- Paladin of AtonementHopeful Initiate
- Dungeon GeistsStoic Sphinx
- Stormwing EntitySnapcaster Mage
- Whirler RogueHarbinger of the Seas
- Omen of the SeaShark Typhoon
- Memory DelugeBrainsurge
- VictimizeAccursed Marauder
- Wishclaw TalismanSnarling Gorehound
- Putrid GoblinForsaken Miner
- Drana, Liberator of MalakirMarionette Apprentice
- Order of MidnightDark Confidant
- Nighthawk ScavengerWarren Soultrader
- Transmogrant's CrownShoot the Sheriff
- Feldon of the Third PathNorin, Swift Survivalist
- Magmatic InsightPrice of Progress
- Jolrael, Mwonvuli ReclusePawpatch Recruit
- Beast WithinNoble Hierarch
- Thrashing BrontodonIgnoble Hierarch
- Goreclaw, Terror of Qal SismaJadelight Spelunker
Been a while, was planning a bigger update but priorities changed, no big deal because the most important colors are getting all I want: blue (the most underdrafted color) and black (the weakest color). Secondarily I really want to weed out some stinkers.
White
Honestly, I don't know why I expected paladin to be relevant in this format, sure, it plays with the life costing manabase but no one's gonna play it anyway. Hopeful initiate is more of a curve addition but it fits well.
Blue
Having flash is incredibly important for anything blue besides the purest death and taxes decks, besides, geists is basically a Sower of temptation downgrade.
Stormwing entity is a incredibly fun magic card but this is no home for it, there's no such a thing as a prowess/spellslinger deck here so the discount plays weird by forcing you to play spells you would rather cast at instant speed. I don't need to introduce fother fucking snapcaster mage to you if you're reading this.
Rogue isn't bad per se but the taxes deck doesn't curve well into it and the flash deck doesn't want to tap out to cast it. Harbinger seems like it was made specifically for this environment holy shit, I love Blood moon and the blue version to slot in the taxes deck is just perfect.
Black
Black is getting a big overhaul, MH3 was a godsend for powerful, flexible aristocrats cards and that was what my cube was needing the most (besides green flash creatures wotc please). Changing a bit of the format since most changes aren't really 1:1.
OUTAll cool cards that are either slow, narrow or both. IN
Very excited to see how these play out, even the seemingly narrow aristocrats cards can be a blessing for inevitability and/or explosiveness of other decks, also shout ot to bob (Dark confidant), certified baller.
Red
Feldon was pretty much a pipe dream in this format, I knew it would be hard to make it work since I've included him but it was even worse, I didn't get the chance to see him being awful because no one ever put him in a deck, in hindsight it was incredibly obvious. Given this oportunity I lowered the curve since red 3s are so incredibly stacked and 1 drops are so vital.
Magmatic insight isn't really a bad card, just painfully unexciting. This is the perfect time to introduce Price of progress since the manabase just got a massive boost.
Green
Green has a lot of narrow ass cards laying around, despite the colors having a lot of creature tutors, these cards still don't play well in the situations you could tutor them or their synergies.
OUTI don't really like any of these cards, besides Beast Within, and the format doesn't really support it. IN
The main goal is too smooth out green's curve as much as possible, the mana dorks are incredibly powerful and the other two are flexible proactive plays.
More flexible and fetchable lands!
Nothing fancy, just a way overdue land update, decided to include the other cycle of fetches since they're basically 5-color lands and I don't want to limit too much the possibility of people inovating on decks. Also some bling.
- Ancestral BladeCheeky House-Mouse
- Containment PriestSelfless Spirit
- History of BenaliaSoul Partition
- Looter il-KorMalcolm, Alluring Scoundrel
- Supreme WillConfounding Riddle
- Aether ChannelerNimble Obstructionist
- Gonti, Lord of LuxuryStalactite Stalker
- Kitesail FreebooterDeep-Cavern Bat
- Agonizing RemorsePile On
- Ash ZealotFeldon, Ronom Excavator
- Spiteful PranksterPhoenix of Ash
- Avalanche RidersHazoret the Fervent
- Sylvan AdvocateThe Huntsman's Redemption
- Barkhide TrollScuttling Sentinel
- Surrak, the Hunt CallerVoracious Hydra
- Pulse of MurasaCollected Company
- Sphinx's RevelationAbuelo, Ancestral Echo
- Grumgully, the GenerousMigloz, Maze Crusher
- Tidehollow ScullerBartolomé del Presidio
- Swiftfoot BootsWasteland
Mostly trying to get some last pick staples out, also taking the opportunity to bring some LCI good stuff and some renowed heavy hitters.
