I think with this block, at least, I am going to have to go up in #s from three in each guild section to 4 (or maybe, probably not) 5. However, my plan is to bias toward hybrid when deciding what to cut to keep the most playable set of cards possible.
So far I'm very high on:
Izzet Charm
Dreg Mangler
Lyev Skynight
Rakdos Shred-Freak
There are many things you can do here. The first is to keep your cube small. In a small cube you can have strong aggro cards without needing to drop down in power level to maintain a ratio of 1 drops, etc. Second, is to cut signets/bouncelands from cube, as they give fixing/acceleration to control decks that are basically useless to aggro decks. The last, which might be a little more contentious is regarding CC 2-drops like Knight of Meadowgrain or Blood Knight. While many of these are good, you need to keep plenty of 2-drops that aren't double color like this, as otherwise the mana gets extremely rough for aggro decks.
As far as fixing is concerned, the painlands are fine in aggro decks but pretty bad overall, and strongly behind the duals, shocks, fetches, scars lands (which are awesome), and probably m10 lands as well. The main issue with filters is they don't cast 1 drops, but they are nice cuz you can go t1 Jackal Pup Turn 2 Strangleroot Geist.
Some cards are too good for an environment. Library, Drain, Sol Ring should never really be in C/Ube they're just too good. Similar arguments could be made for Skullclamp. Savannah Lions is technically a rare. I don't love dreamscape artist, how has it been for you? Signal Pest is suspect to me, but I've never played with it in cube. I like Snakeform over Coatl, as a big beater is pretty boring for gold cards, I would swing pilgrim as a green card so that you can run another GW gold card, as it can see play in Gx beyond GW, and there are so many good ones. I also like unburial rites over Verdict or Mortify.
Another whole thing is your lack of mana fixing beyond signets and bouncelands. You can use refuges and borderposts as well. Personally, because I like giving aggro a fair shake i caved and included painlands in the colors that want them over karoos.
So I haven't been able to cube much recently but I was going through prior drafts in my mind (mostly 2 or 4 person), and realizing how often the green aggressive cards, especially those with drawbacks, like Pouncing Jaguar are very often sitting on the sidelines. I'm considering totally changing up the green section in order to make it much more ramp focused and remove the blindingly aggressive cards for the most part. Thoughts? It would mean only 3 colors of truly supported aggro, but obviously many of the strong green cards are aggressive (Rancor, Mongrel, etc.), so some element would stay.
I would not sort volvers/battlemages/wild nacatl as tricolor, merely because I would play those cards in two color decks, at least in my peasant cube. Wild Nacatle is fine as a 2/2 for G in a GR or WG deck, so how is that the same as wooly thoctar?
I might have missed discussion, but here's my summary of cards from m13:
Attended Knight This card isn't great but might be good enough as a value 3 drop, obviously goes well with blink effects of which I play more than most. Testing this one.
Knight of Glory Testing this one as well. It feels underwhelming to me as it's a 2/1 and thus vulnerable, but it attacks with 3 power if you missed your one drop, and does something after it's been outclassed.
Archaeomancer Not planning on running this guy. The body is basically irrelevant compared to the roadblock that is Mnemonic Wall, and the UU isn't helping either.
Arctic Aven Testing this guy in UW, I think he should be good. The UW decks in my cube tend to be aggro-control so i think this guy fits very well.
Knight of Infamy This card, on the other hand, is a shoe-in. While white is in need of quality one drops, it's two drops that black needs. This guy slides in perfectly.
Murder I don't really know on this one. I'm pretty sure it's a mana too expensive, with the double cost and altogether boring and just unnecessary.
I never included this card, because it's either bad, or good & non-interactive. While it's probably powerful enough for 450-500, I don't like it rewards good drafting, or play-skill and is simply bad design, so I didn't bother to include it when there are plenty of other options.
I really like this card but that might have to do with my obsession with graveyard interaction. Discarding this card to compulsive, a looter, etc. it very, very pleasing. That being said, the rate on this card is kind of annoying and often it rots in my hand because 4 mana is a lot. I could see cutting this eventually in a smaller cube.
Personally, I like snakeform over leafdrake roost as Snakeform is removal + can trip often in a color combo that struggles in that dept. Leafdrake roost is just another curve topper//ramp target, two things that are plentiful in UG.
Also, there are so many options in WG more exciting than Wilt Leaf Cavaliers. Is Kitchen Finks too expensive? That might be the best WG card overall. After that, Enlisted Wurm might be better.
Other than the multicolor, the list seems nice though. Utopia Sprawl vs. Explore I'd tend to go for explore but I understand the desire for the t1 accelerator, just be prepared to be blown out by the red player's Pillage or Avalanche Riders.
