You can use filters, painlands and bouncelands first. Then the shock lands, because they aren't that expensive anymore. Duals and Fetches can be last, as they're the most expensive... but they're also the most powerful and the most versatile.
in case you hadn't noticed, we do use all 10 filters, all 10 rav bounce lands, all 5 trilands, all 5 m10 duals, all 5 worldwake manduals, all 5 odyssey signet lands, and all 5 vivids. we use only enemy pains and enemy shocklands to balance the support for those color combinations - ally colors still get stronger support, but not totally lopsided support. my next step would probably be looking at the 5 ally pains and the zendikar enemy fetchlands. but that's certainly an investment.
on a separate note, i'm really a bit shocked at your hypocrisy. you insist that cards i think are powerful are actually terrible, and that your choices are much sounder, yet in your cube thread, people offer you many suggestions, nearly all of which you refuse. it is astoundingly arrogant.
it is not, nor has it ever been, a dragon cube. the total cmc has come down from nearly 3.6 to about 3.25, and we will be updating it with some of the aggro suggestions mentioned, which will further reduce that cost. it does seem, however, that people want highly aggressive decks to be prominent, rather than possible. I'm not convinced that running so many aggro cards is necessary, or balanced, especially in a cube that doesn't run jace the mind sculptor, force of will, sensei's divining top, mana drain, mana crypt, moxes, and other very expensive control elements to counteract the abundance of small creatures. i also generally believe that games do not become more fun as they become shorter - there is more intrigue and excitement to a 12 turn game than a 5 turn game. that said, I do appreciate the point that aggro is nearly unsupportable in our current cube, and will take steps to rectify that.
on a separate note, even with a super-expensive mana base in one's cube, i find it hard to believe that running any super-color-intensive cards could be very efficient or powerful, e.g. ball lightning, phylactery lich, dawn elemental, groundbreaker, elemental appeal, etc. as such cards like arc runner don't seem so underwhelming... they seem, well, aggro.
and yes, it is more appropriate to use explosive vegetation than a second copy of kodama's reach, even if it is less powerful, because that's what using unique cards is about. sometimes the veg actually works out better.
I can't help but think that people are missing the point. Nobody is interested in discussing cube choices, only why I should change my cube to be more like theirs... is it truly possible that there are no novel ideas left? That every card not in someone's cube is just not good enough? I find it quite likely that some of the cards we use in my cube could be a lot of fun for other people's cubes, and I am not particularly interested in discussing that with someone who wouldn't or hasn't tried it. I insist that there is more than one way to make a fun, powerful, balanced cube, and that people should really consider the merits of some of the "unusual" cards listed. But alas, I've never found the general magic-playing community to be a particularly open-minded group of individuals.
@ wtwlf123
artifacts and enchantments are NOT the most powerful cards in our cube or meta. banefire is redirectable and totally counterable if you have fewer than six mana in pool.
but that doesn't even matter, i was not comparing it to banefire, the cards on the list that people use and i don't had fireball and comet storm. tuktuk is 5 power for 3 after a chump block - nothing but fun. fierce empath - survival of the fittest ISN'T around, it costs 20 friggin dollars.
i wildly disagree with your assessment of bloom tender.
again about hua tuo, volrath's stronghold is way expensive. oh, and weren't you making such a fuss about mana costs? genesis costs 2 more and his ability costs 3. you're spending at least 5 more mana before accomplishing anything. quicksilver amulet is a much better card when you have bigger threats - part of the reason it's not very good in some cubes is that they run jackal pup and savannah lions instead of akroma, angel of fury and akroma, angel of wrath.
how is winter orb good in draft? makes perfect sense in constructed, not in draft.
i already went over why duplicates are stupid, but we'll address it again - if i put cultivate and kodama's reach in my cube, i may as well put 2 of whatever else i like - doom blade, animate dead, mother of runes, sol ring, mind twist, etc. hell, why not 3 or 4? functional reprints are not new cards, they are new names for the same thing - calling them different is semantic and a misunderstanding of what makes a card unique.
