I know it's not quite on topic, but I love the illustration for Steam Augury. Its like Dave Kendall did a homage to two former MtG artists by mixing Harold McNeill's spectral-ethereality with Richard Kane Ferguson's color palette.
I like Exhume, but it is a mostly dedicated reanimator card. Even given that, I think it's better the Clique.
I like every colorless card you are cutting more than Perilous Myr and Reflecting Pool. Ring of Gix is my favorite, but really, I don't think I'd cut any of them at 450. Actually, now that I think about it, I'd try to run all of those card at 450 except Perilous Myr. I'd be more likely to expand the artifact section than cut those.
Cheers,
rant
Clique has been getting good maindeck time, which I can't say for Exhume. Exhume is clearly the more powerful card, but that's how it's been playing out.
Both Lodestone Golem and Memory Jar seem like they should be great but just never play out that way for us. Jar in particular is the biggest "not living up to its potential" culprit. Out of the universal cuts I personally like the razorcore the most, but I don't mind playing without it for a while to see if it'll be missed. I'm indifferent to Ring of Gix, I could take it or leave it.
It's been almost 4 months since my last update, so here's my latest changes, including the changes I'm making to accommodate the new cards from Dragon's Maze.
I've been feeling a need for another spot removal card in white and Temporal Isolation, while not spectacular in this role, is more than adequate until a better option comes along. Sublime Archangel wasn't bad but didn't exactly knock my socks off either, and white has been feeling a bit heavy in the 4-drop department, so this isn't a particularly difficult cut.
Ætherling looks likes it's going to be a pretty fantastic control finisher, so the sphinx becomes redundant. My playgroup and I have always had positive experiences with Coralhelm Commander, and I like having a little bit of an aggro edge in my blue section, so I'm happy to bring him back. Into the Roil is being added because I've been feeling a need for a little more bounce in blue, so it makes a welcome return. I know that some people adore Shelldock Isle but we've never liked it much at all, so it's making another exit. Gifts Ungiven is a fine card, and could easily slip right back in at a later date, though I'm kind of indifferent to it so it isn't a tremendously difficult cut.
I'm a little skeptical in regards to Blood Scrivener, but it should work well in black attrition decks, and is a zombie to boot. Kokusho returns because I've felt a need for another black finisher, and Puppeteer Clique is a card that my playgroup really likes so it returns as well. Devoted reanimator decks just aren't particularly popular with my group, so Exhume and Living Death are once again shown the door. Liliana 3 just didn't offer enough bang for the buck outside of heavy black decks, so she's out as well.
Gore-house Chainwalker ups the aggro quotient in my 2-drop section, and the returning Spikeshot Elder is a solid one drop. I'm going to give Mizzium Mortars another shot as both spot removal and sweeper in place of the rarely played Pyroclasm. I adore Ball Lightning but it just didn't fit, and Hearth Kami just hasn't felt that necessary since the appearance of Torch Fiend.
Avacyn's Pilgrim is a solid ramp creature, but is basically keeping Elvish Mystic's seat warm. Vinelasher Kudzu has been a lot of fun in testing, and my group likes it, so it's a welcome addition. Birthing Pod has been too inconsistent for my tastes, and Naturalize just felt redundant with green's other options.
Coldsteel Heart is another solid mana-rock, Perilous Myr is a fun card that my group always liked, and Reflecting Pool is one of my favorite "fixers" so it returns from the cusp. I've had mixed results with Dust Bowl in the past, but its effect is potent enough to warrant another go. Lodestone Golem and Memory Jar always felt clunky from my groups experience so they're hitting the pine again. The "razorcore" is taking a hiatus even though I like it more than some, while Ring of Gix's echo cost has cast it into binder exile.
Boros: I want to try out Boros Reckoner, so I'm going to sideline the solid yet dispensable Slayer's Stronghold.
Dimir: I don't heavily support the "artifact deck" in blue, so it doesn't make much sense to include the Dimir Tezzeret over his superior mono-colored brother. Baleful Strix is a solid card that was well liked in its previous cube stint.
Gruul: Huntmaster has been garnering mostly glowing reviews on this site, so it's now my turn to give him a chance. Flinthoof Boar has been solid in its role but is cuttable, though I'm honestly not the biggest fan of Sarkhan Vol so it could return in the near future.
Izzet: Ral Zarek is pretty sweet, so his inclusion is a given. I asked my group which card that they prefered to keep and they decided that they preferred the cheaper Electrolyze over Prophetic Bolt.
