> *Who's gonna be crowned the next king?* ___ ## Overview ___ - **Beginner-friendly:** This cube is for every player, from veterans to newcomers, aiming to allow intricate interactions and interesting plays while restraining game mechanics to allow for an easier understanding. - **Legacy staples:** The power level of individual cards is pretty high, with no restriction regarding sets or formats, and including powerful cards and eternal formats staples. That said, powerful vintage staples and oppressive effects in limited are absent from this cube. - **Limited combos:** This cube is board-focused. While spellslinger and burn strategies are enabled, the most egregious combo enablers as well as cards that snowball easily are being left out of the cube. - **Room for creativity:** Specific synergies are supported to allow for archetype-based strategies, although they're not too pushed, and most cards can be used in good-stuff decks, also supposed to be viable, as well as most color combinations. ___ ## Types of cards ___ Are limited: - artifacts and enchantments that can easily run away with the game, as artifact/enchantment removal is limited - effects that prevent the opponent to play the game for an elongated period of time - powerful combo enablers, that can win the game instantly or enable game-winning game states early - tutors, except for basic lands and fetch lands Are completely avoided: - double-faced cards - niche card types and mechanics (adventures, vehicles, level-up, etc) - sagas (probably later, but I would need a critical mass of them and powerful non-double-faced sagas are few and far between) - mechanics that need extra tracking (monarch, day/night, dungeons, etc) ___ ## Drafting tips ___ - **Check available synergies:** While this cube allows for many kinds of decks, some synergies are pushed to allow for unique decks to emerge. Being familiar with what is supported or not in various colors will help your decision-making early on, when you're still looking for your general strategy. - **Don't commit too early:** Some players tend to focus on a strategy after just a few cards picked. While building a cohesive strategy is key, commiting early in a specific direction might leave you unable to convert if the pieces don't show up, especially if other players are trying to build the same deck. Give yourself options and value generically good cards in the first rounds, leave a few turns to evaluate your options and converge towards an open strategy. - **Grab some fixing:** Fixing is pretty common in this cube, so you can expect to see lands late in the drafting process. That said, fetch lands alongside dual-type lands is an extremely good way to fix your mana, and you should pick them if possible, especially if you're still unsure of your colors, that way you can have as many options as possible. - **Grab removal:** Everyone wants some kind of removal. It's gonna get picked up by another player whenever there's no better option for them, and you shouldn't expect to see the card again if you skip it. You probably need a critical mass of removal as well, so give it high priority. - **Pick up on signs:** This is a bit harder to do, but being able to understand what is open and what is not based on the cards you are given can greatly improve your draft. If a powerful card is