Conspiracy #2 updates are on! Here and on Cube Tutor! Let's have fun!
will you update the conspiracy module?
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#TeamChimneyImpForMythic
I am trying to get better at making decks. I have had trouble creating more competitive decks as I only really build with the cards I have. I dont have that many value cards, in function or expense. I (almost) never play at FNM type events so its not like im playing against $2k decks. If I do usally play at one, Its a draft or limited game. Any advice on building decks is greatly supported! DMs are appreciated.
Thank you!
To put it more simply, it's like saying, "I can prove Jesus is real and loves you. See? Here's my Hispanic friend Jesus. He's had a crush on you for a long time. Tell em' Jesus."
Here's a joke! Whats the internal temperature of a Taun-Taun?
Yeah. And the changelog guides, for gameplay alteration and storm, as well. We aren't quite sure yet about the changes. Sovereign's Realm and Hymn of the Wilds are among top in the list, but we still need to identify the cut targets. By next week, I would say all those updates will be in. Stay tuned. Thanks for following!
Angel of Invention
This new 5-drop seems like a perfect fit for the cube. It fills just so many roles at the same time. Need an army-in-a-can? Check. Need an anthem? Check. Need a flying lifelink better? Check. Definitely looks super strong. Simply the best none-Chandra card in the set IMO. Versatility is the key. For those reasons, I think it have a serious shot at replacing either Baneslayer or Cloudgoat Ranger in the long run.
Fumigate
I think this wrath is the best one we had since RTR Supreme Verdict. In fact, the significant amount of life it can provide seems to be the perfect way to balance the card for the extra mana it cost. I can see easily see this become a staple in any cube larger to 540. For those who still run either Rout, Hallowed Burial, Akroma’s Vengeance or Martial Coup, I think it’s a card that you definitely had to test.
UBLUEU
Torrential Gearhulk
This one is real close. The fact that it's a reasonable Tinker target may force us to test it at some point. For now, we are going to pass on it, but we think it has a good shot at surpassing Frost Titan, which is not in the cube at the moment, in the blue 6-drop slot. If we need another one some day, we'll look at it with no shame. About the card, I can imagine scenarios in which it would shine when paired with Daretti or Goblin Welder. Trade a mana rock with it to get it back to the field and recast a removal spell or CA spell sounds crazy. The flash keyword makes it also pretty good at trapping creatures in combat.
BBLACKB
Scrapheap Scrounger
Black 2-drops seems to have fall from the sky a lot recently, but still, I think this one will prove that he deserves a spot, even in most tight list. This little robot offers reliable recursion for stax strategies and, at the same time, a reasonable bodies for aggro decks. Seriously makes Despoiler of Souls looks silly… And don’t make the mistake to run that card into the colorless section, Scrapheap Scrounger is a black creature.
Harsh Scrunity
We’ve been looking for good one mana discard spell for a while now. As a functional reprint of Ostracize, with the addition of scry, it looks pretty interesting. I think black aggro decks that like to plan their turns and actions according to their opponent’s resources would like it and would enjoy gain extra value from the library manipulation. At 600, it’s definitely a test for us.
Fretwork Colony
With the ridiculous amount of black 2-drops we add in the recent sets (didn't know I was going to say that one day), it seems like there's no space for those little insects. Although, a few years ago, I could have imagine myself run that pseudo Scute Mob. Really close call. Competition is just too hard for it even at 540-630. Maybe this could be test at 720 for those who still run Knight of Infamy.
RREDR
Chandra, Torch of Defiance
What to say about that card? It simply great. Great in all kind of red decks. From aggressive one to control one. The red Mind Sculptor will be a cube staple for a very long time. It can repeatedly provide card advantage. It can ramp you into your Wildifre-Upheaval stuff. It can kill creature, even the ones with big butt. It has a game ending ultimate that is realistically achievable. Nothing to say. That card is gold.
GGREENG
None
AZORIUS
Dovin Baan
I was definitely expecting more from this UW walker. Disappointed is the word. It’s certainly not bad as a card, but it just doesn’t seem to bring enough to the table for a guild card. In a pseudo way, it can protect himself from a board that is low on creature, but at the end, the only reward you can reliably get from it is a few extra cards. Overall, not enough impactful. Still interesting, but just not as strong as some monocolored comparable option, like Architect of Thought. If there was no RTR set in Magic, maybe this card could have a shot in some mid-large cube.
IZZET
Saheeli Rai
I don’t really know what to think about this card. It seems playable and I assume it will make the cut for now, but at the same time, it seems to lack of versatility. Ping your opponent and scry 1 every turn could be decent. Unfortunately, only specific decks may want to use those effects. And copying stuff, while having the potential of being gamebreaking once in a while, can lack of consistancy in most average scenarios. The ultimate for its part seems like a nice ability to build around. The consensus is that it makes the cut. The question is for how much time.
LANDS
Fast Lands
Enemy color fast lands. Please, yes. We’ve been looking for those since a long time. Orhzov, Golgari and Boros would enjoy receiving those. The Izzet one is also close, but URx control decks may be bother with them entering tapped after turn 4. Since we’ve just added an entire land to the cube, the first three would fit perfectly. At 450-450, I think they also, at some point, deserve a spot in cube that run all types of aggro deck and that don’t matter about colorless mana. Really satisfied with that printing. At first, I thought they was the Enemy battle lands, which would have been fine, but this is just even better!
COLORLESS
Filigree Familiar
This little fox almost makes it. While having some part of Solemn Simulacrum and Kitchen Finks abilities is a nice start, I think it just doesn’t do enough to justify his inclusion in a cube under 720. Under that size, there’s enough artifact that are available to make the colorless section works just fine without it. Close call though. As a active cube manager, I’d keep an eye on it. Recurring Nightmare and Welder/Daretti interactions with it seems just so sweet.
