Hey guys. I've been reading through the thread but I wanted to get some feedback on some changes I plan on making. We still have 83 cards to go so I'm hoping for a few more cards. Here's what I'm planning on changing in my 500-card powered Cube:
Fiend Hunter for ???
Mindshrieker for Tezzeret the Seeker
Snapcaster Mage for Willbender
Bloodgift Demon for Thrashing Wumpus
Diregraf Ghoul for Black Knight
Vampire Interloper for Nezumi Shortfang
Liliana of the Veil for Necromancy
Kruin Outlaw // Terror of Kruin Pass for Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Devil's Play for Manabarbs
Olivia Voldaren for Blazing Specter
Geist of Saint Traft for Azorius Guildmage
CUT:
Twinblade Slasher
Wall of Blossoms
Ohran Viper
Life from the Loam
Naturalize
Creeping Mold
ADD:
Arbor Elf
Ambush Viper
Garruk Relentless
Rude Awakening
Tooth and Nail
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha
I'm trying to give green a shot in the arm since my buddies have lost respect for it & its recent showings have been pretty poor. Cutting Wall of Blossoms & Ohran Viper may seem nuts but I want to make green a little more ramp & finisher focused as opposed to these guys which don't really help that plan as much.
I'm mostly concerned with my Innistrad changes. Not all of these cards will make it for the long-term but I want to at least test them.
Feedback on my Innistrad changes or on how to improve green in my Cube would be appreciated. I mostly do 2-man drafts & I'm going to be doing quite a bit of them on Monday & Tuesday so I'm trying to get the proxies ready before then. Bear this in mind when critiquing
I love the new "fight" mechanic. I'm glad that it's evergreen as it is very intuitive. I hope it's on a card that's Cube-worthy.
Based on the very early previews, these are the changes I'm looking to make to my 500-card powered Cube:
Bloodgift Demon for Thrashing Wumpus
Diregraf Ghoul for Black Knight/Necromancy
Devil's Play for Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Olivia Voldaren for Blazing Specter
The Wumpus has never been that impressive & a 5-power flier with card draw seems pretty sweet. The inclusion of the Diregraf Ghoul is obvious. Necromancy has never been played in my Cube so I'm thinking of cutting that card. Black Knight is another possible cut but the pro-white seems pretty relevant.
Devil's Play may not make the Cube for the long-term since I feel like 5 X-spells out of 500 cards (Earthquake, Banefire, Fireball, Comet Storm, Rolling Earthquake) may be enough. I'm hesitant to cut Banefire like others have suggested since it's a guaranteed finisher when it hits 5. I like the power of inevitability when I have Banefire.
I like Blazing Specter *way* too much (it's in my Cube over Bit Blast) but I think that Olivia Voldaren is an upgrade to it. Olivia doesn't pass the terminate test but can control the board if left unchecked. Seems like a great curve-topper to BR aggro. Worth testing to me.
Feedback on any of my proposed changes would be appreciated. I can't wait to see more spoilers!
It's funny that you posted this thread since I've been working on a similar deck this weekend. Though somehow I cut the Blighted Agents along the way... Are the agents necessary with the other cards I'm running? Not trying to threadjack you or anything but we're both going for the same thing so I think feedback is good
My local meta is currently filled with lots of aggro (mono-black & especially mono-red are both quite popular):
4 Preordain
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Despise
2 Black Sun's Zenith
4 Mana Leak
2 Go For The Throat
4 Contagion Clasp
3 Tumble Magnet
4 Necropede
4 Phyrexian Crusader
2 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
Other cards worth considering Dismember & Blighted Agent as well as moving Corrupted Conscience & a 4th Tumble Magnet to the main deck. My decklist started with 4 Blighted Agents but after all the matches I played last Friday (and saw other people play) I am doubtful that the Agent would live to even make one hit. I'm just wondering how many infect sources I need to get the process started.
Viral Drake is a real interesting card. If he sticks he's obviously a great defender & a source of proliferate. I'm trying to keep my curve relatively low so I'm wondering how valuable he will be. I'm also evaluating my landbase. Are the Creeping Tar Pits worth it since we're not going for regular damage? CIPT is bad as well as the fact that they're not the plan-A of infect. I would like having more U/B sources so I could run the 4 Tec Edges. Maybe a better base would be 4 each of Tec Edge, Inkmoth, Tar Pit, Darkslick, Drowned, 3 Swamp, 3 Island? Still not sure on the Tar Pits.
I think KMC is generally considered best followed by DragonShield & Ultra Pro. I've used Ultra-Pro sleeves & I like them (moreso now that they've decreased the size). I think pricing is important on these & I haven't done any research since I blindly bought a ridiculous amount of Ultra Pro sleeves at my shop last year. My Ultra Pro's seem to break a lot (though I don't have a basis for comparison).
I definitely recommend using a dark color sleeve so nothing about the cards can be seen & they show wear much better. I use Black Ultra-Pro for my Cube.
Black Lotus is bonkers. Nothing worse than facing a turn 1 Elspeth or Lodestone Golem. Just insta-lose. At least with Sol Ring you have a turn to destroy it before you get crushed. No such luck with a Lotus.
I agree that it will be nicer but I've invested a decent amount in sleeving both of my Cubes so it will be a little while before I go to the new sleeves. But when I do, my rare Cube will get first dibs
I didn't see this posted anywhere but did you guys hear that ultra-pro changed their size of their standard sleeves? I bought an extra pack for my cube yesterday. I thought I was going crazy when some cards were sticking out further than the others. I do like the feel of the new sleeves more than the old ones. I don't have any experience with double-sleeving but I think it will be much tougher/not impossible with the new sleeves.
I would also recommend, if you're not already doing so, proxying the cards you haven't acquired yet. The "Make a Proxy" thread here is amazing, and I wish I had looked at it in depth earlier.
If you're got most of the cheaper cards already, hopefully you won't need to make that many proxies (<100). Then you can take your sweet time trading etc. (like what wtwlf123 said above) for the ones you're missing.
This is 100% how I feel. I just put together my cube and traded a bunch of cards for them. I wish I read the proxy thread before I started my cube. There is something to be said for playing with the real cards but it is equally awesome to test cards for free/before they're released (tonight I am cubing with half a dozen m12 cards). There are some cards I will never own (P9, library, mana drain, etc) so having sweet proxies of these is really nice. Not the same...but still pretty cool.
Cutting Draining Whelk would hurt my soul He has been a great card in several Cube matches we've played (5%-8% of them I'd estimate). I definitely see his drawbacks but it's hard to cut a card that has actually been really good in Cube play so far.
Since people are not sold on Desertion I'll just ask...when you played the card, how often did you counter something that you got to put into play? At first glance it seems like bribery though it's actually much worse since you have to keep your mana open & it may end up as a 5-mana counter. This card would be much better in my Commons Cube where the creature ratio is much higher.
I think for now I'll cut Future Sight & Desertion for Repeal & Into the Roil (lower CMC FTW!). I'll keep an eye on the Whelk and maybe cut it next time after we've played more matches. What about Inkwell Leviathan? Should that also be cut if I'm not heavily supporting reanimator? Edit: Nobody has ever played Inkwell Leviathan in their deck.
Wow. Thanks for the great feedback other king Disregard the previous list & here's the new one. I undid a few changes & moved a few others around. I wanted to cut some cards that have never seen play (Upheaval and Timetwister to name a few) even though I probably shouldn't. I just don't have experience with these cards to judge them. The only cuts I'm not too happy about are Obstinate Baloth & Makeshift Mannequin. I guess Repeal is one I should be unhappy about also (but it hasn't seen much play/hasn't been too great). Let me know if you guys can find a cut for these cards. My Cube is in my sig (500 card semi-powered Cube played mostly using 2 & 4 man drafts). Should I completely abandon reanimator as an archetype? Using a 500 card Cube plus doing fewer people with drafts means that it will be tougher to make it work as consistently as the other archetypes. I guess the only cuts would be Inkwell Leviathan...and that's it? Wow, I guess I'm not supporting it very much right now. I think I may cut the Leviathan for Keiga.
