MTG Salvation

I look at the number crunch and majority of the sets seems to be out.

Include
Sabin, Master Monk
Starting Town
Suplex

Testing
Cecil, Dark Knight
Sazh's Chocobo
Summon: Kujata
Opera Love Song
Summon: Yojimbo
Sleep Magic

Considering
The Warring Triad
Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
Astrologian's Planisphere
Yuna's Decision

There's quite a few cards I want to try. Not sure if any of them will stick around though. I'm always been a fan of interno titan so I might try to push for Summon: Kujata regardless. I'll edit this list as needed if any other cards interested me.

Pretty good set.

White:
Summon: Good King Mog XII

Blue:
Sleep Magic

Black:
Cecil, Dark Knight
Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER

Red: Nothing
Green: Nothing

Gold:
Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
Hildibrand Manderville

Colourless:
The Warring Triad

Lands:
Starting Town

Here are the changes I plan to make to my cube from Final Fantasy.

Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER replaces Attrition
Summon: Kujata replaces Shivan Devastator
Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte replaces City of Brass
The Warring Triad replaces Chromatic Lantern
Starting Town replaces Mana Confluence

Edit: Sleep Magic replaces Time Warp
Edit 2: Summon: Esper Valigarmanda replaces Dreadhorde Arcanist
Edit 3: Vivi Ornitier replaces Izzet Charm

While I'm no longer updating my 630 cube, this is the first big set since I've started my Universes Beyond cube, which means that this set has a lot of cards for me. This is only the second Universes Beyond set designed for Limited, so there are a lot of staple effects and lower-cost cards that I'm adding in. I'm also taking this opportunity to finally cut all non-fixing reprints and hopefully set the cube up to support aggro after Spider-Man and Avatar come out. I also expect that a fair number of these cards will not last the year. Between the main set and the commander decks, I'm planning to add 89 cards from this set!

I've spoiled the list, since it's so long.


EDIT: I gave Good King Mog a better look and have decided he makes the cut over Gandalf the White who probably comes down a bit late for his abilities in cube.

WWW

Ambrosia Whiteheart
Cloud, Midgar Mercenary
Summon: Good King Mog XII

UUU

Astrologian's Planisphere
Jill, Shiva's Dominant
Sleep Magic

BBB

Cecil, Dark Knight
Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER

RRR

Gau, Feral Youth
Yuffie, Materia Hunter
Summon: Kujata
Fire Magic
Suplex

GGG

Sazh's Chocobo
Traveling Chocobo

WUBRG

Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
Hildibrand Manderville
Vivi Ornitier
Kefka, Court Mage

1 2 3

Buster Sword
The Warring Triad
Starting Town

1W: Ambrosia Whiteheart (testing)
2W: Elena, Turk Recruit
2WW: Summon: Yojimbo

U: Sleep Magic
1U: Astrologian's Planisphere

2B: Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER

1R: Suplex

GW: Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
1W / 2B: Hildibrand Manderville

Lands: Starting Town and the BR adventure lands: Midgar, City of Mako and Lindblum, Industrial Regency (testing).

In the future, WW Cloud, Midgar Mercenary if there is a card that makes his second ability relevant. I don't want to include a straight up worse Stoneforge Mystic even if it is still good enough.

Quote from Mangolassi »

1W: Ambrosia Whiteheart (testing)

I'd be interested to hear how Ambrosia's testing goes for you! I didn't think I could fit her in with three other 2-drops but like the card and the character.

In the future, WW Cloud, Midgar Mercenary if there is a card that makes his second ability relevant. I don't want to include a straight up worse Stoneforge Mystic even if it is still good enough.

The double-trigger clause has been pretty sweet in testing so far. Especially with Skullclamp.

Nothing due to the unfortunate UB frame. Being a FF fan, I am building a new FF-only 180 cube however.

In:
Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER
Summon: Kujata
Starting Town

Testing:
Summon: Yojimbo
Summon: Good King Mog XII
Sleep Magic
Jill, Shiva's Dominant
Cecil, Dark Knight
Summon: Brynhildr
Snort
Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
Hildibrand Manderville
Sin, Spira's Punishment

Watching:
Cloud, Midgar Mercenary
Gau, Feral Youth
Sabin, Master Monk

When they announced that UB sets would be standard legal, I was expecting the power level to drop. And I guess if you exclude the commander cards then it is true, but boy did I not expect this many cubeworthy cards from a standard set.

