I built my cube a while ago, but just now getting it to the point where I really feel it's setting into place. I have tried 360 up to 540... 360 felt like I had to make too many good cuts, 540 was too watered down. 400 feels pretty good. From 360 to 400 was mostly multicolored additions (going from 20 total to 40 total), but added 1 of each color and more artifacts as well. Finally, 405 to keep an even pack as well as make a bit more room for further artifact growth.
My ultimate goal is to pimp this thing out with foils and promos. My first mission is to put as many FNM and various foil promo cards in, as many of them are cheap. Next up will be to rid of all the proxies, which can be expensive. Finally, finish off with removing gold bordered and non-pimped cards. I will avoid full-art cards, as they will be reserved for basic lands only.
Banning goes as necessary, but I also wanted to attempt to make each card unique, as well as force colors to stay within their abilities. There are several that are "on the edge" in my cube, but allowed in for now.
Cube Size: 405
405 Breakdown: 270 mono color (54 each), 50 colorless, 50 multicolor, 35 land
Jace, Memory Adept: Too difficult to deal with his heavy milling. Similar to Sword of Body and Mind, but the Sword has several characteristics that make it more balanced, such as a need for a creature and must be able to hit the opponent.
Sol Ring: 2 mana ahead on turn 1 is too devastating. Rarely did a player lose when dropping this within the first 3 turns.
Copy-Cat
I discourage cards that are near identical with different names. I want to try for a "1-of"... I'd put 2's or more if I wanted more than one copies of anything.
Savanah Lions: Elite Vanguard
Kodama's Reach: Cultivate
Terramorphic Expanse: Evolving Wilds
Fyndhorn Elves: Llanowar Elves
Ravages of War: Armageddon
Burning of Xinye: Wilfire
Arc Lightning: Flames of the Firebrand
Uktabi Orangutan: Viridian Shaman
Disloyalty
Cards that are "out of place" for it's colors.
10-18-12 Vraska the Silent > Deathrite Shaman Lotus Petal > Relic of Progenitus
Vraska was a bit underwhelming. Going to try out Deathrite Shaman as I recall it doing well at prerelease and I have heard complaints about lack of graveyard hate in my cube, so he should do well here. Lotus Petal was pretty weak, so further hate and draw come the relic should work out alright.
2-26-13
Been a while... lets see if I can remember all the changes!
Absorb > Supreme Verdict
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV > Detention Sphere
Ulvenwald Tracker > Experiment One
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas > Duskmantle Seer
Storm Bind > Ghor-Clan Rampager
Slayers' Stronghold > Boros Charm
Duergar Hedge-Mage > Boros Reckoner
A few that were hard to decide, some experimental, etc. But all together, I think it's a good overall changeover.
Just a minor nitpick: Why ban the original card if you can ban the 'copy'? (Savanah Lions, sex monkey, Arc Lightning)
Personally, I love the older cards. I'd rather go all Beta versions of anything applicable! It seems, though, that most people I play with, who are generally newer to the game, prefer newer and/or more recent and familiar cards. I would rather please the masses... I'll still rock the cards, all the same.
So it basically comes down to: Do I keep older versions of like cards or toss in the newer ones? With the 3 you mentioned above, it seems like more people are familiar with Elite Vanguard than Savannah Lions, making a draft selection faster when the card name's are familiar. I, personally, love finding older cards I haven't heard of (EDH was great for that).
Should something come in to the cube that would work better with the "other" card (such as something that makes Cats stronger over Humans for Savannah Lions vs Elite Vanguard), it will be traded out immediately. As it sits, Humans and Elves make more sense, to me, than Cats and Apes.
So there is a few reasons. It matters little to me (unless there is a foil promo in a modern frame of one over the other), but it seems I definitely wanted to keep newer-ish players in mind in the card selection when the choice was presented.
~
With that topic brought up, I keep debating in my head... Wrath of God & Day of Judgment... They are definitely too similar... just haven't decided which one to replace with what. (Likely, replace Wrath for the same reason Wizards did with DoJ: Let regeneration have a purpose.)