Smuggler’s Copter
One of the few vehicles we add consensus to test. 2 mana looters are always good, and this one has flying and a monstrous P/T ratio. Plus, it can also loot from blocking in combat, which is awesome and unseen so far, while making as much efficient on defense than on offense. And it seems playable in a lot of different types of deck since the crew 1 looks very easy to activate. Really curious about this card.
Fleetwheel Cruiser
I think this is the best vehicle for cube by a significant marge. Being active on the turn you play it is what makes it great. And 5 trampling power looks appealing too. Though this should end up being an aggro card only, I think this is not that much of a deal. At 600, we do need more aggressive and efficient threat on the top of the curve. This also helps balance it out. Being colorless means it serves that role for any aggro decks, regardless of what color they play, and act as a aggro 4-drop addition for all colors at the same time. Our only concern has more to do with the vehicle's mechanic itself. Better, equal or worst than equipment? We’ll see. Our fear is that they end up dying to often in combat and been that way a huge tempo loss for their owners. At least this one will trade with anything that enter the field before it and the Copter has evasion to avoid that while it can also generate value during your blocking phase. Yeah, we'll see.
Note that those updates don't match those on Cubetutor, because we are currently testing the cube at 600 on it, so the swap aren't the same from one website to another. If this test goes succesful, we'll update on MTG Salvation as well and many cards that were cut here today, like Unexpectedly Absent, Master of the Feast, Avalanche Riders and Lodestone Golem, will be reinclude. And some fastlands will be added as well. It went good so far, so it's highly possible that the cube goes up to 600 real soon!
Testing session is now over and we officially bring the cube to 600 size! See the changelog for details!
Some cards like Trickster Mage, Sylvan Tutor and Bounding Krasis are added to help combo decks like Time Vault et Kiki-Twin. Some other are more general good stuff or cards that were cut during the Kaladesh update that can finally get back in. Seems pretty balance so far.
Next step is trying to figure out how to get the cube to 630 size. With all the great new cards getting print every couple of months, we think it's now something reachable. Testing session starts soon, on paper and on Cubetutor as well. Stay put!
Also, how many foil cards do you have? If theres a significant number, could Super secret tech be a possible addition to the main part or the un-part?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
#TeamChimneyImpForMythic
I am trying to get better at making decks. I have had trouble creating more competitive decks as I only really build with the cards I have. I dont have that many value cards, in function or expense. I (almost) never play at FNM type events so its not like im playing against $2k decks. If I do usally play at one, Its a draft or limited game. Any advice on building decks is greatly supported! DMs are appreciated.
Thank you!
To put it more simply, it's like saying, "I can prove Jesus is real and loves you. See? Here's my Hispanic friend Jesus. He's had a crush on you for a long time. Tell em' Jesus."
Here's a joke! Whats the internal temperature of a Taun-Taun?
I think both Seismic Assault and Land's Edge are quite costly for what they do. Add to it the land restriction and you are not that far away from very bad cards. I think I rather run Molten Vortex because it's cheaper to cast, or even Stormbind in Gruul because you can discard any card. But at the end, I would just prefer not to run any of those in the Cube. There's better and more polyvalent way to burn stuff.
About the foils and altered cards, I own over 220 of them at the moment. About 200 foils and 20 altered cards. Getting more and more each month or so.
Lastly, about Super Secret Tech, I think it would be just fine in the Gameplay Alteration module if premium would mean your. So all your spells become cheaper and all your creatures become bigger. It would be damn powerful that way, no doubt
Sadly, there's no Commander 2016 inclusion to talk about. We'd be welling to add one, Ash Barrens, when the cube is going to be officially at 630 of size. Until then, we will keep it the way it is. First time since we craft the cube a set doesn't actually provide us at least one good card to add on the spot. Very sad...
It's been a while we are testing the cube at 630 of size and it works just fine! Let's officially add here before doing the Aether Revolt update.
EDIT : Note that the Colorless module is now gone. Main reason is that we haven't use it as much as we thought first. Second reason is that some cards that were in there are not part of the main cube, like Eldrazi Displacer for example. So for now, the module is put away.
Restoration Specialist
There’s certainly not a whole lot of enchantment you can bring back with that little dwarf, but the possibility of 2 for 1 is real. For that reason, I think the card needs appropriate testing to ensure if it’s good or not. The artifact part in counterpart seems really sweet. Bringing back either one of the bomb, an artifact creature or even Black Lotus seems legit. For the enchantment part, maybe it helps a bit that there’s still some enchantment creature in the cube. We’ll see. I’m not that optimistic and it seems like it makes the cut by a slim marge, but I definitely like it at 630.
Deadeye Harpooner
The white 3-drops creatures is stack and I don’t think there’s space for this one. The ETB trigger is appealing, but rely too much on the new Revolt mechanic. Could get the job done in smaller cube that has a higher concentration of fetchlands or in cube that break the singleton rule though. But overall, it’s too fragile I suppose. Maybe if it has been a 3/2 or 3/3 creature we could continue to talk about it.
Sram’s Expertise
I guess this competes directly with Spectral Procession. Unfortunately for this new one, Spectral Procession’s tokens has flying and that’s what makes the card so great in practice. We could still find a spot for it because the cube is now at 630, but our playgroup and I found that we’ve reach a sufficient amount of token generator in white. Still an interesting card and its powerlevel will depend on how the expertise cycle goes.
UBLUEU
Boral, Chief of Compliance
Being able to loot and reduces spell’s cost definitely worth the look, considering a 1/3 body is also decent early on the battlefield. I just wonder how much that card can impact the game later on. Seems like one the less appealing blue 2-drops creature for that matter we’ve seen in a while, at the exception of Thing in the Ice. Still worth testing, but I’m not that high on it. Mainly because the counterspell part feels almost like flavour text.