some of your arguments are interesting though. i will consider the skyfisher, the shade. dunno about the magpie - seems very underwhelming. if my opponent couldn't play a flyer or remove mine by turn 5, why didn't i just play a bigger one (voyager drake, esperzoa, serendib efreet) and kill them instead of drawing?
willbender costs 5 mana - you seem to have really spotty ideas of what costs too much. decree of justice won't provide you with "an army" of angels if you have fewer than 10 or 12 mana. and an army of soldiers is pretty underwhelming turn 7 or 8 without considerable support (honor of the pure, crusade, coat of arms, etc.) keldon vandals costs 6 mana with the echo, and doesn't have haste. also he doesn't even give you an option, so if you're the only one with an artifact in play, he majorly sucks.
just some thoughts on your comments. a card is not necessarily the best for two different cubes. i'm just not sure disenchant & company is anywhere near as good, for example, without jitte, top, moxen, lotus, braid of fire, erayo's essence, etc.
decree of justice
thieving magpie
upheaval
force spike
willbender
mogg fanatic - rules changes make it not so good
flame javelin - why not just lightning blast?
kargan dragonlord - slow, easily removed
keldon vandals
goblin patrol
jackal pup
fireball / comet storm (we've already six of these and they're better)
kor skyfisher
disenchant
savannah lions - no functional duplicates
enclave cryptologist - slow
repeal - why not repulse?
dark confidant - can be so detrimental
nantuko shade - too black
bone shredder - slow, expensive, restrictions
braids, cabal minion - why not magus of the abyss? or if you're spending a lot, the abyss?
stonewood invocation
indrik stomphowler
viridian shaman
joraga treespeaker - devoted druid seems much better
great sable stag - was unimpressive
deranged hermit
woodfall primus - kalonian behemoth and tornado elemental were faster/more problematic
cultivate - duplicate of kodama's reach
krosan grip - we don't like straight disenchants
winter orb
triskelion - i like triskelavus better
oblivion stone - seems slow
Cards we will have soon
elspeth
time spiral
nezumi graverobber
nezumi shortfang
innocent blood
I appreciate your help. I tried several times to fix the formatting issues and whatnot and I can't seem to get it to stick. It is not a very intuitive system. And by signet lands I meant shadowblood ridge, darkwater catacombs, mossfire valley, sungrass prarie, and skycloud expanse. I'm also very impressed with your section on unusual choices, but I would love to hear what you or anyone else thinks about them - which ones you would consider using, and which ones I should consider not.
I designed a cube about 2 years ago with the help of two of my closest friends. we've been modifying it for some time, and have kept a list of the cards that have come out. very happy with its performance, also completely open to commentary. the cube is geared to support a broad array of fun builds, and has a slight multicolor bent, though we've striven greatly to reduce the ubiquity of 4 and 5 color draft builds. fairly new to posting on mtgs, so hope this works :-P the formatting seems rather inane and i can't seem to keep the spacing and links all in order, nor can i find the hide function. but i shall learn as i go. The cube is 522 cards - 60 of each color, 60 colorless, 75 nonbasic land, 7 or 8 for each guild, 2 for each ally shard, 3 enemy shard cards, 1 pris card. no power, and many expensive cards missing, as we slowly and prudently acquire them at below-market prices. certainly looking forward to recurring nightmare, survival of the fittest, chain lightning, gaea's cradle, etc. someday. but generally anything under $4-5 we buy without reservation, and things $5-10 we buy over time. We do not condone duplicates at all (functional reprints etc.) as they are clearly not the point - you may as well just put in two or more of whatever cards you like at that point. furthermore, we fully support wizards' intelligent decision to stop printing wrath of god in favor of day of judgment - regeneration should actually be worth something.