Loved this set, got a lot of cards to think about!

• Cloud, Midgar Mercenary
• Summon: Knights of the Round
• Summon: Good King Mog XII

Nothing

• Cecil, Dark Knight,
• Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER

• Summon: Kujata
• Suplex

• Summon: Magus Sisters (Testing)

• Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
• Starting Town
• Vivi Ornitier
• Lightning, Army of One

• Buster Sword

Bets on these being Sleepers Hits:

• Buster Sword If you're not trying it, I think people will come back to this card and add it later when they see it popping off in cube.
• Vivi Ornitier Seems cracked for storm decks if you're running storm in your cube.

Quote from Red13th »

Nothing due to the unfortunate UB frame. Being a FF fan, I am building a new FF-only 180 cube however.

Man, I wonder how long you can keep up this choice of "No UB frames". With so many of these sets coming out now and growing, it feels like a very stubborn way of thinking when it comes to considering good mechanical cards for cube just becuase the IP is not of Magic: The Gathering Origin.



Hey, for each their own, I guess. Just sucks for those who draft who might be missing out.

two sides of this coin, there are plenty of cards for cube without ub, I include it, frame is trash but so is the normal modern frame.

In:
Cecil
Yuna's Decision
The Waring Triad


Trying:
Starting Town
Summon : Kujata
Sephiroth
Gau, Feral Youth
Joshua: Phoenix's Dominant
Yuffie, Materia Hunter

Quote from Officer K »

Quote from Red13th »

Nothing due to the unfortunate UB frame. Being a FF fan, I am building a new FF-only 180 cube however.

Man, I wonder how long you can keep up this choice of "No UB frames". With so many of these sets coming out now and growing, it feels like a very stubborn way of thinking when it comes to considering good mechanical cards for cube just becuase the IP is not of Magic: The Gathering Origin.



Hey, for each their own, I guess. Just sucks for those who draft who might be missing out.

It's just an aesthetic choice. They did announce they're dropping the UB frame for the next UB sets and when they do I'll gladly include them in my cube, I have zero objections regarding different IPs. I just prefer the uniform look for my cube, it's been 10 years and counting and I never faltered (this release though was the hardest one by far, not gonna lie).

Quote from Red13th »

Quote from Officer K »

Quote from Red13th »

Nothing due to the unfortunate UB frame. Being a FF fan, I am building a new FF-only 180 cube however.

Man, I wonder how long you can keep up this choice of "No UB frames". With so many of these sets coming out now and growing, it feels like a very stubborn way of thinking when it comes to considering good mechanical cards for cube just becuase the IP is not of Magic: The Gathering Origin.



Hey, for each their own, I guess. Just sucks for those who draft who might be missing out.

It's just an aesthetic choice. They did announce they're dropping the UB frame for the next UB sets and when they do I'll gladly include them in my cube, I have zero objections regarding different IPs. I just prefer the uniform look for my cube, it's been 10 years and counting and I never faltered (this release though was the hardest one by far, not gonna lie).

Isn't the universe frame only for MTGO?

Quote from Mangolassi »

In the future, WW Cloud, Midgar Mercenary if there is a card that makes his second ability relevant. I don't want to include a straight up worse Stoneforge Mystic even if it is still good enough.

I don't think Cloud is "Strictly worse" than Stoneforge. It's better with Jitte, any sword effect, skull clamp, and many other equipment. The only thing Stoneforge is better than Cloud for is cheating out Kauldra or Batterskull. If anything, Cloud strengthens the inclusion of Stoneforge for a longer time in the cube, giving equipment more consistency.

450 UNPOWERED
For small cubes, I don't see any thing to add, except maybe Starting Town. I don't like UB cards if it distracts from Magic's lore, but this flavor neutral card is fine. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind if I skipped on this one.