Baral’s Expertise
Wow. This spell has a damn high ceiling. The ability to just wipe the board and drop a huge 4-drop is completely insane. This can also saves some of your creatures before you wrath the board. Seems super strong. Only downside, like all for the expertise cycle, is that it rely too much on the card you’ll cast with it. But overall, the ceiling is just too high to ignore. We definitely have to test this one out. High hope for it.
Disallow
Simply good stuff. Nothing that much to say. A counter spell than can stifle your opponent’s ability? Why not. Let’s try it out. I would like it to cost only 2U, but maybe that’s too much to ask. At 630 of size, it certainly feels playable. Negate or Unsubstantiate can go out for a while to make space for this one, that’s for sure.
Skyship Plunderer
I would really want that thing to be good, but I don’t think it does enough on its own to worth a spot, even in medium size cube. It can definitely be insane some time, but some other time, it would simply be a Welkin Tern that can block nonflying creatures. That decklist I’ve made out of it seems decent though, but still. Let’s keep an eye on it and seek for positive reviews.
BBLACKB
Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
I just can’t believe that card isn’t getting all the love it deserves. It’s simply great. A 2/1 evasive body for 2B that can neat you a card, and even two if your lucky enough? Sign me in. Seems better Pain Seer, Dauthi Horror and Bearer of Silence. And we run all three. Find a spot for it will be so easy. And it’s another human for Mayor of Avabruck, right? Just kidding. With that said, no doubt it’s a 540 staple.
Yaheeni’s Expertise
This seems like a decent black wrath effect that I would want to cube. I guess the dream scenario is to blow your opponent’s board and then follow it up with either Liliana of the Veil or Liliana, the Last Hope. I suppose Ashiok or any 3-drop walker can also do the trick. Again, the powerlevel of the card will depend on much this new cycle mechanic works out in practice. High hope for this one also.
RREDR
Aether Chaser
Good red 2-drop is good. Having first strike makes a decent attacker in the early game. And the token it produces when it does ensure that you have an extra bodies for your piece of equipment. Interesting 3 power 2-drop version. Looking forward to test it. Only downside is that it’s definitely a only aggro card. Guess it isn’t that bad.
Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
Wonderful. Now we are talking. This card seems insanely good. Certainly the best, or least second best, red 2-drop ever print in magic history for the cube community. Maybe at the exception of Limited Alpha Edition of Orcish Artillery With that said, keywords on this new card makes it really though to deal with and makes it a perfect weapon carrier. And it produces a unique legendary monkey token. Who doesn’t like attacking monkeys, right? All-star 360 staple material!
Release the Grelims
Cool artifact hate card. At worst, it’s a none recurring/abusable, none castable without target Manic Vandal, which isn’t that bad. At best, this card could be fantastic, especially in powered cube. Bringing two 2/2 bodies to the table and blows your opponent’s artifact creature and one of its mana rock for 5 mana seems like a rock solid effect. It certainly need a testing session to ensure it can replace Manic Vandal for good, but still has a serious shot at doing it.
Hungry Flames
This new burn seems decent, at best. But past has proven the 3 damage for 2 mana isn’t good enough if you can’t split as you want it. Even at instant speed. Biggest downside is that you can’t finish the game with it if you have no legal target for the creature part of it. Wants to be like Arc Trail, but is not… Unfortunately.
GGREENG
None
DIMIR
Tezzeret the Schemer
This new walker is so close to be good. Even close to great. But as it is, it’s not. Main reason why is that it can’t defend himself without appropriate support. The other reason, and that’s where it differs from Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas, is that its others abilities aren’t good enough. The mana tokens seems to work great with its ultimate, but it seems unlikely that you can succeed to keep some around when you’d trigger it later on. I assume he’s fine when you’re ahead, but it’s not a walker than can get you back in the game efficiently when you’re not. Real close though. And design is cool.
LANDS
Spire of Industry
Even if any version of City of Brass normally caught my attention, this one seems simply not good enough. Maybe a 360 powered cube could find a place for it, because density of cheap artifacts are higher in there, but still. Some who are still seeking for new potent colorless sources can also have some interest for it I suppose. That’s not our case though. Easy pass. But we decided to give a yellow check anyway because we know some will find a way to use it with success somehow.
COLORLESS
Paradox Engine
This card is for combo cube only. But god damn that it feels powerful in there. Untapping all your stuff while you're storming is god like. It also works great with Time Vault or any form of infinite mana combo. Really interesting card in that regard. Unique magic spell that has the potential to create a bunch of new combo iterations. For us, it’s going in the storm module along with Fastbond and all he good mana stuff.
We've also add the Aristocrats package that we worked on during the past few months. Sorry for that, but we kind of lost the track in the process and forgot about what exactly went out for it, mainly because we went to 650 of size at the same time. But we do have update the official list here and on Cube Tutor. For tracking purposes, we're also providing you the exact package just right below :
First of all, sorry for the respond delay. Haven't been on my cibe page for a while now.
About your qestions...
Viscera Seer works just fine at providing an additional cheap sac-outlet. It also, like it does in Modern, help you find the missing pieces for your combo if you're in a Melira/Finks/Redcap type of deck. It may not stand for ever but is definitly good enough for months to come. Getting value out of your sacrifice is important and we think the Seer is one the best cheap way to get it in black.
For its part, Extricator of Sin is a totally different animal. It does go into aristocrat decks, but as you can see, the card was in the cube before the aristocrat package was added. Fort the crats, it does a decent job at adding multiple bodies on the field while applying pressure. It let you also sacrifice something that you might want in your yard. On the other hand, we also see that card as a midrange prince. It's great because it helps midrange against it worst matchup, the control decks. It normally eat you a land, a smaller creature or something that usely doesn't go into graveyard on turn 3 to 6. What's great is that it activates delirium almost on its own. And when it's on, its really hard to beat and becomes a must answer 3-drop. It does really well in WB, WG or Junk strategies because in there he can turn smaller token into 3/2 threats. It's not indispensable but as it stands, we're keeping even after HOU update. We'll see after Ixalan.