Any other suggestions are welcome. I proxy a decent amount of cards so money cards aren't an issue. Thanks!
EDIT: Has there been any talk of doing another PRE? I know my Cube would have been just awful without it.
IN for OUT
Phantasmal Image for Riftwing Cloudskate
Willbender for Jushi Apprentice
Frost Titan for Body Double
Gifts Given for Into the Roil
Jace, Memory Adept for Repeal
Dauthi Marauder for Makeshift Mannequin
Sinkhole for Night's Whisper
Dismember for Sudden Death
Nether Void for Liliana Vess
Rolling Earthquake for Starstorm
Chandra, the Firebrand for Bogardan Hellkite
Jungle Lion for Pelakka Wurm
Skinshifter for Albino Troll
Naturalize for Obstinate Baloth
Garruk, Primal Hunter for Stonewood Invocation
Green Sun's Zenith for Tooth and Nail
Mind Stone for Isochron Scepter
Edric, Spymaster of Trest for Lorescale Coatl
Vivid Crag for Izzet Boilerworks
Vivid Creek for Simic Growth Chamber
Vivid Grove for Boros Garrison
Vivid Marsh for Orzhov Basilica
TRIMMING THE MULTI-COLOR SECTION:
Spellskite for Teferi's Moat
Akroma's Vengeance for Void
Wake Thrasher for Boggart Ram-Gang
Fledgling Djinn for Loxodon Hierarch
Manabarbs for Tidehollow Sculler
Kodama of the North Tree for Putrefy
Vivid Meadow for Spitting Image
Hey guys. I just made the first major changes to my new semi-powered Cube. I wanted to get some feedback on what I did. It feels weird "venturing out on my own" so to say (since I used the community's rankings & feedback to build my Cube). Many of the cards I cut were either never used or didn't seem to perform very well. I also trimmed my multi-color section to 4 of each since I mostly do 2-4 person drafts. There are only a few cuts that I'm not sure about (Firebolt, Loxodon Hierarch, Void. and Boggart Ram-Gang). All of the other cuts seem fine to me... but my power-Cube experience is very limited. My Cube is in my sig. Some of my choices may seem strange (Hurricane to give green some reach & Fledgling Djinn to help black aggro) but I think they're worth testing.
Oh, and I'm still working on getting my CMC down. It just went from 3.08 to 3.02 & I'm still trying to get it under 3. Almost there!
IN for OUT
Stonecloaker for Mana Tithe
Phantasmal Image for Riftwing Cloudskate
Willbender for Jushi Apprentice
Frost Titan for Body Double
Gifts Given for Timetwister
Jace, Memory Adept for Repeal
Dauthi Marauder for Fume Spitter
Fledgling Djinn for Chainer's Edict
Entomb for Disfigure
Sinkhole for Night's Whisper
Dismember for Sudden Death
Nether Void for Liliana Vess
Rolling Earthquake for Starstorm
Demonfire for Firebolt
Chandra, the Firebrand for Bogardan Hellkite
Jungle Lion for Pelakka Wurm
Skinshifter for Albino Troll
Kodama of the North Tree for Gaea's Revenge
Naturalize for Obstinate Baloth
Garruk, Primal Hunter for Stonewood Invocation
Hurricane for Tooth and Nail
Mind Stone for Isochron Scepter
Edric, Spymaster of Trest for Lorescale Coatl
Vivid Crag for Izzet Boilerworks
Vivid Creek for Simic Growth Chamber
Vivid Grove for Boros Garrison
Vivid Marsh for Orzhov Basilica
TRIMMING THE MULTI-COLOR SECTION TO 4 OF EACH:
Spellskite for Teferi's Moat
Akroma's Vengeance for Void
Wake Thrasher for Boggart Ram-Gang
Phyrexian Rager for Loxodon Hierarch
Manabarbs for Stillmoon Cavalier
Primeval Titan for Putrefy
Vivid Meadow for Spitting Image
Ral Zarek
Spike Jester
Tattermunge Maniac
Voice of Resurgence
Far//Away
IN for OUT
AEtherling for Keiga, the Tide Star
Blood Scrivener for Nether Traitor
Pyrewild Shaman for Guttersnipe
Imperial Seal for Tombstalker
ADD:
Show and Tell
Willbender
Goblin Welder
Ghazban Ogre
Fastbond
Venser, the Sojourner
Burning-Tree Shaman
Far//Away
Olivia Voldaren
Mental Misstep
CUT:
Yosei, the Morning Star
Gideon, Champion of Justice
Stifle
Nantuko Vigilante
Triskelion
Add:
Fleshbag Marauder
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Oracle of Mul Daya
Boros Reckoner
Aurelia's Fury
Knight of the Reliquary
Spike Jester
Voice of Resurgence
Ral Zarek for Prophetic Bolt
Tattermunge Maniac
(Update Master List)
Add:
Karmic Guide
Seal of Cleansing
Opposition
Timetwister
Stifle
Necropotence
Smallpox for Vampire Interloper
Pox
Reassembling Skeleton for Fledgling Djinn
Geralf's Messenger for Liliana's Specter
Nether Traitor for Nezumi Cutthroat
Nether Void
Mogg Fanatic
Reckless Charge
Nantuko Vigilante for Blastoderm
Worldly Tutor for Primal Command
Regrowth
Craterhoof Behemoth
Gaea's Cradle for Pouncing Jaguar
Mayor of Avabruck for Skinshifter
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Leonin Relic-Warder
Nearheath Pilgrim
Compulsive Research
Mystical Tutor
Living Death
Chaos Warp
Pyroclasm
Natural Order
Ohran Viper
Primal Command
Duskmantle Seer
Ghor-Clan Rampager
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Reflecting Pool
Pithing Needle
Cut:
Azorius Arrester
Opposition
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Deadbridge Goliath
Regrowth
Erratic Portal
Venser, the Sojourner
Nemesis of Reason
Huntmaster of the Fells
Armada Wurm
Add: Prime Speaker Zegana
Cut: (no replacements yet)
Birthing Pod
Goblin Ruinblaster
Karmic Guide
Rakdos Shred-Freak
Vraska the Unseen
Weathered Wayfarer
Cut:
Desecration Demon
Yeva, Nature's Herald
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Seachrome Coast
Darkslick Shores
Blackcleave Cliffs
Copperline Gorge
Sarkhan Vol
Razorverge Thicket
Selesnya Charm
Fetid Heath
Isolated Chapel
Cascade Bluffs
Putrid Leech
Woodland Cemetery
Clifftop Retreat
Slayers' Stronghold
Flooded Grove
Add:
Tombstalker
Baleful Strix
Domri Rade
Armada Wurm
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Deathrite Shaman
Boros Charm
Gideon, Champion of Justice
Parallax Wave
Cyclonic Rift
Opposition
Abyssal Persecutor
Griselbrand
Banefire
Keldon Vandals
Blastoderm
Experiment One
Master of the Wild Hunt
Chrome Mox
IN for OUT
Ultimate Price for Disciple of Bolas
Guttersnipe for Ghitu Slinger
Sarkhan Vol for Flinthoof Boar
Angel of Serenity for Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Disciple of Bolas for Barter in Blood
Ball Lightning for Aftershock
Birthing Pod for Great Sable Stag
Add To Testing Zone:
Armada Wurm
Baleful Strix
Chaos Warp
Chrome Mox
Cyclonic Rift
Deathrite Shaman
Griselbrand
Massacre Wurm
Master of the Wild Hunt
Nantuko Vigilante
Natural Order
Opposition
Parallax Wave
Primal Command
Shardless Agent
Desecration Demon for Thrill-Kill Assassin
Arbor Elf for Blastoderm
Yeva, Nature's Herald for Phantom Centaur
Wolfir Silverheart for Thornling
Cut:
Desolation Angel
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Expanding the multicolor section:
Out:
Decree of Justice
Elspeth Tirel
Lu Xun, Scholar General
Pestermite
Nether Void
Stupor
Vexing Devil
Archwing Dragon
Ice Storm
Mirri's Guile
Add to the multicolor section:
Dryad Militant
Vraska the Unseen
IN for OUT
Precinct Captain for Lingering Souls
Jace, Architect of Thought for Wake Thrasher
Pack Rat for Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
Ash Zealot for Stone Rain
Deadbridge Goliath for Ulvenwald Tracker
Chromatic Lantern for Black Lotus
Azorius Arrester for Martial Coup
Thrill-Kill Assassin for Night's Whisper
Gore-House Chainwalker for Ember Hauler
Splatter Thug for Keldon Vandals
Flames of the Firebrand for Pyroclasm
Dreadbore for Terminate
Supreme Verdict for Azorious Signet
Dreg Mangler for Golgari Signet
Rakdos Shred-Freak for Rakdos Signet
Selesnya Charm for Selesnya Signet
Detention Sphere for Wall of Denial
