This is going to my first cube. For it I decided to go with an artifact theme, since artifacts are my personal favorites. (loved Mirrodin and Kaladash for this reason) Here's the link to the cubetutor list: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/96218
The archetypes/themes I currently have are as follows:
White: Equipment Aggro. The simplest of the themes, play low cost creatures and equip them for bonuses.
Blue: Go Wide/Improvise and Affinity. Blue was a bit weird for me since I didn't know what theme to really go for other than just artifacts in general. Even now, it is probably the least focused color. Also, I'm a bit worried about it being too strong, due to blue's overwhelming support for artifacts.
Black: Sac for Value. Black was a similar case to blue, but I ended up with what I feel like could be a fun archetype with getting cheap artifacts out than saccing them for various effects. This and red are why there are so many sac for value artifacts on the list.
Red: Scrap Reanimation. Basically using Daretti, goblin welder, and similar effects reanimate bombs from your graveyard. This, personally, is the archetype I'm looking most forward to.
Green: Artifact Destruction and Energy. Green was a weird one since almost all of it's artifact interactions were to destroy them. I eventually added an energy sub-theme so it could be something more than just artifact destruction and have some interaction with artifacts. Also, I prioritized cards that interact with enemy artifacts in interesting ways over just straight up artifact removal. Myr Tribal. More of a sub theme, I do included several cards that could potential make myr tribal viable.
Also I'm planning on swapping these cards when RIX comes out: Manakin -> Gleaming Barrier Phylactery Lich -> pitiless plundered
I also am planning on having a home rule where you get to pick two artifact lands of your choice, and each artifact land you draft will give you an additional two.
Anyway, with all that, do you guys have any card recommendations? Any archetype advice? Anything looking over/underpowerd? Do I have enough/too much removal? I'm a budget, but am open to proxies.
Sorry if this a long post, but I want to get the cube right the first time.
Edit - some of the spacing didn’t carry through copy-paste.
This ia a great list! I also have an artifact cube in my sig; though it is not updated yet, feel free to check it out.
Here are some comments in my experience in cube:
White /red Artifact aggro is hard to pull off : just like regular cube, lacking redundancy in 1-2cc limits it. If you make this work, let me know.
Blue is good: blue's themes are ramp (cost reduction/affinity) and tutors. Plus a lot of good stuffs. Personally I don't think blue needs a theme per se.
I think it needs a few more counters, but this depends on how controlling you want blue to be.
Black became a lot better with Kaladesh: Artifact synergy and Improvise cards made it better. Herald of Anguish is the bomb.
Red is fine with sac recur. In my cube though, I use Pirate's Pillage instead of Cathartic reunion. Testing will tell which you prefer.
Green is the problem child of artifacts. Of course it is #1 in hate but there is no real synergy. I have seen cubes use Investigate, +1/+1 counters, and Energy. Investigate is not a linear theme so there is no need to put in a lot, just the good ones (Tireless Tracker and Root Out). Energy I feel is too linear, and I personally don't want them because I don't want to limit my cube evolution with having this set of cards with Energy. Though I really want to hear on how your Energy theme goes... it really is in flavor for artifacts and it is present in all 5 colors as well. My green theme is "Doubling season" - counters and tokens, proliferate that go well with artifacts.
Notable missing cards: Auriok Salvagers : Salvagers is a great card. Splashable, sturdy, and a great engine. Recur spellbombs or Expedition Maps, or even Hope of Ghirapur. Together with Salvaging Station, a small archtype on its own. Artificer's Intuition for reanimator/tutor (works with above, too!) Smokestack / Tangle Wire / Molder Slug / Glissa - With token makers and artifact removal, gives Green an archetype in cube : Stax Gate to Phyrexia - a sac engine plus artifact removal in Black makes this a unique addition. Nuisance Engine - I have found this to be a very useful card that synergizes with all archtyoes: equipment, affinity, sac, stax. A must include. Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast - If you can fine one, add him. Personally looking for one.
Tezzeret - Any of the Tezzerets are great: add them if you have them.
The archetypes/themes I currently have are as follows:
White: Equipment Aggro. The simplest of the themes, play low cost creatures and equip them for bonuses.
