After working pretty extensively with commons cubes and... from the looks of it, being able to cube more than once in a blue moon, I had the idea to create a common cube. Partly to serve as a different viewpoint with regards to the next cube article (which has forever been on the back burner, but I think I'll be able to get to it,) partly because it's something I think would be interesting and to do my own take on a commons cube.
The cube itself is meant to somewhat mirror my "regular" cube: 450 cards total, 64 in WUBRG, 75 in multicolor and 55 in colorless and pretty standard inclusions (no snow and un-cards, only paper commons are allowed, not cards printed as commons in Masters Editions 1-3.)
I've been working on a "pool" of cards to comprise the cube itself. Hence, why even though the sections themselves are supposed to be 55 (WUBRG) each, the sections will have sections that have larger sections (including some of the multicolor sections which are lopsided, but are all going to be equal at the end) and I'd like some other opinions to help whittle these down as this isn't a final list. I may have some inclusions for this that should be here, but if something's not in this pool of ideas, it's likely intentional as it's either not good enough or got purged through the pool cutting process.
I've been concidering doing something similar to this, but going with a 360 card cube instead. (and one uncommon in wubrg, lands, and artifacts to be the "mythic rares" of the set.
I would probably start by counting the borderpost as lands.
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Calvin and Hobbes Cube Tutor
Completely disagree. Kabuto Moth is repeatable creature-saving combat tricks, and the Swordsmith is already aggresively costed without needing other soldiers.
I'll check out your list in depth later. Got some stuff I gotta take care of first. Just saying, awesome that you're making a pauper cube.
Pingers in general are overrated because of their success in limited (see the pauper forum thread, where a plain Tim was dogpiled for a second pick, a very incorrect pick due to card misevaluation) but they don't offer the same amount of success in cube. Limited assumes that there are slow battles of attrition which doesn't necessarily happen in commons cube.
I think there are other cards that you've overrated because of their success in limited as well, like Safe Passage (if I'm paying 3 mana for a fog, it'd better be on the flashback of a Moment's Peace) and Boros Fury-Shield. Heavy Ballista should probably be in the list of possible inclusions (since I'm mainly just refining through the brainstorming process.)
I always swore that Gelectrode was uncommon, huh. Quicksilver Dagger was what I was going to consider as well.
Shadow Guildmage isn't being used because its blue ability is so meh, that it's essentially a BR card.
I was considering not using the borderposts as lands, but it's an upgrade overall, they kick out the invasion lands and allow for more targets for cards like Keldon Vandals, Ingot Chewer, Smash to Smithereens and Gorilla Shaman (which should be in.)
I swore that I had Blinding Beam in, it was even on the list that I wrote down, but I didn't transpose it over. Also, I, for some reason thought that Llanowar Reborn was common, Klahni Garden works (either that or Turntimber Grove.)
I should probably put more instant/flash cards into blue to make draw-go a better archetype. I think, for example, that cards lik Frantic Search and Oona's Grace would be great for the archetype. I'd really like to put Alexi's Cloak in here, but I'm not sure if there's room. Same with Illusionary Forces and Fathom Seer.
I'm probably gonna do an order some time today to finish the list so that I can have the actual cards and can draft it (as well as being able to make pics.) If I end up getting some non-awful sleeves, I'll put my powered cube in it and give the awful sleeves to this cube.
Burrenton Bombardier is in the spell slot since most of the time, it's cast as a pump spell rather than a 2W 2/2 flier. It's still a good creature at that cost, but the pump ability is its main use.
Oona's Grace is awesome (totally missed that for my cube). In Pauper Constructed, it works as a draw engine for a few archtypes.
Alexi's Cloak... I don't know, it just seems like a jank counterspell. But I could be wrong.
I think of Cloak somewhat like Cho-Manno's Blessing, providing not only a one-shot effect but something after which... should be worth it. There isn't much mass-removal in commons so the shroud should be useful.
(This is all in theory, granted, as I've never seen the Cloak used in a commons list.)
I also should find room for Flame Jab and definitely Manic Vandal. (For now, I'm taking out the 2RR 3/3 hasty creatures for them.)
I should probably fit Chittering Rats in as well. The 3 mana slot is stacked, though. RG is pretty stacked too, and I'd like to fit Horned Kavu in. RG shouldn't have a problem with its gating (especially if it's just bouncing some mana producer or a Wall of Roots) and its 4 toughness is pretty huge in the format. Scab-Clan Mauler may be the cut, as Mauler, for the most part, asks for a creature to be on the field (and hitting an opponent) as well.
