Did a virtual cube draft and made a couple additional swaps:
-With the increased blink theme, Clocknapper felt too strong in a way that everyone reported as distinctly unfun. Prior to my recent cube overhaul, it could only really be bounced by Crystal Shard or copied with a clone, which limited the strength of it and likelihood that it would come together. I'm adding Whirler Rogue back in for now as a creature that still benefits from the blink theme, but does it in a way that isn't as unfun.
-Tombstalker felt extremely underwhelming and is showing its age. I'm cutting it for Order of Midnight as a flier for aggro decks, a small flier for midrange decks, and an extra spell for Umori decks.
-Gush is out for Forbid. I had Forbid in before, and added Gush in thinking it would be exciting, but the tempo loss isn't great in my cube.
-Asylum Visitor is out for Liliana, Death's Majesty. Asylum Visitor is fine but still somewhat underwhelming. I like this Liliana a lot, so am going to give her another go.
-Chandra, Flamecaller is out for Chandra, Awakened Inferno. I want to test the M20 Chandra, and this swap seems like the best way to do it.
I knew I was missing something, largely because this slot underwent a few iterations. While I cut Melira, I also added Renata, Called to the Hunt. Obviously a 2-drop and a 4-drop aren’t equivalent, but it results in the same quantity of enablers, and lets me play an overall more relevant card in both slots.
The evolution of the slot was Yavimaya Elder -> Nightpack Ambusher -> Ripjaw Raptor -> Renata.
Fair points on Darigaaz, Clique, and Melira. I think that I have enough other persist enablers to not run Melira, but I can see the value in Clique. I only have 7 other persist creatures, but 9 enablers (one only works with Finks, though). It's not like those cards are breaking the bank, though.
Voice is the one above that I'm most excited about - I've had this signed foil DGM copy just staring at me since I've cut it, so I'm excited to get it back in the cube.
Made a few additional adjustments, partially based on rantipole's feedback and also based on card availability, given the quantity of new cards I need to pick up:
Thanks! I considered also adding Unburial Rites back in, but with the arrival of Lurrus and the addition of persist combo support, felt that having the 2-drops I added in was the better choice. I'll keep an eye out for what's too much support for various combos over others, since that isn't something I've historically tracked very well.
So, part two, the planned expansion to 630. This doesn't take into account any of your feedback, rantipole (other than what had already been planned). I'm worried this maybe includes too many combo pieces, but I'm not sure what the appropriate quantity is. Sorry if the spoilers makes it annoying to parse - I was worried this was too many cards to just put in a post otherwise.
Yep! So, of those, Blade Splicer, Stormblood Berserker, Primeval Titan, and Inkwell Leviathan are all back with my planned expansion. Will Kenrith and Gifts Ungiven aren't actually in the cube any more, because I've apparently missed some ninja edits (although Gifts Ungiven is on the docket to come back. I hadn't considered cutting Remorseful Cleric over Accorder Paladin, but I'll have to think about that. I got distracted, so didn't draft up the second post I intended to make.
EDIT; I'm also fine cutting Liliana, Dreadhorde General instead of Flesh Carver. I never picked up that Liliana, so that makes things easier.
I was going to post about my Ikoria changes, but apparently have been remiss and didn't post any of my M20, Eldraine, or Theros: Beyond Death changes. Here are some quick spoilers for them. I'm posting now because I'm also planning to expand my cube size (which will be in a second, separate post) and feel I should catch up first. If there are some weird-looking cuts in this update, wait for the second post.
This set...was a bit of a doozy. I initially expected this set to not be that big of a deal, because mutate was the face mechanic of the set, and it seemed very dubious for cube. However, I was very wrong about the set overall, between the companions, the triomes, and some overall great cards otherwise.
Man, all of these Modern Horizons spoils are making my head spin. Given that these spoilers involve some additional review of other inclusions, I figured I'd post about all of the changes I'm thinking currently, both with existing cards and new cards.
Major notes:
-Guild lands are no longer the same cycles for all 10 other than ABUR duals, shocks, and fetches
-Beefing up "lands matters" subtheme (slightly)
EDIT: I'm intrigued by Hydroid Krasis based on discussion in the SCD for it, but I don't really want to pick that card up at its current price point since I'm not that excited about it.
I'm fine cutting Cyclonic Rift over Daze. They're both towards the bottom of the totem pole at the moment.