Hit a milestone! Less than 1/4th paper proxied, 1/5th is now foil (with 1/10th being promo!), and a total of over 1/3rd of the cube being real, tournament useable cards. I have also gone to the double-sleeving method using UltraPro Pro-Fits. Finally, I'm building a new, more portable wooden box for this cube. Current one is not very portable, heavy, awkward, etc.
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I built my cube a while ago, but just now getting it to the point where I really feel it's setting into place. I have tried 360 up to 540... 360 felt like I had to make too many good cuts, 540 was too watered down. 400 feels pretty good. From 360 to 400 was mostly multicolored additions (going from 20 total to 40 total), but added 1 of each color and more artifacts as well. Finally, 405 to keep an even pack as well as make a bit more room for further artifact growth.
My ultimate goal is to pimp this thing out with foils and promos. My first mission is to put as many FNM and various foil promo cards in, as many of them are cheap. Next up will be to rid of all the proxies, which can be expensive. Finally, finish off with removing gold bordered and non-pimped cards. I will avoid full-art cards, as they will be reserved for basic lands only.
Banning goes as necessary, but I also wanted to attempt to make each card unique, as well as force colors to stay within their abilities. There are several that are "on the edge" in my cube, but allowed in for now.
1 Sol Ring
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Fyndhorn Elves
1 Ravages of War
1 Burning of Xinye
1 Arc Lightning
1 Uktabi Orangutan
1 Psionic Blast
1 Harmonize
WWWWW
1 Steppe Lynx
1 Elite Vanguard
1 Student of Warfare
1 Mother of Runes
1 Isamaru, Hound of Konda
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Wall of Omens
1 Kor Skyfisher
1 Accorder Paladin
1 Lone Missionary
1 Cloistered Youth
1 Stormfront Pegasus
1 Leonin Relic-Warder
1 Knight of Meadowgrain
1 Soltari Priest
1 Soltari Monk
1 Blade Splicer
1 Mirror Entity
1 Soltari Champion
1 Kor Sanctifiers
1 Fiend Hunter
1 Silverblade Paladin
1 Mirran Crusader
1 Flickerwisp
1 Restoration Angel
1 Hero of Bladehold
1 Calciderm
1 Cloudgoat Ranger
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Exalted Angel
1 Sun Titan
1 Eternal Dragon
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Land Tax
1 Journey to Nowhere
1 Balance
1 Disenchant
1 Glorious Anthem
1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
1 Spectral Procession
1 Day of Judgment
1 Faith's Fetters
1 Wrath of God
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Armageddon
1 Ajani Goldmane
1 Catastrophe
UUUUU
1 Looter il-Kor
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Willbender
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Man-o'-War
1 Serendib Efreet
1 Fettergeist
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Dungeon Geists
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
1 Mulldrifter
1 Meloku the Clouded Mirror
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Keiga, the Tide Star
1 Academy Ruins
1 Preordain
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Force Spike
1 Into the Roil
1 Miscalculation
1 Remand
1 Daze
1 Mana Leak
1 Counterspell
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Tinker
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Compulsive Research
1 Jace Beleren
1 Capsize
1 Forbid
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Deep Analysis
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Control Magic
1 Cryptic Command
1 Treachery
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
1 Bribery
1 Upheaval
1 Time Spiral
1 Condescend
1 Repeal
BBBBB
1 Diregraf Ghoul
1 Carnophage
1 Gravecrawler
1 Oona's Prowler
1 Pack Rat
1 Dark Confidant
1 Nezumi Graverobber
1 Dauthi Horror
1 Bloodghast
1 Vampire Hexmage
1 Hypnotic Specter
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Liliana's Specter
1 Skinrender
1 Nekrataal
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Braids, Cabal Minion
1 Bloodgift Demon
1 Grave Titan
1 Kokusho, The Evening Star
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Tombstalker
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Thoughtseize
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Duress
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Reanimate
1 Sarcomancy
1 Dark Ritual
1 Animate Dead
1 Go for the Throat
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Doom Blade
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Chainer's Edict
1 Bitterblossom
1 Hymn to Tourach
1 Recurring Nightmare
1 Necromancy
1 Dismember
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Snuff Out
1 Consuming Vapors
1 Damnation
1 Barter in Blood
1 Mind Twist
1 Profane Command
1 Black Sun's Zenith
RRRRR
1 Stromkirk Noble
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Goblin Guide