ARTIFACT CUBE

For my artifact cube, I am ok with adding UB cards as long as they are artifact themed (Necrons and Screwdrivers). Not really a fan of Cloud but he is such a great addition alongside Stoneforge Mystic. His tutor ability makes it really "combo" with itself to fetch that equipment. I think without the cheat ability he is much worse than Mystic, but in a lesser powered environment, he can provide a fun doubling ability for cube.
Skullclamp
Umezawa's Jitte and it's baby Lost Jitte
Sword of Truth and Justice (and all other swords)
Adaptive Omnitool
Bloodforged Battle-Axe
Glimmerlens
Hammer of Nazahn
Sword of the Animist and Bitterhorn, Nissa's Animus
Tanuki Transplanter

Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo - I would also like more equip cheat effects in cube especially in Red. I find that, equipment falls far too frequently due to removal and cheating the equip cost is a great theme for cube. I actually like him more than Cloud, and makes it one step closer to putting Hammer and Sunforger back!

Machinist's Arsenal also caught my eye among all Job Select equipment and could be a great finisher that can easily be as big as 21/21 in this environment.

The Green Crystal is a redundancy for Ozolith, the Shattered Spire and The Great Henge where green has a +1/+1 counter theme. May replace Parallel Lives

I don't think Cloud is "Strictly worse" than Stoneforge. It's better with Jitte, any sword effect, skull clamp, and many other equipment. The only thing Stoneforge is better than Cloud for is cheating out Kauldra or Batterskull. If anything, Cloud strengthens the inclusion of Stoneforge for a longer time in the cube, giving equipment more consistency.

The second ability of Cloud would not do much in my list as I don't include swords or Jitte because they are both weak and very high variance, and Skullclamp is currently still one of the few power level exclusions I make. The only traditional equipment I run is Shadowspear, which doesn't work with Cloud.

Besides, my big problem with Cloud is not the second ability, but the horrible WW mana cost. It means that you will often be unable to cast him on curve, and will struggle to play him and another white spell later on, which is especially unfortunate as the most common piece of equipment to fetch nowadays in Pre-War Formalwear is a white spell itself. I would consider him better than Stoneforge if he cost 1W because I do think the 2/1 statline is much better than Stoneforge's 1/2.

There certainly are lists where Cloud is a great card, but my current list is not one of them.

- Marionette Apprentice -> Cecil, Dark Knight
- Galvanic Discharge -> Summon: Kujata
- Hazoret the Fervent -> Yuffie, Materia Hunter
- Ancient Stone Idol -> Starting Town
- Mimic Vat -> The Warring Triad

Quote from Mangolassi »

I don't think Cloud is "Strictly worse" than Stoneforge. It's better with Jitte, any sword effect, skull clamp, and many other equipment. The only thing Stoneforge is better than Cloud for is cheating out Kauldra or Batterskull. If anything, Cloud strengthens the inclusion of Stoneforge for a longer time in the cube, giving equipment more consistency.

The second ability of Cloud would not do much in my list as I don't include swords or Jitte because they are both weak and very high variance

Ooof Jitte = Weak... Have to disagree with ya on that one, but hey, it's your cube!

I’m a bit surprised folks are low on Yuffie, Materia Hunter

Agreed, I think I am the only one testing it. IT will likely overperform but I fear that it wont be picked often for the same reason cube owners are ignoring it. ITs additive distraction. Stealing fast mana and attacking with a 3/3 on turn 2 in exchange for the one drop will win games. The equipment stuff is just causing people to analyze this on the margins.

Also aggressive was to deal with the one ring et al are hard to come by.

Yuffie, Materia Hunter is on my testing list with several other cards that didn't go in with the initial update. It's not the equip clause causing additive distraction that's the issue, IMO... it's the combination of the narrow window of when it's really broken (compared to the instances where it's only fair or even plain bad) paired with the temporary nature of the theft that's causing it to lose points for me. A really feast or famine effect for me. A 1R 3/3 that steals a Sol Ring before the opponent can use it is completely absurd. A red legendary Centaur Courser is unacceptably poor. That being said, the upside potential is huge, and I could see it sticking around after my next round of testing and having it earn a permanent slot.

The most surprising thing to me this spoiler season is how hard people are sleeping on Gau, Feral Youth. Card's insane. An aggressive red Luminarch Aspirant variant that scales into the late game as an attacker and randomly Lava Spike/Lava Axe the opponent every time you meddle with your 'yard is crazy good. Every color has plenty of ways to interact with your 'yard, and Gau has been INSANELY strong and very consistent in testing.

For 800 duel commander cube