present late in the draft, you can be pretty sure this synergy is open. If you can remember the cards you left in each pack, you can infer the strategies the other players are going for when you get it back, and choose an open strategy, or pick cards that would be key for your opponents. - **Check your curve:** At the end of the day, you'll need to build a deck with your picks, and it's not just synergies. A good ratio of card types, mana value and roles is needed. Check your previous picks to spot the slots you need to fill. ___ ## Synergies ___ >>> ### {W} Token <<< ___ <<[[!Usher of the Fallen|24e58478-c6a8-4f86-854a-a489c99bd777]][[!Mirror Entity|e290b75d-a1fa-4e1e-9cb3-12e6ae223340]][[!Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite|78c2bfef-06a5-4c7f-8283-ea3fb673b7a1]][[!Elspeth, Sun's Champion|46dc2519-2729-4bbd-8892-fab6186bf116]]>> Build up the widest board possible with token-generating effects, before pumping them all up for an unblockable push. ___ >>> ### {U} Tempo <<< ___ <<[[!Haughty Djinn|35095a68-b7c0-4805-b0b6-6ca15a338692]][[!Vapor Snag|59f26d0a-e9f3-442f-b5c6-8016cf736432]][[!Essence Scatter|5f79c8a0-291e-4e13-b765-4cf8c726cf30]][[!Tolarian Terror|42f01cba-43d4-46ad-b7a5-d7631b0e1347]]>> Setup efficient creatures that synergize with your spells and back them up with cheap spells to delay your opponents' answers while you inescapably bring their life down. ___ >>> ### {B} Sacrifice <<< ___ <<[[!Dockside Chef|d80100c3-c81e-4084-8dfe-f8610637fd91]][[!Ophiomancer|0ef8d3a2-5c6b-41e2-aa7d-81e4a5d04421]][[!Scourge of Nel Toth|95536859-a8d9-45fa-9dbd-639bc626812d]][[!Junji, the Midnight Sky|9033cf27-d9e6-49b8-8ee1-c1f38c9680b9]]>> Make use of recursive creatures as an engine to continuously generate a board that can both pressure your opponent as well as get used for sacrifice effects. ___ >>> ### {R} Aggro <<< ___ <<[[!Hazoret the Fervent|36ed9f9d-99a7-49f4-b0ad-d71355809d32]][[!Kari Zev, Skyship Raider|72495879-39ce-449d-ad2f-ef32ea46f3aa]][[!Rabbit Battery|5d33a5b7-797b-4079-8d62-edd124c0fb5a]][[!Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker|cadef4eb-d1fc-4b27-9d37-938f8893b9e7]]>> No room for cute setup. The only thing you should care about is how low your opponent's life is. Make the most out of your early game and put the pressure as fast as possible with efficient haste creatures, damage dealers, and finishers. ___ >>> ### {G} Ramp <<< ___ <<[[!Primeval Titan|6d5537da-112e-4679-a113-b5d7ce32a66b]][[!Llanowar Elves|57ebd34e-dfe1-4093-a302-db395047a546]][[!Cultivate|2c7b84c8-b79d-4d05-8d2e-23657bd6ca7c]][[!Rampaging Baloths|805c9be0-d3aa-4f81-a70f-f66d0bb43b73]]>> Use mana-producing and ramp effects to get a mana advantage early on. You might lose some tempo, but with double your opponent's mana, you will be able to quickly recover and stabilize with powerful creatures that come down too soon for them to manage. ___ >>> ### {W}{U} Control <<< ___ <<[[!Teferi, Hero of Dominaria|5d10b752-d9cb-419d-a5c4-d4ee1acb655e]][[!Wrath of God|664e6656-36a3-4635-9f33-9f8901afd397]][[!Fact or Fiction|e7b08d9b-b259-4f41-8109-bd1ee000d7f3]][[!Sphinx's Revelation|c2bbfb5c-f922-4af3-8326-de09bb1599ed]]>> Dictate the pace of the game with strong interaction to keep in check your opponent's biggest threats, while you generate enough value to create an difference that