White
While the blade is not bad in any deck, it's not good either. The mouse is an exciting one drop, the best kind of cube card.
Priest needs more "targets" to really shine, especially in a fair environment like this. The spirit looks incredibly flexible.
Another fine card that ended up sitting most games out, has a weird place in the curve mostly, also white seems to be lacking removal, partition reinforces the tempo aspect of it well.
Blue
Il-kor is alright but 1 power is pretty rough, I was never excited to play it. While I'm annoyed by the extra useless paragraph on Malcolm, the combination of 2/1-flash-flying-looter is so juicy.
Strict power upgrade, simple as that.
Ngl, I kinda hate aether channeler, I hate that Man-o'-War died for it and it simply didn't bring a sliver of joy to my heart, as a card it's a pretty respectable filler but I simply hate his guts, rest in piss. Obstructionist is here so I can gush about how good fetchlands are before the draft and then counter them every single game.
Black
Black has a curve problem, especially on having too many 4s and not enough 1s, I also wanna see Gonti make the pilgrimage to more respectable grounds). Stalker is simply delightful, I wanna kiss his slimy ass lips.
Power (and art) upgrade.
Remorse is nothing to laugh at and might come back, I just feel the need for more removal and pile on has some interesting synergies with aristocrats.
Red
Zealot is a weird one, it was here just to smash face, the effect was mostly a distraction that prevented people from playing her thinking she was narrow, might come back, won't miss the double red cost tho. Feldon is cool too and has more interplay.
Another weird one, looks amazing in theory, meh in practice, might come back. Phoenix is one I've been antecipating for a while, I wanted one to represent the category since the cube was concieved but most are either bad or narrow, this one has a good effect and great art.
I kinda knew riders would flop but I wanted to try it so bad, I love including history in my cube, so Hazoret seems to fill his gap in every way, just with a little more oomph.
Green
Advocate slipped under the radar for until now simply because it isn't offensively bad, but it was consistently underwhelming too. Huntsman seems amazing, a cool way to sneak a noncreature without lowering the creature count, a saga and a tutor, all in one.
Troll is just mid, like the other ones I already talked about. Sentinel is the green creature with flash I've been asking every set and never getting, it being hybrid gives me a chance to test including it in a monocolored slot, something I wanted to try for a long time just didn't line up well, I fear green needs the free card more than blue but we'll see, can always slide it to the left.
Surrak isn't bad but isn't good, you know the drill. Hydra a card I want since day one but it was either expensive or didn't line up with other purchases.
RIP pulse of murasa, exaclty one person liked it, but it's a real one, hope you like CoCo more Cecel!
Multicolor/Colorless
I like Rev but it simply doesn't play well in this environment. Abuelo is a spicy direction for Death & Taxes if it can stick the landing.
Grumgully was pretty clunky, both in curve and effect, I want nothing to do with his slimy ass lips. Migloz seems very flexible and explosive, might be a little bothersome to track, we'll see.
I have nostalgia for Sculler, it's an elegant weapon from a more civilized age, but Orzhov, especially aristocrats, desperatly need some gas. Bartolomé is basically Carrion feeder big cousin with some sick art, fine by me.
The boots straight up suck, take your mana hungry ass back to commander, we on wasteland territory baybeeeeee.
- Glass CasketTouch the Spirit Realm
- CondemnFateful Absence
- Bygone BishopMetropolis Reformer
- Angel of InventionGrand Abolisher
- Valorous StanceLion Sash
- Academy LoremasterFaerie Mastermind
- Mnemonic SphereDress Down
- Ancestral VisionCastle Vantress
- Zulaport CutthroatGix, Yawgmoth Praetor
- Village RitesThoughtseize
- Read the BonesPhyrexian Arena
- Think TwiceTorrential Gearhulk
- Nullpriest of OblivionKalitas, Traitor of Ghet
- Dreadhorde InvasionLord Skitter, Sewer King
- Cabal TherapistBloodghast
- Unexpected WindfallValakut Exploration
- Wheel of FateSeal of Fire
- Hordeling OutburstSong of Totentanz
- Incubation DruidTitania, Protector of Argoth
- Kraul HarpoonerGreen Sun's Zenith
- Thorn MammothGruff Triplets
- Undergrowth ChampionRamunap Excavator
- Strangleroot GeistJolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse
- Swarm ShamblerHexdrinker
- Solemn SimulacrumHylda's Crown of Winter
- Prophetic PrismMazemind Tome
- Obzedat, Ghost CouncilKambal, Consul of Allocation
- Yavimaya IconoclastKlothys, God of Destiny
- Fireblade ArtistClaim // Fame
- Shardless AgentRestless Vinestalk
This update mainly tries to fix two percieved problems, green being generally unappealing for drafters to commit and black having few generically good cards that were being spread thin among drafters. Also the cube had some odd low powered cards that survived being replaced for a long time somehow.