Izzet Charm for Izzet Signet
Abrupt Decay for Putrefy
Lotleth Troll for Spiritmonger
Lingering Souls for Orzhov Signet
Armada Wurm for Sigarda, Host of Herons
Rakdos Cackler for Bituminous Blast
CHANGE:
Sublime Archangel for Temporal Isolation
Forbid for Coralhelm Commander
Frantic Search for Timetwister
Impulse for Mist Raven
Sneak Attack for Wildfire
Searing Blaze for Banefire
Growth Spasm for Edge of Autumn
Mirri's Guile for Vines of Vastwood
Hornet Queen for Rampaging Baloths
Mana Crypt for Perilous Myr
ADD:
Venser, the Sojourner
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
Bituminous Blast
Flinthoof Boar
Sigarda, Host of Herons
Fetid Heath
Cascade Bluffs
Putrefy
Lightning Helix
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
CUT:
Calciderm
Paladin en-Vec
Standstill
Palinchron
Puppeteer Clique
Tombstalker
Slagstorm
Chandra, the Firebrand
Mire Boa
Twinblade Slasher
Ajani, Caller of the Pride for Revoke Existence
Decree of Justice for Austere Command
Sea Gate Oracle for Ninja of the Deep Hours
Shelldock Isle for Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Into the Roil for Thieving Magpie
Inquisition of Kozilek for Disfigure
Sheoldred, Whispering One for Booster Tutor
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief for Slaughter Pact
Liliana of the Dark Realms for Innocent Blood
Searing Spear for Volcanic Hammer
Thundermaw Hellkite for Blast from the Past
Thragtusk for Kodama of the North Tree
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth for Pithing Needle
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre for Who/What/When/Where/Why
Temporal Isolation
Eternal Dragon
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Revoke Existence
Tinker
Gifts Ungiven
Thirst for Knowledge
Timetwister
Lu Xun, Scholar General for Opposition
Nezumi Graverobber
Entomb
Exhume
Dance of the Dead
Bonfire of the Damned for Fireball
Zealous Conscripts
Wildfire
Stone Rain
Kargan Dragonlord
Green Sun's Zenith
Primeval Titan
Farseek
Edge of Autumn
Horizon Canopy for Brushland
Slayers' Stronghold for Lightning Helix
Raging Ravine for Karplusan Forest
Thran Dynamo
Smokestack
Black Lotus
Worn Powerstone
Grand Coliseum
Pithing Needle for City of Ass
Mystic Crusader
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Akroma's Vengeance
Willbender
Gifts Ungiven
Forbid
Plague Sliver
Tragic Slip
Yawgmoth's Will
Forked Bolt
Searing Blaze
Flame Javelin
Avacyn's Pilgrim
Nantuko Vigilante
Overrun
Venser, the Sojourner
Agony Warp
Olivia Voldaren
Boggart Ram-Gang
Mirari's Wake
Move Lingering Souls to White
Jilt
Woodland Cemetery
Brion Stoutarm
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Precursor Golem
Restoration Angel for Emeria Angel
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite for Eternal Dragon
Silverblade Paladin for Silver Knight
Coralhelm Commander for Dismiss
Fettergeist for Mystical Tutor
Mist Raven for Impulse
Ninja of the Deep Hours for Capsize
Opposition for Into the Roil
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage for Jace, Memory Adept
Booster Tutor for Gatekeeper of Malakir
Vexing Devil for Zo-Zu the Punisher
Lightning Mauler for Blood Knight
Archwing Dragon for Moltensteel Dragon
Blast from the Past for Comet Storm
Ulvenwald Tracker for Mayor of Avabruck
Ice Storm for Harmonize
Grafted Wargear for Juggernaut
Erratic Portal for Steel Hellkite
Who/What/When/Where/Why for Crystal Ball
City of Ass for Tectonic Edge
Lone Missionary for Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Emeria Angel for Temporal Isolation
Mikaeus, the Lunarch for Goldmeadow Harrier
Daze for Timetwister
Pestermite for Inkwell Leviathan
Spined Thopter for Tinker
Standstill for Thirst for Knowledge
Nezumi Cutthroat for Nezumi Graverobber
Night's Whisper for Juzam Djinn
Sinkhole for Fume Spitter
Searing Blaze for Kargan Dragonlord
Zo-Zu the Punisher for Ravenous Baboons
Forked Bolt for Wildfire
Scavenging Ooze for Ohran Viper
Nantuko Vigilante for Oracle of Mul Daya
Nemesis of Reason for Havengul Lich
Rishadan Port for Chimeric Mass
Grim Monolith for Phyrexian Processor
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben for Decree of Justice
Dungeon Geists for Vesuvan Shapeshifter
Gravecrawler for Sorin Markov
Tragic Slip for Exhume
Stromkirk Noble for Crater Hellion
Torch Fiend for Magus of the Scroll
Hellrider for Zo-Zu the Punisher
Faithless Looting for Manabarbs
Avacyn's Pilgrim for Mold Shambler
Wolfbitten Captive for Gaea's Revenge
Strangleroot Geist for Green Sun's Zenith
Vorapede for Krosan Grip
Lingering Souls for Stillmoon Cavalier
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad for Mortify
Havengul Lich for Oona, Queen of the Fae
Hunt master of the Fells for Daybreak Ranger
Boggart Ram-Gang for Sarkhan Vol
Jilt for Desperate Ravings
Cloistered Youth (FOIL) for White Knight
Snapcaster Mage (PROXY) for Tezzeret the Seeker
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni (PROXY)
Diregraf Ghoul (PROMO) for Nezumi Shortfang
Vampire Interloper (FOIL) for Black Knight
Bloodgift Demon (PROXY) for Thrashing Wumpus
Liliana of the Veil (PROXY) for Sinkhole
Devil's Play (FOIL) for Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Brimstone Volley for Rift Bolt
Reckless Waif (FOIL) for Mogg Fanatic
Mayor of Avabruck (FOIL)
Garruk Relentless (PROXY) for Naturalize
Bramblecrush (FOIL) for Creeping Mold
Olivia Voldaren for Blazing Specter
Daybreak Ranger for Stormbind
Geist of Saint Traft for Azorius Guildmage
Desperate Ravings for Gelectrode
Reflecting Pool (PROXY) for Hex Parasite
Shrine of Burning Rage for Pithing Needle
Lavaclaw Reaches
Stirring Wildwood
Raging Ravine
Vivid Crag
Vivid Grove
Vivid Marsh
Reflecting Pool
Ratchet Bomb
*I added some M12 cards & also reduced the multi-color section to 4 of each. I mostly play with smaller groups so this small change will increase deck quality & consistency. I also made some other changes to try out some new cards.*
IN for OUT
Ravages of War for Celestial Crusader
Phantasmal Image for Riftwing Cloudskate
Willbender for Jushi Apprentice
Frost Titan for Body Double
Consecrated Sphinx for Draining Whelk
Keiga, the Tide Star for Desertion
Jace, Memory Adept for Future Sight
Dauthi Marauder for Makeshift Mannequin
Sinkhole for Night's Whisper
Dismember for Sudden Death
Nether Void for Liliana Vess
Stormblood Berserker for Dwarven Blastminer
Rolling Earthquake for Starstorm
Chandra, the Firebrand for Bogardan Hellkite
Jungle Lion for Pelakka Wurm
Skinshifter for Albino Troll
Naturalize for Obstinate Baloth
Garruk, Primal Hunter for Stonewood Invocation
Green Sun's Zenith for Tooth and Nail
Mind Stone for Isochron Scepter
Edric, Spymaster of Trest for Lorescale Coatl
Vivid Crag for Izzet Boilerworks
Vivid Creek for Simic Growth Chamber
Vivid Grove for Boros Garrison
Vivid Marsh for Orzhov Basilica
Reflecting Pool for Aether Vial
TRIMMING THE MULTI-COLOR SECTION:
Spellskite for Teferi's Moat
Akroma's Vengeance for Void
Wake Thrasher for Boggart Ram-Gang
Fledgling Djinn for Loxodon Hierarch
Manabarbs for Tidehollow Sculler
Kodama of the North Tree for Putrefy
Vivid Meadow for Spitting Image
The "Whammy"
This is by far the most popular format in my playgroup
Shuffle up the entire Cube & distribute three stacks of 40 cards. One stack is for each player and one is the community pile. Roll a die & the winner gets to choose whether they want to go first or second.