Talk about a coincidence, I'd forgotten about my post here and just found a way to login around work's filters then saw the notification.
Thanks for the feedback. Think I'll give seer a go as I do have some combo elements. Not Melira but Anafenza, metallic mimic and Mikaeus all work in her place while not being just a grizzly bear. If I have a spot open in white I may have a go at the extricator too.
Here's the Hour of Devastation update! Not so much that talk about this time, despite having few cool cards to add. Hope it's gonna be better for cube next time we come around!
UBLUEU
Supreme Will
Supreme Will seems like one the best clean card in the set. The pros is that both Mana Leak and Impulse are nowhere near leaving the cube and having both in the same card can’t be wrong. The bad? The one additional mana may end up begin too much for it to compete properly in the long run. Still looks fair at first glance. Nothing impressive, but still a good modal card that would fit well into most blue decks, mainly control and combo ones.
Champion of Wits
This blue dude didn’t get and still not have the unanimity among the Salvation community. For our part, we do think it’s pretty great and that it deserves more love from you guys. Careful Study is a card that we always consider to add when we proceed to a none-set update and this brings it with on a 2/1 body for 3-mana. We do understand the point the it may look too fair because it’s like you’re actually paying 1U for the body and an extra 1 for the extra double loot. But the fact is that Champion of Wits a creature with an ETB effect, as simple as this. And that means it can be abuse! UW Blink Tempo and Reveillark say yeah my friends! Reanimation decks also got a new toy to defend themselves against aggro while fueling their yard. Blue creature deck have also find a decent not to flood out in the midgame to late game. Still, Eternalize cost is damn high. The bright side is that this activated ability is more like the cherry on top of the card. For those reasons, we think that this card need appropriate testing going forward in order to evaluate its real potential. Chances are high that it ended up being great!
Nimble Obstructionist
Man, we wish this would have been a Stiffle Clique, oh god! As it is, a 3-mana Stiffle that draws you a card or a 3/1 instant speed flying creature, it’s not strong enough for our taste. The modal part of the card may save it and makes it cubable at some point. But, overall, it doesn’t seems like the effect is enough desirable to include, even at short term, in the cube. Nice try WotC, you’ve almost did it! Please do not give up!
BBLACKB
Bontu’s Last Reckoning
The evaluation of this card is tricky. You need to determine if skipping a turn, or almost a turn if cast later in the game, worth the reward it brings. The answer is not easy to deliver but we’d say it doesn’t. First, the indestructible clause is cute, but doesn’t mean enough in cube. Then, we think the downside of losing a whole turn is just too harsh for most control decks. Maybe a deck full of walkers could afford that kind of break on turn 6 to 8… But man, if you’re having that much walkers haging around, would you just prefer to run any other sweeper, that so far ahead in terms of power level, instead of this Bontu’s inferior one? Hell yeah… After considering all the parameters of it, we conclude that it’s not really the type of wrath the cube is looking for. Even if Yahenni’s Expertise leaves the cube, which would eventually happen sooner than later, we don’t think we’ll reconsider adding at its spot when the time comes. We in fact do prefer some of the 5-mana option to it… and by a significant margin.
RREDR
Abrade
This or Smash to Smithereens? That’s the question. The answer to it is not clear. It all depends on your cube’s content, size and supported archetypes. While being both great and instant speed, for our cube, StS is better by miles. Why? Because it helps keeping burn decks alive at 650 of size. It also has the upside of having a chance to two-for-one for opponent, by destroying an artifact and killing a planeswalker. In a more general concern, in can also simply won you the game, which Abrade can’t do. The next question is, do we want both of them? We’d say no… for now at least. The card will stay on our watch list though. Still an interesting creature-only burn/artifact removal spell.
Burning Fist Minotaur
That new red 2-drop wants to be there so bad! But unfortunately, we don’t think he is at all. The possibility of being two-for-one with its activated ability is the main reason why. Even if you’re just throwing an extra land with it, the tempo loss seems just too huge to overcome. If the cost was like 1, maybe it could worth a try. At least, the creature is first strike and represents a good cheap threat when it doesn’t face the instant speed removal problem.
GGREENG
Ramunap Excavator
Crucible of Worlds on feet, right? This is a real solid shoot at being the best card in the hole set! A 2/3 creature for 3-mana isn’t a heck of a deal… Although, this ability is quite rare and unique! Providing an additional way to combo out of a Strip Mine or a Wasteland is super annoying for your opponent and being a creature able to also fit well in a stax shell makes it over the top. It kind of helps that the green 3-drop section is not deep at all, but it’s still a very strong creature to have in the cube. The only card from HOU we’d call a true staple!
DIMIR
The Scarab God
How doesn’t like scarab zombie? Oh wait, this is not a zombie… That’s so sad! I guess we’ll have to live with that fact. Knowing he’s not from the dead, is the new dimir god strong enough for powered cube? We’ve sadly the feeling that he’s not. Hopefully, he’s not that fa. Recurring himself is a great start, but man, those vanilla stats are just so meh! What the heck! At least, he has an interesting upkeep triggered… Oh, no! Just remember, he’s not a zombie! Jokes apart, its activated ability seems decent. We just think that, most of the time, paying [mana]2UB[m/mana] won’t worth the result. Sure, you can bring back a 4/4 Griselbrand, but at what cost? Exiling it from your yard? Ish… Not sure. We may be wrong about it. Maybe he can strive the UB reanimator archetype by its own. Closest card from testing platform. Still out for now. We love you Shadowmage.
