Here are my thoughts with discussing new cards. I would like to here everyone else's opinions:
I've noticed a consistent pattern with all SCD in the past 2 years - most of the cards discussed as either almost good enough or just marginally stronger than an existing card in a 540 or 720 card cube. There are very few cards in the last few sets that have been slam dunks.
After looking through my cube, I feel there are very few cards that need redundancy i.e. Creature Tutors, Counter Spells, Burn, 1 Drops aggro etc. I find most of the time we're discussing stuff like "Here are the 10-15 white 3 CMC that are already playable in my cube, this new SCD is added to the short list". I feel that even if a new card is really good, you're usually not missing out much.
I feel there are only three categories I feel we're playing subpar cards to round out the numbers:
- Green 1 CMC mana dorks - We do have a lot of very good options, but I would love to have 2 more mana dorks given their flexibility in aristocrats, aggro, midrange, and ramp.
My thoughts moving forward is to only focus on these three categories - I don't feel these SCDs are a good time investment. What are other people's thoughts.
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I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Interesting take, although don't agree with it. Especially after Zendikar Rising, which brought us tons of low-CMC creatures that were all basically autoincludes (Thieving Skydiver, Luminarch Aspirant, Skyclave Shade, Skyclave Apparition).
I also have a list of what things I would like to have more cards for, and I could focus only on SCD of those cards, but I would miss being surprised by a card that opens up a new archetype or that is fun to play.
I think it depends on whether you see your Cube as a fixed project you want to perfect or are a bit more lenient in that you are open to experiment with things you hadn't considered before.
As an example, without the discussions, I would never have tried Sevinne's Reclamation in my Cube, which is now one of my favourite cards.
The problem was 2-3 years ago, I felt 20-30% of my cube was filled with subpar cards that I played to round out certain archetypes (in particular discard outlets, ramp, removal, storm payoff, Melira combo, red 2-3 drops etc. )
Right now, I feel that I have roughly only 5-6 cards left that are in the cube as "filler" cards to round out archetypes, in particular they are - Green 3 CMC ramp and the two red rituals.
I guess what I'm trying to say is at this point, I'm just not that excited if a new Snapcaster Mage or Chandra, Torch of Defiance was printed - All these slots are incredibly competitive and the gap between the "best" and "worst" non-power 9 cards are getting pretty narrow.
On the other hand, I don't think I really have any room for new archetypes/ packages in my cube if they become playable. My fair decks are getting a bit chocked out right now.
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
I think I understand what you mean. So many things have been explored by now that a few new cards feel like a retake on some older card. However, diversifying the cardpool for high-powered environments also allows Cube designers to give their Cube a bit more of a personal twist, which is nice.
Also, with new archetypes turning up, it gets possible to create small modules to swap in (thinking of Persis Combo, Polymorph, Landfall Aggro) and out at will, without going far down in powerlevel. This point is mainly what keeps me interested in SCD's of cards I don't immediately see myself cubing with. Keeps the Cube fresh for me.
I think its really awesome for the cube community to have these discussions.
I could see myself have packages around to swap out here or there.
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I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
I've gone through my cube and I feel these are the only 4 subpar cards I have left in my cube more or less to round out the archetypes (In particular Ramp/ Storm). They are relatively weak, even in the only 1-2 archetypes they are supported in, but are nevertheless necessary.
What I like about adding the two mana dorks is it allows me to shave a 1-drop aggro off red and black respectively to allow those decks to focus more on big red/ black midrange/ discard. Seething Song has been excellent in Storm + Big Red. Mamamorphose is overall an excellent card in spells matters, storm and 3-4 color midrange.
This allows for a much smoother power level distribution.
What I dislike about adding these 4 is it breaks the singleton rule. Its not a rule I cannot break, but what I do not like is today I might break it for 4 cards, tomorrow I might break it for 5 cards etc. and then half the cube are duplicates.
There was also a lot of depth to be explored with having a singleton vintage cube.
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I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
I want some new top end ramp in green just to have more variety,
I think I would still want another 1 mana efficient black discard to go with thoughtseize and Inquisition.
Another 2 power one drop in red so i can get rid of jackle pup
New Selesnya cards that allowed Green White midrange to compete in vintage cube without going for persist combos... something like OKO broken...
As far as cards starting to be pretty similar to each other, I am fine with it, I hope we continue to get flexible cards that can fill multiple roles in different decks.
I want some new top end ramp in green just to have more variety,
I think I would still want another 1 mana efficient black discard to go with thoughtseize and Inquisition.
Another 2 power one drop in red so i can get rid of jackle pup
New Selesnya cards that allowed Green White midrange to compete in vintage cube without going for persist combos... something like OKO broken...
As far as cards starting to be pretty similar to each other, I am fine with it, I hope we continue to get flexible cards that can fill multiple roles in different decks.
Another Black 1 CMC discard would be really nice. I like Lost Hours and Agonizing Remorse. They're fine options, especially in more combo heavy cubes. I would love to have more good black 1 cmc discard options. They're excellent in Aggro, midrange, control, and combo.