Player A draws four cards from his stack while player B flips one card face-up from the community pile. Player A chooses one of these five cards. He then passes the remaining cards face-up to player B while flipping another card face-up from the community pile. Player B chooses two of these cards. Player B passes the remaining cards back to player A. Player A puts the remaining cards in his hand & secretly chooses one. Player A then puts any leftover cards in his discard pile.
Now the players switch roles with player B drawing four cards from his pile while player A flips one card face-up from the community pile. The players alternate who goes first until all three piles are empty.
The “Whammy” is what this draft is called because each player gets one “whammy” per draft. This means that anytime it is the player's turn they are able to “whammy” one card that has been turned face-up from the community pile. A card that receives the “whammy” is exiled from the draft & cannot be chosen by any player. This can only be done during the player's turn (at sorcery speed) & only once per draft. It can only be applied to the cards turned face-up from the community pile & NOT cards from the player's stack.
The “bonus card” is the final card taken in the draft. After all piles are empty each player picks up their discard pile & takes one card to add to their draft pool. Any cards exiled from the “Whammy” cannot be chosen as the bonus card.
Build 40 card decks from the cards chosen & play!
This is just like regular sealed except you build two decks from your sealed pool. A 75-card sealed pool has worked well with our playgroup. Each player builds two completely separate decks with separate sideboards from their sealed pool. No cards can overlap between the two decks & sideboards. Each player chooses the deck they think is worse & those decks play a match first. Then each player plays a match using the deck they view as the better one. If the matches are split then each player battles using the deck that lost.
Accorder Paladin
Cloistered Youth
Elite Vanguard
Hero of Bladehold
Kor Sanctifiers
Kor Skyfisher
Steppe Lynx
Stormfront Pegasus
Student of Warfare
Wall of Omens
Day of Judgment
Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Journey to Nowhere
Path to Exile
My history with Cubes is pretty interesting. I built an all-Commons Cube in June 2010 designed for 2-man drafts. I didn't know about the MTGS Cube forum and just went through the commons boxes at my local shop. I balanced the colors by number of cards & ended up with like 323 cards in my first draft. As time went by I slowly added more cards & eventually got to 500. 500 was an arbitrary number that I picked since I didn't know anything about Cubes. My first builds had some pretty terrible cards & way too many gold cards...both problems of early drafts of Cubes. I eventually acquired all the cards I needed & foiled out a majority of my Commons Cube (it's nearly 400 foils at last check). My Commons Cube still has a little fat but overall I think it's pretty strong (and a blast to play).
Fast forward to the spring of 2011. I decided I wanted to live the dream & build a real powered Cube (with proxies of course). I had no idea where to start but I had found the MTGS Cube forum. I used the PRE (Project Rank Everything) lists as well as the top 20 by color lists as a starting point. I pretty much copied these slightly outdated lists verbatim and had a starting point for a Cube. I liquidated my entire standard collection (which at that time was massive) and was able to fund almost the entire Cube off of that (again...with proxies of the $50+ cards). I quickly saw that some cards on the lists didn't deserve to be there & had been usurped by more current (and better) cards. I was able to make some tweaks to my Cube & improve it quite a bit. Now I updated my Cube as soon as cards are spoiled as I proxy up some cards that I want to test before I buy them/before they're released. Tweaking the last few cards is more art than science to me & I'm always reading threads & talking to people to look for ideas on ways to better my Cube. I seriously check the MTGS forums multiple times a day as my obsession with the Cube has become quite strong.
There's a reason why I did it the right way with the powered Cube after doing it the wrong way with the Commons Cube; my card evaluation skills. I played Magic from Revised to Ice Age & again starting at Shards of Alara. It's really tough to properly evaluate cards that you've never seen played in an environment you don't know. Here are cards that I pretty much dismissed when I put them in my Cube but have since completely won games by themselves:
I do this to show many key cards would have never made my Cube if I only trusted my personal & inexperienced opinion. I can't imagine my Cube without any of those cards now that I've seen them in action. I would have never seen them in action if I didn't trust other people's experiences with the Cube. It was invaluable for me to have a "starting point" when building my Cube.
I always try to help people who seem to be posting for the first time since I know how much easier it is to build a Cube with help from experienced Cubers. There definitely is room for improvement but I'm really happy with the current status of the Cube. Any feedback is welcome.
Fiend Hunter for ???
Mindshrieker for Tezzeret the Seeker
Snapcaster Mage for Willbender
Bloodgift Demon for Thrashing Wumpus
Diregraf Ghoul for Black Knight
Vampire Interloper for Nezumi Shortfang
Liliana of the Veil for Necromancy
Kruin Outlaw // Terror of Kruin Pass for Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Devil's Play for Manabarbs
Olivia Voldaren for Blazing Specter
Geist of Saint Traft for Azorius Guildmage
CUT:
Twinblade Slasher
Wall of Blossoms
Ohran Viper
Life from the Loam
Naturalize
Creeping Mold
ADD:
Arbor Elf
Ambush Viper
Garruk Relentless
Rude Awakening
Tooth and Nail
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha
I'm trying to give green a shot in the arm since my buddies have lost respect for it & its recent showings have been pretty poor. Cutting Wall of Blossoms & Ohran Viper may seem nuts but I want to make green a little more ramp & finisher focused as opposed to these guys which don't really help that plan as much.
I'm mostly concerned with my Innistrad changes. Not all of these cards will make it for the long-term but I want to at least test them.
Feedback on my Innistrad changes or on how to improve green in my Cube would be appreciated. I mostly do 2-man drafts & I'm going to be doing quite a bit of them on Monday & Tuesday so I'm trying to get the proxies ready before then. Bear this in mind when critiquing
Based on the very early previews, these are the changes I'm looking to make to my 500-card powered Cube:
Bloodgift Demon for Thrashing Wumpus
Diregraf Ghoul for Black Knight/Necromancy
Devil's Play for Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Olivia Voldaren for Blazing Specter
The Wumpus has never been that impressive & a 5-power flier with card draw seems pretty sweet. The inclusion of the Diregraf Ghoul is obvious. Necromancy has never been played in my Cube so I'm thinking of cutting that card. Black Knight is another possible cut but the pro-white seems pretty relevant.