White
Casket wasn't bad by any means but I'm currently trying to replace completely redundant effects, casket was basically a worse Journey to nowhere. Touch the spirit realm is a simmilar effect with added flexibility.
Removal only for attacing creatures? Not my jam.
I severely overestimated how much draw non-blue decks would need, the bishop ended up being pretty clunky for a format that fast. The reformer seems like an interesting tool for taxes and tempo to deal with faster decks.
Angel was never bad when played, but ended being cut a lot because no wwhite deck really wants a 5 drop. Abolisher is
, a historically clunky mana cost, but seems worth it.Stance is fine actually, but too situational on both sides and was cut every time it could be. Sash seems like a cool roleplayer in taxes and opens the door for future synergies.
Blue
Academy loremaster was a speculative inclusion and it really didn't pay off, the flash deck really only needs flash creatures.
While sphere was fine just to cycle, it really doesn't come close to the other draws like Fact or fiction or even Mulldrifter, Dress down is an exciting card with an unique purpose.
Another akward draw, never bad, never great, always on sideboards. Gearhulk needs no introduction.
Vision was a cute cascade synergy but it was never that good and with Shardless agent gone it's just bad at every stage of the game, also 3rd bad draw in a row being cut. Castle plays really well in any blue deck.
Black
While it's pretty risky to cut cutthroat with aristocrats seeming weak, the problem is never the payoff, it's the setup and especially how the deck has to fight pretty hard for generic effects, also including it alongside with almost identical effects feels like breaking singleton. Gix is a plant to pull people into the black versions of aggro and taxes, not bad with aristocrats' tokens too.
Rites had two major problems, it's much worse than Deadly dispute and the aristocrat deck values repeatable value engines much more than "one shot +1 at best" card advantage. Seize is a long time coming.
Although I like bones and some people love it, it suffers from simmilar problems as Rites. Arena has much more value packed into it.
The priest was never getting kicked, especially with it's history of rotting in sideboards. Kalitas seems like an amazing card for taxes and midrangy off-meta decks with the current dominance of aggro, aristocrats won't mind playing it too.
Not gonna lie, every time I played invasion I hated it, a lot. Long live Lord Skitter, Goblin rabblemaster got even dirtier!
Therapist was probably the clunkiest card to ever pass though this cube but I had to try it and damn I had to try it. Bloodghast is something aristocrats drafters really need: A generically good card that can pull you into the deck if it's open.
Red
Red is in a pretty good place right now, aggro is incredibly strong, so some of the clunkiest midrange cards have to step up so the color plays more diverse decks, windfall is one of those clunky cards. Valakut exploration can be disappointing some turns but it has some built in synergy that makes it cool and I wanna see how it goes.
Pretty simmilar to the previous card, also simmilar to Ancestral vision in the failed cascade synergies. Seal of fire seems like a good play on slower decks, setting up a removal before it's needed.
Pretty 1:1 substitution, song is way more flexible and the haste is incredibly relevant.
Green
Green has had a 2 drop problem for a while, I simply had to cut some, druid is not bad but not exciting either, pretty redundant. Titania is something I'm really excited to play with, the seeds of a lands-focused midrange deck have been planted.
2 drop problem, also this creature reads incredibly narrow, despite being reasonable as a 3/2 reach. GSZ is something I wanted since Dryad arbor came around and plays well with a lot of things.
Another speculative card that didn't pay off, happens, these fuckers look fun tho.
Not much to say, champion was a hole filler, excavator is a role player.
Geist being
really breaks their legs. I'm curious with Jolrael playing in simic despite not having flash.Shambler straight up sucks in this environment, drinker lives up to it's name.
Multicolor/Colorless
Simulacrum has been in the cube since the start and has always been pretty underwhelming. The crown has potential.
Prism has little purpose besides being filler if someone had a really rough draft, tome is a little more oriented to help midrange decks to generate value without a lot of upfront mana investment, making it possible to use in other decks too.