I would love to have more mana dorks in Green-White - I find that where the bottle neck is, but my green-white decks are much more persist, aristocrat heavier. I find starts with Birds of Paradise out of Green decks are incredible.
Soul-Scar Mage has been a fine alternative to Jackal Pup.
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
I've noticed a consistent pattern with all SCD in the past 2 years - most of the cards discussed as either almost good enough or just marginally stronger than an existing card in a 540 or 720 card cube. There are very few cards in the last few sets that have been slam dunks.
After looking through my cube, I feel there are very few cards that need redundancy i.e. Creature Tutors, Counter Spells, Burn, 1 Drops aggro etc. I find most of the time we're discussing stuff like "Here are the 10-15 white 3 CMC that are already playable in my cube, this new SCD is added to the short list". I feel that even if a new card is really good, you're usually not missing out much.
I feel there are only three categories I feel we're playing subpar cards to round out the numbers:
- Flexible removal spells - i.e. Assassin's Trophy, Prismari Command, Heartless Act. I would love to see more flexible options that can hit planeswalkers/ enchantments.
- Green 1 CMC mana dorks - We do have a lot of very good options, but I would love to have 2 more mana dorks given their flexibility in aristocrats, aggro, midrange, and ramp.
- Red/ Black Fast mana option - I would love to cut Pyretic Ritual and Desperate Ritual.
My thoughts moving forward is to only focus on these three categories - I don't feel these SCDs are a good time investment. What are other people's thoughts.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
I also have a list of what things I would like to have more cards for, and I could focus only on SCD of those cards, but I would miss being surprised by a card that opens up a new archetype or that is fun to play.
I think it depends on whether you see your Cube as a fixed project you want to perfect or are a bit more lenient in that you are open to experiment with things you hadn't considered before.
As an example, without the discussions, I would never have tried Sevinne's Reclamation in my Cube, which is now one of my favourite cards.
Right now, I feel that I have roughly only 5-6 cards left that are in the cube as "filler" cards to round out archetypes, in particular they are - Green 3 CMC ramp and the two red rituals.
I guess what I'm trying to say is at this point, I'm just not that excited if a new Snapcaster Mage or Chandra, Torch of Defiance was printed - All these slots are incredibly competitive and the gap between the "best" and "worst" non-power 9 cards are getting pretty narrow.
On the other hand, I don't think I really have any room for new archetypes/ packages in my cube if they become playable. My fair decks are getting a bit chocked out right now.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
Also, with new archetypes turning up, it gets possible to create small modules to swap in (thinking of Persis Combo, Polymorph, Landfall Aggro) and out at will, without going far down in powerlevel. This point is mainly what keeps me interested in SCD's of cards I don't immediately see myself cubing with. Keeps the Cube fresh for me.
I could see myself have packages around to swap out here or there.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
Manamorphose
Seething Song
Noble Hierarch
Birds of Paradise
For:
- Cultivate/ Kodama's Reach
- Pyretic Ritual/ Desperate Ritual
I've gone through my cube and I feel these are the only 4 subpar cards I have left in my cube more or less to round out the archetypes (In particular Ramp/ Storm). They are relatively weak, even in the only 1-2 archetypes they are supported in, but are nevertheless necessary.
What I like about adding the two mana dorks is it allows me to shave a 1-drop aggro off red and black respectively to allow those decks to focus more on big red/ black midrange/ discard. Seething Song has been excellent in Storm + Big Red. Mamamorphose is overall an excellent card in spells matters, storm and 3-4 color midrange.
This allows for a much smoother power level distribution.
What I dislike about adding these 4 is it breaks the singleton rule. Its not a rule I cannot break, but what I do not like is today I might break it for 4 cards, tomorrow I might break it for 5 cards etc. and then half the cube are duplicates.
There was also a lot of depth to be explored with having a singleton vintage cube.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
I think I would still want another 1 mana efficient black discard to go with thoughtseize and Inquisition.
Another 2 power one drop in red so i can get rid of jackle pup
New Selesnya cards that allowed Green White midrange to compete in vintage cube without going for persist combos... something like OKO broken...
As far as cards starting to be pretty similar to each other, I am fine with it, I hope we continue to get flexible cards that can fill multiple roles in different decks.
http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/63569
Another Black 1 CMC discard would be really nice. I like Lost Hours and Agonizing Remorse. They're fine options, especially in more combo heavy cubes. I would love to have more good black 1 cmc discard options. They're excellent in Aggro, midrange, control, and combo.
I would love to have more mana dorks in Green-White - I find that where the bottle neck is, but my green-white decks are much more persist, aristocrat heavier. I find starts with Birds of Paradise out of Green decks are incredible.
Soul-Scar Mage has been a fine alternative to Jackal Pup.
But yah, two cards I would love to see more of Thoughtseize and Birds of Paradise
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i