Devil's Play may not make the Cube for the long-term since I feel like 5 X-spells out of 500 cards (Earthquake, Banefire, Fireball, Comet Storm, Rolling Earthquake) may be enough. I'm hesitant to cut Banefire like others have suggested since it's a guaranteed finisher when it hits 5. I like the power of inevitability when I have Banefire.
I like Blazing Specter *way* too much (it's in my Cube over Bit Blast) but I think that Olivia Voldaren is an upgrade to it. Olivia doesn't pass the terminate test but can control the board if left unchecked. Seems like a great curve-topper to BR aggro. Worth testing to me.
Feedback on any of my proposed changes would be appreciated. I can't wait to see more spoilers!
My local meta is currently filled with lots of aggro (mono-black & especially mono-red are both quite popular):
4 Preordain
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Despise
2 Black Sun's Zenith
4 Mana Leak
2 Go For The Throat
4 Contagion Clasp
3 Tumble Magnet
4 Necropede
4 Phyrexian Crusader
2 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Darkslick Shores
6 Swamp
6 Island
2 Tectonic Edge
SIDEBOARD:
4 Flashfreeze
2 Black Sun's Zenith
2 Disfigure
2 Duress
1 Memoricide
1 Corrupted Conscience
1 Despise
1 Praetor's Grasp
1 Tumble Magnet
Other cards worth considering Dismember & Blighted Agent as well as moving Corrupted Conscience & a 4th Tumble Magnet to the main deck. My decklist started with 4 Blighted Agents but after all the matches I played last Friday (and saw other people play) I am doubtful that the Agent would live to even make one hit. I'm just wondering how many infect sources I need to get the process started.
Viral Drake is a real interesting card. If he sticks he's obviously a great defender & a source of proliferate. I'm trying to keep my curve relatively low so I'm wondering how valuable he will be. I'm also evaluating my landbase. Are the Creeping Tar Pits worth it since we're not going for regular damage? CIPT is bad as well as the fact that they're not the plan-A of infect. I would like having more U/B sources so I could run the 4 Tec Edges. Maybe a better base would be 4 each of Tec Edge, Inkmoth, Tar Pit, Darkslick, Drowned, 3 Swamp, 3 Island? Still not sure on the Tar Pits.
I definitely recommend using a dark color sleeve so nothing about the cards can be seen & they show wear much better. I use Black Ultra-Pro for my Cube.
Good luck!
Just wanted to share the news.
This is 100% how I feel. I just put together my cube and traded a bunch of cards for them. I wish I read the proxy thread before I started my cube. There is something to be said for playing with the real cards but it is equally awesome to test cards for free/before they're released (tonight I am cubing with half a dozen m12 cards). There are some cards I will never own (P9, library, mana drain, etc) so having sweet proxies of these is really nice. Not the same...but still pretty cool.
Since people are not sold on Desertion I'll just ask...when you played the card, how often did you counter something that you got to put into play? At first glance it seems like bribery though it's actually much worse since you have to keep your mana open & it may end up as a 5-mana counter. This card would be much better in my Commons Cube where the creature ratio is much higher.
I think for now I'll cut Future Sight & Desertion for Repeal & Into the Roil (lower CMC FTW!). I'll keep an eye on the Whelk and maybe cut it next time after we've played more matches. What about Inkwell Leviathan? Should that also be cut if I'm not heavily supporting reanimator? Edit: Nobody has ever played Inkwell Leviathan in their deck.
Any other suggestions are welcome. I proxy a decent amount of cards so money cards aren't an issue. Thanks!
EDIT: Has there been any talk of doing another PRE? I know my Cube would have been just awful without it.
IN for OUT
Phantasmal Image for Riftwing Cloudskate
Willbender for Jushi Apprentice
Frost Titan for Body Double
Gifts Given for Into the Roil
Jace, Memory Adept for Repeal
Dauthi Marauder for Makeshift Mannequin
Sinkhole for Night's Whisper
Dismember for Sudden Death
Nether Void for Liliana Vess
Rolling Earthquake for Starstorm
Chandra, the Firebrand for Bogardan Hellkite
Jungle Lion for Pelakka Wurm
Skinshifter for Albino Troll
Naturalize for Obstinate Baloth
Garruk, Primal Hunter for Stonewood Invocation
Green Sun's Zenith for Tooth and Nail
Mind Stone for Isochron Scepter
Edric, Spymaster of Trest for Lorescale Coatl
Vivid Crag for Izzet Boilerworks
Vivid Creek for Simic Growth Chamber
Vivid Grove for Boros Garrison
Vivid Marsh for Orzhov Basilica
TRIMMING THE MULTI-COLOR SECTION:
Spellskite for Teferi's Moat
Akroma's Vengeance for Void
Wake Thrasher for Boggart Ram-Gang
Fledgling Djinn for Loxodon Hierarch
Manabarbs for Tidehollow Sculler
Kodama of the North Tree for Putrefy
Vivid Meadow for Spitting Image
Hey guys. I just made the first major changes to my new semi-powered Cube. I wanted to get some feedback on what I did. It feels weird "venturing out on my own" so to say (since I used the community's rankings & feedback to build my Cube). Many of the cards I cut were either never used or didn't seem to perform very well. I also trimmed my multi-color section to 4 of each since I mostly do 2-4 person drafts. There are only a few cuts that I'm not sure about (Firebolt, Loxodon Hierarch, Void. and Boggart Ram-Gang). All of the other cuts seem fine to me... but my power-Cube experience is very limited. My Cube is in my sig. Some of my choices may seem strange (Hurricane to give green some reach & Fledgling Djinn to help black aggro) but I think they're worth testing.
Oh, and I'm still working on getting my CMC down. It just went from 3.08 to 3.02 & I'm still trying to get it under 3. Almost there!