Obzedat is probably my favorite card, sad to see it go but it really never was a good fit for the format. Kambal is such an obvious include I'm shocked I didn't think of him sooner.
Iconoclast is good, but completely redundant with Gruul Spellbreaker and too vanilla for a multicolored slot. Klothys could be oppressive but the slower decks really need it, also it's a very disrespectful card.
Simmilar problems to iconoclast, with the difference that it's somewhat worse. Claim (to) fame is a strange card but I can see it being pretty good, it's worth a test.
Agent was somewhat of a trap, very often drafters would pick it and play it because they liked the card, screwing themselves over really hard by flipping counterspells, hydroid krasis, 1 mana dorks, etc, the tempo oriented simic deck needs flash creatures and counterspells more than anything and the agent doesn't tango with them at all. Vinestalk is pretty flexible, the triggered ability being a riff on Oko, thief of crowns +1 is so disrespectful I can't just let it slide.
- Doomed TravelerRecruitment Officer
- Consul's LieutenantArchon of Emeria
- Fblthp, the LostVendilion Clique
- Sea Gate StormcallerFatespinner
- Striped RiverwinderSower of Temptation
- Fell StingerTransmogrant's Crown
- Mardu SkullhunterMisery's Shadow
- Temur Battle RageFiery Confluence
- Dragonsguard EliteLotus Cobra
- Thrun, the Last TrollThrun, Breaker of Silence
- Merfolk BranchwalkerDeeproot Wayfinder
- Secure the Wastes
- History of Benalia
Hey! I've been away from my cube from a while (time constraints, but also playing my friend's wonderful cube!) and also got the budget to somewhat finish what the previous update started.
WhiteAll the "1 drop 1/1's -> dies -> makes a 1/1 token with some keyword" ended up being pretty underwhelming, they are passable in all white decks but not exciting at all even in aristocrats style decks, also horrible topdecks, officer is a generic aggressive 1 drop but coud be interesting to the recently buffed taxes deck.
Consul has had it's moments but I'll put it on the side until the fixing evolves a bit, Archon is the kind of baller the taxes deck needs to pull people in.
Blue
Fblthp has a lot of text to do the same thing as a Spirited Companion 99% of the time wich isn't gonna cut it, besides they're the biggest trap on the cube because people atually pick it and play it a lot for the memes, not that I disliked that but still a trap. The clique is one of my favorite cards ever and a great bridge between tempo and taxes.
Storm caller reads alright but plays extremelly clunky, basically if you don't have a Ponder or a Lightning bolt in hand you ain't exactly happy to play it. Fatespinner is a extremely experimental inclusion but oh boy I'm excited to see it.
Riverwinder was supposed to be weird cantrip that could be a high drop in the ramp decks, in reality it's not impactful enough as a creature to have real modality. Sower of temptation is been on the wishlist for a long long time.
Black
Stinger is not bad just kinda unimpressive as a one time effect, it's kinda bad to use it while you're ahead because you're giving up advantage for the promise of more advantage, even worst if you're behind. Crown is also bad if you're behind but looks amazing if you're pushing the advantage.
Skullhunter is somewhat unimpactful while requiring some things to align, being on the play, having a 1 drop, a good attack turn 2. Shadow looks interesting as some incidental hate that can do some beating.
Red
Red is incredibly strong right now, so it needs very little help, temur battle rage is pretty situational so a more flexible pick is good, being good against aggro is also massive props to confluence.
Green
Elite was supposed to be a tempo agent but a lack of instant/sorceries in green and the payoff being a vanilla middle sized creature wasn't great. Cobra is pretty flexible between decks and I'm expecting to hit fetchlands this year still.
Ashes to ashes, Thrun to Thrun. I'm gonna be honest, I like the old Thrun more a lot due to cleaner text, lower cost, better art and overall better vibes, however, he's famous for missing trample, also regeneration is clunky a lot of times, let's se wich Thrun comes out on top.
Branchwalker is not really bad at all, but green suffers a lot from having a lot of vanilla-feeling cards and this is one them. Wayfinder is bound to have simmilar strenghts but with more sauce attached to it.
