It’s almost 2021, and you know what that means – it’s time for my annual bold predictions thread! And by “annual,” I mean “you may or may not have seen me do this two years ago on reddit.” Without further ado, my five boldest takes on what 2021 will bring to cube:

1) An incomplete cycle of lands will be completed:

We’ll start out with a lukewarm take: one of the many incomplete dual land cycles is completed in 2021. Land cycles such as the horizon lands, bi-cycle lands, battle lands, and reveal lands remain incomplete. While some cubers proxy the missing lands, many of us are holding out hope the cycles will one day be complete.

“I told you so” when:

The MDFC cycle is completed in Kaldheim.

Laugh at me when:

We get an all-new cycle of ten lands in an upcoming set.

Opportunity for me to look like an idiot when:

An incomplete cycle is revisited, but instead of printing the five missing lands, Wizards gives us five reprints.

2) Artifacts-matters decks get a huge boon:

In the past few years, we’ve gotten several generically-good cards that incidentally create or synergize with artifacts. Examples include Angel of Invention, Whirler Rogue, Tireless Tracker, Smuggler's Copter, Saheeli, the Gifted, etc. These cards continue to push the viability of an artifacts-matters deck even when it is not explicitly supported. I predict that this trend will continue in 2021.

“I told you so” when:

A low-cost red Planeswalker becomes notorious for crowding the board with artifact creature tokens.

Laugh at me when:

The draft payoffs in Strixhaven’s spells-matter deck all create 1/1 very-not-artifact birds.

Opportunity for me to look like an idiot when:

We continue to get generically-good cards which incidentally hate-out artifacts, ala Abrade, Voracious Greatshark, and Knight of Autumn.

3) Modern Horizons 2 is a huge disappointment:

The original Modern Horizons introduced seven cards to my 360 unpowered cube, making it one of the most-represented sets next to Unlimited, Visions, Lorowyn, and Throne of Eldraine. Fellow CubeCobra writer @SteveMan tests cards much more liberally than I; an impressive 25 cards from MH1 have survived over a year of testing in his 540 Cube. Despite high representation of the original Modern Horizons in cube, I predict the sequel will massively scale back power.

“I told you so” when:

The top-rated comment in r/mtgcube’s MH2 spoiler thread is “when do Innistrad spoilers start?”

Laugh at me when:

Another onslaught of powerful cards leave Modern Horizons 2 just slightly less represented than the original.

Opportunity for me to look like an idiot when:

I spend half an hour trying to cut MH2 foils from my TCG cart just so I can make rent.

4) We get another goddamn playable Liliana:

First there was Liliana of the Veil. Then Liliana, the Last Hope. Then Liliana, Death's Majesty. Most recently, Liliana, Dreadhorde General. Where are my playable black Planeswalkers not named Liliana?! Fortunately, we get not one – but two – Innistrad sets this year, which leads me to predict we’ll get another excellent Liliana.

“I told you so” when:

Liliana, Duplicative Seamstress
When ~ enters the battlefield, create a 2/2 Vampire creature token
+1: Target player discards a card. If that card was a creature, create a 2/2 Vampire creature token.
-3: Non-Vampire creatures get -3/-3 until end of turn.
4 starting loyalty

Laugh at me when:

Another busted Liliana is printed. But it’s black-red, not mono-black, so it technically doesn’t count.

Opportunity for me to look like an idiot when:

Since I pay zero attention to lore, there’s probably one line of dialogue in some 400-page graphic novel which has spawned several discussion board threads about how Liliana is now missing from Innistrad. Or something.

5) A mechanic not intended for cube turns out to be really good in cube:

Like an invasive species to a native habitat, supplemental sets introduce 4-player mechanics (think Monarch or Will of the Council) to 1v1 cubes. With no commander set in 2021, this year’s supplemental sets look rather tame – but don’t rule out a degenerate mechanic from standard-legal sets. Between a Dungeons and Dragons-themed set and dual-release Innistrad sets, I predict something truly terrible (or exciting, depending on your disposition) will make its way to cube in 2021.

“I told you so” when:

The D&D set has a dice roll mechanic and a heavy emphasis on cards that modify dice rolls. While effect density keeps the mechanic in check in limited and standard, one or two dice-roll cards dominate in the relative isolation of cube.

Laugh at me when:

Innistrad’s dual-sets have draft implications, but no mechanics or abilities which can be explicitly abused in cube.

Opportunity for me to look like an idiot when:

We’re looking back in December with zero cards that feature set mechanics in our cubes.

So, what do you think? Too bold? Not bold enough? What new things will 2021 bring to cube?

@thesidestepkids | thesidestepkids#7403 | /u/thesidestepkids

360 Unpowered Cube | 450 Pioneer+ Cube

For those who want to visit the archives: 2019 Bold F***in' Predictions | 2019 Year in Review