Hello everybody. I wanted to post my cube here for review.
My cube was built to provide a feel of "classic" Magic. From a player that has been playing since Revised, I wanted to have a cube that reminded me of "old school" Magic.
So, I built this cube to be as good as it can be with limitations on card Age. This Cube goes from Alpha to Onslaught Block. NOTHING from after Onslaught Block (so no cards with the new card faces).
Cube Information
Basic Info
Cube Size: 415 Cards
Breakdown: 54 Each Color, 50 Artifacts, 30 Multicolor, 65 Land
Standard or Theme Cube: Theme - Classic Cards Only
Snow Lands: No
Average # Players: Four
How Often Drafted: 2-3 Times Weekly
Card Selection
Powered?: Yes
Portal?: No
"Un-" Cards: No
Banned Cards for Power-Level: No
Banned Cards for Time Constraints: No
Banned Cards for "Fun" factor: No
Cube Design
Standard or Multiplayer: Standard
Sideboards?: No
Even Color Balance: Yes
Perfect Creature/Non-Creature Balance: No
Gold Balance: Yes
Hybrid/Split/Kicker as Gold: Varies
Color Triggers as Gold: Varies
Perfectly Balanced CMC: No
Cube CMC: 2.873
Here's a complete list of the cards in the cube, broken down by color, and then organized by casting cost.
It's currently a 415 card cube. Most colors have the creature/non-creature selections pretty close to balanced, except for blue (which has more spells and less creatures) and green (which has more creatures and less spells).
Ideas / Constructive Criticism is WELCOME... that's why I'm posting it here. For all of you old-school Magic players, this cube has a really nostalgic feel to it. As I make changes to the cube, the updates will be posted here as well. For everybody that is looking to build a cube that only uses 'older' cards, feel free to use this cube as a base.
Note: As of right now, the cube is 100% "Pimped"... as follows:
Alpha - Alliances (pre Japanese cards) -- Original, PromoFoil or Altered Art versions Mirage - Saga (post Japanese printing) -- Japanese, PromoFoil or Altered Art versions Legacy - Scourge (post Foil printing) -- Foil or Altered Art versions
Basic Lands -- APAC Lands, EURO Lands, Arena Lands and GURU Lands (all the available promo basic lands with the "old card face").
A big thanks goes out to CardKitty, Masamune, LauraLou and Yawg07. I have over 37 (and counting) combined alters in my cube from those four artists... and my cube couldn't be "pimped" without their help. An extra special thanks goes out to CK for making the eight "future" cards. Those alters in particular are spectacular.
Daru Stinger - Seriously. You have 12 humans in white alone that I'm not suggesting you cut...I've found that it can regularly get to a 5/5 in cube, which is awesome. You might want to omit him because you want to be old school, and Daru Stinger triggering off of humans is anything but, but it's something to consider.
Battle Screech - Because you can't play Spectral Procession, this will have to do.
Commander Eesha & Beloved Chaplain - Teh Uberblockers.
Avenger En-Dal - STP on a stick.
Crackdown - One sided Meekstone has been real good for me, especially with tappers.
Here's some of the explanations for the cards that are in that seem weak:
Suntail Hawk - This card has more potential to do 5 damage than any one drop creature with 2 power without flying. In Kamigawa block, players did a study between Isamaru, Hound of Konda and Lantern Kami. They found that in block constructed (and even more so in limited) that Lantern Kami did more damage because of it's evasion. Now, there are 3 cards that are legal for my cube that are 1 drop 1/1's with flying. The Blue one doesn't have any other aggro support, so it doesn't get played, and the green one is weaker than the other 1-drop green creatures. Suntail Hawk on the other hand, has the perfect ammount of aggro support cards to back it up. I will reach 5 dealt damage with Suntail Hawk more often than Savannah Lions (which only becomes better in WR Aggro or WB Aggro b/c of the removal available). In mono-white Aggro, the Suntail hawk is one of the best turn 1 or 2 creatures.
Icatian Javelineers - This card us uber-awesome. It's as close to a white Mogg Fanatic as we'll ever see. Perfect for White Aggro or even White midrange aggro/comtrol.
Longbow Archer - 2/2 First Strike for WW that can block flying creatures... it's not amazing, but I lack Samurai of the Pale Curtain and Hand of Honor and a few other bomb aggro white creatures (Isamaru as mentioned before). In order to keep white-weenie as a viable archetype in the cube, I need to maximize the # of 2-drop 2/2's. This was just another one of those. (Plus, it's ability is used more often then you'd think...)