Selesnya: Voice of Resurgence looks like it's going to be an excellent addition to W/G, and Loam Lion isn't as necessary in selesnya as Kird Ape is to Gruul.
That's it, and thanks for reading. As always, feedback is appreciated.
I actually like the painterly style of older cards, particularly Mark Tedin...My Arabian Nights City of Brass is...well..Moderately Played. I decided to give it a bit of a rest and altered a Chronicles one to cube with. Much cheaper, and still looks cool.
I dig the older styles as well. My AN City of Brass has a bit of moderate play, but I kind of like a little wabi sabi in my older cards, so it isn't a big issue to me.
I've been eying the Parallax Tide in my on-deck binder for a few months now, so I might give it a try come my next update. It looks like it could be pretty backbreaking in blue based tempo strategies. The 'slow' and 'turbo' mode observation is a good one.
I'm also very curious about Land Equilibrium and look forward to reading about your experiences with it.
Blue tempo is gaining popularity in my cube, so I'm interested in how Standstill performs for you. I found Shelldock to be a mostly do-nothing card when my cube was slower; I imagine it will be even worse now that I'm Powered and aggro is healthy.
Cheers,
rant
Yeah, Shelldock has been pretty mediocre for us as well since I re-added it, and is getting cut in my next update.
This was a fun control deck that I drafted tonight. Won three out of four matches, with the loss coming mainly from being color screwed in game three of the best of three (so many white cards and not a plains to be seen).
I like all of that except for these small quibbles: Eternal Dragon, Krosan Tusker, and, to a lesser extent, Indrik Stomphowler and Bane of the Living. My alternative cuts would be:
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Kor Haven
Master of the Wild Hunt
Deadbridge Goliath
Kodama's Reach
Puppeteer Clique
Cheers,
rant
Eternal Dragon is coming back, since I'm moving Porcelain Legionnaire to my Universal section. My cube has always had the Tusker in it, so I'm going to see how things work out without it; I may miss it and promptly return it.
My group hasn't been particularly happy with Bane of the Living lately, so I'm going to see how well things work out with him (it?) on the bench for a while.
Thanks for the feedback rant, I'll give your suggestions strong consideration.
All in all not a long list at all. Many of those are not bullet proof at this level, but a card I consider absolutely essential is Indrik Stomphowler. I also wouldn't dream of cutting Avacyn's Pilgrim, but that depends more on what you want your green section to be about (we're all about the mana elves).
Thanks for the feedback Fredo, and thanks for welcoming me amongst the 450 ranks.
I love the larger cubes myself, but a recent reduction in the size of my playgroup means more Winston drafts and sealed. A 450 cube better facilitates this reality while still keeping most of the variance that my group appreciates.
With the Stomphowler it was more of a question of "is this sort of effect what I want at 5 mana?", and in the end I opted for keeping the cheaper Naturalize. I still dig the Stomphowler, but it was a victim of numbers, though it could quickly come back if those numbers prove off. I'm not on the "mana elves" kick that some cube builders are, though Avacyn's Pilgrim isn't a card that would be difficult to return if my mood changes.
For what it's worth, I'm planning on bringing keg back in my M14 update, it has always been popular with my group.
Cheers!
Clique has been getting good maindeck time, which I can't say for Exhume. Exhume is clearly the more powerful card, but that's how it's been playing out.
Both Lodestone Golem and Memory Jar seem like they should be great but just never play out that way for us. Jar in particular is the biggest "not living up to its potential" culprit. Out of the universal cuts I personally like the razorcore the most, but I don't mind playing without it for a while to see if it'll be missed. I'm indifferent to Ring of Gix, I could take it or leave it.
Thanks for the feedback rant.
Cheers!
WHITE
+ Temporal Isolation
- Sublime Archangel
I've been feeling a need for another spot removal card in white and Temporal Isolation, while not spectacular in this role, is more than adequate until a better option comes along. Sublime Archangel wasn't bad but didn't exactly knock my socks off either, and white has been feeling a bit heavy in the 4-drop department, so this isn't a particularly difficult cut.
BLUE
+ Ætherling
+ Coralhelm Commander
+ Into the Roil
- Gifts Ungiven
- Shelldock Isle
- Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Ætherling looks likes it's going to be a pretty fantastic control finisher, so the sphinx becomes redundant. My playgroup and I have always had positive experiences with Coralhelm Commander, and I like having a little bit of an aggro edge in my blue section, so I'm happy to bring him back. Into the Roil is being added because I've been feeling a need for a little more bounce in blue, so it makes a welcome return. I know that some people adore Shelldock Isle but we've never liked it much at all, so it's making another exit. Gifts Ungiven is a fine card, and could easily slip right back in at a later date, though I'm kind of indifferent to it so it isn't a tremendously difficult cut.