I can't believe there's so much inane banter about Tezzeret's race (or meddling mage, or anyone else.) Maybe they should just start printing every magic character in blue or pink so that you'd realize they are fictional, from a mystical universe, and certainly not in any way related to any European, African, or Asian person. The characters of Dominaria and every other plane have their own races, none of which are in any way the races in our world. Jhessian, Krosan, Yavimayan, or perhaps Myr, Kami, or Nightstalker. Not to mention the humanoid Merrow, Cinder, and Treefolk. There are no black or white people, and I'm quite certain if you ask Wizards, they'll provide you with the same answer.
AFAIK, its not illegal to post links to stores. I've done it, when people request specific stuff that isn't easily found (like foreign packs) with no problems. I believe only problem would be if you started spamming links to a store, in which case you could be seen as spamming advertisement to said store, but that would be extreme cases. I often speak of internet retailer I use the most (TrollAndToad, am actually waiting for them to put the duel deck for sale), and I've never been warned or even looked down upon because of that.
Thanks Tizzy! I found them at this yahoo shop called CCG Armory. Never ordered from them before, but they seem reputable. I normally order from CoolStuffInc, and their customer service is very good, so I asked them if they could price match or least come closer, but they said no. They have it listed at 34.99 and most places seem to be pre ordering them for 28-40 dollars.
These products should not be sold at prices exploiting their limited production. It is unreasonable, and Wizards should ensure price stability if it wishes to maintain the facade of an honorable corporation. Wal-mart is certainly not, and should not be considered a card-buying alternative under any circumstances. They move into small communities, outprice local competitors until they go out of business, then hire the now unemployed local populace to work at the Wal-mart, where they now have complete control over product pricing and wages. It's insidious and disgusting. But regarding how to find these at a reasonable price, I pre-ordered them at MSRP from an online retailer. I am happy to post the website, but I'm just getting started really on this site, so I'm not sure if that's allowed. Perhaps a vet or mod can advise...?
Regarding the decks, I love Elspeth and I think 30+ is outrageous for a card when you can build a fun deck at that price, and I've always liked Tez, so I'm VERY excited to see them both for about 20 dollars. I've also been reasonably impressed with some of the previous duel deck includes: alt art harmonize, alt art snuff out, gush, alt art counterspell, flame jav, alt art fact or fiction, alt art blastoderm, etc.
I can't believe anyone is actually talking about cards that cycle for 0 or even 1 colorless without a drawback (pay life, etc.) there have only been five cards in the game so far that cycle for 1cc (the cycle of cycling lands) and i doubt they will be doing much of that - it is quite powerful. above all, if something cycles for anything less than 3 mana, you will NOT be getting a creature out of the deal.
people have mentioned the few one drops in limited that are good right now, but it seems a little preposterous that no one has mentioned the best and by far most valuable 1 drop in the block, if not all of type 2 - noble hierarch. furthermore, bloodhall ooze is excellent. and court homunculus is reasonably strong as well.
1 drops are not very important in limited or in an environment with many CIPT lands. anyone who can't enjoy a set without 1 drops needs to calm down or go away. the game is to be enjoyed, not to cause rage or anguish.
i also think for what it's worth that this could be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to try something new. those whose minds are closed find less surprise and less joy in life than those whose minds are open.
in case you hadn't noticed, we do use all 10 filters, all 10 rav bounce lands, all 5 trilands, all 5 m10 duals, all 5 worldwake manduals, all 5 odyssey signet lands, and all 5 vivids. we use only enemy pains and enemy shocklands to balance the support for those color combinations - ally colors still get stronger support, but not totally lopsided support. my next step would probably be looking at the 5 ally pains and the zendikar enemy fetchlands. but that's certainly an investment.
on a separate note, i'm really a bit shocked at your hypocrisy. you insist that cards i think are powerful are actually terrible, and that your choices are much sounder, yet in your cube thread, people offer you many suggestions, nearly all of which you refuse. it is astoundingly arrogant.