UBRGRIXISUBR
Nicol Bolas, God Pharaoh
Another expensive Nicol Bolas planeswalker. A cheap one would have been so nice! Guess it would have lost part of his divine aura if it only costed 5 or 6 mana we suppose… Anyway, how does this new Nicol Bolas stands vis-à-vis its Conflux cousin? We’d say pretty close. It may be better. It may be a little worst. Still, chances are there to be better and for that reason, we’ll have to try it out. Good news is that it cost less mana. That’s a good start! Then, are the abilities better? That’s the none-clear part. We’ll have to test and see.
XCOLORLESSX
Mirage Mirror
Man, isn’t just us or that card combo out with Time Vault? Yes it does! Vizier of Tumbling Sands and then Mirage Mirror? Insane! Thanks Egyptians folks! The sad part of this is that the power level of Mirage Mirror seems quite low. We’ll still test it though, because we’re always seeking for new decent to fine playables to pair out with the vault. Copying stuff at instant speed seems also fun! Let’s just hope it can turn out to be good outside of infinite-turn decks!
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
will you update the conspiracy module?
Thank you!
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
Zetsu's Cube on CubeTutor.com
Zetsu's Ebay MTG Online Store
Zetsu's Poker Draft Method
Check out my addition review :
Angel of Invention
This new 5-drop seems like a perfect fit for the cube. It fills just so many roles at the same time. Need an army-in-a-can? Check. Need an anthem? Check. Need a flying lifelink better? Check. Definitely looks super strong. Simply the best none-Chandra card in the set IMO. Versatility is the key. For those reasons, I think it have a serious shot at replacing either Baneslayer or Cloudgoat Ranger in the long run.
Fumigate
I think this wrath is the best one we had since RTR Supreme Verdict. In fact, the significant amount of life it can provide seems to be the perfect way to balance the card for the extra mana it cost. I can see easily see this become a staple in any cube larger to 540. For those who still run either Rout, Hallowed Burial, Akroma’s Vengeance or Martial Coup, I think it’s a card that you definitely had to test.
Torrential Gearhulk
This one is real close. The fact that it's a reasonable Tinker target may force us to test it at some point. For now, we are going to pass on it, but we think it has a good shot at surpassing Frost Titan, which is not in the cube at the moment, in the blue 6-drop slot. If we need another one some day, we'll look at it with no shame. About the card, I can imagine scenarios in which it would shine when paired with Daretti or Goblin Welder. Trade a mana rock with it to get it back to the field and recast a removal spell or CA spell sounds crazy. The flash keyword makes it also pretty good at trapping creatures in combat.
Scrapheap Scrounger
Black 2-drops seems to have fall from the sky a lot recently, but still, I think this one will prove that he deserves a spot, even in most tight list. This little robot offers reliable recursion for stax strategies and, at the same time, a reasonable bodies for aggro decks. Seriously makes Despoiler of Souls looks silly… And don’t make the mistake to run that card into the colorless section, Scrapheap Scrounger is a black creature.
Harsh Scrunity
We’ve been looking for good one mana discard spell for a while now. As a functional reprint of Ostracize, with the addition of scry, it looks pretty interesting. I think black aggro decks that like to plan their turns and actions according to their opponent’s resources would like it and would enjoy gain extra value from the library manipulation. At 600, it’s definitely a test for us.
Fretwork Colony
With the ridiculous amount of black 2-drops we add in the recent sets (didn't know I was going to say that one day), it seems like there's no space for those little insects. Although, a few years ago, I could have imagine myself run that pseudo Scute Mob. Really close call. Competition is just too hard for it even at 540-630. Maybe this could be test at 720 for those who still run Knight of Infamy.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance
What to say about that card? It simply great. Great in all kind of red decks. From aggressive one to control one. The red Mind Sculptor will be a cube staple for a very long time. It can repeatedly provide card advantage. It can ramp you into your Wildifre-Upheaval stuff. It can kill creature, even the ones with big butt. It has a game ending ultimate that is realistically achievable. Nothing to say. That card is gold.
Dovin Baan
I was definitely expecting more from this UW walker. Disappointed is the word. It’s certainly not bad as a card, but it just doesn’t seem to bring enough to the table for a guild card. In a pseudo way, it can protect himself from a board that is low on creature, but at the end, the only reward you can reliably get from it is a few extra cards. Overall, not enough impactful. Still interesting, but just not as strong as some monocolored comparable option, like Architect of Thought. If there was no RTR set in Magic, maybe this card could have a shot in some mid-large cube.
Saheeli Rai
I don’t really know what to think about this card. It seems playable and I assume it will make the cut for now, but at the same time, it seems to lack of versatility. Ping your opponent and scry 1 every turn could be decent. Unfortunately, only specific decks may want to use those effects. And copying stuff, while having the potential of being gamebreaking once in a while, can lack of consistancy in most average scenarios. The ultimate for its part seems like a nice ability to build around. The consensus is that it makes the cut. The question is for how much time.
Fast Lands
Enemy color fast lands. Please, yes. We’ve been looking for those since a long time. Orhzov, Golgari and Boros would enjoy receiving those. The Izzet one is also close, but URx control decks may be bother with them entering tapped after turn 4. Since we’ve just added an entire land to the cube, the first three would fit perfectly. At 450-450, I think they also, at some point, deserve a spot in cube that run all types of aggro deck and that don’t matter about colorless mana. Really satisfied with that printing. At first, I thought they was the Enemy battle lands, which would have been fine, but this is just even better!
Filigree Familiar
This little fox almost makes it. While having some part of Solemn Simulacrum and Kitchen Finks abilities is a nice start, I think it just doesn’t do enough to justify his inclusion in a cube under 720. Under that size, there’s enough artifact that are available to make the colorless section works just fine without it. Close call though. As a active cube manager, I’d keep an eye on it. Recurring Nightmare and Welder/Daretti interactions with it seems just so sweet.