I only glanced at your list, but noticed a distinct lack of Flowstone crusher. That card is pretty damn ridiculous, and gives you another good curve topper for red. It's interesting how much better red gets in common cubes.
I only glanced at your list, but noticed a distinct lack of Flowstone crusher. That card is pretty damn ridiculous, and gives you another good curve topper for red. It's interesting how much better red gets in common cubes.
But that's because all the cheap, efficient direct-damage cards are still commons. And in Pauper Cube, direct damage is the way to neuter an opponent.
I was considering Emrakul's Hatcher for the 5 drop slot, Crusher may be worth a shot. Irregulars seems like it's the best of red's 5 drops (despite being relatively fragile.)
I cubed with some friends and got hooked up with most of the cards that I needed to make this (aside from the expensive stuff like Chain Lightning that I wasn't expecting anyway and was gonna proxy.) Score!
I disagree on the life loss creatures, Zombie Cutthroat is pretty solid a creature whose life loss is irrelevant, I find. (I may move it to colorless creatures, since I remember it being played in not just black decks. Similarly with Gathan Raiders.) Foul Imp possibly may be worth a cut, but both provide what I want for black aggro decks, quick beats.
I could really go either way on that trade, but I think Foul Imp could be something like Mesmeric Fiend or something like that.
I miscalculated white's cards, which gave me room to put Prismatic Strands and Marshaling Cry into white. I was considering between Strands and Repel the Darkness, but as it turns out, I can just run both.
I made some red changes, I'd like to put the hasty red creatures at 3 (if I had to choose the red 3 drops, I'd choose Lancer since it's better on gang-blocking and killing regenerators) and 4, as well as the "burn spells + burn to the face" like Barbed Lightning, Magma Burst and Chandra's Outrage (the latter of which I don't think is a staple because red's got more efficient damage spells. Still, there's probably room for it and it's definitely better than Magma Burst.) I put in Flame Jab to give red reach, but it could probably come out since it's a relatively inefficient burn spell and red has a TON of 2-for-1s with its burn and 187 artifact destroyers.
Similarly with the blue 2U 3/1 fliers. They're great creatures, but are they what blue wants to do? I also want to put the 3U 3/2 fliers in, but are the other options with flash better? Should the Remove Soul(s) and/or Serum Visions and/or Illusionary Forces (for big blue beats) come in?
I finally completed this, cardwise and ordered sleeves a few minutes ago, so I should be able to have it sleeved for this weekend/next week. My foil signed Jilt finally has a use!
For those who run them, are Gathan Raiders and Zombie Cutthroat used more in their respective colors, or as colorless creatures?
I've never tried out Mesmeric Fiend, so I really can't help you there.
Awesome. Prismatic Strands is boss.
I think giving blue the oppurtunity for aggro is important. But you don't need much. Cut the 3/1 flyer that isn't Rishadan Airship (because that card is awesome).
Do not add Remove Soul or Negate. Bad counters are bad. There are much better ones out there.
I think you can safely put Gathan Raiders and Zombie Coutthroat is colorless, although I keep my Gathan Raiders in red because it always plays better in red decks (as there is the chance, however unfortunate, to hardcast it).
I think you can safely put Gathan Raiders and Zombie Coutthroat is colorless, although I keep my Gathan Raiders in red because it always plays better in red decks (as there is the chance, however unfortunate, to hardcast it).
how often do you cast the raiders with red mana? i was thinking of moving mine to my red section in my rare cube.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
For now, I'm going to see how the morphers play out to see if they're played more in any deck/just B or R.
I ended up cutting Cadaver Imp for Chittering Rats. Cadaver's body is a relatively insignificant 1/1 body. May not be the right choice, but I think it works.
I should probably make Flame Jab into Chandra's Outrage and something else into Barbed Lightning. Emberwilde Augur looks like the weak link that could become lightning, but I'd like to have a good amount of 2 drops here. Sparksmith seems like it may be worth running as it's decent on its own and there are a ton of goblins in red, but it doesn't go to the face, which is annoying.
My printer has been on the fritz lately so I haven't been able to use it much, so sharpies are my BFFs. I ordered some KMC sleeves last night, so hopefully they'll be here by next weekend, when I'll be giving this cube its initial run. I still need to update my powered one. All in due time, there aren't nearly enough hours in the day.