on a separate note, even with a super-expensive mana base in one's cube, i find it hard to believe that running any super-color-intensive cards could be very efficient or powerful, e.g. ball lightning, phylactery lich, dawn elemental, groundbreaker, elemental appeal, etc. as such cards like arc runner don't seem so underwhelming... they seem, well, aggro.
and yes, it is more appropriate to use explosive vegetation than a second copy of kodama's reach, even if it is less powerful, because that's what using unique cards is about. sometimes the veg actually works out better.
artifacts and enchantments are NOT the most powerful cards in our cube or meta.
banefire is redirectable and totally counterable if you have fewer than six mana in pool.
but that doesn't even matter, i was not comparing it to banefire, the cards on the list that people use and i don't had fireball and comet storm.
tuktuk is 5 power for 3 after a chump block - nothing but fun.
fierce empath - survival of the fittest ISN'T around, it costs 20 friggin dollars.
i wildly disagree with your assessment of bloom tender.
again about hua tuo, volrath's stronghold is way expensive. oh, and weren't you making such a fuss about mana costs? genesis costs 2 more and his ability costs 3. you're spending at least 5 more mana before accomplishing anything.
quicksilver amulet is a much better card when you have bigger threats - part of the reason it's not very good in some cubes is that they run jackal pup and savannah lions instead of akroma, angel of fury and akroma, angel of wrath.
how is winter orb good in draft? makes perfect sense in constructed, not in draft.
i already went over why duplicates are stupid, but we'll address it again - if i put cultivate and kodama's reach in my cube, i may as well put 2 of whatever else i like - doom blade, animate dead, mother of runes, sol ring, mind twist, etc. hell, why not 3 or 4? functional reprints are not new cards, they are new names for the same thing - calling them different is semantic and a misunderstanding of what makes a card unique.
some of your arguments are interesting though. i will consider the skyfisher, the shade. dunno about the magpie - seems very underwhelming. if my opponent couldn't play a flyer or remove mine by turn 5, why didn't i just play a bigger one (voyager drake, esperzoa, serendib efreet) and kill them instead of drawing?
willbender costs 5 mana - you seem to have really spotty ideas of what costs too much.
decree of justice won't provide you with "an army" of angels if you have fewer than 10 or 12 mana. and an army of soldiers is pretty underwhelming turn 7 or 8 without considerable support (honor of the pure, crusade, coat of arms, etc.)
keldon vandals costs 6 mana with the echo, and doesn't have haste. also he doesn't even give you an option, so if you're the only one with an artifact in play, he majorly sucks.
just some thoughts on your comments. a card is not necessarily the best for two different cubes. i'm just not sure disenchant & company is anywhere near as good, for example, without jitte, top, moxen, lotus, braid of fire, erayo's essence, etc.
Cards I Don't See As Good
decree of justice
thieving magpie
upheaval
force spike
willbender
mogg fanatic - rules changes make it not so good
flame javelin - why not just lightning blast?
kargan dragonlord - slow, easily removed
keldon vandals
goblin patrol
jackal pup
fireball / comet storm (we've already six of these and they're better)
kor skyfisher
disenchant
savannah lions - no functional duplicates
enclave cryptologist - slow
repeal - why not repulse?
dark confidant - can be so detrimental
nantuko shade - too black
bone shredder - slow, expensive, restrictions
braids, cabal minion - why not magus of the abyss? or if you're spending a lot, the abyss?
stonewood invocation
indrik stomphowler
viridian shaman
joraga treespeaker - devoted druid seems much better
great sable stag - was unimpressive
deranged hermit
woodfall primus - kalonian behemoth and tornado elemental were faster/more problematic
cultivate - duplicate of kodama's reach
krosan grip - we don't like straight disenchants
winter orb
triskelion - i like triskelavus better
oblivion stone - seems slow
Cards we will have soon
elspeth
time spiral
nezumi graverobber
nezumi shortfang
innocent blood
And some not so soon...
