket -> Brushland
Fetid Heath -> Caves of Koilos
Temple of Malady -> Llanowar Wastes
Temple of Mystery -> Yavimaya Coast
Temple of Epiphany -> Shivan Reef
EDIT: Added Caves of Koilos, and this felt better than a new post.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Unrelated, I've also made two additional swaps:
The Eldest Reborn -> Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit
Fetid Pools -> Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
White:
Leonin Relic-Warder -> Luminarch Aspirant
Thalia, Heretic Cathar -> Skyclave Apparition
Winds of Abandon -> Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave
Blue:
Ghostly Pilferer -> Thieving Skydiver
Spell Pierce -> Sea Gate Stormcaller
Gifts Ungiven -> Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore
Jace Beleren -> Jace, Mirror Mage
Ancestral Vision -> Jwari Disruption -> Jwari Ruins
Thirst for Knowledge -> Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn
Black:
Nezumi Graverobber -> Nullpriest of Oblivion
Night Incarnate -> Skyclave Shade
Vampire Nighthawk -> Nighthawk Scavenger
Eliminate -> Bloodchief's Thirst
Profane Command -> Agadeem's Awakening // Agadeem, the Undercrypt
Red:
Abbot of Keral Keep -> Kargan Intimidator
Flames of the Firebrand -> Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass
Green:
Mayor of Avabruck -> Tangled Florahedron // Tangled Vale
Manglehorn -> Kazandu Mammoth // Kazandu Valley
Den Protector -> Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
Oath of Nissa -> Turntimber Symbiosis // Turntimber, Serpentine Wood
Multicolor:
Cinder Glade -> Cragcrown Pathway // Timbercrown Pathway
Canopy Vista -> Branchloft Pathway // Boulderloft Pathway
Concealed Courtyard -> Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
Spirebluff Canal -> Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway
Inspiring Vantage -> Needleverge Pathway -> Pillarverge Pathway
In addition to these, I'm still looking at adding the UB pathway, Hagra Mauling, and possibly Valakut Awakening.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Force of Negation -> Spell Pierce
Nightpack Ambusher -> Birthing Pod
The switch to Spell Pierce was for a couple reasons - I didn't own a Force of Negation and didn't see myself picking one up too soon, and reading others' experiences with it as on-par with Spell Pierce made me decide to add it back in.
I mostly added Birthing Pod because I really like the new judge foil, and Nightpack Ambusher seemed like a fine card to cut since that was a sort of "up in the air" slot.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Dragon Hunter -> Thraben Inspector
Gideon of the Trials -> Elspeth Conquers Death
Corpse Dance -> The Eldest Reborn
Wild Mongrel -> Mayor of Avabruck
Gemrazer -> Nightpack Ambusher
Foreboding Ruins -> Sulfurous Springs (this one should have just always been Sulfurous Springs)
Obosh, the Preypiercer -> Falkenrath Aristocrat
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
I also decided to cut Deep Analysis to bring back Meloku. I think it's notably below most of the others for me and is also a change that doesn't affect either artifacts or reanimator strategies.
Still on the fence about Aether Grid/Shrine. I agree that making room for the extra creature is probably correct, but haven't had an opportunity to add test either of the other two noted (as they were both added during my cube expansion). It's probably just a question of which is better to keep - although I'm expecting the cut to be Ghirapur Aether Grid.
Unrelated, I'm also considering The Eldest Reborn and Elspeth Conquers Death to the cube now based on others' notes, possibly for Corpse Dance and Sevinne's Reclamation, largely because I don't own the latter two. I'm not convinced Reclamation isn't worth also having, though, since they go in different decks.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
For Barrin, I didn't realize the synergy with Meloku. Whirler Rogue was my other consideration, although I'm trying to do more to make artifacts enticing. This is also why Ghirapur Aether Grid is in the cube - I'm testing it to see if it helps with that archetype. If the latter ends up really underperforming, it's a reasonable spot to add Berserker back in. I'll have to think on the other options with Meloku.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Accorder Paladin -> Seasoned Hallowblade
Gisela, the Broken Blade -> Basri's Lieutenant
Fae of Wishes -> Ghostly Pilferer
Meloku the Clouded Mirror -> Barrin, Tolarian Archmage
Liliana's Triumph -> Eliminate
Stormblood Berserker -> Heartfire Immolator
Fires of Yavimaya -> Radha, Heart of Keld
EDIT: I've also chosen to swap out Glare of Subdual for Ajani, the Greathearted.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Gruul Signet -> Klothys, God of Destiny
Jegantha, the Wellspring -> Fires of Yavimaya
Selensya Signet -> Glare of Subdual
Kaheera, the Orphanguard -> Trostani Discordant
Golgari Signet -> Deathrite Shaman
Umori, the Collector -> Grim Flayer
Keruga, the Macrosage -> Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Boros Signet -> Tajic, Legion's Edge
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Red:
Chandra, Awakened Inferno -> Daretti, Scrap Savant
Legion Warboss -> Shrine of Burning Rage
Arc Lightning -> Ghirapur Aether Grid
Colorless:
Lightning Greaves -> Basalt Monolith
Unexpectedly Absent -> Blightsteel Colossus
Baral, Chief of Compliance -> Mindslaver
Order of Midnight -> Thaumatic Compass
Banefire -> Treasure Map
Devoted Druid -> Inventors' Fair
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
I also like Chandra, Flamecaller slightly more myself, but since I'm just doing virtual drafts for now during lockdown, there's no cost to swapping temporarily, and I don't really want a draft with both of them in it.
FWIW, I've also added Brokkos, Apex of Forever in place of Tasigur to see how it looks in this weekend's draft(s). I'm hopeful, but not optimistic.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)