The aim of this cube is to replicate some of the classic Modern formats and decks, as well as some decks that are just plain old fun! It's my way of replicating the glory days of watching SCG modern events in the before-times.

The cube was constructed around some pillars of the Modern format. Cards such as Lingering Souls, Snapcaster Mage, Dark Confidant, Splinter Twin, Tarmogoyf. While there is an emphasis on pre-Horizons Modern, there are cards from across the format's existence, and the only hard-and-fast rule is that all cards included must be legal or banned in Modern.

It is notable also that there are some "older" cards included, such as Fact or Fiction and Altar of Dementia, which were not legal in Modern prior to their printing in Modern Horizons. While not "classic modern" cards, they do invoke, for me, a feeling of a certain time period in Magic which I feel adds to the nostalgia. As they also fit under the one hard-and-fast rule (of being legal or banned in Modern), I have decided to include them. EOTFOFYL!

Games are intended to be about creatures attacking and blocking, decks that draw out value and piece together engines, decks that go under those decks, by chaining together cheap aggressive creatures and curving out, and glass cannons that look to go all in on cheating a big beefy creature into play.

The following primary archetypes are supported:

Control
Tempo
Aristocrats
Stompy
Value Town
Tokens
Graveyard
Ramp Control
Spells
Artifact Aggro

Beyond this are a number of strategies that emerge from the collection of cards chosen, and through the addition of a few choice cards. Some of those are discussed here:

Additional Archetypes

I am currently reviewing how well this cube captures for me the spirit of Modern's zenith, somewhere between Eldrazi winter and MH1.

While I am not looking to rule out the MH cards entirely, I am concerned that there has been a drift towards more-recent cards, and some prior staples are not getting the consideration they might otherwise.

Some examples of staples I am considering finding room for include (but are not limited to) Dryad Arbor, Bloodbraid Elf, Glen Elendra Archmage, Electrolyze, Golgari Grave-Troll, Vengevine, Gurmag Angler, Ranger of Eos, Mindslaver, Thalia's Lieutenant and Geist of Saint Traft. The artifacts archetype may also get some tweaking into the classic blue variant, with cards such as Chief Engineer, Master of Etherium, Tezzeret the Seeker, and/or Ensoul Artifact.

There are currently no tribal themes, which may need some attention. In particular, humans could use a boost and some possible inclusions are on the table, such as Thalia's Lieutenant, Champion of the Parish, and maybe Winota, Joiner of Forces. While not strictly a tribal theme, the faeries archetype is supplemented by more recently-printed ninjas, creating a broader tempo theme. Some classic faerie-specific considerations include Mistbind Clique and Spellstutter Sprite, but I am currently happy with where this archetype sits, more generally.

There are also some staples that I can't yet find a good support for. Cards like Death's Shadow or Hollow One that were, or still are, format- and archetype-defining. I would also like to find slots for previous go-to beat sticks such as Kird Ape and Wild Nacatl, which might actually be ok now we have triomes, if the power level were dropped a little. This also represents an archetype which feels overall not-as-well-represented as I would otherwise like, in Zoo and possibly Death's Shadow Zoo (which would solve TWO problems).

There are also format-staples like the Tron lands which are difficult to implement well in a singleton cube. The inclusion of colourless ramp and payoffs at the top-end may help to give a nod to the archetype, but it's just not possible to go without noting Tron's absence. I am not against breaking the singleton rule, but I want to do so in a way which make sense for the environment, and currently I am not aware of a good way to do that.

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Built around the classic Modern big-hitters like Teferi, Hero of Dominaria and Sphinx's Revelation, this deck looks to stall out the early game with a suite of counter-magic like Remand and Mana Leak, spot removal like Path to Exile and sweepers like Wrath of God. Modern staples like Snapcaster Mage and Cryptic Command help to gain extra value and turn the corner.

Additionally, value creatures like Wall of Omens and Mulldrifter permit a blink subtheme, supported by Soulherder and Ephemerate. Panharmonicon also makes a showing, for those that prefer to turn it up to 11.

Splashes: Splashing can net you some additional spot removal and board wipes if you're leaning into the control route, while has some additional ETB value in Eternal Witness, Acidic Slime or the classic Thragtusk + Restoration Angel pair.

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Inspired by the Faeries Modern deck, Ninjutsu, and newer decks such as Autumn Burchett's Mythic Championship-winning Mono-U Tempo Standard deck, this archetype looks to take a more aggressive take to the control decks often seen in this colour pair.