glen elendra archmage
inferno titan
sarkhan vol
broodmate dragon
tangle wire
Great ideas - thanks!
necromancy
wall of roots
grafted wargear
Too much money!
gideon jura
sensei's divining top
umezawa's jitte
grim monolith
scroll rack
cursed scroll
jace, the mind sculptor
damnation
all revised duals
grim lavamancer
survival of the fittest
nicol bolas, planeswalker
noble heirarch
lotus cobra
berserk
tarmogoyf
all excluded nonbasic lands
Cards I'm surprised other cubes don't use
browbeat
tuktuk
no kaervek's torch
fumiko
beacon of destruction
mycoid shepherd
creakwood liege
disintegrate
taurean mauler
fierce empath
quicksilver amulet
gorgon flail
lotus blossom
explosive vegetation
bloom tender
hua tuo
pillory of the sleepless
//1
1 Devoted Caretaker
1 Elite Vanguard
1 Goldmeadow Harrier
1 Isamaru, Hound of Konda
1 Mother of Runes
1 Student of Warfare
1 Weathered Wayfarer
//2
1 Avenger en-Dal
1 Beloved Chaplain
1 Samurai of the Pale Curtain
1 Soltari Trooper
1 Wall of Omens
1 Whipcorder
//3
1 Intrepid Hero
1 Kor Sanctifiers
1 Lieutenant Kirtar
1 Mangara of Corondor
1 Mirror Entity
1 Paladin en-Vec
1 Soltari Champion
1 Soltari Crusader
1 Soltari Visionary
1 Commander Eesha
1 Voice of All
1 Wall of Reverence
//5
1 Archon of Justice
1 Battlegrace Angel
1 Glory
1 Reveillark
1 Voidstone Gargoyle
1 World Queller
//6
1 Deathless Angel
1 Exalted Angel
1 Sun Titan
1 Yosei, the Morning Star
//7
1 Vengeful Archon
1 Windbrisk Raptor
//8
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
//Non-creature Spells
//1
1 Condemn
1 Emerge Unscathed
1 Land Tax
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Balance
1 Cho-Manno's Blessing
1 Eternal Dragon
1 Journey to Nowhere
1 Temporal Isolation
//3
1 Devouring Light
1 Exile
1 Hold the Line
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Safe Passage
1 Scepter of Dominance
//4
1 Ajani Goldmane
1 Armageddon
1 Day of Judgment
//5
1 Hallowed Burial
//6
1 Austere Command
1 Catastrophe
//1
1 Bloodhall Ooze
1 Dragonmaster Outcast
1 Magus of the Scroll
//2
1 Ember Hauler
1 Soulbright Flamekin
1 Stigma Lasher
//3
1 Arc Runner
1 Cunning Sparkmage
1 Hell's Thunder
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1 Rage Nimbus
1 Taurean Mauler
1 Tuktuk the Explorer
1 Vithian Stinger
//4
1 Anger
1 Avalanche Riders
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Fumiko the Lowblood
1 Jeska, Warrior Adept
1 Seismic Mage
1 Fire Servant
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Kumano, Master Yamabushi
//6
1 Mordant Dragon
//7
1 Hateflayer
1 Shivan Hellkite
//8
1 Akroma, Angel of Fury
1 Scourge of Kher Ridges
//Non-creature Spells
//1
1 Burst Lightning
1 Firebolt
1 Flame Slash
1 Forked Bolt
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Raze
1 Rift Bolt
//2
1 Dead // Gone
1 Fling
1 Incinerate
1 Lash Out
1 Magma Jet
1 Sudden Shock
1 Breaking Point
1 Browbeat
1 Molten Rain
1 Pillage
1 Pulse of the Forge
1 Staggershock
1 Wheel of Fortune
//4
1 Grab the Reins
//5
1 Beacon of Destruction
1 Chandra Nalaar
1 Incendiary Command
1 Lightning Surge
//6 None
//X
1 Demonfire
1 Disintegrate
1 Earthquake
1 Kaervek's Torch
1 Rolling Thunder
1 Starstorm
//1
1 Cursecatcher
//2
1 Alluring Siren
1 Augury Owl
1 Fog Bank
//3
1 Guard Gomazoa
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Man-o'-War
1 Serendib Efreet
1 Tideforce Elemental
1 Wake Thrasher
//4