I'm also pretty sad about Fire Imp, but I don't know what else I'd cut for Hanweir Garrison. I like Dark-Dwellers enough that it's probably safe at least for a little bit, but it does push the curve up.
Unrelated to GRN, I've been peeking around at others' lists, and am considering shifting around a bunch of cards, and was wondering of others' thoughts on these changes:
Oh, I should have been more clear. I'm adding Cryptologist back in once I find which stack she ended up in. I support both reanimator and Welder, and would like to cut both Harbinger and Misdirection for Crytologist and Bouncer if Bouncer is worth the slot (which it sounds like it is, archetype-depending).
The weighing of Lyra/BSA over Lancers makes sense in the context of Wildfire. I support the deck, but I don't recall it coming together recently. I could consider cutting Cloudgoat Ranger to fit Lyra in.
-With the increased blink theme, Clocknapper felt too strong in a way that everyone reported as distinctly unfun. Prior to my recent cube overhaul, it could only really be bounced by Crystal Shard or copied with a clone, which limited the strength of it and likelihood that it would come together. I'm adding Whirler Rogue back in for now as a creature that still benefits from the blink theme, but does it in a way that isn't as unfun.
-Tombstalker felt extremely underwhelming and is showing its age. I'm cutting it for Order of Midnight as a flier for aggro decks, a small flier for midrange decks, and an extra spell for Umori decks.
-Gush is out for Forbid. I had Forbid in before, and added Gush in thinking it would be exciting, but the tempo loss isn't great in my cube.
-Asylum Visitor is out for Liliana, Death's Majesty. Asylum Visitor is fine but still somewhat underwhelming. I like this Liliana a lot, so am going to give her another go.
-Chandra, Flamecaller is out for Chandra, Awakened Inferno. I want to test the M20 Chandra, and this swap seems like the best way to do it.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
The evolution of the slot was Yavimaya Elder -> Nightpack Ambusher -> Ripjaw Raptor -> Renata.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Voice is the one above that I'm most excited about - I've had this signed foil DGM copy just staring at me since I've cut it, so I'm excited to get it back in the cube.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Remorseful Cleric -> Accorder Paladin
Liliana, Dreadhorde General -> Flesh Carver
Puppeteer Clique -> Night Incarnate
Phoenix of Ash -> Anax, Hardened in the Forge
Melira, Sylvok Outcast -> Wild Mongrel
Qasali Pridemage -> Voice of Resurgence
Darigaaz Reincarnated -> Korvold, Fae-Cursed King
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
Leonin Relic-Warder
Vizier of Remedies
Blade Splicer
Village Bell-Ringer
Felidar Guardian
Archangel of Thune
Karmic Guide
Gideon of the Trials
Serra the Benevolent
Unexpectedly Absent
Sevinne's Reclamation
Fae of Wishes
Arcane Artisan
Deceiver Exarch
Pestermite
Inkwell Leviathan
Force of Negation
Gush
Impulse
Gifts Ungiven
Intruder Alarm
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
Faerie Conclave
Viscera Seer
Blood Artist
Putrid Goblin
Zulaport Cutthroat
Drana, Liberator of Malakir
Rotting Regisaur
Puppeteer Clique
Go for the Throat
Corpse Dance
Collective Brutality
Dance of the Dead
Necromancy
Robber of the Rich
Stormblood Berserker
Combat Celebrant
Legion Warboss
Rampaging Ferocidon
Siege-Gang Commander
Magma Jet
Through the Breach
Banefire
Goblin Bombardment
Impact Tremors
Splinter Twin
Devoted Druid
Melira, Sylvok Outcast
Sylvan Caryatid
Manglehorn
Spike Feeder
Thrashing Brontodon
Elvish Piper
Great Oak Guardian
Primeval Titan
Garruk Relentless
Plow Under
The Great Henge
Temple of Enlightenment
Azorius Signet
Reflector Mage
Soulherder
Teferi, Time Raveler
Sunken Hollow
Temple of Deceit
Dimir Signet
Lim-Dul's Vault
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Hostage Taker
Foreboding Ruins
Smoldering Marsh
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
Rakdos Signet
Judith, the Scourge Diva
Murderous Redcap
Cinder Glade
Sheltered Thicket
Gruul Signet
Grumgully, the Generous
Rhythm of the Wild
Ghor-Clan Rampager