The cube itself is meant to somewhat mirror my "regular" cube: 450 cards total, 64 in WUBRG, 75 in multicolor and 55 in colorless and pretty standard inclusions (no snow and un-cards, only paper commons are allowed, not cards printed as commons in Masters Editions 1-3.)
I've been working on a "pool" of cards to comprise the cube itself. Hence, why even though the sections themselves are supposed to be 55 (WUBRG) each, the sections will have sections that have larger sections (including some of the multicolor sections which are lopsided, but are all going to be equal at the end) and I'd like some other opinions to help whittle these down as this isn't a final list. I may have some inclusions for this that should be here, but if something's not in this pool of ideas, it's likely intentional as it's either not good enough or got purged through the pool cutting process.White:
Akrasan Squire
Caravan Escort
Goldmeadow Harrier
Martyr of Sands
Steppe Lynx
Deftblade Elite
Shade of Trokair
Benevolent Bodyguard
Icatian Javelineers
Castle Raptors
Totem-Guide Hartebeest
Noble Templar
-----
Blue:
Skywatcher Adept
Mneumonic Wall
Mulldrifter
Sky-Eel School
Aethersnipe
-------
Halimar Depths
Daze
Brainstorm
Ponder
Preordain
Flood
Force Spike
Choking Tethers
Ray of Command
Deep Analysis
Foresee
Mysteries of the Deep
Capsize
Repeal
Condescend
Black:
Carnophage
Vampire Lacerator
Fume Spitter
Gravedigger
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Faceless Butcher
Crypt Ripper
Viscera Dragger
Warren Pilferers
Skinthinner
Twisted Abomination
Heartstabber Mosquito
-----
Snuff Out
Ashes to Ashes
Dirge of Dread
Shade's Form
Unburden
Pestilence
Disturbed Burial
Grim Harvest
Evincar's Justice
Death Denied
Red:
Mogg Fanatic
Goblin Patrol
Martyr of Ashes
Keldon Halberdier
Gorilla Shaman
Stingscourger
Bladetusk Boar
Keldon Berserker
Talruum Minotaur
Raging Minotaur
Crusher Zendikon
Flowstone Crusher
Gerrard's Irregulars
Flameborn Hellion
------
Smoldering Spires
Teetering Peaks
Fireblast
Lightning Bolt
Firebolt
Rift Bolt
Burst Lightning
Reckless Charge
Flame Slash
Brute Force
Chain Lightning
Seal of Fire
Incinerate
Fire Ambush
Volcanic Hammer
Searing Blaze
Smash to Smithereens
Lash Out
Pyrite Spellbomb
Arc Lightning
Staggershock
Molten Rain
Act of Treason
Chandra's Outrage
Aftershock
Lightning Blast
Magma Burst
Pyrotechnics
Fireball
Disintegrate
Rolling Thunder
Green:
Mold Shambler
Vastwood Zendikon
Wirewood Guardian
Havenwood Wurm
Kavu Primarch
-----
Vines of Vastwood
Edge of Autumn
Fertile Ground
Horned Helm
Moment's Peace
Colorless:
Multicolor: (7 total per pair, 1 for each shard)
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
Icatian JavelineersSquall DrifterVeteran SwordsmithAmrou SeekersDawnglare InvokerSanctum GargoyleAssault GriffinPlover KnightsSeal of CleansingAngelic RenewalRighteous ChargeWelkin TernOphidianSpiketail DrakelingCloud SpiritRishadan AirshipTalas AirshipSnapping DrakeSerum VisionsBoomerangAlexi's CloakTrain of ThoughtCorpulent CorpseChild of NightShepherd of RotRazortooth RatsCadaver ImpCrypt RipperJagwasp SwarmViscera DraggerSoul ScourgeMindstabCruel EdictWrench MindGoblin BushwhackerGoblin SkycutterRonin HoundmasterSuq'Ata LancerFault RidersRaging MinotaurTalruum MinotaurViashino FangtailEmrakul's HatcherIngot ChewerDead//GoneSeal of FireFalterPuncture BlastBarbed LightningMagma BurstDurkwood BalothSylvan RangerSpike ColonyKavu PrimearchSearch for TomorrowEvolution CharmExploreSnake UmbraPredator's StrikeWhip-Spine DrakeTalon TrooperEthercaste KnightTidehollow StrixBranching BoltColossal MightScuzzback MaraudersDeadshot MinotaurGorger WurmTinder WallKnight of the Skyward EyeSafehold EliteCerodon YearlingWinged CoatlLiving AirshipMortipedeShambling ShellCastigateChanges:
7/11/10:
-Marshaling Cry, +Righteous Charge
-Judge Unworthy, +Deftblade Elite
-Quicksilver Dagger, +Steamcore Weird
-Uktabi Drake, +Snake Umbra
-Silkbind Faerie, +Curse of Chains
-Momentary Blink, +Somnomancer
-Llanowar Dead, +Desecrator Hag
-Halimar Wavewatch, +Illusionary Forces
-Think Twice, +Undo
-Snake Umbra, +Citanul Woodreaders
-Sedraxis Alchemist, +Soul Manipulation
-Vithian Stinger -> Barbed Lightning -> Chandra's Outrage
-Mesmeric Fiend, +Mindstab
-Kabuto Moth, +Devout Witness
-Rampant Growth, +Rogue Elephant
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
I would probably start by counting the borderpost as lands.