1 Clone
1 Conundrum Sphinx
1 Sakashima the Impostor
//5
1 Ixidron
1 Vesuvan Doppelganger
1 Vesuvan Shapeshifter
//6
1 Arcanis the Omnipotent
1 Keiga, the Tide Star
1 Quicksilver Dragon
1 Sphinx of Jwar Isle
1 Sphinx of Magosi
1 Palinchron
//8
1 Stormtide Leviathan
//Non-creature Spells
//1
1 Ancestral Vision
1 Annul
1 Brainstorm
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Distortion Strike
1 Intervene
1 Spell Snare
1 Spell Pierce
1 Unsummon
//2
1 Confound
1 Counterspell
1 Delay
1 Deprive
1 Dance of Many
1 Mana Leak
1 Negate
1 Ovinize
1 Remand
1 Remove Soul
1 Capsize
1 Consign to Dream
1 Exclude
1 Forbid
1 Windfall
//4
1 Control Magic
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Rite of Replication
1 Sleep
//5
1 Bribery
1 Desertion
1 Future Sight
1 Jace's Ingenuity
1 Recantation
1 Tidings
1 Treachery
//X
1 Mind Spring
//1
1 Prickly Boggart
1 Vampire Lacerator
//2
1 Child of Night
1 Dauthi Horror
1 Oona's Prowler
1 Rathi Trapper
//3
1 Dauthi Marauder
1 Dauthi Mercenary
1 Dusk Urchins
1 Hypnotic Specter
1 Royal Assassin
1 Stinkweed Imp
1 Vampire Nighthawk
//4
1 Ashling, the Extinguisher
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Mirri the Cursed
1 Shimian Specter
1 Smoldering Butcher
//5
1 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
1 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
1 Sengir Nosferatu
1 Dread
1 Grave Titan
1 Laquatus's Champion
1 Kokusho, the Evening Star
1 Twisted Abomination
//Non-creature Spells
//1
1 Disfigure
1 Funeral Charm
1 Reanimate
1 Unearth
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Vendetta
1 Virulent Swipe
//2
1 Animate Dead
1 Chainer's Edict
1 Dance of the Dead
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Doom Blade
1 Hymn to Tourach
1 Scepter of Fugue
1 Smother
1 Dauthi Embrace
1 Eyeblight's Ending
1 Rend Flesh
1 Stupor
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Victimize
//4
1 Consuming Vapors
1 Despoil
1 Diabolic Servitude
1 Makeshift Mannequin
1 Snuff Out
//5
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Decree of Pain
1 Liliana Vess
1 Rise from the Grave
//6
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
//X (//2)
1 Mind Twist
1 Suffer the Past
//1
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Nimble Mongoose
1 Scute Mob
//2
1 Bloom Tender
1 Devoted Druid
1 Fauna Shaman
1 Gemhide Sliver
1 Harvester Druid
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Skyshroud Elf
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Wall of Blossoms
//3
1 Eternal Witness
1 Fierce Empath
1 Hua Tuo, Honored Physician
1 Imperious Perfect
1 Isao, Enlightened Bushi
1 Mul Daya Channelers
1 Ohran Viper
1 Troll Ascetic
1 Blastoderm
1 Briarhorn
1 Cudgel Troll
1 Elvish Piper
1 Nantuko Vigilante
1 Wolfbriar Elemental
//5
1 Acidic Slime
1 Arashi, the Sky Asunder
1 Garruk's Packleader
1 Genesis
1 Kodama of the North Tree
1 Silklash Spider
//6
1 Rampaging Baloths
1 Silvos, Rogue Elemental
1 Terra Stomper
//7
1 Kalonian Behemoth
1 Pelakka Wurm
1 Protean Hulk
1 Spearbreaker Behemoth
1 Tornado Elemental
//1
1 Crop Rotation
1 Giant Growth
1 Hidden Predators
1 Rancor
1 Reclaim
//2
1 Farseek
1 Prismatic Omen
1 Regrowth
1 Sylvan Library
1 Tangle
1 Vines of Vastwood
//3
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Krosan Tusker
1 Realms Uncharted
//4
1 Explosive Vegetation