I could go on about Karoo's but why, that's kind of a big deal. Also the whole cylce vs. no cycle thing, considering how Boros Garrison is pretty much worse than the rest of the karoos, Rakdos Carnarium is pretty miserable as well.
I'm curious that 0 people on this forum are running this card. according to Eidolon's thread, 65 people are running impulse, and while that's an instant and digs one card deeper, I'm sure some of those people are supporting reanimator.
Is it just price? Like not worth the price for an average card? Do a lot of people not run portal cards at all? I would definitely run this in the 500 range if I supported reanimator.
PS: Can someone PM me how to post a card image without breaking any rules? I tried to read the rules but it confuses me. I added it for you
-:ER:
I don't have a ton of pauper cube experience but I can't imagine having too many volc hammer variants could really be a bad thing. It is simply a very good, efficient card, even in regular cube (at bigger sizes, maybe).
I hate the fact that they have to have a target, as sometimes this can't function as reach, that said its fine, it's Just the consistency vs power question.
So far I'm very high on:
Izzet Charm
Dreg Mangler
Lyev Skynight
Rakdos Shred-Freak
and unsure otherwise.
As far as fixing is concerned, the painlands are fine in aggro decks but pretty bad overall, and strongly behind the duals, shocks, fetches, scars lands (which are awesome), and probably m10 lands as well. The main issue with filters is they don't cast 1 drops, but they are nice cuz you can go t1 Jackal Pup Turn 2 Strangleroot Geist.
Another whole thing is your lack of mana fixing beyond signets and bouncelands. You can use refuges and borderposts as well. Personally, because I like giving aggro a fair shake i caved and included painlands in the colors that want them over karoos.
I like this list a lot, just sharing opinions.
Attended Knight This card isn't great but might be good enough as a value 3 drop, obviously goes well with blink effects of which I play more than most. Testing this one.
Knight of Glory Testing this one as well. It feels underwhelming to me as it's a 2/1 and thus vulnerable, but it attacks with 3 power if you missed your one drop, and does something after it's been outclassed.
Archaeomancer Not planning on running this guy. The body is basically irrelevant compared to the roadblock that is Mnemonic Wall, and the UU isn't helping either.
Arctic Aven Testing this guy in UW, I think he should be good. The UW decks in my cube tend to be aggro-control so i think this guy fits very well.
Talrand's Invocation Compares interestingly to Moan of the Unhallowed, which I run, so I'll probably add this one too. Flying is sweet!
Harbor Bandit Personally, I don't love this guy. I just don't think he's what I want in UB versus other options available with only 3 guild slots in my cube. Honestly, I'd take Agony Warp, Baleful Strix, Ribbons of Night, Recoil or Moroii over him.
Knight of Infamy This card, on the other hand, is a shoe-in. While white is in need of quality one drops, it's two drops that black needs. This guy slides in perfectly.
Murder I don't really know on this one. I'm pretty sure it's a mana too expensive, with the double cost and altogether boring and just unnecessary.
Crimson Muckdweller: Is this better than Murderous Redcap Blightning or Bituminous Blast? I think not.
Flames of the Firebrand Staple in my opinion. CA in red is awesome!
Searing Spear Staple.
Flinthoof Boar Awesome, flexible, can fill 2 or 3 on the curve. Just amazing in an aggressive RG shell.
I didn't include it before, but has anyone tried Prey Upon? Seem's like it could be decent removal for green.
Anything I missed?
Also, there are so many options in WG more exciting than Wilt Leaf Cavaliers. Is Kitchen Finks too expensive? That might be the best WG card overall. After that, Enlisted Wurm might be better.
Also, I think Spitemare is better than Hearthfire Hobgoblin That card was just never cast around here.
Other than the multicolor, the list seems nice though. Utopia Sprawl vs. Explore I'd tend to go for explore but I understand the desire for the t1 accelerator, just be prepared to be blown out by the red player's Pillage or Avalanche Riders.
I could go on about Karoo's but why, that's kind of a big deal. Also the whole cylce vs. no cycle thing, considering how Boros Garrison is pretty much worse than the rest of the karoos, Rakdos Carnarium is pretty miserable as well.
Strategic Planning
I'm curious that 0 people on this forum are running this card. according to Eidolon's thread, 65 people are running impulse, and while that's an instant and digs one card deeper, I'm sure some of those people are supporting reanimator.
Is it just price? Like not worth the price for an average card? Do a lot of people not run portal cards at all? I would definitely run this in the 500 range if I supported reanimator.
PS: Can someone PM me how to post a card image without breaking any rules? I tried to read the rules but it confuses me.
I added it for you
-:ER: