Well, it's that time to gut the cube from top to bottom again. While reading about Caleb Gannon's new game Algomancy, I became interested in his method of live-drafting. I've rebuilt my own Dual Cube around this new system (as best I could), we'll see how it plays out if I ever draft this thing again.

I have, once again, gutted the cube and almost entirely rebuilt it. The mechanic for resetting the queue has also been changed. The new solution will be more elegant, hopefully.

This update brings with it a massive overhaul of the cube, gutting all three-color cards and tweaking the planar die mechanics. More to be discussed later when I have time to type it out.

I'm interested in solving some of the early-game color issues inherent to the land system of this cube.

For example, the aggro deck wants to play cards like Eidolon of the Great Revel as early as possible (t2) but can't really afford to because of its mana cost. You would have to take Mountain (or Forsaken Crossroads), then Reflecting Pool to cast it on curve, which will ultimately lock you into 2 colors and your opponent into 4. This is not good and functionally means that mv<=3 cards with double pips of the same color can't be cast before turn 4.

To solve this issue, I'd like to try out a different Reserve composition:

• 1 of each ABUR dual land
• 10 Reflecting Pools

New rule: "Players may only play up to two lands from the Reserve not named Reflecting Pool. Those lands must share a basic land type."

This should allow players more freedom in casting heavy-colored spells early. Looking back at the Eidolon example, we can now take t1 Plateau into Mother of Runes, followed by t2 Badlands into Eidolon of the Great Revel; all without mucking up our shard/wedge manabase system.

I'll update again once I've had the time to test this change. My first alternative if this doesn't work is custom, untapped tri-lands w/ Reflecting Pools.