Aura of Silence - You are 100% right... this card is pretty underwhelming. However, it is a necessary evil because we don't draft SBs and player need to maximize the # of available disenchanting effects (due to cards like Moat and Form of the Dragon, etc...) I also have a really high Artifact count in the cube, so the CC+2 side-ability is actually pretty useful.
Cloudchaser Eagle - This card is pretty solid. I like to have as many CIP abilities as I can in the cube, b/c they function well with cards like Equilibrium, Umbilicus, and Erratic Portal (as well as Recurring Nightmare). This card is an OK creature with a potentially powerful CIP ability. It actually sees quite a bit of play in the classic cube.
Radiant's Dragoons - This card is really powerful. It may not seem like it, but it's one of the best white control cards in the cube. Life gain on a stick (especially 5 life-gain) is really solid. Plus, the card is really splashable, and is good almost all the time. Any control deck can make good use out of the Dragoons, even if it's just to gain the life and block.
Staunch Defenders - see explanation of Radiant's Dragoons. It's less splashable, but its in for the same reasons.
OK...
I like pretty much all the cards that you mentioned. And, I never even considered the Witch Hunter... man that card is pretty sweet. The issue that I have is that I'd be removing aggro cards and utility cards from the cube to put in control cards. White already has tons of control cards, so I'd be worried that I'd be saturating my cube with white control, and hindering one of the most powerful archetypes from functioning properly.
When I read about the concept of your Cube, I didn't think it would be that great, but I have to say it looks really fun.
I do agree with The Grey King about Staunch Defenders and Radiant's Dragoons, but if you like them, you like them.
My suggestions: Jungle Lion should replace Ghazban Ogre. Fire Imp should replace Ghitu Slinger Krosan Tusker and Nantuko Vigilante need to be in here. I'd get rid of Cartographer and something else that is underwhelming.
Flickering Ward seems really weak but I couldn't think of anything to replace it with. Maybe Cessation? Edit: Reverent Mantra might work!
When I read about the concept of your Cube, I didn't think it would be that great, but I have to say it looks really fun.
I do agree with The Grey King about Staunch Defenders and Radiant's Dragoons, but if you like them, you like them.
My suggestions: Jungle Lion should replace Ghazban Ogre. Fire Imp should replace Ghitu Slinger Krosan Tusker and Nantuko Vigilante need to be in here. I'd get rid of Cartographer and something else that is underwhelming.
Flickering Ward seems really weak but I couldn't think of anything to replace it with. Maybe Cessation? Edit: Reverent Mantra might work!
Cheers,
rant
Oh man, trust me. I'd replace cards for Portal Cards in a heartbeat if I was allowing them in the cube (they weren't legal in Magic back in the day, so they ruin my nostalgia).
The Flickering Ward is better than it seems. Really. I hated it for the longest time, but my playgroup insisted that I put it back in. It's pretty solid. If I was going to replace it with another card, it'd probably be Glory. Although the Mantra seems pretty cool, IDK.
I can't chain it though. It's a one and done kind of effect, whereas the Cartographer can be bounced to lather, rinse and repeat. I thought about it, but it was too weak. Plus, the Cartographer can attack.
How different is your cube from regular cubes? It seems anything that we can learn about the cards for regular cubes doesn't hold true for this one.
Like, what do you mean? There are some cards in my cube that are only good because I don't have some of the newer and more powerful spells available, if that's what you're asking.
I need some advice from players that have good memories about older cards and their interractions that I may have overlooked. Like, I completely forgot about Krosan Tusker, and I'd never even heard of Nantuko Vigilante. Also, Battle screech is pretty sweet, and players have to dig to find that card because it's just a Spectral Procession in all other cubes.
It's kinda fun to only use the older cards (especially for players like myself that grew up using them) and the nostalgia of resolving a Preacher, an Erhnam Djinn or an Old Man of the Sea is pretty sweet.
All of your green additions are excellent. I don't personally like Burning Wish as I feel like there just aren't enough sorcery targets, especially in a deck that runs red. Hopefully you will prove me wrong and give me a reason to add it back to my cube? I'm intrigued to see how the two undercosted Skittering creatures are.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my cube: http://cubedrafting.blogspot.com
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
Well, the first three Burning Wish targets have been Time Walk, Mind Twist and Kaervek's Torch... and all were game-breaking. I'll let you know when it misses a good target. ;). The Skittering Horror has been played twice, and has been really good one of those times. It's really splashable and can go in B/X aggro-control really well. Nobody's drafted the Skittering Skirge yet, but I'll keep you posted.