- Seeker of the WayPaladin of Atonement
- Isamaru, Hound of KondaContainment Priest
- Gods WillingNorn's Wellspring
- Hunted WitnessSecure the Wastes
- Voracious GreatsharkMystic Confluence
- Thought ScourDig Through Time
- Siren StormtamerPhantasmal Image
- Phyrexian VivisectorFatal Push
- GravelighterVictimize
- Callous BloodmageDrana, Liberator of Malakir
- Pawn of UlamogRankle, Master of Pranks
- Vampire NighthawkNighthawk Scavenger
- Goblin CratermakerAvalanche Riders
- Dark-Dweller OracleFeldon of the Third Path
- Thrill of PossibilityUnexpected Windfall
- Arasta of the Endless WebEternal Witness
- Channeler InitiateDryad Arbor
- Wolfbriar ElementalGoreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
- BriarhornWilderness Reclamation
- Polukranos, World EaterThorn Mammoth
- Young WolfSwiftfoot Boots
- Falkenrath Pit FighterSmuggler's Copter
- Grim WandererHangarback Walker
- Elder Deep-FiendCity of Brass
- Taranika, Akroan VeteranMutavault
- CloudblazerDragonlord Ojutai
This update was meant to be way bigger but due to some emplyment issues I'm gonna grab what I have and call it an update. Don't wanna be sitting on cards for too long when I could play them (and also gonna sell the trade box).
White
I absoluutely adore this seeker art but sadly the Azorius tempo deck is way better at instant speed and it never plays this guy. Paladin comes back now that aggro is way more oppressive.
Isamaru is textbook fine, for better or worse, could see it coming back in place of some of the 1 mana 2/1. Containment priest is an experiment for the taxes deck against some matchups.
Gods willing is functional but if feels pretty bad to hold up anti-interaction and not need it. Wellspring is a value piece to help aristocrats maintain gas.
As a token maker these 1 drops that replace themselves are pretty mediocre, secure the wastes also is pretty good in tempo decks.
Shark is pretty alright, it can be weird to hold and it's redundant with Mystic snake. Mystic Confluence is way more flexible.
Thought scour doesn't have much synergy and drafters were kinda affraid of it. Dig has been proven to be rock solid.
Siren was meant to be a bridge between tempo and taxes decks but it's a bit clunky, especially trying to curve out. I have high expectations for Image to be an evergreen all-star.
Vivisector was a risky one, in the end it was too win more when aristocrats is already hard to build. Push is push.
Gravelighter survived way more than I expected, it was a hole filler from the beggining. I want this cube to represent most if not all of the signature effects for each color, Victimize is the stand in for reanimation effects and it helps black to generate some value.
Another hole filler, this was probably the most disapointing creature to ever be sleeved on this cube. Drana is a push on the black aggro front.
Pawn was an effort to upgrade Sifter of Skulls, turn out he's just as shit. Rankle is one of my favorite creatures and I welcome his pranks with a smile.
I'm devastated to say that Vampire nighthawk isn't up to standards anymore, hopefully his big brother gonna be more impactful.
Colorless nonland permanent is't gonna hit shit in this cube. Avalanche riders is one card I'm pretty excited to test.
The oracle is not bad but kinda clunky in the aristocrats deck since it wants to accumulate value over turns. Feldon can be a spicy engine for that.
 
Thrill is fine but it has a history for being a trap to aggro drafters. Hopefully windfall will point it more in the direction of midrangy decks.
Arasta is alright but too matchup dependant. Witness is a staple.
Channeler is pretty weird with the -1 counters and is kind of a worst version of Incubation druid. Dryad is not pretty supported at the moment but will gain tools in due time.
Wolfbriar is pretty playable but not very exciting if not cast for 6 or more. Goreclaw is here to push green aggro.
Briarhorn was a simic flash fill in that never worked alright, trying to upgrade it.
Polukranos is an old pet card but it has pretty clunky mechanics, hopefully the mammoth will do most of the same thing in a more streamlined way.
Cloudblazer isn't that welcome in any deck, Ojutai is more resilient, has the card advantage aspect and aims to end the game faster.
I wanted to boost the number of colorless cards, including colorless/5c lands, so some of the least desirable colored cards gotta go.
Wolf isn't desirable in aggro as a 1/1 and will be out of their league at the time it becomes a 2/2. The boots seem pretty flexible and will force some artifact removal to be considered.
I've never liked the pit fighter, it has played invariably as a vanilla 2/1. Copter is pretty busted but one of the goals of this update is to push colorless cards to be priority picks.
Wanderer is functional but it's missing 1 keyword to be good. Walker is a weird bridge between some archetypes in a good way.
Fiend is just too damn expensive, it could be finishing games with the a swing but it's pretty behind on speed. City of brass is one of my dream cards finally coming to the party.
