Clone of Totally Uncommon Cube
(420 Card Cube)
Clone of Totally Uncommon Cube
Art by Jesper EjsingArt by Jesper Ejsing
420 Card Cube0 followers
Designed by Jackpuddy
Owned
$715
Buy
$159
Purchase
Mana Pool$287.45

Cloned from Totally Uncommon Cube

It goes without saying that, as a cube curator, I am a fan of draft formats.

Introduction

Here in this cube I've focused on the aspects of in-store booster draft that brings me back to a set over and over again - drafting around high-synergy uncommons. In fact, the defining restriction of the cube is just that - every card here has been printed at uncommon at some point (with a couple of exceptions) Additionally, many cards have been included in this cube over their strictly better alternatives because of the focus on synergy.

Design goals

The cube's goals take inspiration from several aspects of booster draft:

  • Using gold signpost uncommons to let players readily understand a colour pair's base strategy. This should result in clearer signals while drafting while simultaneously helping newer players comprehend strategies and goals during draft without getting too lost.
  • Aim for a high powered, high synergy booster draft like Modern Horizons. Powerful individual cards exist but the best decks are those that leverage synergies to become a greater whole. Experienced players that draft a comprehensive deck should be advantaged over those that just pick the best card in every pack.
  • Include as many cross-synergy cards as possible while also having some that clearly favor a specific strategy. The goal is to create variety between the decks inside a single strategy while also allowing savvy drafters to wheel their best picks.
  • Emulate the high-synergy showcase cards from recent draft formats to create unique strategies. Though these may not always come together, they offer rewarding challenges or stipulations for regular drafters of the cube.
  • Cater to a small number of wider themes that span multiple archetypes. This allows blends and hybrids to occur naturally between strategies - like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty having enchantments and artifacts matter across different colours.
  • Allow for both fast and slow decks by putting a focus on cheap cards and interaction while also including cards amongst those that can build inevitibility in the late game (think "Craft with" in Lost Caverns of Ixalan). Each colour pair should have a mix of fast, medium and slow decks available.
  • Provide ample fixing and a preference towards single-pip coloured mana costs in order to encourage splashing and multicolored decks without every deck becoming a 5 colour value list. Do this without detracting from green's ramp/fixing slice of the pie (ie, no 10-signet cycles)
Synergy breakdown

With all that said, what are the major synergies in the cube?
There are several key synergies that span over several archetypes. They are: "Artifacts matter", "Modify creatures", and "graveyard as a resource". Though several colours approach these strategies in different ways (and not every colour includes equal amounts of support for them) there should be enough in there to get variations on these in many different flavors.

Examples:

The major themes in each colour pair are split into 2 basic versions of the deck. Each version will be skewed to a different speed:

ug +1/+1 counters: Go wide or go tall.

ub Discard: looters matter vs cheat reanimation

ur magecraft - cheap spells matter/prowess vs spells-in-yard

uw artifacts: animate baubles or recurring value

gb graveyard: reanimation or self-mill for value

gr big power: Modified creatures and ramp

gw enchantress: heroic auras or cast for value

br sacrifice: treasure or creatures

wb lifegain: steady drain or gain-for-value

wr go-wide: overwhelming tokens or team pump effects

Some examples of showcase cards that come together every few drafts includes

Hope you enjoy drafting it! Would love feedback should anyone have that kind of time or dedication.