And ya, green is one of the stronger colors in the cube now. It's amazing how much of a change a few cards can make to a color's power-level. Thanks for the input.
I still feel that green is a little weak in my cube. It needs better early drops and/or ways to gain incremental advantage. I'm still struggling with how to do this. I'm planning on picking up a Noble Hierarch, and possibly adding a Fyndhorn Elves. I'm hoping that is a step in the right direction.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my cube: http://cubedrafting.blogspot.com
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
I still feel that green is a little weak in my cube. It needs better early drops and/or ways to gain incremental advantage. I'm still struggling with how to do this. I'm planning on picking up a Noble Hierarch, and possibly adding a Fyndhorn Elves. I'm hoping that is a step in the right direction.
That's my exact issue. I don't like the fact that green is just a support color. This used to be the case for black in my cube, but now black is awesome. The mid-range power cards are definitely awesome, but I feel like it doesn't quite have enough push to beat through the all out control decks.
I did cut Pouncing Jaguar, Wild Dogs, and Jungle Lion because they weren't seeing much play. I think the issue is that green isn't quite sure what its strengths should be in my cube.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my cube: http://cubedrafting.blogspot.com
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
That's my exact issue. I don't like the fact that green is just a support color. This used to be the case for black in my cube, but now black is awesome. The mid-range power cards are definitely awesome, but I feel like it doesn't quite have enough push to beat through the all out control decks.
I did cut Pouncing Jaguar, Wild Dogs, and Jungle Lion because they weren't seeing much play. I think the issue is that green isn't quite sure what its strengths should be in my cube.
If you're having a ton of problems with control, early creatures with Shroud may help your green selection. Also, cards like Stonewood Invocation are pretty sweet and protect your creatures from control removal. Nimble Mongoose and Blurred Mongoose are both decent green creatures with shroud. It helps you keep early pressure because they're harder to remove. Flash creatures like the Simian Grunts have proved useful too... not only because they can be played like green removal to kill creatures that are 3/3s or smaller, but also because they can be played at the end of the opponent's turn, making their sorcery speed removal useless until after they've taken damage from the flash creatures. Scryb Ranger and Caller of the Claw are good too man (I wish I could use the Ranger in my cube). Cards like Phantom Centaur are good too because they have evasion (protection) and resilience. Kodama of the North Tree is a freakin' monstrosity. Have you considered Briarhorn? It's decent too. Then there's Cloudthresher and Chameleon Colossus too, each with Flash or Protection. Eh, I'm liking green... the creatures are tough to handle.
The Tempest Drake is coming out for Cloud Cover. I've had the Cloud Cover for a while, thought that it might be underwhelming, but it seems that I've undervalued its effect. The Cover seems like a solid card for W/U aggro-control to protect your early drops from targeted removal, or a good way to protect your permanents when playing W/U control.
The Drake was pretty underwhelming, and the vigilance seems like a more useless ability on a 2/2 creature than first strike (comparing the Drake to Sky Spirit, which has been pretty solid).
Another Change... after watching Evan's Cube Drafting video, I realized that the Most NPE card in the cube and one of the most "un-fun" archetypes to play against have had a solid answer all along.
Dodecapod is a solid answer to any opponent's discard effects that allow you to choose, and is one of the few ways to nerf the devastation of a Mind Twist. Mind Twist has been the biggest source of "broken card" complaints in my cube, and adding solid answers is always better than removing good cards (at least in my book). So, I'll let you guys know how the Dodecapod plays, but I have a feeling it'll be good enough to make the cut in most decks that don't have the Mind Twist included in their 40 cards.
I considered Guerrilla Tactics too, but it didn't seem as good of an answer to Mind Twist, or as splashable as Dodecapod. Plus, there aren't any red cards that are as weak and easy to remove as Thran War Machine was from the artifact selection (the Machine has been OK, but not great).
My cube was built to provide a feel of "classic" Magic. From a player that has been playing since Revised, I wanted to have a cube that reminded me of "old school" Magic.
So, I built this cube to be as good as it can be with limitations on card Age. This Cube goes from Alpha to Onslaught Block. NOTHING from after Onslaught Block (so no cards with the new card faces).