can't be overcome. ___ >>> ### {U}{B} Evasion <<< ___ <<[[!Thief of Sanity|94946d6c-1edb-46e9-a5ae-0ca2a016a7cd]][[!Distortion Strike|57556595-8ede-4a35-b3a4-0e6f8bfc4d9d]][[!Drana, Liberator of Malakir|dbee85f6-a880-49ce-8139-5c439a202821]][[!Sygg, River Cutthroat|15914151-9d55-42b0-b7c6-ea41d37b05da]]>> They may have strong or many creatures, but if they can't block, you'll kill them anyway. Make use of cheap but evasive creatures that can generate value when they hit, which you can use to protect them or yourself until you get the kill. ___ >>> ### {B}{R} Discard <<< ___ <<[[!Chainer, Nightmare Adept|d7b0a8f8-d368-45e6-a546-984e7b1913e0]][[!The Raven Man|6e761fb2-ae4f-4d72-a142-f7e9bd681303]][[!Anger|0c7ce363-3f57-49ed-b89a-f12bb5227ab4]][[!Carnage Interpreter|f6fb576e-a4a4-496b-b553-3f81cc651210]]>> Why playing a card game if you're not playing your cards. Empty your hand on the battlefield quickly, and make use of discard effects to both play your hand faster, and force your opponent to follow you. ___ >>> ### {R}{G} Stompy <<< ___ <<[[!Ghor-Clan Rampager|4aae3f29-dde8-4880-b675-75468d53b3f4]][[!Terror of the Peaks|432ecd5f-966f-4403-a973-51e175a524a0]][[!Rancor|86d6b411-4a31-4bfc-8dd6-e19f553bb29b]][[!Stampede Surfer|7e782e90-d6e5-4a55-87a8-3bd6dce1b67a]]>> A simple life. Generate a mana advantage to build as much pressure as possible in the early and middle game and go through your opponents' blockers with trample creatures. ___ >>> ### {G}{W} Counters <<< ___ <<[[!Torens, Fist of the Angels|bd111dc9-b8de-4e92-a63d-75a961b2db3b]][[!Hardened Scales|fdf31b01-0836-4366-948d-879999832abe]][[!Luminarch Aspirant|dcd27fa3-f6b6-4137-9b6c-4cba7187664c]][[!Good-Fortune Unicorn|49d68905-e13e-4751-b028-90c795c11cd5]]>> Make your creatures into absurd threats by stacking never-ending amounts of stats on them. Use +1/+1 counters triggers or effects that scale based on stats and you'll run over your opponents. ___ >>> ### {W}{B} Aristocrats <<< ___ <<[[!Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim|1c3f0ffe-cf51-4c30-8cd5-9e3c7e92c019]][[!Archangel of Thune|15c34447-b0f4-4fcc-b557-23c92850b31b]][[!Morbid Opportunist|5a53982e-3d66-4808-bcb5-46ff40567872]][[!Sorin, Solemn Visitor|da1a9643-34d6-4b4b-b896-2d4626eca40a]]>> Generate a ton of tokens and sacrifice them to your advantage. Use death triggers to increase your life and reduce your opponent's. ___ >>> ### {U}{R} Spellslinger <<< ___ <<[[!Bria, Riptide Rogue|390c96b3-68da-4a42-89ab-d9ccc79ce0dd]][[!Ponder|91382955-bcfc-4fb6-8cce-dc107e5b4c32]][[!Young Pyromancer|219577e6-758a-4135-9a8d-f95df964137a]][[!Expressive Iteration|31b770cc-09e7-4c0b-b2a4-462ab4f7200d]]>> Get your draw engine ready, then play a million spells, each one triggering effects for explosive turns. ___ >>> ### {B}{G} Graveyard <<< ___ <<[[!Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis|0049e68d-0caf-474f-9523-dad343f1250a]][[!Undead Butler|2c9b8582-8887-4652-82e2-f9b11ee21545]][[!Genesis|9b741d88-513a-4f47-a4fd-af42c5e44b6d]][[!Grisly Salvage|8b435b0b-dc51-4335-bedb-39639b4a41f5]]>> Your graveyard is a resource. Mill your deck, sacrifice your creatures, and use powerful graveyard effects to generate massive value through recurring effects. ___ >>> ### {R}{W} Combat <<< ___ <<[[!Aurelia, the Warleader|7722682f-952c-4829-b4ef-e52300b7950e]][[!Legion