Taranika has actually been performing way better than I expected, it's just that her mechanics are often clunky and it's a clear win more card. Mutavault is the perfect colorless land for the kind of environment I'm trying to cultivate.
A small update inspired by feedback, initially this was part of a larger upgrade but since I got the cards and it will be a while until I get the rest, I took the oportunity to make it more insular.
Bugler is pretty fine but it's getting too much sideboarded for my taste, it was more of a curve decision and it's pretty likely it will come back at some point. Meddling mage is kinda spicy but I wanna test it so bad.
The jellyfish finally left to explore new oceans, it will be forever in our hearts. Funnily enough it's been switched for another jellyfish, although a crackhead one.
This card honestly should have been cut a long time ago but I was kinda curious with it, black in general is suffering from a lot of dead cards but it's being addressed. I like Vindicate because it kills lands not despite of it.
It's pretty alright, some people like it, but this cube is not the home for it in general, it's going to a more respectful place. I love Alesha to death finally she joined us in the fray.
Sixth sense is pretty meh, more a trap than a tool. Grumgully comes with some tribal baggage that is usually not wanted but I want to test it first.
Another land cycle! This time I wanted to up the land count, so heads have to roll to fertilize new ground.
It's ok, I'm looking to remove most incidental tribal effects tho.
My pauper bias got me with this one, it's bad on the tempo deck and the ramp deck has better ways to defend against fliers.
I kinda hate this card, it doesn't make any sense for it to be here, curating a cube is weird.
I kinda had it for the art, I'm looking to phase regeneration out and it only ever killed one creature with it to begin with.
Too big for it's own good, never fitted the cube's goals, also it has a unique token that shares a name with a different sized one, a cube nightmare.
No long blog today, just a small update since I haven't done one in months.
- Gideon's LawkeeperStudent of Warfare
- Wall of OmensSpirit of the Labyrinth
- Knight of the White OrchidGuardian of New Benalia
- Vryn WingmareSavior of Ollenbock
- Sigrid, God-FavoredSkyclave Apparition
- Oblivion RingPath to Exile
- Generous GiftGreatsword of Tyr
- Prismatic StrandsTimeless Dragon
- RattlechainsAcademy Loremaster
- Exclusion MageAether Channeler
- Shipwreck DowserEthereal Forager
- Hard EvidencePonder
- Merfolk LooterThought Scour
- Ghostly FlickerPreordain
- Cloudkin SeerImpulse
- Blink of an EyeCryptic Command
- Nested ShamblerScrapheap Scrounger
- Doomed DissenterTenacious Underdog
- Butcher GhoulPack Rat
- Sling-Gang LieutenantPriest of Forgotten Gods
- Chittering RatsOrder of Midnight
- Smothering AbominationPhyrexian Vivisector
- Mesmeric FiendSpawn of Mayhem
- Deadeye TrackerCut Down
- Underworld ConnectionsCollective Brutality
- Goblin BushwhackerRabbit Battery
- Grim InitiateRadha's Firebrand
- Viashino PyromancerCemetery Gatekeeper
- Zealous ConscriptsLaelia, the Blade Reforged
- Lightning StrikeFire Prophecy
- Makeshift MunitionsGoblin Bombardment
- The Flame of KeldReckless Impulse
- Avaricious DragonSulfuric Vortex
- Skarrgan Pit-SkulkLlanowar Elves
- Leafkin DruidBirds of Paradise
- Reclusive TaxidermistLlanowar Loamspeaker
- Thorn LieutenantTarmogoyf
- Avatar of the ResoluteQuirion Beastcaller
- Foundation BreakerDragonsguard Elite
- Call of the HerdRanger Class
- Yeva, Nature's HeraldCemetery Prowler
- Genesis HydraLair of the Hydra
- Vivien's ArkbowAbundant Harvest
- Snakeskin VeilVines of Vastwood
- Burning-Tree EmissaryYavimaya Iconoclast
Lawkeeper wasn't cutting it, if another tapper comes in it needs more punch, Student sure does have hands.
The taxes deck needs more variety of effects, while keeping it's aggressive nature.
The knight is kinda akward since it's only good against one deck, and even then might whiff on the play, double white at 2 mana value doesn't help it.
The wingmare fits in a weird spot on the curve, but I can see it coming back, Savior is saucy.
Basically a strict upgrade.
99% of the time you want removal for creatures, o-ring is too pricy for that.
Turns out white Beast within is a lot less interesting, since white has a lot more interaction, took the oportunity to put a nice equipment in.
Strands had no home, Dragon is so versatile and looks a lot of fun.