BLACK
+ Blood Scrivener
+ Kokusho, the Evening Star
+ Puppeteer Clique
- Exhume
- Liliana of the Dark Realms
- Living Death
I'm a little skeptical in regards to Blood Scrivener, but it should work well in black attrition decks, and is a zombie to boot. Kokusho returns because I've felt a need for another black finisher, and Puppeteer Clique is a card that my playgroup really likes so it returns as well. Devoted reanimator decks just aren't particularly popular with my group, so Exhume and Living Death are once again shown the door. Liliana 3 just didn't offer enough bang for the buck outside of heavy black decks, so she's out as well.
RED
+ Gore-house Chainwalker
+ Mizzium Mortars
+ Spikeshot Elder
- Ball Lightning
- Hearth Kami
- Pyroclasm
Gore-house Chainwalker ups the aggro quotient in my 2-drop section, and the returning Spikeshot Elder is a solid one drop. I'm going to give Mizzium Mortars another shot as both spot removal and sweeper in place of the rarely played Pyroclasm. I adore Ball Lightning but it just didn't fit, and Hearth Kami just hasn't felt that necessary since the appearance of Torch Fiend.
GREEN
+ Avacyn's Pilgrim
+ Vinelasher Kudzu
- Birthing Pod
- Naturalize
Avacyn's Pilgrim is a solid ramp creature, but is basically keeping Elvish Mystic's seat warm. Vinelasher Kudzu has been a lot of fun in testing, and my group likes it, so it's a welcome addition. Birthing Pod has been too inconsistent for my tastes, and Naturalize just felt redundant with green's other options.
UNIVERSAL
+ Coldsteel Heart
+ Dust Bowl
+ Perilous Myr
+ Reflecting Pool
- Lodestone Golem
- Memory Jar
- Razormane Masticore
- Ring of Gix
Coldsteel Heart is another solid mana-rock, Perilous Myr is a fun card that my group always liked, and Reflecting Pool is one of my favorite "fixers" so it returns from the cusp. I've had mixed results with Dust Bowl in the past, but its effect is potent enough to warrant another go. Lodestone Golem and Memory Jar always felt clunky from my groups experience so they're hitting the pine again. The "razorcore" is taking a hiatus even though I like it more than some, while Ring of Gix's echo cost has cast it into binder exile.
GUILD
+ Baleful Strix
+ Boros Reckoner
+ Huntmaster of the Fells
+ Ral Zarek
+ Voice of Resurgence
- Flinthoof Boar
- Loam Lion
- Prophetic Bolt
- Slayer's Stronghold
- Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
Boros: I want to try out Boros Reckoner, so I'm going to sideline the solid yet dispensable Slayer's Stronghold.
Dimir: I don't heavily support the "artifact deck" in blue, so it doesn't make much sense to include the Dimir Tezzeret over his superior mono-colored brother. Baleful Strix is a solid card that was well liked in its previous cube stint.
Gruul: Huntmaster has been garnering mostly glowing reviews on this site, so it's now my turn to give him a chance. Flinthoof Boar has been solid in its role but is cuttable, though I'm honestly not the biggest fan of Sarkhan Vol so it could return in the near future.
Izzet: Ral Zarek is pretty sweet, so his inclusion is a given. I asked my group which card that they prefered to keep and they decided that they preferred the cheaper Electrolyze over Prophetic Bolt.
Selesnya: Voice of Resurgence looks like it's going to be an excellent addition to W/G, and Loam Lion isn't as necessary in selesnya as Kird Ape is to Gruul.
That's it, and thanks for reading. As always, feedback is appreciated.
Cheers!
I dig the older styles as well. My AN City of Brass has a bit of moderate play, but I kind of like a little wabi sabi in my older cards, so it isn't a big issue to me.
I've been eying the Parallax Tide in my on-deck binder for a few months now, so I might give it a try come my next update. It looks like it could be pretty backbreaking in blue based tempo strategies. The 'slow' and 'turbo' mode observation is a good one.
I'm also very curious about Land Equilibrium and look forward to reading about your experiences with it.
Cheers!
Yeah, Shelldock has been pretty mediocre for us as well since I re-added it, and is getting cut in my next update.