IN for OUT
Stonecloaker for Mana Tithe
Phantasmal Image for Riftwing Cloudskate
Willbender for Jushi Apprentice
Frost Titan for Body Double
Gifts Given for Timetwister
Jace, Memory Adept for Repeal
Dauthi Marauder for Fume Spitter
Fledgling Djinn for Chainer's Edict
Entomb for Disfigure
Sinkhole for Night's Whisper
Dismember for Sudden Death
Nether Void for Liliana Vess
Rolling Earthquake for Starstorm
Demonfire for Firebolt
Chandra, the Firebrand for Bogardan Hellkite
Jungle Lion for Pelakka Wurm
Skinshifter for Albino Troll
Kodama of the North Tree for Gaea's Revenge
Naturalize for Obstinate Baloth
Garruk, Primal Hunter for Stonewood Invocation
Hurricane for Tooth and Nail
Mind Stone for Isochron Scepter
Edric, Spymaster of Trest for Lorescale Coatl
Vivid Crag for Izzet Boilerworks
Vivid Creek for Simic Growth Chamber
Vivid Grove for Boros Garrison
Vivid Marsh for Orzhov Basilica
TRIMMING THE MULTI-COLOR SECTION TO 4 OF EACH:
Spellskite for Teferi's Moat
Akroma's Vengeance for Void
Wake Thrasher for Boggart Ram-Gang
Phyrexian Rager for Loxodon Hierarch
Manabarbs for Stillmoon Cavalier
Primeval Titan for Putrefy
Vivid Meadow for Spitting Image
U 68 68
B 69 xxxx 71
R 70 xxxxxx 73
G 69 xxxx 71
MC 91
Misc 84
528 cards
13 Testing
4 fun
---
545 Total
W-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
U-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
B-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
G-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
GUILD Lands/Duals/Hybrids
UW 5/3
UB 5/4
BR 5/3/3
RG 5/4
GW 5/4/2
WB 5/5
UR 5/4
GB 4/4/1
RW 5/4/2
GU 5/4
Should I add:
Capsize
Arcane Denial
Tezzeret the Seeker
Show and Tell
Goblin Welder
Venser, the Sojourner
Falkenrath Aristocrat
Sarkhan Vol
Should I cut:
Spined Thopter
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Triskelion
Duplicant
Legendary
Shadowborn Demon
Liliana's Reaver
Young Pyromancer
Elvish Mystic
Kalonian Tusker
http://deck.tk/8LeJ8jh6
AEtherling
Blood Scrivener
Smallpox
Pox
Nether Traitor
Nether Spirit
Fleshbag Marauder
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Carrion Feeder
Pyrewild Shaman
Ghazban Ogre
Ral Zarek
Spike Jester
Tattermunge Maniac
Voice of Resurgence
Far//Away
IN for OUT
AEtherling for Keiga, the Tide Star
Blood Scrivener for Nether Traitor
Pyrewild Shaman for Guttersnipe
Imperial Seal for Tombstalker
ADD:
Show and Tell
Willbender
Goblin Welder
Ghazban Ogre
Fastbond
Venser, the Sojourner
Burning-Tree Shaman
Far//Away
Olivia Voldaren
Mental Misstep
CUT:
Yosei, the Morning Star
Gideon, Champion of Justice
Stifle
Nantuko Vigilante
Triskelion
Add:
Fleshbag Marauder
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Oracle of Mul Daya
Boros Reckoner
Aurelia's Fury
Knight of the Reliquary
Spike Jester
Voice of Resurgence
Ral Zarek for Prophetic Bolt
Tattermunge Maniac
Add:
Karmic Guide
Seal of Cleansing
Opposition
Timetwister
Stifle
Necropotence
Smallpox for Vampire Interloper
Pox
Reassembling Skeleton for Fledgling Djinn
Geralf's Messenger for Liliana's Specter
Nether Traitor for Nezumi Cutthroat
Nether Void
Mogg Fanatic
Reckless Charge
Nantuko Vigilante for Blastoderm
Worldly Tutor for Primal Command
Regrowth
Craterhoof Behemoth
Gaea's Cradle for Pouncing Jaguar
Mayor of Avabruck for Skinshifter
Unburial Rites
Rakdos Shred-Freak
Glacial Fortress
Drowned Catacomb
Lavaclaw Reaches
Copperline Gorge
Razorverge Thicket
Isolated Chapel
Woodland Cemetery
Clifftop Retreat
Flooded Grove
Cascade Bluffs
Ratchet Bomb
Moved Phyrexian mana cards to colorless
Add:
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Leonin Relic-Warder
Nearheath Pilgrim
Compulsive Research
Mystical Tutor
Living Death
Chaos Warp
Pyroclasm
Natural Order
Ohran Viper
Primal Command
Duskmantle Seer
Ghor-Clan Rampager
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Reflecting Pool
Pithing Needle
Cut:
Azorius Arrester
Opposition
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Deadbridge Goliath
Regrowth
Erratic Portal
Venser, the Sojourner
Nemesis of Reason
Huntmaster of the Fells
Armada Wurm
Add: Prime Speaker Zegana
Cut: (no replacements yet)
Birthing Pod
Goblin Ruinblaster
Karmic Guide
Rakdos Shred-Freak
Vraska the Unseen
Weathered Wayfarer
Cut:
Desecration Demon
Yeva, Nature's Herald
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Seachrome Coast
Darkslick Shores
Blackcleave Cliffs
Copperline Gorge
Sarkhan Vol
Razorverge Thicket
Selesnya Charm
Fetid Heath
Isolated Chapel
Cascade Bluffs
Putrid Leech
Woodland Cemetery
Clifftop Retreat
Slayers' Stronghold
Flooded Grove
Add:
Tombstalker
Baleful Strix
Domri Rade
Armada Wurm
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Deathrite Shaman
Boros Charm
Gideon, Champion of Justice
Parallax Wave
Cyclonic Rift
Opposition
Abyssal Persecutor
Griselbrand
Banefire
Keldon Vandals
Blastoderm
Experiment One
Master of the Wild Hunt
Chrome Mox
IN for OUT
Ultimate Price for Disciple of Bolas
Guttersnipe for Ghitu Slinger
Sarkhan Vol for Flinthoof Boar
Add:
Seachrome Coast
Darkslick Shores
Blackcleave Cliffs
Copperline Gorge
Razorverge Thicket
Isolated Chapel
Woodland Cemetery
Clifftop Retreat
Flooded Grove
Angel of Serenity for Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Disciple of Bolas for Barter in Blood
Ball Lightning for Aftershock
Birthing Pod for Great Sable Stag
Add To Testing Zone:
Armada Wurm
Baleful Strix
Chaos Warp
Chrome Mox
Cyclonic Rift
Deathrite Shaman
Griselbrand
Massacre Wurm
Master of the Wild Hunt
Nantuko Vigilante
Natural Order
Opposition
Parallax Wave
Primal Command
Shardless Agent
Desecration Demon for Thrill-Kill Assassin
Arbor Elf for Blastoderm
Yeva, Nature's Herald for Phantom Centaur
Wolfir Silverheart for Thornling
Cut:
Desolation Angel
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Expanding the multicolor section:
Out:
Decree of Justice
Elspeth Tirel
Lu Xun, Scholar General
Pestermite
Nether Void
Stupor
Vexing Devil
Archwing Dragon
Ice Storm
Mirri's Guile
Add to the multicolor section:
Dryad Militant
Vraska the Unseen
IN for OUT
Precinct Captain for Lingering Souls
Jace, Architect of Thought for Wake Thrasher
Pack Rat for Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
Ash Zealot for Stone Rain
Deadbridge Goliath for Ulvenwald Tracker
Chromatic Lantern for Black Lotus
Azorius Arrester for Martial Coup
Thrill-Kill Assassin for Night's Whisper
Gore-House Chainwalker for Ember Hauler
Splatter Thug for Keldon Vandals
Flames of the Firebrand for Pyroclasm
Dreadbore for Terminate
Supreme Verdict for Azorious Signet
Dreg Mangler for Golgari Signet
Rakdos Shred-Freak for Rakdos Signet
Selesnya Charm for Selesnya Signet
Detention Sphere for Wall of Denial
Izzet Charm for Izzet Signet
Abrupt Decay for Putrefy
Lotleth Troll for Spiritmonger
Lingering Souls for Orzhov Signet
Armada Wurm for Sigarda, Host of Herons
Rakdos Cackler for Bituminous Blast
Cut until Gatecrash:
Boros Signet
Gruul Signet
Simic Signet
Dimir Signet
CHANGE:
Sublime Archangel for Temporal Isolation
Forbid for Coralhelm Commander
Frantic Search for Timetwister
Impulse for Mist Raven
Sneak Attack for Wildfire
Searing Blaze for Banefire
Growth Spasm for Edge of Autumn
Mirri's Guile for Vines of Vastwood
Hornet Queen for Rampaging Baloths
Mana Crypt for Perilous Myr
ADD:
Venser, the Sojourner
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
Bituminous Blast
Flinthoof Boar
Sigarda, Host of Herons