1 Spikeshot Elder
1 Jackal Pup
1 Mogg Fanatic
1 Hellspark Elemental
1 Stormblood Berserker
1 Plated Geopede
1 Keldon Marauders
1 Lightning Mauler
1 Torch Fiend
1 Kargan Dragonlord
1 Ash Zealot
1 Ember Hauler
1 Goblin Ruinblaster
1 Manic Vandal
1 Chandra's Phoenix
1 Hell's Thunder
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Avalanche Riders
1 Hero of Oxid Ridge
1 Hellrider
1 Thundermaw Hellkite
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Inferno Titan
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Chain Lightning
1 Firebolt
1 Burst Lightning
1 Reckless Charge
1 Faithless Looting
1 Incinerate
1 Arc Trail
1 Magma Jet
1 Searing Spear
1 Pyroclasm
1 Searing Blaze
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Flames of the Firebrand
1 Staggershock
1 Pillage
1 Sulfuric Vortex
1 Chandra, the Firebrand
1 Koth of the Hammer
1 Chandra Nalaar
1 Wildfire
1 Devil's Play
1 Earthquake
GGGGG
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Joraga Treespeaker
1 Noble Hierarch
1 Experiment One
1 Wild Nacatl
1 Tarmogoyf
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Fauna Shaman
1 River Boa
1 Wall of Blossoms
1 Wall of Roots
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Skinshifter
1 Wild Mongrel
1 Lotus Cobra
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
1 Strangleroot Geist
1 Somberwald Sage
1 Wolfir Avenger
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Troll Ascetic
1 Eternal Witness
1 Wickerbough Elder
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Phantom Centaur
1 Vengevine
1 Blastoderm
1 Deadbridge Goliath
1 Genesis
1 Thragtusk
1 Deranged Hermit
1 Acidic Slime
1 Vorapede
1 Krosan Tusker
1 Woodfall Primus
1 Treetop Village
1 Rancor
1 Regrowth
1 Sylvan Library
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Life from the Loam
1 Call of the Herd
1 Beast Within
1 Garruk Relentless
1 Birthing Pod
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Bramblecrush
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Green Sun's Zenith
WUBRG
1 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Wall of Denial
1 Detention Sphere
1 Venser, the Sojourner
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Baleful Strix
1 Psychatog
1 Shadowmage Infiltrator
1 Duskmantle Seer
1 Rakdos Cackler
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Terminate
1 Blightning
1 Bituminous Blast
1 Kird Ape
1 Ghor-Clan Rampager
1 Bloodbraid Elf
1 Sarkhan Vol
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Dryad Militant
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Lingering Souls
1 Stillmoon Cavalier
1 Gerrard's Verdict
1 Vindicate
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Fire // Ice
1 Izzet Charm
1 Electrolyze
1 Prophetic Bolt
1 Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
1 Deathrite Shaman
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Lotleth Troll
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Figure of Destiny
1 Boros Reckoner
1 Lightning Helix
1 Ajani Vengeant
1 Spitting Image
1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest
1 Trygon Predator
1 Mystic Snake
1 Simic Sky Swallower
XXXXX
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Molten-Tail Masticore
1 Masticore
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Mox Diamond
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Chrome Mox
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Pithing Needle
1 Cursed Scroll
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Scroll Rack
1 Winter Orb
1 Isochron Scepter
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Mind Stone
1 Grim Monolith
1 Azorius Signet
1 Dimir Signet
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Gruul Signet
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Izzet Signet
1 Golgari Signet
1 Boros Signet
1 Simic Signet
1 Mimic Vat
1 Coalition Relic
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Icy Manipulator
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Erratic Portal
1 Karn Liberated
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Bonesplitter
1 Skullclamp
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Sword of War and Peace
1 Sword of Body and Mind
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Grafted Wargear
1 Plateau
1 Scrubland
1 Savannah
1 Taiga
1 Badlands
1 Underground Sea
1 Tropical Island
1 Bayou
1 Tundra
1 Volcanic Island
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Temple Garden
1 Stomping Ground
1 Breeding Pool
1 Steam Vents
1 Godless Shrine
1 Blood Crypt
1 Watery Grave
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Arid Mesa
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Marsh Flats
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Flooded Strand
1 Evolving Wilds
1 City of Brass
1 Wasteland
1 Mutavault
8-17-12
Vexing Devil > Thundermaw Hellkite
Just felt this was a worthy swap.