Loyalist|ff93d9e3-3e27-4bd4-955b-076788519694]][[!Hero of Bladehold|8536e50d-81b3-4b1d-9469-22fad35fe145]][[!Heroic Reinforcements|ca5817ce-a8ba-4007-b8ca-6d39a421a9bc]]>> If you win every combat, there is no fear in attacking over and over. Generate a wide army and make effective trades impossible for your opponent, to quickly gain a tempo and life advantage. ___ >>> ### {G}{U} Value <<< ___ <<[[!Hydroid Krasis|65010991-2097-4769-be96-f24b4bf9276f]][[!Six|f9246b68-580f-4f53-883d-7900880e4b0d]][[!Ethereal Forager|97543d69-547e-41f8-9a4f-908e5eb0ee4a]][[!Growth Spiral|69625c5a-cf13-4c5d-816c-fd1670685587]]>> If it comes down to a war of resources, you're in for the gold. Use interaction spells to not get overwhelmed by the opponent's tempo in the early game, then start putting out a never-ending stream of cards that each give you access to more of your deck. ___ ## Hall of Fame ___ > A display of winning decklists in my playgroup >>> ##### Mephy - {W}{B} [Orzhov Good-Stuff](https://cubecobra.com/cube/deck/8198adc5-0dbc-4431-8ad6-a26a17b0f08a) *05/04/2024* <<< ___ <<[[!Sorin, Solemn Visitor|da1a9643-34d6-4b4b-b896-2d4626eca40a]][[!Usher of the Fallen|24e58478-c6a8-4f86-854a-a489c99bd777]][[!Solitude|47a6234f-309f-4e03-9263-66da48b57153]][[!Obzedat, Ghost Council|4029c3a0-a999-453a-a838-7adb81e481ee]]>> ___ >>> ##### Mephy - {G}{U} [Simic Merfolk](https://cubecobra.com/cube/deck/9b2393d0-fa28-486f-ab24-7b15f2501743) *03/05/2024* <<< ___ <<[[!Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca|aebcbb35-2973-41bf-811a-e2413ef45c3e]][[!Collected Company|cfa7b456-7e83-4587-a875-9b35fde318c2]][[!Fact or Fiction|e7b08d9b-b259-4f41-8109-bd1ee000d7f3]][[!Fractured Identity|b2f73f5d-1aad-48c2-9e74-5f7bdd87900f]]>> ___ >>> ##### Noah - {U}{R}{W} [Jeskai Control](https://cubecobra.com/cube/deck/029f440d-e044-41c2-9145-882232ab7c1c) *29/05/2024* <<< ___ <<[[!Monastery Mentor|64c8e27f-a7eb-4247-bd3d-2d0b02ead334]][[!Murktide Regent|20c4aae1-7665-4df7-bd51-a1d95bf8a17d]][[!Expressive Iteration|31b770cc-09e7-4c0b-b2a4-462ab4f7200d]][[!Fractured Identity|b2f73f5d-1aad-48c2-9e74-5f7bdd87900f]]>> ___ >>> ##### Mephy - {B}{G} [Golgari Graveyard](https://cubecobra.com/cube/deck/d16cb97c-c7e6-4e23-8f99-612855b1f5b0) *28/06/2024* <<< ___ <<[[!Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis|0049e68d-0caf-474f-9523-dad343f1250a]][[!Stitcher's Supplier|6c44e634-7a1f-4e7d-afdd-e7fd9a0bab06]][[!Fauna Shaman|b8b906eb-3223-474c-9b74-eda2c280f9c5]][[!Cavalier of Night|f03109b9-54a8-4d68-97c2-e42c7d5c2d41]]>> ___ >>> ##### Mephy - {W}{U} [Azorius Control](https://cubecobra.com/cube/deck/9e9cae74-f6d2-41a2-bf06-869614f29382) *22/09/2024* <<< ___ <<[[!Teferi, Hero of Dominaria|5d10b752-d9cb-419d-a5c4-d4ee1acb655e]][[!Path to Exile|e9d36855-c38a-4bba-a642-cff3f81e057e]][[!Cryptic Command|30f6fca9-003b-4f6b-9d6e-1e88adda4155]][[!Brimaz, King of Oreskos|f54eb705-6326-4bac-bf0e-68d42db7a270]]>> ___ >>> ##### Mephy - {W}{B} [Orzhov Aristocrat](https://cubecobra.com/cube/deck/073728d0-79bb-4040-9f7a-029568f6db9e) *06/04/2025* <<< ___ <<[[!Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim|1c3f0ffe-cf51-4c30-8cd5-9e3c7e92c019]][[!Sevinne's Reclamation|7e68f4df-88ce-4e09-a03c-7edf40bff167]][[!The Meathook Massacre|08950015-eee5-4327-888c-82dfd13bb9ad]][[!Lingering Souls|891a92d7-9ccf-4de1-8286-aa5254f27ba9]]>>