Cube Information
Basic Info
Cube Size: 415 Cards
Breakdown: 54 Each Color, 50 Artifacts, 30 Multicolor, 65 Land
Standard or Theme Cube: Theme - Classic Cards Only
Snow Lands: No
Average # Players: Four
How Often Drafted: 2-3 Times Weekly
Card Selection
Powered?: Yes
Portal?: No
"Un-" Cards: No
Banned Cards for Power-Level: No
Banned Cards for Time Constraints: No
Banned Cards for "Fun" factor: No
Cube Design
Standard or Multiplayer: Standard
Sideboards?: No
Even Color Balance: Yes
Perfect Creature/Non-Creature Balance: No
Gold Balance: Yes
Hybrid/Split/Kicker as Gold: Varies
Color Triggers as Gold: Varies
Perfectly Balanced CMC: No
Cube CMC: 2.873
Here's a complete list of the cards in the cube, broken down by color, and then organized by casting cost.
It's currently a 415 card cube. Most colors have the creature/non-creature selections pretty close to balanced, except for blue (which has more spells and less creatures) and green (which has more creatures and less spells).
Ideas / Constructive Criticism is WELCOME... that's why I'm posting it here. For all of you old-school Magic players, this cube has a really nostalgic feel to it. As I make changes to the cube, the updates will be posted here as well. For everybody that is looking to build a cube that only uses 'older' cards, feel free to use this cube as a base.
Enjoy!
Classic Cube (415)
White
1 Mother of Runes
1 Savannah Lions
1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Land Tax
1 Orim's Chant
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Longbow Archer
1 Silver Knight
1 Soltari Monk
1 Soltari Priest
1 Soltari Trooper
1 Spectral Lynx
1 Whipcorder
1 White Knight
1 Balance
1 Disenchant
1 Pacifism
1 Seal of Cleansing
1 Mobilization
1 Mystic Crusader
1 Paladin en-Vec
1 Pianna, Nomad Captain
1 Soltari Champion
1 Arrest
1 Exile
1 Glorious Anthem
1 Story Circle
1 Wing Shards
1 Academy Rector
1 False Prophet
1 Radiant's Dragoons
1 Armageddon
1 Cataclysm
1 Humility
1 Moat
1 Parallax Wave
1 Worship
1 Wrath of God
1 Karmic Guide
1 Mageta the Lion
1 Reveillark
1 Serra Angel
1 Miraculous Recovery
1 Rout
1 Akroma's Vengeance
1 Catastrophe
1 Eternal Dragon
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
1 Decree of Justice
1 Sacred Mesa
Blue
1 Misdirection
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Force Spike
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Gilded Drake
1 Merfolk Looter
1 Waterfront Bouncer
1 Arcane Denial
1 Boomerang
1 Counterspell
1 Impulse
1 Mana Drain
1 Mana Leak
1 Memory Lapse
1 Miscalculation
1 Snap
1 Time Walk
1 Ophidian
1 Serendib Efreet
1 Willbender
1 Capsize
1 Complicate
1 Dissipate
1 Forbid
1 Frantic Search
1 Psionic Blast
1 Repulse
1 Show and Tell
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
1 Rainbow Efreet
1 Serendib Djinn
1 Thieving Magpie
1 Tradewind Rider
1 Control Magic
1 Deep Analysis
1 Dismiss
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Opposition
1 Morphling
1 Bribery
1 Desertion
1 Future Sight
1 Time Warp
1 Treachery
1 Time Spiral
1 Upheaval
1 Palinchron
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Stroke of Genius
Black
1 Snuff Out
1 Carnophage
1 Sarcomancy
1 Dark Ritual
1 Duress
1 Entomb
1 Innocent Blood
1 Reanimate
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Black Knight
1 Dauthi Horror
1 Nantuko Shade
1 Skittering Skirge
1 Wretched Anurid
1 Animate Dead
1 Bitterblossom
1 Chainer's Edict
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Exhume
1 Hymn to Tourach
1 Sinkhole
1 Terror
1 Bone Shredder
1 Hypnotic Specter
1 Skittering Horror
1 Undead Gladiator
1 Ashes to Ashes
1 Corpse Dance
1 Dark Banishing
1 Necromancy
1 Necropotence
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Recurring Nightmare
1 Stupor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Braids, Cabal Minion
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Juzam Djinn
1 Nekrataal
1 Phyrexian Scuta
1 Persecute
1 The Abyss
1 Thrashing Wumpus
1 Decree of Pain
1 Hatred
1 Living Death
1 Visara the Dreadful
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
