Cut some cards that didn't see much play in the era (in the decks I support) and don't have particularly compelling homes here. Added Doran which I think is a cool Junk option, and a little more Graveyard stuff without going fully Dredge.
Feed the Clan is also a unique sideboard card for Jund, Junk, and Zoo against Burn.
Mainboard Changelist+31, -31
- Return to the Ranks
- Restoration Angel
- Flickerwisp
- Gifts Ungiven
- Think Twice
- Repeal
- Liliana of the Veil
- Tragic Slip
- Faerie Macabre
- Faithless Looting
- Hazoret the Fervent
- Vexing Devil
- Traverse the Ulvenwald
- Chord of Calling
- Vengevine
- Hooting Mandrills
- Bump in the Night
- Domri Rade
- Gaddock Teeg
- Abzan Ascendancy
- Bant Charm
- Deflecting Palm
- Sulfur Falls
- Twilight Mire
- Mutavault
- Windbrisk Heights
- Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
- Obstinate Baloth
- Breeding Pool
- Sacred Foundry
- Sacred Foundry
- Overgrown Tomb
- Steam Vents
- Godless Shrine
- Temple Garden
- Temple Garden
- Stomping Ground
- Blood Crypt
- Watery Grave
- Hallowed Fountain
- Gnarlwood Dryad
- Voltaic Brawler
- Stormchaser Mage
- Breeding Pool
- Overgrown Tomb
- Steam Vents
- Godless Shrine
- Stomping Ground
- Watery Grave
- Blood Crypt
- Hallowed Fountain
- Stormchaser Mage
- Voltaic Brawler
- Gnarlwood Dryad
- Sylvan Caryatid
- Life from the Loam
- Narnam RenegadeExperiment One
- Punish IgnoranceSaheeli Rai
- Naya CharmFlagstones of Trokair
- Dryad Arbor
- Dryad Arbor
A recent comment by @Stnicholas brought me to analyze the mana fixing in the cube, and after reviewing decklists from the era and discussing it with many friends, I have decided to drop down to only two copies of each shockland. The fetches will remain at 4x, but filling out the gap provided by this restructure, we have additional support for existing archetypes, as well as some brand new ones: Return to the Ranks Aristocrats, Gifts Ungiven Control, a second Vengevine, and Abzan Ascendancy for another potential Aristocrats direction. Finally, a second copy of Saheeli for her combo deck, and a second copy of Flagstones for both Pox and Boom//Bust decks.
Cali Cube Champs Update
LuckyLooter posted to Museum of Modern -
Mainboard Changelist+2, -2
Patrick Tierney had an amazing run at CCC 24: didn't lose a match the first three drafts, and only lost in the finals of this cube draft #4. We were chatting afterward and he said it was his favorite, but had some requests.
"I have two copies of Sphinx's Revelation, but no shuffle-in effects. What about Emrakul?"
I had never considered this! When I added Nahiri, the Harbinger I did wonder if Emrakul was expected. You can also pitch it with Faithless Looting, Smuggler's Copter, and Desolate Lighthouse. But more than the Nahiri synergy, I had previously considered Through the Breach, and this was a tipping point. Similar to my use of Unburial Rites, it doesn't always have to be a combo, and the valuable targets are mostly the same: Titans, Reveillark, and Wurmcoil. I look forward to seeing how it plays!
His second request: "Would love to see Resto Angel go up to 2x. Between Pod, Humans, and Wall of Omens control, the card is in really high demand for a singleton."
This is correct, and was even a 2x at CubeCon less than a year ago. The only problem is, I like the rest of my White section quite a lot. Wall of Omens and Thraben Inspector are similar, but do go in different decks. Serra Avenger is a pet favorite from GP Copenhagen 2015 and GP Vegas 2017. Perhaps Flickerwisp and Felidar Guardian provide enough similar support? I am not sure, but it will remain on my radar.
Post CubeCon changes
LuckyLooter posted to Museum of Modern -
Apostle's Blessing can support Death's Shadow, and a second Resto wasn't really necessary. We already have a multiple spells to counter noncreature spells or protect a combo, and Gearhulk will help round out a "Titan" for each color. No graveyard decks even came together in all 48 pools this year, I'm not sure I've even seen one that makes the Spellbomb appealing. Grave Titan can go in Pod or be a top end in Tokens or Control. Burn did so well it doesn't need the second Rift Bolt, but Abbot could go in Humans or Death's Shadow as well. Become Immense works well with Death's Shadow and in Zoo decks. Since we have self-mill, Faithless Looting, Nahiri, and Titans, a value reanimator strategy could be cool with Unburial Rites. Sadly, Cruel Ultimatum simply cannot hang at this power level, and there are tons of shenanigans to be had with an additional Ghost Quarter.
Mainboard Changelist+10, -10
The players agreed there needed to be more removal in general, so we've added a new sweeper in White and Black, as well as more targeted removal for Black over the lesser discard effects. Also, a second copy of Engineered Explosives, which has a lot of potential to stave off a horde.