Smuggler’s Copter
One of the few vehicles we add consensus to test. 2 mana looters are always good, and this one has flying and a monstrous P/T ratio. Plus, it can also loot from blocking in combat, which is awesome and unseen so far, while making as much efficient on defense than on offense. And it seems playable in a lot of different types of deck since the crew 1 looks very easy to activate. Really curious about this card.
Fleetwheel Cruiser
I think this is the best vehicle for cube by a significant marge. Being active on the turn you play it is what makes it great. And 5 trampling power looks appealing too. Though this should end up being an aggro card only, I think this is not that much of a deal. At 600, we do need more aggressive and efficient threat on the top of the curve. This also helps balance it out. Being colorless means it serves that role for any aggro decks, regardless of what color they play, and act as a aggro 4-drop addition for all colors at the same time. Our only concern has more to do with the vehicle's mechanic itself. Better, equal or worst than equipment? We’ll see. Our fear is that they end up dying to often in combat and been that way a huge tempo loss for their owners. At least this one will trade with anything that enter the field before it and the Copter has evasion to avoid that while it can also generate value during your blocking phase. Yeah, we'll see.
Note that those updates don't match those on Cubetutor, because we are currently testing the cube at 600 on it, so the swap aren't the same from one website to another. If this test goes succesful, we'll update on MTG Salvation as well and many cards that were cut here today, like Unexpectedly Absent, Master of the Feast, Avalanche Riders and Lodestone Golem, will be reinclude. And some fastlands will be added as well. It went good so far, so it's highly possible that the cube goes up to 600 real soon!
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Some cards like Trickster Mage, Sylvan Tutor and Bounding Krasis are added to help combo decks like Time Vault et Kiki-Twin. Some other are more general good stuff or cards that were cut during the Kaladesh update that can finally get back in. Seems pretty balance so far.
Next step is trying to figure out how to get the cube to 630 size. With all the great new cards getting print every couple of months, we think it's now something reachable. Testing session starts soon, on paper and on Cubetutor as well. Stay put!
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Also, how many foil cards do you have? If theres a significant number, could Super secret tech be a possible addition to the main part or the un-part?
Thank you!
About the foils and altered cards, I own over 220 of them at the moment. About 200 foils and 20 altered cards. Getting more and more each month or so.
Lastly, about Super Secret Tech, I think it would be just fine in the Gameplay Alteration module if premium would mean your. So all your spells become cheaper and all your creatures become bigger. It would be damn powerful that way, no doubt
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EDIT : Note that the Colorless module is now gone. Main reason is that we haven't use it as much as we thought first. Second reason is that some cards that were in there are not part of the main cube, like Eldrazi Displacer for example. So for now, the module is put away.
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Check out my set review :
Restoration Specialist
There’s certainly not a whole lot of enchantment you can bring back with that little dwarf, but the possibility of 2 for 1 is real. For that reason, I think the card needs appropriate testing to ensure if it’s good or not. The artifact part in counterpart seems really sweet. Bringing back either one of the bomb, an artifact creature or even Black Lotus seems legit. For the enchantment part, maybe it helps a bit that there’s still some enchantment creature in the cube. We’ll see. I’m not that optimistic and it seems like it makes the cut by a slim marge, but I definitely like it at 630.
Deadeye Harpooner
The white 3-drops creatures is stack and I don’t think there’s space for this one. The ETB trigger is appealing, but rely too much on the new Revolt mechanic. Could get the job done in smaller cube that has a higher concentration of fetchlands or in cube that break the singleton rule though. But overall, it’s too fragile I suppose. Maybe if it has been a 3/2 or 3/3 creature we could continue to talk about it.
Sram’s Expertise
I guess this competes directly with Spectral Procession. Unfortunately for this new one, Spectral Procession’s tokens has flying and that’s what makes the card so great in practice. We could still find a spot for it because the cube is now at 630, but our playgroup and I found that we’ve reach a sufficient amount of token generator in white. Still an interesting card and its powerlevel will depend on how the expertise cycle goes.
Boral, Chief of Compliance
Being able to loot and reduces spell’s cost definitely worth the look, considering a 1/3 body is also decent early on the battlefield. I just wonder how much that card can impact the game later on. Seems like one the less appealing blue 2-drops creature for that matter we’ve seen in a while, at the exception of Thing in the Ice. Still worth testing, but I’m not that high on it. Mainly because the counterspell part feels almost like flavour text.
Baral’s Expertise
Wow. This spell has a damn high ceiling. The ability to just wipe the board and drop a huge 4-drop is completely insane. This can also saves some of your creatures before you wrath the board. Seems super strong. Only downside, like all for the expertise cycle, is that it rely too much on the card you’ll cast with it. But overall, the ceiling is just too high to ignore. We definitely have to test this one out. High hope for it.
Disallow
Simply good stuff. Nothing that much to say. A counter spell than can stifle your opponent’s ability? Why not. Let’s try it out. I would like it to cost only 2U, but maybe that’s too much to ask. At 630 of size, it certainly feels playable. Negate or Unsubstantiate can go out for a while to make space for this one, that’s for sure.
Skyship Plunderer
I would really want that thing to be good, but I don’t think it does enough on its own to worth a spot, even in medium size cube. It can definitely be insane some time, but some other time, it would simply be a Welkin Tern that can block nonflying creatures. That decklist I’ve made out of it seems decent though, but still. Let’s keep an eye on it and seek for positive reviews.
Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
I just can’t believe that card isn’t getting all the love it deserves. It’s simply great. A 2/1 evasive body for 2B that can neat you a card, and even two if your lucky enough? Sign me in. Seems better Pain Seer, Dauthi Horror and Bearer of Silence. And we run all three. Find a spot for it will be so easy. And it’s another human for Mayor of Avabruck, right? Just kidding. With that said, no doubt it’s a 540 staple.