Calvin and Hobbes
Cube Tutor
Agreed.
Completely disagree. Kabuto Moth is repeatable creature-saving combat tricks, and the Swordsmith is already aggresively costed without needing other soldiers.
I'll check out your list in depth later. Got some stuff I gotta take care of first. Just saying, awesome that you're making a pauper cube.
Edit: Okay, before I do anything, I think Shadow Guildmage > Sewn-Eye Drake.
Also, Gelectrode is an uncommon. Might I suggest Quicksilver Dagger?
Also, Llanowar Reborn is also uncommon.
And what is Veteran Armorguard?
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Plus these guys:
Pingers in general are overrated because of their success in limited (see the pauper forum thread, where a plain Tim was dogpiled for a second pick, a very incorrect pick due to card misevaluation) but they don't offer the same amount of success in cube. Limited assumes that there are slow battles of attrition which doesn't necessarily happen in commons cube.
I think there are other cards that you've overrated because of their success in limited as well, like Safe Passage (if I'm paying 3 mana for a fog, it'd better be on the flashback of a Moment's Peace) and Boros Fury-Shield. Heavy Ballista should probably be in the list of possible inclusions (since I'm mainly just refining through the brainstorming process.)
I always swore that Gelectrode was uncommon, huh. Quicksilver Dagger was what I was going to consider as well.
Shadow Guildmage isn't being used because its blue ability is so meh, that it's essentially a BR card.
I was considering not using the borderposts as lands, but it's an upgrade overall, they kick out the invasion lands and allow for more targets for cards like Keldon Vandals, Ingot Chewer, Smash to Smithereens and Gorilla Shaman (which should be in.)
I swore that I had Blinding Beam in, it was even on the list that I wrote down, but I didn't transpose it over. Also, I, for some reason thought that Llanowar Reborn was common, Klahni Garden works (either that or Turntimber Grove.)
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
I'm not using Un cards and Master's Edition-common cards (which are common in it, but aren't in other sets), so they're out.
I'm probably gonna cut down on the red 3 drop creatures as there's approximately a billion of them.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
And I think you should consider the solid Benevolent Bodyguard.
Edit: Why is Burrenton Bombadiers in your spell section?
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Not really sold on Benevolent Bodyguard as I think the other protection effects (Cho Manno's Blessing, Shelter) are better.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
I swore that it was just for FoggManatic's cube for some reason. Shall post there.
Still unsure on what to cut for Cenn's Enlistment... thinking Sanctum Gargoyle.
I should probably put more instant/flash cards into blue to make draw-go a better archetype. I think, for example, that cards lik Frantic Search and Oona's Grace would be great for the archetype. I'd really like to put Alexi's Cloak in here, but I'm not sure if there's room. Same with Illusionary Forces and Fathom Seer.
I'm probably gonna do an order some time today to finish the list so that I can have the actual cards and can draft it (as well as being able to make pics.) If I end up getting some non-awful sleeves, I'll put my powered cube in it and give the awful sleeves to this cube.
Burrenton Bombardier is in the spell slot since most of the time, it's cast as a pump spell rather than a 2W 2/2 flier. It's still a good creature at that cost, but the pump ability is its main use.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
Alexi's Cloak... I don't know, it just seems like a jank counterspell. But I could be wrong.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
I think of Cloak somewhat like Cho-Manno's Blessing, providing not only a one-shot effect but something after which... should be worth it. There isn't much mass-removal in commons so the shroud should be useful.