1 Spirit of the Night
1 Mind Twist
Red
1 Goblin Patrol
1 Goblin Welder
1 Gorilla Shaman
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Jackal Pup
1 Kird Ape
1 Mogg Fanatic
1 Chain Lightning
1 Firebolt
1 Firestorm
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Seal of Fire
1 Shock
1 Dwarven Blastminer
1 Dwarven Miner
1 Fireslinger
1 Incinerate
1 Volcanic Hammer
1 Ball Lightning
1 Blistering Firecat
1 Ghitu Slinger
1 Goblin Sharpshooter
1 Keldon Vandals
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Arc Lightning
1 Carbonize
1 Hammer of Bogardan
1 Pillage
1 Stone Rain
1 Sulfuric Vortex
1 Urza's Rage
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Words of War
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Ravenous Baboons
1 Skizzik
1 Aftershock
1 Ancient Hydra
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Crater Hellion
1 Rorix Bladewing
1 Wildfire
1 Form of the Dragon
1 Disintegrate
1 Earthquake
1 Fireball
1 Ghitu Fire
1 Kaervek's Torch
1 Starstorm
1 Tectonic Break
Green
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Fyndhorn Elves
1 Ghazban Ogre
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Pouncing Jaguar
1 Quirion Ranger
1 Rogue Elephant
1 Skyshroud Elite
1 Wild Dogs
1 Berserk
1 Giant Growth
1 Rancor
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Albino Troll
1 Quirion Dryad
1 River Boa
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
1 Wall of Blossoms
1 Wall of Roots
1 Werebear
1 Wild Mongrel
1 Life from the Loam
1 Naturalize
1 Rampant Growth
1 Regrowth
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Sylvan Library
1 Call of the Herd
1 Caller of the Claw
1 Krosan Tusker
1 Nantuko Vigilante
1 Thornscape Battlemage
1 Uktabi Orangutan
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Elephant Guide
1 Harrow
1 Blastoderm
1 Erhnam Djinn
1 Ifh-Biff Efreet
1 Phantom Centaur
1 Ravenous Baloth
1 Spike Weaver
1 Might of Oaks
1 Deranged Hermit
1 Genesis
1 Overrun
1 Plow Under
1 Silvos, Rogue Elemental
1 Penumbra Wurm
1 Verdant Force
1 Hurricane
Artifact
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Diamond
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Zuran Orb
1 Black Vise
1 Cursed Scroll
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring
1 The Rack
1 Ankh of Mishra
1 Charcoal Diamond
1 Fellwar Stone
1 Fire Diamond
1 Grim Monolith
1 Marble Diamond
1 Mind Stone
1 Moss Diamond
1 Powder Keg
1 Scroll Rack
1 Sky Diamond
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Winter Orb
1 Cathodion
1 Chimeric Idol
1 Metalworker
1 Forcefield
1 Ring of Gix
1 Tangle Wire
1 Worn Powerstone
1 Juggernaut
1 Masticore
1 Phyrexian Processor
1 Su-Chi
1 Erratic Portal
1 Grafted Skullcap
1 Icy Manipulator
1 Jester's Cap
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Smokestack
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Memory Jar
1 Triskelion
Gold
1 Dismantling Blow
1 Teferi's Moat
1 Psychatog
1 Shadowmage Infiltrator
1 Undermine
1 Terminate
1 Blazing Specter
1 Void
1 Fires of Yavimaya
1 Stormbind
1 Shivan Wurm
1 Mystic Enforcer
1 Mirari's Wake
1 Gerrard's Verdict
1 Vindicate
1 Desolation Angel
1 Figure of Destiny
1 Goblin Legionnaire
1 Goblin Trenches
1 Fire // Ice
1 Suffocating Blast
1 Prophetic Bolt
1 Jungle Barrier
1 Mystic Snake
1 Elves of Deep Shadow
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Spiritmonger
Land
1 City of Traitors
1 Dust Bowl
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Maze of Ith
1 Mishra's Factory
1 Mutavault
1 Rishadan Port
1 Strip Mine
1 Thawing Glaciers
1 Wasteland
1 City of Brass
1 Gemstone Mine
1 Grand Coliseum
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Undiscovered Paradise
1 Barbarian Ring
1 Faerie Conclave
1 Gaea's Cradle
1 Ghitu Encampment
1 Kjeldoran Outpost
1 Kor Haven
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Treetop Village
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Bayou
1 Plateau
1 Savannah
1 Scrubland
1 Taiga
1 Tropical Island
1 Tundra
1 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Bad River
1 Flood Plain
1 Grasslands