I wanted 2 mana 2 power fliers with flash but rattlechains has this weird tribal thing going on and might be sending the wrong signals, Loremaster might be a complete powerhouse or brick in flash decks, only one way to find out!
Strict upgrade, Man-o'-War lives.
Forager will be cast by much less and get way more spells, also it's a whale.
Turns out blue still has a need for less mid creatures and more good spells.
Turns out blue still has a need for less mid creatures and more good spells.
Flicker is akward in singleton, especially there's no blink theme, preordain is preordain.
Turns out blue still has a need for less mid creatures and more good spells.
The useful mode of blink of an eye is half a cryptic command, let's see if the triple blue is not an issue.
Shambler has been pretty uninpressive and it has a unique token, I like Scrounger way more.
Dissenter is pretty mediocre, Underdog looks like straight gas and black needs it a lot.
Ghouls may die twice, but rats breed like crazy.
I'm sad to see Lieutenant go, but the aristocrats deck is already narrow and it can only sacrifice goblins, might come back in the future.
Every time I play Chittering rats I think "why the fuck did I put this in my cube", might be my pauper bias, anyway, Order of midnight is pretty versatile, aggressive and has a sick ass art.
Abomination reads good but plays clunky as hell, Vivisector is more flexible and half the price.
Fiend is too whimpy for it's on good, Spawn got hands.
Unfortunately tracker without fetches or a grave deck to hate is not making any impact, might come back in the future.
No deck really wants downgraded Phyrexian arena, brutality is universally good.
One drops that can't be played turn one are pretty akward, battery can be fun all game long.
Dedicated sacrifice fodder and pretty low impact, grim initiate isn't taking any names, Firebrand makes a good Earthshaker Kenra impression while having an extra oomph if needed.
Viashino always got played but once it hits the dance floor it's just a mildly angry lizzard, Gatekeeper is gonna keep everyone on their toes.
Conscripts is too expensive and situational, Laelia is probably busted as hell but I wanna see it in action.
Although strike is good, it's pretty redundant with a lot of burn that's more efficiency (Lightning bolt) or more interesting (Incinerate).
Strict upgrade.
The honorary saga never got played, Impulse has a more immediate impact in the game.
Aggro needs a lower curve, dragon might come back once that's solved.
One drops that can't be played turn one are pretty akward, elves are universally desired.
Bad mana dork out, best mana dork in.
Taxidermist hits too late and in a pretty vanilla way, Loamspeaker is flexible and looks fun.
I got high as fuck, watched 4 minutes of the newest Rhystic studies video and bought a Tarmogoyf.
Avatar isn't bad but with so few counters rolling around it's effect is negligible, Beastcaller has better synergy.
Foundation breaker wasn't being used, so I'm trying a weird card in it's place to see how it goes.
Herd is efficient but pretty boring, has a unique token, and new players probably think it's garbage, Ranger Class looks fun, diverse and the right amount of power.
Yeva only affecting green cards bothers me a lot, Prowler has a lot of presence in a lower curving environment.
Genesis Hydra has a weird case of bad synergy with it's own mechanic, if you put it in a deck with another cascade card like Shardless agent, you might just whiff, I want all the manlands I can get in green so the Lair looks good (despite it not having trample) and I like the art.
Arkbow is too late game and Lifecrafter's bestiary is miles better, Harvest looks like it's amazing in all decks and all game long.
Veil is fine, but it's missing spectacle, stealing games with combat tricks is fun, even if the cube has only two or three.
Emissary is pretty mid, I think Iconoclast punching harder might give gruul aggro the edge it needs.