(This is all in theory, granted, as I've never seen the Cloak used in a commons list.)
I also should find room for Flame Jab and definitely Manic Vandal.(For now, I'm taking out the 2RR 3/3 hasty creatures for them.)I should probably fit Chittering Rats in as well. The 3 mana slot is stacked, though. RG is pretty stacked too, and I'd like to fit Horned Kavu in. RG shouldn't have a problem with its gating (especially if it's just bouncing some mana producer or a Wall of Roots) and its 4 toughness is pretty huge in the format. Scab-Clan Mauler may be the cut, as Mauler, for the most part, asks for a creature to be on the field (and hitting an opponent) as well.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
It's weird, our RG sections are so different. The only thing we have in common is Kird Ape and maybe Horned Kavu.
Can't suggest what to cut, though, since obviously you like them all. Personally, I say cut the Scuzzback or the Brute.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Cube list thread
Cubetutor
But that's because all the cheap, efficient direct-damage cards are still commons. And in Pauper Cube, direct damage is the way to neuter an opponent.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
I cubed with some friends and got hooked up with most of the cards that I needed to make this (aside from the expensive stuff like Chain Lightning that I wasn't expecting anyway and was gonna proxy.) Score!
I disagree on the life loss creatures, Zombie Cutthroat is pretty solid a creature whose life loss is irrelevant, I find. (I may move it to colorless creatures, since I remember it being played in not just black decks. Similarly with Gathan Raiders.) Foul Imp possibly may be worth a cut, but both provide what I want for black aggro decks, quick beats.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
Well, if you don't mind the lifeloss from Foul Imp, try out Fledgling Djinn. More potential life loss, but splashable.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
I miscalculated white's cards, which gave me room to put Prismatic Strands and Marshaling Cry into white. I was considering between Strands and Repel the Darkness, but as it turns out, I can just run both.
I made some red changes, I'd like to put the hasty red creatures at 3 (if I had to choose the red 3 drops, I'd choose Lancer since it's better on gang-blocking and killing regenerators) and 4, as well as the "burn spells + burn to the face" like Barbed Lightning, Magma Burst and Chandra's Outrage (the latter of which I don't think is a staple because red's got more efficient damage spells. Still, there's probably room for it and it's definitely better than Magma Burst.) I put in Flame Jab to give red reach, but it could probably come out since it's a relatively inefficient burn spell and red has a TON of 2-for-1s with its burn and 187 artifact destroyers.
Similarly with the blue 2U 3/1 fliers. They're great creatures, but are they what blue wants to do? I also want to put the 3U 3/2 fliers in, but are the other options with flash better? Should the Remove Soul(s) and/or Serum Visions and/or Illusionary Forces (for big blue beats) come in?
I finally completed this, cardwise and ordered sleeves a few minutes ago, so I should be able to have it sleeved for this weekend/next week. My foil signed Jilt finally has a use!
For those who run them, are Gathan Raiders and Zombie Cutthroat used more in their respective colors, or as colorless creatures?
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
Awesome. Prismatic Strands is boss.
I think giving blue the oppurtunity for aggro is important. But you don't need much. Cut the 3/1 flyer that isn't Rishadan Airship (because that card is awesome).
Do not add Remove Soul or Negate. Bad counters are bad. There are much better ones out there.
I think you can safely put Gathan Raiders and Zombie Coutthroat is colorless, although I keep my Gathan Raiders in red because it always plays better in red decks (as there is the chance, however unfortunate, to hardcast it).
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
how often do you cast the raiders with red mana? i was thinking of moving mine to my red section in my rare cube.
I ended up cutting Cadaver Imp for Chittering Rats. Cadaver's body is a relatively insignificant 1/1 body. May not be the right choice, but I think it works.
I should probably make Flame Jab into Chandra's Outrage and something else into Barbed Lightning. Emberwilde Augur looks like the weak link that could become lightning, but I'd like to have a good amount of 2 drops here. Sparksmith seems like it may be worth running as it's decent on its own and there are a ton of goblins in red, but it doesn't go to the face, which is annoying.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)
My printer has been on the fritz lately so I haven't been able to use it much, so sharpies are my BFFs. I ordered some KMC sleeves last night, so hopefully they'll be here by next weekend, when I'll be giving this cube its initial run. I still need to update my powered one. All in due time, there aren't nearly enough hours in the day.
I used to write cube articles on StarCityGames, now for GatheringMagic and podcast about cube (w/Antknee42.)