Yaheeni’s Expertise
This seems like a decent black wrath effect that I would want to cube. I guess the dream scenario is to blow your opponent’s board and then follow it up with either Liliana of the Veil or Liliana, the Last Hope. I suppose Ashiok or any 3-drop walker can also do the trick. Again, the powerlevel of the card will depend on much this new cycle mechanic works out in practice. High hope for this one also.
Aether Chaser
Good red 2-drop is good. Having first strike makes a decent attacker in the early game. And the token it produces when it does ensure that you have an extra bodies for your piece of equipment. Interesting 3 power 2-drop version. Looking forward to test it. Only downside is that it’s definitely a only aggro card. Guess it isn’t that bad.
Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
Wonderful. Now we are talking. This card seems insanely good. Certainly the best, or least second best, red 2-drop ever print in magic history for the cube community. Maybe at the exception of Limited Alpha Edition of Orcish Artillery With that said, keywords on this new card makes it really though to deal with and makes it a perfect weapon carrier. And it produces a unique legendary monkey token. Who doesn’t like attacking monkeys, right? All-star 360 staple material!
Release the Grelims
Cool artifact hate card. At worst, it’s a none recurring/abusable, none castable without target Manic Vandal, which isn’t that bad. At best, this card could be fantastic, especially in powered cube. Bringing two 2/2 bodies to the table and blows your opponent’s artifact creature and one of its mana rock for 5 mana seems like a rock solid effect. It certainly need a testing session to ensure it can replace Manic Vandal for good, but still has a serious shot at doing it.
Hungry Flames
This new burn seems decent, at best. But past has proven the 3 damage for 2 mana isn’t good enough if you can’t split as you want it. Even at instant speed. Biggest downside is that you can’t finish the game with it if you have no legal target for the creature part of it. Wants to be like Arc Trail, but is not… Unfortunately.
Tezzeret the Schemer
This new walker is so close to be good. Even close to great. But as it is, it’s not. Main reason why is that it can’t defend himself without appropriate support. The other reason, and that’s where it differs from Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas, is that its others abilities aren’t good enough. The mana tokens seems to work great with its ultimate, but it seems unlikely that you can succeed to keep some around when you’d trigger it later on. I assume he’s fine when you’re ahead, but it’s not a walker than can get you back in the game efficiently when you’re not. Real close though. And design is cool.
Spire of Industry
Even if any version of City of Brass normally caught my attention, this one seems simply not good enough. Maybe a 360 powered cube could find a place for it, because density of cheap artifacts are higher in there, but still. Some who are still seeking for new potent colorless sources can also have some interest for it I suppose. That’s not our case though. Easy pass. But we decided to give a yellow check anyway because we know some will find a way to use it with success somehow.
Paradox Engine
This card is for combo cube only. But god damn that it feels powerful in there. Untapping all your stuff while you're storming is god like. It also works great with Time Vault or any form of infinite mana combo. Really interesting card in that regard. Unique magic spell that has the potential to create a bunch of new combo iterations. For us, it’s going in the storm module along with Fastbond and all he good mana stuff.
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We've also add the Aristocrats package that we worked on during the past few months. Sorry for that, but we kind of lost the track in the process and forgot about what exactly went out for it, mainly because we went to 650 of size at the same time. But we do have update the official list here and on Cube Tutor. For tracking purposes, we're also providing you the exact package just right below :
1x Rally the Ancestors
1x Return to the Ranks
1x Karmic Guide
1x Viscera Seer
1x Blood Artist
1x Zulaport Cutthroat
1x Nantuko Husk
1x Pawn of Ulamog
1x Buried Alive
1x Grim Haruspex
1x Goblin Bombardment
1x Melira, Sylvok Outcast
1x Evolutionary Leap
1x Pattern of Rebirth
1x Whisperwood Elemental
1x Immortal Servitude
1x Murderous Redcap
1x Grim Flayer
1x Catacomb Sifter
1x Shardless Agent
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I'm doing a similar aristocrats update to my list and I was wondering how Extricator of Sin and Viscera Seer were playing for you?
Thanks
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About your qestions...
Viscera Seer works just fine at providing an additional cheap sac-outlet. It also, like it does in Modern, help you find the missing pieces for your combo if you're in a Melira/Finks/Redcap type of deck. It may not stand for ever but is definitly good enough for months to come. Getting value out of your sacrifice is important and we think the Seer is one the best cheap way to get it in black.
For its part, Extricator of Sin is a totally different animal. It does go into aristocrat decks, but as you can see, the card was in the cube before the aristocrat package was added. Fort the crats, it does a decent job at adding multiple bodies on the field while applying pressure. It let you also sacrifice something that you might want in your yard. On the other hand, we also see that card as a midrange prince. It's great because it helps midrange against it worst matchup, the control decks. It normally eat you a land, a smaller creature or something that usely doesn't go into graveyard on turn 3 to 6. What's great is that it activates delirium almost on its own. And when it's on, its really hard to beat and becomes a must answer 3-drop. It does really well in WB, WG or Junk strategies because in there he can turn smaller token into 3/2 threats. It's not indispensable but as it stands, we're keeping even after HOU update. We'll see after Ixalan.
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Thanks for the feedback. Think I'll give seer a go as I do have some combo elements. Not Melira but Anafenza, metallic mimic and Mikaeus all work in her place while not being just a grizzly bear. If I have a spot open in white I may have a go at the extricator too.
Thanks.
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Here's the Hour of Devastation update! Not so much that talk about this time, despite having few cool cards to add. Hope it's gonna be better for cube next time we come around!