Former Modern pillars like Bitterblossom, Vendilion Clique and Shadowmage Infiltrator ensure you always have a creature that can chip in for damage. The blue control suite in Mana Leak and Remand and spot removal like Fatal Push and Ultimate Price help to keep the board clear. While not part of the classic deck of days gone, this deck can be supplemented with a Ninjutsu package, with cards such as Ninja of the Deep Hours and Fallen Shinobi bouncing cheap, evasive creatures with value ETBs, such as Faerie Seer. Finally, aggression is rewarded through cards such as Curious Obsession, Chart a Course and Sea-Dasher Octopus.

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While inspired by the classic cube staple Falkenrath Aristocrat, this is an archetype that has received a bit of love from recent sets.

Using free or cheap outlets such as Carrion Feeder, Goblin Bombardment or Woe Strider, this deck can sacrifice recursive bodies such as Bloodsoaked Champion, Gravecrawler, or Bloodghast. These can be combined with drain effects such as Mayhem Devil or Zulaport Cutthroat or card draw such as Grim Haruspex to build effective value engines. This deck can also piece together some infinite combos through a free sac outlet, Murderous Redcap and a +1/+1 effect such as Metallic Mimic. Former Modern all-star Birthing Pod can pull double duty as a sacrifice outlet and a way to tutor up key pieces.

Cards that make multiple bodies like Pia and Kiran Nalaar or Anax, Hardened in the Forge, or recursion such as Alesha Who Smiles at Death help to ensure you have enough blood for the blood god!

Splashing into or will bolster the infinite combo potential, with additional fodder such as Kitchen Finks and +1/+1 effects in Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit and Renata, Called to the Hunt. Old Modern staple Lingering Souls can also help to up the body count.

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A classic and simple deck, inspired by large creatures like Primeval Titan, and Inferno Titan as well as Tireless Tracker to generate value from land drops. Early ramp is driven by mana dorks Llanowar Elves, Birds of Paradise or Lotus Cobra and additional land drops from Farseek, Kodama's Reach and Search for Tomorrow.

Board-stalls happen, so cards that can push through damage, such as Ulvenwald Oddity, Craterhoof Behemoth, and Kessig Wolf Run are game changers.

Splash for cards like Growth Spiral and payoffs such as Hydroid Krasis or Frost Titan, or to take advantage of blue's suite of countermagic.

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Inspired by the Melira Pod decks of Modern's heyday, and the more recent value town decks, this deck can either lean into a persist combo or a more midrange, creature-based value deck, or some combination of both.

Much like the combo deck, Kitchen Finks or Woodfall Primus, and a card that adds +1/+1 counters, such as Renata, Called to the Hunt or Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit is infinite mill with Altar of Dementia or infinite damage with Blasting Station.

These colours also permit a more midrange-aligned strategy, with value creatures such as Thraben Inspector and Tireless Tracker, bulked up with Gavony Township or Verdurous Gearhulk, backed up with Hardened Scales.

Splashes: With the overlap in , these are natural choices for a splash colour, and give access to additional sacrifice outlets like Yawgmoth, Thran Physician or Goblin Bombardment and drain effects with Zulaport Cutthroat.

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This archetype is inspired by the card I miss most from Modern; Lingering Souls.

This deck can win on multiple axes. A few weenies, courtesy of Lingering Souls, Bitterblossom, and Spectral Procession, possibly doubled up thanks to Kaya, Geist Hunter, become real threats when you cast Collective Effort or a main-phase Unbreakable Formation. Eventually an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite or Ethereal Absolution will end the game in short order.

Alternatively, borrow from the Aristocrats package, and feed your tokens to a Viscera Seer or another sac outlets, and drain your opponents with Zulaport Cutthroat.

Splashes: Depending on your variation, red can net you some extra Aristocrats pieces like Goblin Bombardment and Mayhem Devil. Alternatively, pump your team with +1/+1 counter effects such as Gavony Township, Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, or Craterhoof Behemoth.

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This archetype borrows pieces from my favourite archetypes in Abzan and Jund Midrange and The Rock. The deck can be built to leverage a couple of slight variations on the graveyard. Cards such as Pack Rat, Cryptbreaker, or Satyr Wayfinder can help to fill the yard and hit delirium, and drop an early Emrakul, The Promised End or Ishkanah, Grafwidow. Tribal cards like Nameless Inversion or a discarded Bitterblossom will help to hit delirium sooner, or help to pump a Tarmogoyf to 6, 7 or even 8 power.

Alternatively, lean a bit more heavily on creatures in the yard, discarded to Fauna Shaman, to take advantage of one of my all-time favourite draft build-arounds Spider Spawning.

Splashes: can help to fill the yard through some premium discard spells such as Faithless Looting and Cathartic Reunion, or get an enchantment into the yard quickly with Seal of Fire, to pump the goyf or speed out delirium.