1 Blade Splicer
1 Catastrophe
1 Journey to Nowhere
1 Mana Tithe
1 Restoration Angel
1 Seal of Cleansing
1 Sun Titan
//Blue//
1 Brainstorm
1 Condescend
1 Force Spike
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Morphling
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
1 Treachery
1 Coalition Relic
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Mox Ruby
//Colorless//
1 Karn Liberated
//Gold//
1 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Venser, the Sojourner
//Lands//
1 Celestial Colonnade
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Grand Coliseum
7 Island
6 Plains
1 Burst Lightning
1 Chain Lightning
1 Firestorm
1 Goblin Guide
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Hellspark Elemental
1 Incinerate
1 Kird Ape
1 Koth of the Hammer
1 Pillage
1 Reckless Waif
1 Stromkirk Noble
1 Eternal Witness
1 Flinthoof Boar
1 Life From the Loam
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Strangleroot Geist
1 Vengevine
1 Wild Nacatl
1 Wolfbitten Captive
//Artifact//
1 Black Vise
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Tangle Wire
1 Bloodbraid Elf
//Land//
1 Wasteland
1 Taiga
1 Verdant Catacombs
7 Mountain
6 Forest
WHITE
- Porcelain Legionnaire (moved to Universal section)
- Harm's Way
- Ranger of Eos
- Stonecloaker
- Temporal Isolation
- Weathered Wayfarer
BLUE
+ Sphinx of Jwar Isle
- Coralhelm Commander
- Frost Titan
- Into the Roil
- Jace, Memory Adept
- Phyrexian Metamorph (moved to Universal section)
- Repeal
- Willbender
BLACK
+ Contamination
+ Exhume
+ Living Death
+ Pox
- Bane of the Living
- Black Sun's Zenith
- Dauthi Marauder
- Doom Blade
- Magus of the Abyss
- Massacre Wurm
- Nantuko Shade
- Puppeteer Clique
- Stupor
- Ultimate Price
RED
+ Reckless Waif
- Chandra, the Firebrand
- Forked Bolt
- Guttersnipe
- Hell's Thunder
- Keldon Champion
- Mizzium Mortars
- Shrine of Burning Rage
GREEN
+ Experiment One
- Avacyn's Pilgrim
- Bramblecrush
- Imperious Perfect
- Indrik Stomphowler
- Krosan Tusker
- Mire Boa
- Thornling
Universal
+ Lodestone Golem
+ Phyrexian Metamorph (moved from Blue)
+ Porcelain Legionnaire (moved from White)
- Coldsteel Heart
- Dust Bowl
- Lightning Greaves
GUILD
+ Boros Charm
+ Duskmantle Seer
- Wall of Denial
- Glacial Fortress
- Duergar Hedge-Mage
- Lightning Helix
- Clifftop Retreat
- Baleful Strix
- Recoil
- Drowned Catacomb
- Putrefy
- Woodland Cemetery
- Kessig Wolf Run
- Copperline Gorge
- Izzet keyrune
- Shivan Reef
- Stillmoon Cavalier
- Isolated Chapel
- Rakdos Shred-Freak
- Blackcleave Cliffs
- Sigarda, Host of Herons
- Stirring Wildwood
- Mystic Snake
- Yavimaya Coast
Other notes on changes: Eternal Dragon will not be cut.
Any final suggestions before I finalize the 450 update would be appreciated.
Cheers!
Eternal Dragon is coming back, since I'm moving Porcelain Legionnaire to my Universal section. My cube has always had the Tusker in it, so I'm going to see how things work out without it; I may miss it and promptly return it.
My group hasn't been particularly happy with Bane of the Living lately, so I'm going to see how well things work out with him (it?) on the bench for a while.
Thanks for the feedback rant, I'll give your suggestions strong consideration.
Cheers!
Thanks for the feedback Fredo, and thanks for welcoming me amongst the 450 ranks.
I love the larger cubes myself, but a recent reduction in the size of my playgroup means more Winston drafts and sealed. A 450 cube better facilitates this reality while still keeping most of the variance that my group appreciates.
With the Stomphowler it was more of a question of "is this sort of effect what I want at 5 mana?", and in the end I opted for keeping the cheaper Naturalize. I still dig the Stomphowler, but it was a victim of numbers, though it could quickly come back if those numbers prove off. I'm not on the "mana elves" kick that some cube builders are, though Avacyn's Pilgrim isn't a card that would be difficult to return if my mood changes.
Cheers!