Blue: Go Wide/Improvise and Affinity. Blue was a bit weird for me since I didn't know what theme to really go for other than just artifacts in general. Even now, it is probably the least focused color. Also, I'm a bit worried about it being too strong, due to blue's overwhelming support for artifacts.
Black: Sac for Value. Black was a similar case to blue, but I ended up with what I feel like could be a fun archetype with getting cheap artifacts out than saccing them for various effects. This and red are why there are so many sac for value artifacts on the list.
Red: Scrap Reanimation. Basically using Daretti, goblin welder, and similar effects reanimate bombs from your graveyard. This, personally, is the archetype I'm looking most forward to.
Green: Artifact Destruction and Energy. Green was a weird one since almost all of it's artifact interactions were to destroy them. I eventually added an energy sub-theme so it could be something more than just artifact destruction and have some interaction with artifacts. Also, I prioritized cards that interact with enemy artifacts in interesting ways over just straight up artifact removal. Myr Tribal. More of a sub theme, I do included several cards that could potential make myr tribal viable.
Also I'm planning on swapping these cards when RIX comes out: Manakin -> Gleaming Barrier Phylactery Lich -> pitiless plundered
I also am planning on having a home rule where you get to pick two artifact lands of your choice, and each artifact land you draft will give you an additional two.
Anyway, with all that, do you guys have any card recommendations? Any archetype advice? Anything looking over/underpowerd? Do I have enough/too much removal? I'm a budget, but am open to proxies.
Sorry if this a long post, but I want to get the cube right the first time.
Edit - some of the spacing didn’t carry through copy-paste.
Here are some comments in my experience in cube:
White /red Artifact aggro is hard to pull off : just like regular cube, lacking redundancy in 1-2cc limits it. If you make this work, let me know.
Blue is good: blue's themes are ramp (cost reduction/affinity) and tutors. Plus a lot of good stuffs. Personally I don't think blue needs a theme per se.
I think it needs a few more counters, but this depends on how controlling you want blue to be.
Black became a lot better with Kaladesh: Artifact synergy and Improvise cards made it better. Herald of Anguish is the bomb.
Red is fine with sac recur. In my cube though, I use Pirate's Pillage instead of Cathartic reunion. Testing will tell which you prefer.
Green is the problem child of artifacts. Of course it is #1 in hate but there is no real synergy. I have seen cubes use Investigate, +1/+1 counters, and Energy. Investigate is not a linear theme so there is no need to put in a lot, just the good ones (Tireless Tracker and Root Out). Energy I feel is too linear, and I personally don't want them because I don't want to limit my cube evolution with having this set of cards with Energy. Though I really want to hear on how your Energy theme goes... it really is in flavor for artifacts and it is present in all 5 colors as well. My green theme is "Doubling season" - counters and tokens, proliferate that go well with artifacts.
Individual cards comments:
Darksteel Mutation - good inclusion! I will definitely add this to my cue and alternate it with Declaration in Stone
Suggestions:
Shrewd Negotiation --> Steal Artifact latter is miles better.
Yawgmoth Demon --> Noxious Gearhulk: Gearhulk has no downside and is an artifact
Bludgeon Brawl --> Seems like a under powered card. Needs a lot of mana to equip (essentially 1 mana = +1/+0)
Brass's Bounty --> I feel this is too costly just to double your mana.
Notable missing cards:
Auriok Salvagers : Salvagers is a great card. Splashable, sturdy, and a great engine. Recur spellbombs or Expedition Maps, or even Hope of Ghirapur. Together with Salvaging Station, a small archtype on its own.
Artificer's Intuition for reanimator/tutor (works with above, too!)
Smokestack / Tangle Wire / Molder Slug / Glissa - With token makers and artifact removal, gives Green an archetype in cube : Stax
Gate to Phyrexia - a sac engine plus artifact removal in Black makes this a unique addition.
Nuisance Engine - I have found this to be a very useful card that synergizes with all archtyoes: equipment, affinity, sac, stax. A must include.
Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast - If you can fine one, add him. Personally looking for one.
Tezzeret - Any of the Tezzerets are great: add them if you have them.