1 Mountain Valley
1 Rocky Tar Pit
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Brushland
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Karplusan Forest
1 Llanowar Wastes
1 Shivan Reef
1 Sulfurous Springs
1 Underground River
1 Yavimaya Coast
1 Mossfire Valley
1 Shadowblood Ridge
1 Skycloud Expanse
1 Sungrass Prairie
1 Caldera Lake
1 Pine Barrens
1 Salt Flats
1 Scabland
1 Skyshroud Forest
PIMP FACTOR
Note: As of right now, the cube is 100% "Pimped"... as follows:
Alpha - Alliances (pre Japanese cards) -- Original, Promo Foil or Altered Art versions
Mirage - Saga (post Japanese printing) -- Japanese, Promo Foil or Altered Art versions
Legacy - Scourge (post Foil printing) -- Foil or Altered Art versions
Basic Lands -- APAC Lands, EURO Lands, Arena Lands and GURU Lands (all the available promo basic lands with the "old card face").
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
White
Blue
Black
Red
Green
Artifact
Gold
Land
Alters & Storage
A big thanks goes out to CardKitty, Masamune, LauraLou and Yawg07. I have over 37 (and counting) combined alters in my cube from those four artists... and my cube couldn't be "pimped" without their help. An extra special thanks goes out to CK for making the eight "future" cards. Those alters in particular are spectacular.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
make sure it looks like this ' vs ’
akroma's blessing vs this akroma’s blessing
EDIT: grr... autocard
Opm's Cube on MTGS
Wife's Etsy Store (Hair Accessories for Girls)
Cards that seem weak too me:
Suntail Hawk
Ication Javilineers
Longbow Archer
Aura of Silence
Cloudchaser Eagle
Radiant's Dragoons
Staunch Defenders
Cards I'd swap in:
Witch Hunter - Unsummon every turn seems decent.
Daru Stinger - Seriously. You have 12 humans in white alone that I'm not suggesting you cut...I've found that it can regularly get to a 5/5 in cube, which is awesome. You might want to omit him because you want to be old school, and Daru Stinger triggering off of humans is anything but, but it's something to consider.
Battle Screech - Because you can't play Spectral Procession, this will have to do.
Commander Eesha & Beloved Chaplain - Teh Uberblockers.
Avenger En-Dal - STP on a stick.
Crackdown - One sided Meekstone has been real good for me, especially with tappers.
Wishmonger - Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Kor Chant - White removal, can often 2 for 1.
It's late, and I'm having trouble thinking. Meh.
Currently 62/265 cards.
Here's some of the explanations for the cards that are in that seem weak:
Suntail Hawk - This card has more potential to do 5 damage than any one drop creature with 2 power without flying. In Kamigawa block, players did a study between Isamaru, Hound of Konda and Lantern Kami. They found that in block constructed (and even more so in limited) that Lantern Kami did more damage because of it's evasion. Now, there are 3 cards that are legal for my cube that are 1 drop 1/1's with flying. The Blue one doesn't have any other aggro support, so it doesn't get played, and the green one is weaker than the other 1-drop green creatures. Suntail Hawk on the other hand, has the perfect ammount of aggro support cards to back it up. I will reach 5 dealt damage with Suntail Hawk more often than Savannah Lions (which only becomes better in WR Aggro or WB Aggro b/c of the removal available). In mono-white Aggro, the Suntail hawk is one of the best turn 1 or 2 creatures.
Icatian Javelineers - This card us uber-awesome. It's as close to a white Mogg Fanatic as we'll ever see. Perfect for White Aggro or even White midrange aggro/comtrol.
Longbow Archer - 2/2 First Strike for WW that can block flying creatures... it's not amazing, but I lack Samurai of the Pale Curtain and Hand of Honor and a few other bomb aggro white creatures (Isamaru as mentioned before). In order to keep white-weenie as a viable archetype in the cube, I need to maximize the # of 2-drop 2/2's. This was just another one of those. (Plus, it's ability is used more often then you'd think...)