Fetid Heath
Cascade Bluffs
Putrefy
Lightning Helix
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
CUT:
Calciderm
Paladin en-Vec
Standstill
Palinchron
Puppeteer Clique
Tombstalker
Slagstorm
Chandra, the Firebrand
Mire Boa
Twinblade Slasher
Ajani, Caller of the Pride for Revoke Existence
Decree of Justice for Austere Command
Sea Gate Oracle for Ninja of the Deep Hours
Shelldock Isle for Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Into the Roil for Thieving Magpie
Inquisition of Kozilek for Disfigure
Sheoldred, Whispering One for Booster Tutor
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief for Slaughter Pact
Liliana of the Dark Realms for Innocent Blood
Searing Spear for Volcanic Hammer
Thundermaw Hellkite for Blast from the Past
Thragtusk for Kodama of the North Tree
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth for Pithing Needle
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre for Who/What/When/Where/Why
Temporal Isolation
Eternal Dragon
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Revoke Existence
Tinker
Gifts Ungiven
Thirst for Knowledge
Timetwister
Lu Xun, Scholar General for Opposition
Nezumi Graverobber
Entomb
Exhume
Dance of the Dead
Bonfire of the Damned for Fireball
Zealous Conscripts
Wildfire
Stone Rain
Kargan Dragonlord
Green Sun's Zenith
Primeval Titan
Farseek
Edge of Autumn
Horizon Canopy for Brushland
Slayers' Stronghold for Lightning Helix
Raging Ravine for Karplusan Forest
Thran Dynamo
Smokestack
Black Lotus
Worn Powerstone
Grand Coliseum
Pithing Needle for City of Ass
Mystic Crusader
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Akroma's Vengeance
Willbender
Gifts Ungiven
Forbid
Plague Sliver
Tragic Slip
Yawgmoth's Will
Forked Bolt
Searing Blaze
Flame Javelin
Avacyn's Pilgrim
Nantuko Vigilante
Overrun
Venser, the Sojourner
Agony Warp
Olivia Voldaren
Boggart Ram-Gang
Mirari's Wake
Move Lingering Souls to White
Jilt
Woodland Cemetery
Brion Stoutarm
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Precursor Golem
Restoration Angel for Emeria Angel
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite for Eternal Dragon
Silverblade Paladin for Silver Knight
Coralhelm Commander for Dismiss
Fettergeist for Mystical Tutor
Mist Raven for Impulse
Ninja of the Deep Hours for Capsize
Opposition for Into the Roil
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage for Jace, Memory Adept
Booster Tutor for Gatekeeper of Malakir
Vexing Devil for Zo-Zu the Punisher
Lightning Mauler for Blood Knight
Archwing Dragon for Moltensteel Dragon
Blast from the Past for Comet Storm
Ulvenwald Tracker for Mayor of Avabruck
Ice Storm for Harmonize
Grafted Wargear for Juggernaut
Erratic Portal for Steel Hellkite
Who/What/When/Where/Why for Crystal Ball
City of Ass for Tectonic Edge
Lone Missionary for Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Emeria Angel for Temporal Isolation
Mikaeus, the Lunarch for Goldmeadow Harrier
Daze for Timetwister
Pestermite for Inkwell Leviathan
Spined Thopter for Tinker
Standstill for Thirst for Knowledge
Nezumi Cutthroat for Nezumi Graverobber
Night's Whisper for Juzam Djinn
Sinkhole for Fume Spitter
Searing Blaze for Kargan Dragonlord
Zo-Zu the Punisher for Ravenous Baboons
Forked Bolt for Wildfire
Scavenging Ooze for Ohran Viper
Nantuko Vigilante for Oracle of Mul Daya
Nemesis of Reason for Havengul Lich
Rishadan Port for Chimeric Mass
Grim Monolith for Phyrexian Processor
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben for Decree of Justice
Dungeon Geists for Vesuvan Shapeshifter
Gravecrawler for Sorin Markov
Tragic Slip for Exhume
Stromkirk Noble for Crater Hellion
Torch Fiend for Magus of the Scroll
Hellrider for Zo-Zu the Punisher
Faithless Looting for Manabarbs
Avacyn's Pilgrim for Mold Shambler
Wolfbitten Captive for Gaea's Revenge
Strangleroot Geist for Green Sun's Zenith
Vorapede for Krosan Grip
Lingering Souls for Stillmoon Cavalier
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad for Mortify
Havengul Lich for Oona, Queen of the Fae
Hunt master of the Fells for Daybreak Ranger
Boggart Ram-Gang for Sarkhan Vol
Jilt for Desperate Ravings
Cloistered Youth (FOIL) for White Knight
Snapcaster Mage (PROXY) for Tezzeret the Seeker
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni (PROXY)
Diregraf Ghoul (PROMO) for Nezumi Shortfang
Vampire Interloper (FOIL) for Black Knight
Bloodgift Demon (PROXY) for Thrashing Wumpus
Liliana of the Veil (PROXY) for Sinkhole
Devil's Play (FOIL) for Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Brimstone Volley for Rift Bolt
Reckless Waif (FOIL) for Mogg Fanatic
Mayor of Avabruck (FOIL)
Garruk Relentless (PROXY) for Naturalize
Bramblecrush (FOIL) for Creeping Mold
Olivia Voldaren for Blazing Specter
Daybreak Ranger for Stormbind
Geist of Saint Traft for Azorius Guildmage
Desperate Ravings for Gelectrode
Reflecting Pool (PROXY) for Hex Parasite
Shrine of Burning Rage for Pithing Needle
Land Changes:
IN:
Battlefield Forge
Brushland
Caves of Koilos
Hinterland Harbor
Karplusan Forest
Sulfur Falls
Sulfurous Springs
Woodland Cemetery
OUT:
Lavaclaw Reaches
Stirring Wildwood
Raging Ravine
Vivid Crag
Vivid Grove
Vivid Marsh
Reflecting Pool
Ratchet Bomb
*I added some M12 cards & also reduced the multi-color section to 4 of each. I mostly play with smaller groups so this small change will increase deck quality & consistency. I also made some other changes to try out some new cards.*
IN for OUT
Ravages of War for Celestial Crusader
Phantasmal Image for Riftwing Cloudskate
Willbender for Jushi Apprentice
Frost Titan for Body Double
Consecrated Sphinx for Draining Whelk
Keiga, the Tide Star for Desertion
Jace, Memory Adept for Future Sight
Dauthi Marauder for Makeshift Mannequin
Sinkhole for Night's Whisper
Dismember for Sudden Death
Nether Void for Liliana Vess
Stormblood Berserker for Dwarven Blastminer
Rolling Earthquake for Starstorm
Chandra, the Firebrand for Bogardan Hellkite
Jungle Lion for Pelakka Wurm
Skinshifter for Albino Troll
Naturalize for Obstinate Baloth
Garruk, Primal Hunter for Stonewood Invocation
Green Sun's Zenith for Tooth and Nail
Mind Stone for Isochron Scepter
Edric, Spymaster of Trest for Lorescale Coatl
Vivid Crag for Izzet Boilerworks
Vivid Creek for Simic Growth Chamber
Vivid Grove for Boros Garrison
Vivid Marsh for Orzhov Basilica
Reflecting Pool for Aether Vial
TRIMMING THE MULTI-COLOR SECTION:
Spellskite for Teferi's Moat
Akroma's Vengeance for Void
Wake Thrasher for Boggart Ram-Gang
Fledgling Djinn for Loxodon Hierarch
Manabarbs for Tidehollow Sculler
Kodama of the North Tree for Putrefy
Vivid Meadow for Spitting Image
The "Whammy"
This is by far the most popular format in my playgroup
Shuffle up the entire Cube & distribute three stacks of 40 cards. One stack is for each player and one is the community pile. Roll a die & the winner gets to choose whether they want to go first or second.
Player A draws four cards from his stack while player B flips one card face-up from the community pile. Player A chooses one of these five cards. He then passes the remaining cards face-up to player B while flipping another card face-up from the community pile. Player B chooses two of these cards. Player B passes the remaining cards back to player A. Player A puts the remaining cards in his hand & secretly chooses one. Player A then puts any leftover cards in his discard pile.