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Harmonize
1 Mwonvuli Acid-Moss
//5
1 Primal Command
1 Bituminous Blast
1 Blightning
1 Lightning Reaver
1 Void
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Torrent of Souls
//GW
1 Behemoth Sledge
1 Enlisted Wurm
1 Loxodon Hierarch
1 Mycoid Shepherd
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Oracle of Nectars
//WB
1 Angel of Despair
1 Death Grasp
1 Gerrard's Verdict
1 Mortify
1 Pillory of the Sleepless
1 Deathbringer Liege
1 Debtors' Knell
1 Unmake
//GU
1 Plaxmanta
1 Lorescale Coatl
1 Mystic Snake
1 Trygon Predator
1 Murkfiend Liege
1 Snakeform
1 Spitting Image
1 Putrefy
1 Spiritmonger
1 Cankerous Thirst
1 Creakwood Liege
1 Drain the Well
1 Gleancrawler
1 Rendclaw Trow
//RG
1 Bloodbraid Elf
1 Burning-Tree Shaman
1 Frenzied Tilling
1 Kird Ape
1 Rumbling Slum
1 Stormbind
1 Voracious Cobra
//UB
1 Agony Warp
1 Kathari Remnant
1 Shadowmage Infiltrator
1 Tidehollow Strix
1 Wrexial, the Risen Deep
1 Oona, Queen of the Fae
1 Sygg, River Cutthroat
//RW
1 Ajani Vengeant
1 Lightning Helix
1 Orim's Thunder
1 Stun Sniper
1 Balefire Liege
1 Order // Chaos
1 Rise of the Hobgoblins
1 Electrolyze
1 Gelectrode
1 Jhoira of the Ghitu
1 Prophetic Bolt
1 Schismotivate
1 Mindwrack Liege
1 Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
1 Noggle Bandit
//UW
1 Aven Mimeomancer
1 Azorius Herald
1 Court Hussar
1 Dismantling Blow
1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
1 Wall of Denial
1 Azorius Guildmage
1 Minister of Impediments
//3+color
//RGW
1 Retaliator Griffin
1 Trace of Abundance
//WUB
1 Ethersworn Adjudicator
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
//BRG
1 Hellkite Overlord
1 Lavalanche
//GWU
1 Rafiq of the Many
1 Empyrial Archangel
//URB
1 Rise // Fall
1 Thraximundar
//ENEMY TRIADS
1 Crime // Punishment
1 Hide // Seek
1 Numot, the Devastator
1 Bringer of the Blue Dawn
//Creatures
//2
1 Runed Servitor
//3
1 Cathodion
1 Scuttlemutt
1 Suntouched Myr
//4
1 Masticore
1 Solemn Simulacrum
//5 None
//6
1 Duplicant
//7
1 Grim Poppet
1 Pentavus
1 Triskelavus
//8
1 Sundering Titan
//Non-creature Spells
1 Mox Diamond
//1
1 Æther Vial
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Bonesplitter
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Mana Vault
1 Pithing Needle
1 Sol Ring
1 Skullclamp
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Coldsteel Heart
1 Fellwar Stone
1 Gorgon Flail
1 Isochron Scepter
1 Journeyer's Kite
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Lotus Blossom
1 Mind Stone
1 Pentad Prism
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Specter's Shroud
1 Sun Droplet
//3
1 Basalt Monolith
1 Coalition Relic
1 Crystal Ball
1 Crystal Shard
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Puppet Strings
1 Quietus Spike
1 sword of body and mind
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Vengeance
1 Whispersilk Cloak
1 Erratic Portal
1 Icy Manipulator
1 Jester's Cap
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Power Matrix
1 Quicksilver Amulet
1 Phyrexian Processor
1 Summoner's Egg
//5
1 Angelheart Vial
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Memory Jar
1 Predator, Flagship
//6
1 Obelisk of Alara
//X
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Shadowblood Ridge
1 Darkwater Catacombs
1 Mossfire Valley
1 Skycloud Expanse
1 Sungrass Prarie
//Trilands