Deflecting Palm comes out since there isn't an Infect deck or Emrakul to really work against. I played a UB Faeries deck and don't believe Mystical Teachings works in the speed of this environment. Pyrite Spellbomb only has one good target (Auriok Champion) and works marginally with Delirium/Graveyard decks, but in the wrong color so it leaves for Magma Spray, which is an effective way to stop a Pestermite or a Persist Combo.
I must admit I underrated Jabs' suggestion of Gather the Townsfolk, it can work for Aristocrats, Humans, BW Tokens, or even Death's Shadow! Flagstones of Trokair and Crucible of Worlds are coming in as well, to support both the RW control deck with Boom//Bust and Ghost Quarter, and the BW Smallpox deck!
More Humans!
LuckyLooter posted to Museum of Modern -
My thoughts for these changes: Conscripts can go in Humans to take a Planeswalker or prepare a lethal swing, or it can go in Kiki or Twin combo, or it can untap Birthing Pod and be sacificed into a Titan.
Volcanic Fallout can interrupt a Kiki combo or stop Twin targeting Pestermite, uncounterably.
Meddling Mage replacing one of two Zealous Persecution (do we really need two?) and can stop a combo or just hose a card after looking at hand with Kitesail Freebooter. Not completely sold but its funny to be the only cube you can play this card in reasonably. Also picturing they tutor something with a card like Ranger of Eos, and you Vial in Mage naming what they grabbed.
Harsh Mentor hates on fetches, combos like Twin, Kiki, and Pod, as well as Equipment and Viscera Seer and Isochron Scepter, feels relevant enough and could help flesh out a Boros Hatebears deck (with Eidolons or Moon effects).
Xathrid Necromancer has actually seen more mtgtop8 play than Tombstalker, I am finally prepared to accept the Demon being bad. Plus sick to vial in against a wrath in Humans. Also lets you sac your humans 'twice' in aristocrats.
Mainboard Changelist+23, -23
- Vizier of RemediesGideon Jura
- Elspeth, Knight-ErrantElspeth, Sun's Champion
- Timely ReinforcementsArchangel of Thune
- Champion of the ParishLinvala, Keeper of Silence
- PonderVenser, Shaper Savant
- RepealMystical Teachings
- Narset TranscendentAncestral Vision
- Aether SpellbombDig Through Time
- Necrogen SpellbombDarkblast
- Street WraithFuneral Charm
- Goblin RabblemasterKessig Malcontents
- PyroclasmSweltering Suns
- Faithless LootingInferno Titan
- Vexing DevilKoth of the Hammer
- Green Sun's ZenithMelira, Sylvok Outcast
- VengevineVines of Vastwood
- Noxious RevivalLife from the Loam
- Experiment OneSpike Feeder
- Traverse the UlvenwaldMutagenic Growth
- Kolaghan's CommandCountersquall
- Anguished UnmakingKeranos, God of Storms
- Savage KnucklebladeJund Charm
- Basilisk CollarVedalken Shackles
- Spellskite
Combed through mtgtop8 some more and discussed the cards and decks that were played back in this era with some friends. Also reviewed the banlist history and found that I'd misremembered Ponder and Green Sun's Zenith being legal for any real length of time.
Cutting DOM, M19, and GRN
LuckyLooter posted to Museum of Modern -
Mainboard Changelist+10, -10
- Teferi, Hero of DominariaDragonlord Ojutai
- Militia BuglerChampion of the Parish
- Pelt CollectorExperiment One
- Arclight PhoenixPia and Kiran Nalaar
- Arclight PhoenixStormbreath Dragon
- Knight of AutumnSygg, River Cutthroat
- Assassin's TrophyMind Stone
- Assassin's TrophyMaelstrom Pulse
- Vraska, Golgari QueenSword of War and Peace
- Deafening ClarionPithing Needle
These feels more distinctly recent than the rest of the cube to me, for reasons I can't quite explain. But by cutting them, we get a bit more for Big Red, some more artifacts, and Sygg who I love as a weird tool for BR Burn and Shrieking Affliction decks.
Cutting RNA
LuckyLooter posted to Museum of Modern -
Mainboard Changelist+12, -12
- Spreading SeasSaheeli Rai
- Blade SplicerFelidar Guardian
- Pyrite SpellbombIzzet Staticaster
- Walking BallistaEnsnaring Bridge
- Field of RuinSun Titan
- Ghost QuarterShrieking Affliction
- BlackmailShrieking Affliction
- BlackmailRaven's Crime
- Hidden StockpileSin Collector
- Koth of the HammerGlen Elendra Archmage
- Mana TitheReclamation Sage
- Hooting MandrillsWall of Roots
Saheeli+Cat
Shrieking Affliction + Raven's Crime
More Humans
More Toolbox creatures for Pod