Now the players switch roles with player B drawing four cards from his pile while player A flips one card face-up from the community pile. The players alternate who goes first until all three piles are empty.
The “Whammy” is what this draft is called because each player gets one “whammy” per draft. This means that anytime it is the player's turn they are able to “whammy” one card that has been turned face-up from the community pile. A card that receives the “whammy” is exiled from the draft & cannot be chosen by any player. This can only be done during the player's turn (at sorcery speed) & only once per draft. It can only be applied to the cards turned face-up from the community pile & NOT cards from the player's stack.
The “bonus card” is the final card taken in the draft. After all piles are empty each player picks up their discard pile & takes one card to add to their draft pool. Any cards exiled from the “Whammy” cannot be chosen as the bonus card.
Build 40 card decks from the cards chosen & play!
This is just like regular sealed except you build two decks from your sealed pool. A 75-card sealed pool has worked well with our playgroup. Each player builds two completely separate decks with separate sideboards from their sealed pool. No cards can overlap between the two decks & sideboards. Each player chooses the deck they think is worse & those decks play a match first. Then each player plays a match using the deck they view as the better one. If the matches are split then each player battles using the deck that lost.
Accorder Paladin
Cloistered Youth
Elite Vanguard
Hero of Bladehold
Kor Sanctifiers
Kor Skyfisher
Steppe Lynx
Stormfront Pegasus
Student of Warfare
Wall of Omens
Day of Judgment
Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Journey to Nowhere
Path to Exile
Aether Adept
Enclave Cryptologist
Frost Titan
Phyrexian Metamorph
Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Thieving Magpie
Waterfront Bouncer
Force Spike
Jace Beleren
Upheaval
Barter in Blood
Diregraf Ghoul
Grave Titan
Graveborn Muse
Gravecrawler
Hypnotic Specter
Liliana's Specter
Nantuko Shade
Shriekmaw
Skinrender
Vampire Lacerator
Vampire Hexmage
Vampire Interloper
Vampire Nighthawk
Animate Dead
Damnation
Disfigure
Doom Blade
Duress
Stupor
Avalanche Riders
Chandra's Phoenix
Ember Hauler
Ghitu Slinger
Goblin Ruinblaster
Grim Lavamancer
Hearth Kami
Hellspark Elemental
Jackal Pup
Keldon Champion
Keldon Marauders
Manic Vandal
Plated Geopede
Reckless Waif
Stormblood Berserker
Arc Trail
Banefire
Burst Lightning
Chain Lightning
Devil's Play
Fireball
Fireblast
Flametongue Kavu
Magma Jet
Molten Rain
Pillage
Pyroclasm
Smash to Smithereens
Staggershock
Volcanic Hammer
Birds of Paradise
Blastoderm
Call of the Herd
Joraga Treespeaker
Noble Hierarch
Phantom Centaur
Rampaging Baloths
River Boa
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Strangleroot Geist
Terastodon
Viridian Shaman
Wall of Roots
Wild Mongrel
Wild Nacatl
Bramblecrush
Cultivate
Harrow
Kodama's Reach
Ajani Vengenant
Blightning
Electrolyze
Figure of Destiny
Kird Ape
Kitchen Finks
Murderous Redcap
Psychatog
Putrid Leech
Qasali Pridemage
Terminate
Perilous Myr
Sundering Titan
Wurmcoil Engine
Bonesplitter
Boros Signet
Dimir Signet
Mox Diamond
Rakdos Signet
Celestial Colonnade
Vivid Creek
Stoneforge Mystic
Ravages of War
Moat
Gilded Drake
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Snapcaster Mage
Ancestral Recall
Mana Drain
Standstill
Time Spiral
Time Walk
Nether Void
Sinkhole
Thoughtseize
Vampiric Tutor
Chandra, the Firebrand
Rolling Earthquake
Scavenging Ooze
Tarmogoyf
Sylvan Library
Survival of the Fittest
Garruk, Primal Hunter
Nemesis of Reason
Spellskite
Grim Monolith
Mox Pearl
Mox Jet
Mox Sapphire
Mox Ruby
Mox Emerald
Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of War and Peace
Breeding Pool
Godless Shrine
Stomping Ground
Tundra
Taiga
Badlands
Mutavault
Flooded Strand
Windswept Heath
Wooded Foothills
Polluted Delta
Bloodstained Mire
Wasteland
Library of Alexandria
Ancient Tomb
Rishadan Port
Wolfbitten Captive
Reckless Waif
0/1 Eldrazi Spawn
Mist Raven
Basic Information
Cube Size:
500 cards
Standard or Theme:
Powered Cube
Snow Lands:
No
Average Number of Players:
The Cube was originally designed for 2 but now the average is 4-8
How Often Drafted:
3-4 drafts per week
Card Selection
Proxies:
Yes
Powered:
Fully Powered (minus Timetwister and Black Lotus)
Portal:
Yes
"Un" Cards:
None right now
Banned Cards for Power-Level:
No
Banned Cards for Time Constraints:
No
Banned Cards for "fun" factor:
No
Cube Design
Standard or Multiplayer:
Standard
Sideboards?:
Yes
Color Balance:
Yes
Gold Balance:
Yes
Hybrid/Split/Kicker as Gold:
Yes
Color Triggers as Gold:
Yes
Perfectly Balanced CMC:
No
My history with Cubes is pretty interesting. I built an all-Commons Cube in June 2010 designed for 2-man drafts. I didn't know about the MTGS Cube forum and just went through the commons boxes at my local shop. I balanced the colors by number of cards & ended up with like 323 cards in my first draft. As time went by I slowly added more cards & eventually got to 500. 500 was an arbitrary number that I picked since I didn't know anything about Cubes. My first builds had some pretty terrible cards & way too many gold cards...both problems of early drafts of Cubes. I eventually acquired all the cards I needed & foiled out a majority of my Commons Cube (it's nearly 400 foils at last check). My Commons Cube still has a little fat but overall I think it's pretty strong (and a blast to play).
Fast forward to the spring of 2011. I decided I wanted to live the dream & build a real powered Cube (with proxies of course). I had no idea where to start but I had found the MTGS Cube forum. I used the PRE (Project Rank Everything) lists as well as the top 20 by color lists as a starting point. I pretty much copied these slightly outdated lists verbatim and had a starting point for a Cube. I liquidated my entire standard collection (which at that time was massive) and was able to fund almost the entire Cube off of that (again...with proxies of the $50+ cards). I quickly saw that some cards on the lists didn't deserve to be there & had been usurped by more current (and better) cards. I was able to make some tweaks to my Cube & improve it quite a bit. Now I updated my Cube as soon as cards are spoiled as I proxy up some cards that I want to test before I buy them/before they're released. Tweaking the last few cards is more art than science to me & I'm always reading threads & talking to people to look for ideas on ways to better my Cube. I seriously check the MTGS forums multiple times a day as my obsession with the Cube has become quite strong.
There's a reason why I did it the right way with the powered Cube after doing it the wrong way with the Commons Cube; my card evaluation skills. I played Magic from Revised to Ice Age & again starting at Shards of Alara. It's really tough to properly evaluate cards that you've never seen played in an environment you don't know. Here are cards that I pretty much dismissed when I put them in my Cube but have since completely won games by themselves:
I do this to show many key cards would have never made my Cube if I only trusted my personal & inexperienced opinion. I can't imagine my Cube without any of those cards now that I've seen them in action. I would have never seen them in action if I didn't trust other people's experiences with the Cube. It was invaluable for me to have a "starting point" when building my Cube.
I always try to help people who seem to be posting for the first time since I know how much easier it is to build a Cube with help from experienced Cubers. There definitely is room for improvement but I'm really happy with the current status of the Cube. Any feedback is welcome.