1 Arcane Sanctum
1 Crumbling Necropolis
1 Jungle Shrine
1 Savage Lands
1 Seaside Citadel
//Vivid lands
1 Vivid Crag
1 Vivid Creek
1 Vivid Meadow
1 Vivid Grove
1 Vivid Marsh
//Rav bouncelands
1 Azorius Chancery
1 Boros Garrison
1 Dimir Aqueduct
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Gruul Turf
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Rakdos Carnarium
1 Selesnya Sanctuary
1 Simic Growth Chamber
1 Mystic Gate
1 Sunken Ruins
1 Graven Cairns
1 Fire-Lit Thicket
1 Wooded Bastion
1 Cascade Bluffs
1 Fetid Heath
1 Flooded Grove
1 Rugged Prairie
1 Twilight Mire
//M10 lands
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Drowned Catacomb
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Sunpetal Grove
//worldwake manduals
1 Celestial Colonnade
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Lavaclaw Reaches
1 Raging Ravine
1 Stirring Wildwood
//rav enemy duals
1 Breeding Pool
1 Godless Shrine
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Shivan Reef
1 Yavimaya Coast
1 Llanowar Wastes
1 City of Brass
1 Crystal Quarry
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Gemstone Mine
1 Grand Coliseum
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Kor Haven
1 Krosan Verge
1 Lotus Vale
1 Murmuring Bosk
1 Rupture Spire
1 Scorched Ruins
1 Sejiri Steppe
1 Strip Mine
1 Terramorphic Expanse
Thanks so much to Eidolon 232 for the help!!!
Thanks Tizzy! I found them at this yahoo shop called CCG Armory. Never ordered from them before, but they seem reputable. I normally order from CoolStuffInc, and their customer service is very good, so I asked them if they could price match or least come closer, but they said no. They have it listed at 34.99 and most places seem to be pre ordering them for 28-40 dollars.
Regarding the decks, I love Elspeth and I think 30+ is outrageous for a card when you can build a fun deck at that price, and I've always liked Tez, so I'm VERY excited to see them both for about 20 dollars. I've also been reasonably impressed with some of the previous duel deck includes: alt art harmonize, alt art snuff out, gush, alt art counterspell, flame jav, alt art fact or fiction, alt art blastoderm, etc.
I can't believe anyone is actually talking about cards that cycle for 0 or even 1 colorless without a drawback (pay life, etc.) there have only been five cards in the game so far that cycle for 1cc (the cycle of cycling lands) and i doubt they will be doing much of that - it is quite powerful. above all, if something cycles for anything less than 3 mana, you will NOT be getting a creature out of the deal.
people have mentioned the few one drops in limited that are good right now, but it seems a little preposterous that no one has mentioned the best and by far most valuable 1 drop in the block, if not all of type 2 - noble hierarch. furthermore, bloodhall ooze is excellent. and court homunculus is reasonably strong as well.
1 drops are not very important in limited or in an environment with many CIPT lands. anyone who can't enjoy a set without 1 drops needs to calm down or go away. the game is to be enjoyed, not to cause rage or anguish.
i also think for what it's worth that this could be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to try something new. those whose minds are closed find less surprise and less joy in life than those whose minds are open.