- Benevolent BodyguardMother of Runes
- Ministrant of ObligationClarion Spirit
- Soul WardenLuminarch Aspirant
- Search Party CaptainThalia, Guardian of Thraben
- Blessed AllianceSwords to Plowshares
- Spiketail DrakelingVenser, Shaper Savant
- Phantasmal BearAncestral Vision
- Cloud of FaeriesPortent
- Suture PriestElite Spellbinder
- Wharf InfiltratorProhibit
- Mission BriefingTreasure Cruise
- Thassa's InterventionLogic Knot
- Diregraf GhoulKnight of the Ebon Legion
- Bone PickerBlood Artist
- Sifter of SkullsPawn of Ulamog
- Phyrexian RagerYahenni, Undying Partisan
- EliminateUlcerate
- Diabolic EdictInquisition of Kozilek
- Trespasser's CurseWishclaw Talisman
- Battle Cry GoblinGoblin Rabblemaster
- Bolt HoundRampaging Ferocidon
- Ogre BattledriverInferno Titan
- Arc LightningFlame Rift
- Rolling ThunderStaggershock
- Bloody BetrayalEmbercleave
- Jaddi OffshootFauna Shaman
- Blossoming DefenseTireless Tracker
- Troll AsceticCourser of Kruphix
- Savage PunchMaster of the Wild Hunt
- Rampant GrowthEdge of Autumn
- WiltBeast Within
- Sphinx's RevelationSpell Queller
- Rakdos CacklerKolaghan's Command
- Halana and Alena, PartnersBloodbraid Elf
- Cruel CelebrantObzedat, Ghost Council
- Relic of ProgenitusBlast Zone
- Soul-Guide LanternEater of Virtue
- Chromatic StarCogwork Librarian
The bodyguard sadly didn't see the sun, I can see why, underwhelming in all contexts, was changed to the powerful mom.
Ministrant was fine as a sacrifice fodder, but was just that, othewise pretty inflexible pick and horrible topdeck, Clarion Spirit might be way more flexible.
Soul Warden just slowed things down for the sake of it, Luminarch Aspirant is interested in doing the opposite.
Search party captain actually seems kinda fine, although uneventful and "win more", it might come back some day, but Thalia is definitely here to stay.
Suture priest was a narrow check to aristocrats, I kinda wish it worked backwards, Spellbinder is way more flexible.
Bad removal out good removal in, incidental life gain is being cut everywhere as I can.
Spiketail Drakeling was really lame, not efficient and predictable, Venser comes to spice it up.
Tempo needs less shit creatures and more good spells.
Tempo needs less shit creatures and more good spells.
Tempo needs less shit creatures and more good spells.
Sadly Mission briefing needs really heavy fixing to be playable, Treasure cruise is a better use for the graveyard.
Thassa's Intervention is too slow, Logic Knot might be more attractive all game long.
The Ghoul is efficient but boring, the Knight might pull more people to black aggro.
Bone Picker was kinda akward of a payoff and needed flash to work in more decks, Blood Artist has proven his longevity everywhere.
4 mana is too much to be sitting there making babies all day, Pawn is basically a strict upgrade.
Rager has seen better days, Yahenni is way cooler all decks Rager wants to be.
Eliminate will abandon you when you need it the most, Ulcerate reads similar but it's a way cooler design and cheaper.
I was honestly just waiting for Inquisition to get good art to put it in, Diabolic was narrow and the worst removal of the bunch.
Tresspasser's curse is really narrow, the Talisman is weird too but in a good way.
Strict upgrade, Battle Cry's abilities are pretty shit.
The hound was a pretty generic threat, drafters are not interested in those, I had a pissed dino laying around so he gets to play.
The Ogre is several levels worse than his partner in the slot Hellrider, Inferno Titan is a capital B Bomb and serves a niche.
The ramp decks don't really want Arc Lightning, and since ramp needs better checks, aggro gains Flame Rift.
Rolling Thunder was really oppressive in ramp decks and unplayable everythere else, Staggershock might be broken but at least seems more flexible.
Betrayal was probably the most unplayable card in the cube, I want more equipment and aggro payoffs around, even if Embercleave is kinda broken.
Incidental lifegain, annoying to remember triggers, stalling the game, Offshoot was no fun, Fauna Shaman is a spicy replacement.
Narrow and underpowered, the simic tempo deck doesn't want Defense, Tracker is beloved everywhere.
The troll was really toxic, promoted boardstalls and lots of unfun games, we already have a bigger shrek around, Thrun, The Last Troll, Courser is still defensive but brings more variety.
Fight spells need flexibility to be fun, a sick ass shaman with a pack of wolves is flexibility enough.
Ramp is pretty brainless right now, Edge of autumn is a better card and with more decisions.
There aren't a lot of enchantments and artifacts rolling around, Beast Within is way more flexible.
Rev is too slow for the tempo deck and no other deck would play it, also lifegain.
Cackler is just a 2/2, Kolaghan's command is way more.
They're kinda too clunky for my taste, Elf is a powerhouse.
Celebrant is too redundant with things black already does, Obzedat is a pet card I wanna test.
Dedicated gravehate is too narrow to be played in this environment, Blast Zone is a fun flexible removal spell disguised as a land.
Grave hate again, a more interesting Bonesplitter is always welcome.
Star has too small of an effect, with better lands, I switched it to a fun unique effect.
