Cloned from [The Payoff Matters Cube](/c/614bb3aebd408810477e727b) This cube's goal is to generate games of magic that use high power cards, but also to avoid games that instantly end in an uninterruptable way such as reanimating a [[Griselbrand]] on turn 2. Typically the way this is prevented is either by making the payoffs less game ending or by choosing combos that only rely on creatures. The cube is also focused on lowering the curve, and encouraging synergy over raw power level. Here are some of the supported strategies of the cube, along with the primary colors that support those strategies. Most common splash colors will be included in parentheses. {W}{U}({G}/{B}) Blink <<[[!Soulherder]][[!Mulldrifter]][[!Blade Splicer]]>> This archetype aims to grind the game out with creatures that provide value over the course of the whole game. Enablers include [[Ephemerate]] and [[Restoration Angel]]. Payoffs include cards like [[Venser, Shaper Savant]] that, when blinked, give you incredible tempo and card advantage. {W}{B} Midrange Attrition <<[[!Lingering Souls]][[!Lurrus of the Dream-Den]][[!Liliana of the Veil]]>> White and Black are great colors to slow your opponents down or run them out of resources entirely playing a midrange style deck. Use cards like [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]] to tax your opponent's spells and [[Stoneforge Mystic]] or [[Dark Confidant]] to provide strong finishing power and card advantage. {W}{R} Go Wide Aggro <<[[!Phoenix Chick]][[!Hellrider]][[!Ajani, Nacatl Pariah]]>> This is a token adjacent strategy that involves playing creatures that are both aggressive like [[Goblin Guide]] and make multiple bodies like [[Ajani, Nacatl Pariah]]. After that, pick a finisher like [[Embercleave]] or [[Heroic Reinforcements]] which will give your deck a lot of reach. {W}{G}({B}) Counters/Combo <<[[!Conclave Mentor]][[!Luminarch Aspirant]][[!Ozolith, the Shattered Spire]]>> This color combination provides a midrange gameplan with an aggressive slant. You can make your deck lower to the ground to take advantage of cards like [[Collected Company]], or try out a persist combo with [[Kitchen Finks]] and something like [[Metallic Mimic]] to gain infinite life. be sure to use cards like [[Birthing Pod]] to make your combo more consistent. {U}({G}/{W}/{R}/{B}) Artifacts Matter <<[[!Urza, Lord High Artificer]][[!Urza's Saga]][[!Mox Opal]]>> The artifacts archetype is pretty cool because you can go a couple of different directions with it. Trying to aggro your opponent out with [[Arcbound Ravager]] and [[Cranial Plating]] is a real strategy, but splashing green or even white becomes tempting with cards like [[Thraben Inspector]] and [[Tireless Tracker]] along with [[Academy Manufactor]] to really pop off. {U}{R}({W}/{B}) Spellslingers <<[[!Sprite Dragon]][[!Dragon's Rage Channeler]][[!Brainstorm]]>> These colors put a heavy emphasis on casting instant and sorcery cards. Most of your deck will likely be made up of cantrips like [[Preordain]] and efficient answers like [[Lightning Bolt]] with some cards to take advantage of all the spells you cast, like [[Young Pyromancer]] or [[Ledger Shredder]] {U}{G}({W}/{R}) Flash <<[[!Mystic Snake]][[!Nightpack Ambusher]][[!Snapcaster Mage]]>> This is a midrange deck primarily focused on always holding up counterspells with a backup way to spend your mana in case your opponent does not play a spell worth countering. This can be flashing in a threat like [Wildborn Preserver] or activating an ability like on [Spectral Sailor]. {U}{G} Top of Your Deck Matters <<[[!Brainstorm]][[!Sylvan Library]][[!Courser of Kruphix]]>> This is more of a package than an entire deck, but this synergy seems so sick I felt like including it here. {B}{R}({G}/{W}) Aristocrats <<[[!Mayhem Devil]][[!Blood Artist]][[!Goblin Bombardment]]>> Greatness at any cost. Use cards that generate a ton of bodies like [[Bitterblossom]] and take full advantage of them with sacrifice outlets like [[Yawgmoth, Thran Physician]]. {W}({R}/{B}) Humans <<[[!Thalia's Lieutenant]][[!Esper Sentinel]][[!Adeline, Resplendent Cathar]]>> While Zombies is slightly more combo-focused, humans is an extremely aggressive tribe. Starting the game with a [[Champion of the Parish]] already represents a massive potential clock. Because this strategy is white based, this can easily be drafted even if someone is playing a more traditional red based aggressive deck. {B}({R}/{U}) Reanimator <<[[!Reanimate]][[!Entomb]][[!Wurmcoil Engine]]>> This is the archetype that has the highest potential power ceiling in the cube, capable of putting [[Titan of Industry]] into play as early as turn 2, but is purposefully supported less than you will find elsewhere. You might employ such plan B's as entombing for a fair card such as [[Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath]]. {B}{G} Graveyard Matters <<[[!Golgari Grave-Troll]][[!Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis]][[!Tarmogoyf]]>> This archetype is really interested in filling up your own graveyard, specifically with cards like [[Bloodghast]] that are really good on their own but get extra value when you dredge it with [[Life from the loam]]. {R}{G} Stompy <<[[!Bloodbraid Elf]][[!Bonecrusher Giant]][[!Burning-Tree Emissary]]>> These cards together make a deck that both has a very high card quality and is very aggressive. Use [[Questing Druid]] for some extra card advantage and use a very large [[Pelt Collector]] to run over your opponent. This deck can also very easily play [[Collected Company]]. {W}{U}{R}{G}({B}) Lands <<[[!Golos, Tireless Pilgrim]][[!Avenger of Zendikar]][[!Primeval Titan]]>> This deck is full of cards that are really good on their own with a grindy slant, like [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]]. Your goal is to put lands into play as quickly as possible using cards like [[Sakura-Tribe Elder]] and [[Oracle of Mul Daya]]. At some point you can tutor something like [[Kessig Wolf Run]] using cards like [[Golos, Tireless Pilgrim]] or [[Knight of the Reliquary]]. {B} Zombies <<[[!Champion of the Perished]][[!Cryptbreaker]][[!Gravecrawler]]>> This archetype is similar to the aristocrats archetype as it can get value from the graveyard by repeating saccing [[Gravecrawler]] or a similar recursive zombie and replaying it, but creatures like [[Champion of the Perished]] make the deck operable as a lean aggro deck. These archetypes are just a guide to some of the cube synergy. To start playing at the next level, look out for build-around cards like the following! <<[[!Agatha's Soul Cauldron]][[!Satoru, the Infiltrator]][[!Survival of the Fittest]]>>