8-27-12
Calcite Snapper, Vampire Lacerator, Wolfbitten Captive, Smokestack, Sundering Titan, Ankh of Mishra, Guardian Idol, and Ring of Gix > 10x Signets, Nantuko Shade, Somberwald Sage, Impulse
Bonfire of the Damned > Keldon Vandals
I had some comments on how the cube was missing the signets. I caved in, but decided to go 405, just to keep a full 3x booster available over the 8... good for odd 5+4 drafts, or a sealed on top over a 7 person draft. I've been wanting Keldon Vandals to make their way in, now it's being forced w/ more artifacts... Bonfire is the only miracle card and, playing this card enough in standard, it puts way more luck over skill, so I figured I'd give bonfire a break.
9-8-12
Desolate Lighthouse > Izzet Charm
10-18-12
Reckless Waif > Ash Zealot
Thornling > Deadbridge Goliath
Putred Leech > Lotleth Troll
Putrefy > Abrupt Decay
Panoptic Mirror > Chromatic Lantern
Tragic Slip > Pack Rats
Elesh Norn, Impulse; Nantuko Shade; Keldon Vandals; Jungle Lion; Precursor Golem; Razormane Masticore; Mana Vault; Black Vise; Sword of Vengeance > Absorb; Tezzeret, Angel of Bolas; Rakdos Cackler; Stormbind; Dryad Militant; Gerrar's Verdict; Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius; Vraska the Silent; Duerger Hedge-Mage; Spitting Image
Some basic changes, but also cutting 1 of each color + 5 artifacts to increase multicolor from 40 to 50. Ultimately, I'd like to stuff more hybrids in, which will come in the next 2 sets, but just be a true heavy multicolor cube until then.
10-18-12
Vraska the Silent > Deathrite Shaman
Lotus Petal > Relic of Progenitus
Vraska was a bit underwhelming. Going to try out Deathrite Shaman as I recall it doing well at prerelease and I have heard complaints about lack of graveyard hate in my cube, so he should do well here. Lotus Petal was pretty weak, so further hate and draw come the relic should work out alright.
2-26-13
Been a while... lets see if I can remember all the changes!
Absorb > Supreme Verdict
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV > Detention Sphere
Ulvenwald Tracker > Experiment One
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas > Duskmantle Seer
Storm Bind > Ghor-Clan Rampager
Slayers' Stronghold > Boros Charm
Duergar Hedge-Mage > Boros Reckoner
A few that were hard to decide, some experimental, etc. But all together, I think it's a good overall changeover.
I feel compelled to repeat everything I hear
Personally, I love the older cards. I'd rather go all Beta versions of anything applicable! It seems, though, that most people I play with, who are generally newer to the game, prefer newer and/or more recent and familiar cards. I would rather please the masses... I'll still rock the cards, all the same.
So it basically comes down to: Do I keep older versions of like cards or toss in the newer ones? With the 3 you mentioned above, it seems like more people are familiar with Elite Vanguard than Savannah Lions, making a draft selection faster when the card name's are familiar. I, personally, love finding older cards I haven't heard of (EDH was great for that).
Should something come in to the cube that would work better with the "other" card (such as something that makes Cats stronger over Humans for Savannah Lions vs Elite Vanguard), it will be traded out immediately. As it sits, Humans and Elves make more sense, to me, than Cats and Apes.
So there is a few reasons. It matters little to me (unless there is a foil promo in a modern frame of one over the other), but it seems I definitely wanted to keep newer-ish players in mind in the card selection when the choice was presented.
~
With that topic brought up, I keep debating in my head... Wrath of God & Day of Judgment... They are definitely too similar... just haven't decided which one to replace with what. (Likely, replace Wrath for the same reason Wizards did with DoJ: Let regeneration have a purpose.)