Canopy Vista
Razorverge Thicket
Qasali Pridemage
Safehold Elite
Selesnya Signet
Good-Fortune Unicorn
Fetid Heath
Silent Clearing
Corpse Knight
Cruel Celebrant
Orzhov Signet
Tidehollow Sculler
Hissing Quagmire
Temple of Malady
Golgari Signet
Life // Death
Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Vraska, Golgari Queen
Botanical Sanctum
Temple of Mystery
Nissa, Steward of Elements
Simic Signet
Bounding Krasis
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
Spirebluff Canal
Temple of Epiphany
Izzet Signet
Saheeli Rai
Dack's Duplicate
Fire // Ice
Battlefield Forge
Sunbaked Canyon
Boros Charm
Boros Signet
Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice
Nahiri, the Harbinger
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
Emrakul, the Promised End
Altar of the Brood
Retrofitter Foundry
Shadowspear
Altar of Dementia
Blasting Station
Quicksilver Amulet
Spire of Industry
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
EDIT; I'm also fine cutting Liliana, Dreadhorde General instead of Flesh Carver. I never picked up that Liliana, so that makes things easier.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Soulfire Grand Master -> Kykar, Wind's Fury
Gideon Blackblade -> Harmonious Archon
Stratus Dancer -> Brazen Borrower
Drana, Liberator of Malakir -> Murderous Rider
Skinrender -> Rankle, Master of Pranks
Stormblood Berserker -> Embereth Shieldbreaker
Magma Jet -> Bonecrusher Giant
Stoke the Flames -> Castle Embereth
Wild Nacatl -> Gilded Goose
Polukranos, World Eater -> Questing Beast
Vivien's Arkbow -> Once Upon a Time
Sarkhan Vol -> Grumgully, the Generous
Shardless Agent -> Oko, Thief of Crowns
Karn, Silver Golem -> Fabled Passage
Gideon of the Trials -> Shatter the Sky
Flesh Carver -> Woe Strider
Hanweir Garrison -> Phoenix of Ash
Supreme Verdict -> Teferi, Hero of Dominaria (related to the Shatter the Sky addition)
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden -> Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
This set...was a bit of a doozy. I initially expected this set to not be that big of a deal, because mutate was the face mechanic of the set, and it seemed very dubious for cube. However, I was very wrong about the set overall, between the companions, the triomes, and some overall great cards otherwise.
Ikoria Update:
White:
Baneslayer Angel -> Luminous Broodmoth
Blue:
Enclave Cryptologist -> Sea-Dasher Octopus
Inkwell Leviathan -> Shark Typhoon
Black:
Go for the Throat -> Heartless Act
Green:
Wickerbough Elder -> Oracle of Mul Daya (not IKO, but swapped in the same update)
Primeval Titan -> Kogla, the Titan Ape
Garruk Relentless -> Vivien, Monsters' Advocate
Multicolor:
Dovin, Grand Arbiter -> Yorion, Sky Nomad
Connive // Concoct -> Gyruda, Doom of Depths
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger -> Obosh, the Preypiercer
Grumgully, the Generous -> Jegantha, the Wellspring
Good-Fortune Unicorn -> Kaheera, the Orphanguard
Magister of Worth -> Lurrus of the Dream-Den
Deathrite Shaman -> Fiend Artisan
Vraska, Relic Seeker -> Umori, the Collector
Mystic Snake -> Keruga, the Macrosage
Nissa, Steward of Elements -> Hydroid Krasis (change prompted by cards in this update)
Saheeli, the Gifted -> Lutri, the Spellchaser
Tajic, Legion's Edge -> Zirda, the Dawnwaker
Unexpectedly Absent -> Indatha Triome
Forbid -> Raugrin Triome
Summon the Pack -> Zagoth Triome
Through the Breach -> Savai Triome
Plow Under -> Ketria Triome
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Major notes:
-Guild lands are no longer the same cycles for all 10 other than ABUR duals, shocks, and fetches
-Beefing up "lands matters" subtheme (slightly)
White:
Declaration in Stone -> Winds of Abandon
Glory-Bound Initiate removed (see multicolor)
Journey to Nowhere removed
Blue:
The Antiquities War -> Urza, High Lord Artificer
Waterfront Bouncer removed
Gifts Ungiven removed
Black:
Hypnotic Specter -> Plague Engineer
Spawn of Mayhem -> Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
Xathrid Necromancer removed
Ritual of Soot removed
Red:
Glorybringer removed
Chaos Warp removed
Green:
Nissa, Vastwood Seer -> Hexdrinker
Thragtusk -> Titania, Protector of Argoth