Supreme Will
Supreme Will seems like one the best clean card in the set. The pros is that both Mana Leak and Impulse are nowhere near leaving the cube and having both in the same card can’t be wrong. The bad? The one additional mana may end up begin too much for it to compete properly in the long run. Still looks fair at first glance. Nothing impressive, but still a good modal card that would fit well into most blue decks, mainly control and combo ones.
Champion of Wits
This blue dude didn’t get and still not have the unanimity among the Salvation community. For our part, we do think it’s pretty great and that it deserves more love from you guys. Careful Study is a card that we always consider to add when we proceed to a none-set update and this brings it with on a 2/1 body for 3-mana. We do understand the point the it may look too fair because it’s like you’re actually paying 1U for the body and an extra 1 for the extra double loot. But the fact is that Champion of Wits a creature with an ETB effect, as simple as this. And that means it can be abuse! UW Blink Tempo and Reveillark say yeah my friends! Reanimation decks also got a new toy to defend themselves against aggro while fueling their yard. Blue creature deck have also find a decent not to flood out in the midgame to late game. Still, Eternalize cost is damn high. The bright side is that this activated ability is more like the cherry on top of the card. For those reasons, we think that this card need appropriate testing going forward in order to evaluate its real potential. Chances are high that it ended up being great!
Nimble Obstructionist
Man, we wish this would have been a Stiffle Clique, oh god! As it is, a 3-mana Stiffle that draws you a card or a 3/1 instant speed flying creature, it’s not strong enough for our taste. The modal part of the card may save it and makes it cubable at some point. But, overall, it doesn’t seems like the effect is enough desirable to include, even at short term, in the cube. Nice try WotC, you’ve almost did it! Please do not give up!
Bontu’s Last Reckoning
The evaluation of this card is tricky. You need to determine if skipping a turn, or almost a turn if cast later in the game, worth the reward it brings. The answer is not easy to deliver but we’d say it doesn’t. First, the indestructible clause is cute, but doesn’t mean enough in cube. Then, we think the downside of losing a whole turn is just too harsh for most control decks. Maybe a deck full of walkers could afford that kind of break on turn 6 to 8… But man, if you’re having that much walkers haging around, would you just prefer to run any other sweeper, that so far ahead in terms of power level, instead of this Bontu’s inferior one? Hell yeah… After considering all the parameters of it, we conclude that it’s not really the type of wrath the cube is looking for. Even if Yahenni’s Expertise leaves the cube, which would eventually happen sooner than later, we don’t think we’ll reconsider adding at its spot when the time comes. We in fact do prefer some of the 5-mana option to it… and by a significant margin.
Abrade
This or Smash to Smithereens? That’s the question. The answer to it is not clear. It all depends on your cube’s content, size and supported archetypes. While being both great and instant speed, for our cube, StS is better by miles. Why? Because it helps keeping burn decks alive at 650 of size. It also has the upside of having a chance to two-for-one for opponent, by destroying an artifact and killing a planeswalker. In a more general concern, in can also simply won you the game, which Abrade can’t do. The next question is, do we want both of them? We’d say no… for now at least. The card will stay on our watch list though. Still an interesting creature-only burn/artifact removal spell.
Burning Fist Minotaur
That new red 2-drop wants to be there so bad! But unfortunately, we don’t think he is at all. The possibility of being two-for-one with its activated ability is the main reason why. Even if you’re just throwing an extra land with it, the tempo loss seems just too huge to overcome. If the cost was like 1, maybe it could worth a try. At least, the creature is first strike and represents a good cheap threat when it doesn’t face the instant speed removal problem.
Ramunap Excavator
Crucible of Worlds on feet, right? This is a real solid shoot at being the best card in the hole set! A 2/3 creature for 3-mana isn’t a heck of a deal… Although, this ability is quite rare and unique! Providing an additional way to combo out of a Strip Mine or a Wasteland is super annoying for your opponent and being a creature able to also fit well in a stax shell makes it over the top. It kind of helps that the green 3-drop section is not deep at all, but it’s still a very strong creature to have in the cube. The only card from HOU we’d call a true staple!
The Scarab God
How doesn’t like scarab zombie? Oh wait, this is not a zombie… That’s so sad! I guess we’ll have to live with that fact. Knowing he’s not from the dead, is the new dimir god strong enough for powered cube? We’ve sadly the feeling that he’s not. Hopefully, he’s not that fa. Recurring himself is a great start, but man, those vanilla stats are just so meh! What the heck! At least, he has an interesting upkeep triggered… Oh, no! Just remember, he’s not a zombie! Jokes apart, its activated ability seems decent. We just think that, most of the time, paying [mana]2UB[m/mana] won’t worth the result. Sure, you can bring back a 4/4 Griselbrand, but at what cost? Exiling it from your yard? Ish… Not sure. We may be wrong about it. Maybe he can strive the UB reanimator archetype by its own. Closest card from testing platform. Still out for now. We love you Shadowmage.
Nicol Bolas, God Pharaoh
Another expensive Nicol Bolas planeswalker. A cheap one would have been so nice! Guess it would have lost part of his divine aura if it only costed 5 or 6 mana we suppose… Anyway, how does this new Nicol Bolas stands vis-à-vis its Conflux cousin? We’d say pretty close. It may be better. It may be a little worst. Still, chances are there to be better and for that reason, we’ll have to try it out. Good news is that it cost less mana. That’s a good start! Then, are the abilities better? That’s the none-clear part. We’ll have to test and see.
Mirage Mirror
Man, isn’t just us or that card combo out with Time Vault? Yes it does! Vizier of Tumbling Sands and then Mirage Mirror? Insane! Thanks Egyptians folks! The sad part of this is that the power level of Mirage Mirror seems quite low. We’ll still test it though, because we’re always seeking for new decent to fine playables to pair out with the vault. Copying stuff at instant speed seems also fun! Let’s just hope it can turn out to be good outside of infinite-turn decks!
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