Aura of Silence - You are 100% right... this card is pretty underwhelming. However, it is a necessary evil because we don't draft SBs and player need to maximize the # of available disenchanting effects (due to cards like Moat and Form of the Dragon, etc...) I also have a really high Artifact count in the cube, so the CC+2 side-ability is actually pretty useful.
Cloudchaser Eagle - This card is pretty solid. I like to have as many CIP abilities as I can in the cube, b/c they function well with cards like Equilibrium, Umbilicus, and Erratic Portal (as well as Recurring Nightmare). This card is an OK creature with a potentially powerful CIP ability. It actually sees quite a bit of play in the classic cube.
Radiant's Dragoons - This card is really powerful. It may not seem like it, but it's one of the best white control cards in the cube. Life gain on a stick (especially 5 life-gain) is really solid. Plus, the card is really splashable, and is good almost all the time. Any control deck can make good use out of the Dragoons, even if it's just to gain the life and block.
Staunch Defenders - see explanation of Radiant's Dragoons. It's less splashable, but its in for the same reasons.
OK...
I like pretty much all the cards that you mentioned. And, I never even considered the Witch Hunter... man that card is pretty sweet. The issue that I have is that I'd be removing aggro cards and utility cards from the cube to put in control cards. White already has tons of control cards, so I'd be worried that I'd be saturating my cube with white control, and hindering one of the most powerful archetypes from functioning properly.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I do agree with The Grey King about Staunch Defenders and Radiant's Dragoons, but if you like them, you like them.
My suggestions:
Jungle Lion should replace Ghazban Ogre.
Fire Imp should replace Ghitu Slinger
Krosan Tusker and Nantuko Vigilante need to be in here. I'd get rid of Cartographer and something else that is underwhelming.
Flickering Ward seems really weak but I couldn't think of anything to replace it with. Maybe Cessation? Edit: Reverent Mantra might work!
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
Oh man, trust me. I'd replace cards for Portal Cards in a heartbeat if I was allowing them in the cube (they weren't legal in Magic back in the day, so they ruin my nostalgia).
I really want to add Nantuko Vigilante. What else besides the Cartographer in green could go?
The Flickering Ward is better than it seems. Really. I hated it for the longest time, but my playgroup insisted that I put it back in. It's pretty solid. If I was going to replace it with another card, it'd probably be Glory. Although the Mantra seems pretty cool, IDK.
Here's the argument for the Cartographer. It's the ONLY card in the classic format that retrieves lands... the ONLY one. So, I can use it to grab any of the TEN Fetch Lands, Strip Mine, Wasteland, any dead manland, a land dropped to Dust Bowl, Army Ants, Barbarian Ring, cards pitched by Seismic Assault, Mox Diamond, Rogue Elephant, Lotus Vale, Constant Mists, Tectonic Break or any other card that has a 'discard' drawback. IDK... it looks piss-poor in paper, but it's good in the right deck. Then, it has the combos. It combos well with Umbilicus, Erratic Portal, Equilibrium and Stampeding Wildebeests (when used with Strip Mine, Wasteland, Dust Bowl, Army Ants, etc...). Phew.
I want the Tusker in too... he's the man. What do I pull?
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I can't chain it though. It's a one and done kind of effect, whereas the Cartographer can be bounced to lather, rinse and repeat. I thought about it, but it was too weak. Plus, the Cartographer can attack.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Ya, your cube can use Eternal Witness, so you don't have these problems lol.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Nantuko Vigilante > Cartographer
Krosan Tusker > Some other green card?
Battle Screech ? > Staunch Defenders
Battle Screech... it is good enough to go into the cube? I don't have access to Specreal Procession but this card seems like it could be OK.
Also, thoughts on Ordered Migration? I like it, but other people in the group aren't convinced.
Thanks.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
The list on cube cobra
Read my blog on cube - Latest post June 2nd 2022
Like, what do you mean? There are some cards in my cube that are only good because I don't have some of the newer and more powerful spells available, if that's what you're asking.
I need some advice from players that have good memories about older cards and their interractions that I may have overlooked. Like, I completely forgot about Krosan Tusker, and I'd never even heard of Nantuko Vigilante. Also, Battle screech is pretty sweet, and players have to dig to find that card because it's just a Spectral Procession in all other cubes.