Verdurous Gearhulk -> Deep Forest Hermit
Manglehorn removed
Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma removed
Multicolor:
Seachrome Coast -> Irrigated Farmland
Talisman of Progress added
Darkslick Shores -> Fetid Pools
Talisman of Dominance added
Talisman of Indulgence added
Talisman of Impulse added
Tattermunge Maniac -> Wrenn and Six
Razorverge Thicket -> Horizon Canopy
Talisman of Unity added
Talisman of Hierarchy added
Hissing Quagmire -> Nurturing Peatland
Talisman of Resilience added
Botanical Sanctum -> Waterlogged Grove
Talisman of Curiosity added
Spirebluff Canal -> Fiery Islet
Talisman of Creativity added
Talisman of Conviction added
Colorless:
Sword of Body and Mind -> Sword of Sinew and Steel
Sword of War and Peace -> Sword of Truth and Justice
Retrofitter Foundry -> Prismatic View
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
White:
Mirror Entity -> Gideon Blackblade
History of Benalia -> Finale of Glory
Blue:
Whirler Rogue -> God-Eternal Kefnet
Thirst for Knowledge -> Narset, Parter of Veils
Black:
Liliana, Death's Majesty -> Liliana, Dreadhorde General
Chainer's Edict -> Liliana's Triumph
Red:
Legion Warboss -> Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
Goblin Dark-Dwellers -> Ilharg, the Raze-Boar
Green:
Berserk -> Vivien's Arkbow
Collected Company -> Finale of Devastation
Multicolor:
Dack's Duplicate -> Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
Colorless:
Fleetwheel Cruiser -> Blast Zone
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Black:
Tormented Hero -> Gutterbones
Mardu Strike Leader -> Spawn of Mayhem
Red:
Collective Defiance -> Light Up the Stage
Green:
Verdurous Gearhulk -> Biogenic Ooze
Multicolor:
Reflector Mage -> Dovin, Grand Arbiter
I'd previously been considering adding Thrash//Threat over Bloodbraid Elf, but decided against it for now.
EDIT: I'm intrigued by Hydroid Krasis based on discussion in the SCD for it, but I don't really want to pick that card up at its current price point since I'm not that excited about it.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
I'm also pretty sad about Fire Imp, but I don't know what else I'd cut for Hanweir Garrison. I like Dark-Dwellers enough that it's probably safe at least for a little bit, but it does push the curve up.
Thanks as always for the feedback!
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
White:
Forsake the Worldly -> Dragon Hunter
Knight of the Kitchen Sink (even collector number) -> Accorder Paladin
Hallowed Spiritkeeper -> Palace Jailer
Angel of Serenity -> Baneslayer Angel
Blue:
Wharf Infiltrator -> Morphling
Champion of Wits -> Chart a Course
Cyclonic Rift -> Control Magic
Black:
Vampire Lacerator -> Tormented Hero
Dauthi Horror -> Asylum Visitor
Ruin Raider -> Oona's Prowler
Josu Vess, Lich Knight -> Ritual of Soot
Red:
Village Messenger -> Bomat Courier
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser -> Abbot of Keral Keep
Plated Geopede -> Earthshaker Khenra
Fire Imp -> Hanweir Garrison
Green:
Sylvan Advocate -> Jungle Lion
Surrak, the Hunt Caller -> Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
Eldritch Evolution -> Verdurous Gearhulk
Naturalize -> Life from the Loam
Primal Command -> Selvala's Stampede
Birthing Pod -> Treetop Village
Multicolor:
Skipping this for now to not pick up new stuff before upcoming Ravnica sets.
Colorless:
Lotus Petal -> Ash Barrens
Aether Vial -> Evolving Wilds
Loxodon Warhammer -> Grand Coliseum
Westvale Abbey -> Terramorphic Expanse
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
White:
None!
Blue:
None!
Black:
Night Incarnate -> Doom Whisperer
Red:
Harsh Mentor -> Goblin Cratermaker
Manic Vandal -> Legion Warboss
Green:
Song of the Dryads -> Pelt Collector
Multicolor:
Hostage Taker -> Connive//Concoct
Qasali Pridemage -> Knight of Autumn
Abrupt Decay -> Assassin's Trophy
Boros Charm -> Tajic, Legion's Edge
Colorless:
None!
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
The weighing of Lyra/BSA over Lancers makes sense in the context of Wildfire. I support the deck, but I don't recall it coming together recently. I could consider cutting Cloudgoat Ranger to fit Lyra in.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)