There are some extra self mill options and payoffs in , with Jace, Vryn's Prodigy helping to fill your yard, and eventually letting you rebuy a critical spell, while you can utilise excess cards in you graveyard to cast a critical Logic Knot.

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This archetype borrows from decks across formats, particularly draft formats in recent Standard sets, wherein the aim is to leverage green's ramp and blue's control suite to buy time to drop big threats, squeeze out the value and protect your board.

The usual ramp cards like Noble Hierarch, Llanowar Elves and Growth Spiral get you ahead on turns, land drops and mana curve, and ensure that Condescend and Logic Knot look more like hard counters.

Once you round the corner, a large Hydroid Krasis or Hornet Queen help seal the deal.

If you're leaning more heavily into green permanents, then Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx can help to drop an early Craterhoof Behemoth to push for a game-ending alpha strike.

Splashes: can offer some premium removal in Lightning Bolt and help to keep your opponent's threats in check. It can also offer some great top end threats like Dragonlord Atarka or Inferno Titan.

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This archetype is informed by cards new and old, with former staples like Young Pyromancer, Izzet Charm and Lightning Bolt alongside new hotness such as Expansion // Explosion, Shark Typhoon and Torrential Gearhulk.

The aim of this deck is to utilise cheap card draw, burn and removal alongside some token generators such as Talrand, Sky Summoner, pingers like Thermo-Alchemist or Guttersnipe, or tempo threats such as Sprite Dragon or Arclight Phoenix.

The deck can take the classic combo bent, by teaming up Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker or Splinter Twin with Pestermite, to pull a surprise win.

Splashes: can be a back up on either plan, with premium cheap removal in Path to Exile, token generation in Monastery Mentor and additional combo pieces with Restoration Angel.

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Inspired of course by one of Modern's all-time pillar decks, Affinity and the more modern variations.

This archetype looks to drop some cheap artifact creatures Esper Sentinel, Bomat Courier, Goldhound, Arcbound Javelineer, Rabbit Battery, Gingerbrute and pump them using Tempered Steel or Steel Overseer. Once you've got your Affinity count up, a well-placed Cranial Plating on a thopter token or Vault Skirge represents a game-ending threat.

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There are some additional archetypes that emerge from the interaction of pillar cards, or that can be supported through the addition of a few extra cards.

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The Modular game plan is centred around sacrifice outlets like Arcbound Ravager or Throne of Geth, looking to sacrifice thopter tokens, Arcbound Javelineer etc to pump an Arcbound Tracker, Vault Skirge or another evasive threat]]. Backed up by The Ozolith or splashing for Hardened Scales, the +1/+1 can get out of hand quickly!

Otherwise, splashing lets you recur a Scrapheap Scrounger to feed to your Arcbound Ravager or make use of some death triggers with Zulaport Cutthroat or Mayhem Devil.

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With a suite of walkers across the colours, there's a fairly natural draw towards a deck packed with them. Utilising the colour fixing available, this is largely a green based deck, especially with the addition of Oath of Nissa, and commonly with blue to provide some protection.

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Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is pretty good. Why not get it down a couple of turns earlier, with Through the Breach? Bring it back from the graveyard, at instant speed, with Goryo's Vengeance or Makeshift Mannequin. There are plenty of other big beefy beaters to choose from, like Dragonlord Atarka, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite or Griselbrand. It's fragile, but fun!

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One of the most central archetypes of classic Modern, favouring raw card quality over synergies and combos. Grind away at your opponents with planeswalkers like Grist, the Hunger Tide or the various Lilianas. Play Tarmogoyf, Dark Confidant, or Lingering Souls for that authentic Boomer Jund/Junk experience!

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There was a time she was the face of Modern. Drop a Nahiri, the Harbinger and protect her long enough to pop her ult and search out Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, or another fatty bomb. Bonus style points for having the guts to run Dark Confidant! This archetype melds well with the Through The Breach and Reanimator packages.

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All five colours can build a devotion deck, utilising Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx to drop a bunch of mana into a giant Walking Ballista, or coloured spells like Secure the Wastes, Electrodominance or Voracious Hydra. But, thanks to Gray Merchant of Asphodel, the classic devotion finisher, none do it quite like .

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A key element of Modern, and increasingly so in recent years, is the high availability of fixing. Golos, Tireless Pilgrim both bolsters and rewards a well-balanced manabase, by fetching out rainbow lands such as City of Brass, Mana Confluence, or The World Tree, then activating his ability to spin for the win. It can also find a win-con in Field of the Dead. Additional lands-matter support exists in cards such as Elvish Reclaimer, Knight of the Reliquary, Ramunap Excavator, and The Gitrog Monster.

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This Cube originally designed by @DukeOfBeans and @Thethifuthus