It's kinda fun to only use the older cards (especially for players like myself that grew up using them) and the nostalgia of resolving a Preacher, an Erhnam Djinn or an Old Man of the Sea is pretty sweet.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Here they are:
Out < In
Staunch Defenders < Battle Screech
Show and Tell < Cunning Wish
Mist Dragon < Voidmage Prodigy
Black Knight < Skittering Skirge
Priest of Gix < Skittering Horror
Zombify < Persecute
Blood Lust < Goblin Bombardment
Keldon Vandals < Arc Lightning
Fledgling Dragon < Burning Wish
Mtenda Lion < Living Wish
Moment's Peace < Worldly Tutor
Channel < Simian Grunts
Cartographer < Krosan Tusker
Defense of the Heart < Nantuko Vigilante
Beast Attack < Plow Under
Out < In
So far, all of the changes have been good.
Initial thoughts? Mistakes?
~Cheers
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
And ya, green is one of the stronger colors in the cube now. It's amazing how much of a change a few cards can make to a color's power-level. Thanks for the input.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
Sounds like it will be.
Green for me used to be just a utility color (because green's most powerful spells are utility cards... like Regrowth, Krosan Tusker, Wall of Blossoms, harrow, Sylvan Library, etc). Plus, it's always had ramp + huge fattys (like Llanowar Elves, Birds of Paradise, Fastbond into cards like Silvos, Rogue Elemental and Child of Gaea).
I have found that green also has a great mid-range powerband in cards like Blastoderm, Phantom Centaur, Simian Grunts and Nantuko Vigilante. Not to mention that it's a powerful aggro color (Wild Dogs, Pouncing Jaguar, Rancor, Giant Growth, and Berserk).
I don't know... I'm liking green more and more the more I cube.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Seismic Assault is out (perhaps temporarily) for Sulfuric Vortex. The vortex is just better in most situations.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I did cut Pouncing Jaguar, Wild Dogs, and Jungle Lion because they weren't seeing much play. I think the issue is that green isn't quite sure what its strengths should be in my cube.
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
If you're having a ton of problems with control, early creatures with Shroud may help your green selection. Also, cards like Stonewood Invocation are pretty sweet and protect your creatures from control removal. Nimble Mongoose and Blurred Mongoose are both decent green creatures with shroud. It helps you keep early pressure because they're harder to remove. Flash creatures like the Simian Grunts have proved useful too... not only because they can be played like green removal to kill creatures that are 3/3s or smaller, but also because they can be played at the end of the opponent's turn, making their sorcery speed removal useless until after they've taken damage from the flash creatures. Scryb Ranger and Caller of the Claw are good too man (I wish I could use the Ranger in my cube). Cards like Phantom Centaur are good too because they have evasion (protection) and resilience. Kodama of the North Tree is a freakin' monstrosity. Have you considered Briarhorn? It's decent too. Then there's Cloudthresher and Chameleon Colossus too, each with Flash or Protection. Eh, I'm liking green... the creatures are tough to handle.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I also include discussions about cards we took out, cards we banned, and cards we might add.
The Tempest Drake is coming out for Cloud Cover. I've had the Cloud Cover for a while, thought that it might be underwhelming, but it seems that I've undervalued its effect. The Cover seems like a solid card for W/U aggro-control to protect your early drops from targeted removal, or a good way to protect your permanents when playing W/U control.
The Drake was pretty underwhelming, and the vigilance seems like a more useless ability on a 2/2 creature than first strike (comparing the Drake to Sky Spirit, which has been pretty solid).
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I am going to remove Thran War Machine for Dodecapod.
Dodecapod is a solid answer to any opponent's discard effects that allow you to choose, and is one of the few ways to nerf the devastation of a Mind Twist. Mind Twist has been the biggest source of "broken card" complaints in my cube, and adding solid answers is always better than removing good cards (at least in my book). So, I'll let you guys know how the Dodecapod plays, but I have a feeling it'll be good enough to make the cut in most decks that don't have the Mind Twist included in their 40 cards.
I considered Guerrilla Tactics too, but it didn't seem as good of an answer to Mind Twist, or as splashable as Dodecapod. Plus, there aren't any red cards that are as weak and easy to remove as Thran War Machine was from the artifact selection (the Machine has been OK, but not great).
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My secondary "cube".
Really out of date cube thread with pictures.
Ya, I can keep him in mind if the Dodecapod is sooooooo good that I want to play with a sub par 2nd Dodecapod.
Has anybody tried the Tactics?
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!