Art by Raymond SwanlandThis is a Khans block cube consisting of cards from Khans of Tarkir, Fate Reforged, and Dragons of Tarkir.
It's focus is on the mechanics found in the Khans block, prioritising the five tri colour clans, and the five ally coloured Dragonlords.
This block was the highlight of my Magic career, and includes some of my favourite cards and decks. The aim is to recreate some of that nostalgia while still including a dynamic and fun draft setting.
Many of the cards in this cube bleed into multiple archetypes, which allows for a fairly open drafting style, but there are a few select cards that are specialist and should be considered high priorities for their respective field.
Note: you don't need to draft one of the below archetypes, you can choose your favourite colour combinations and be fine. Two and three colour works best, and mono colour is not recommended.
Jeskai Prowess
Jeskai looks to overwhelm your opponent with efficient spells and powerful creatures. There are plenty of cheap spells to trigger Prowess such as Artful Maneuver, Refocus, or Force Away. These cheap interactive spells alongside your creatures can help you control the tempo of the game and win on your terms.
Sultai Delve
Sultai focuses on using the graveyard as another resource. Fill it up with cards like Taigam's Scheming, then unleash your big delve threats like Necropolis Fiend. You can also find utility creatures Shambling Goblin that pair well with the exploit mechanic Silumgar Sorcerer. Generally a slower deck, Sultai aims to control the board until the big hitters can turn the corner.
Mardu Raid
Mardu is all about speed. Cheap, efficient threats Lightning Berserker, Mardu Shadowspear that avoid sorcery speed removal with Dash. Then, once you've attacked, reap the benefits of Raid with War-Name Aspirant or get that bit of extra damage with Collateral Damage. Your spells and creatures are cheap so you can run down your opponent before they get a chance to defend.
Temur Ferocious
Temur is all about big spells and even bigger creatures. Control the early game with burn, counters, and big statted dudes Savage Knuckleblade, and ramp your way Rattleclaw Mystic to the end game Dragonlord Atarka, Sandsteppe Mastodon. These big threats make your spells more efficient with Ferocious Crater's Claws, Icy Blast. Temur has everything from control, to burn, to big creatures, and everything in between!
Abzan Bolster
Abzan is the ultimate midrange deck. Just good ol' fashioned efficiency. Use early game defensive creatures Siege Rhino to pave the way to the mid-game where you can solidify your board with Siege Rhino. Then, once all the dust is settled, play your end game finisher Siege Rhino. Abzan focuses on classic board control techniques and you'll find good removal and combat tricks to back up your strategy.
Reactive Control
The typical control deck. Counterspells Cancel, Disdainful Stroke, and removal Radiant Purge, Kill Shot. Then finish the game with hard to kill creatures like Pearl Lake Ancient. Plenty of card advantage to help you on your way too!
Proactive Control
The other typical control strategy. This one utilising more proactive hand disruption and on board effects Merciless Executioner. There is a strong reanimate theme going on here too with Fearsome Awakening.
Aggro
This deck is similar to Mardu but has the ability to go bigger with Thunderbreak Regent and Risen Executioner. Burn and creature removal can be found aplenty alongside creature modifications Molting Snakeskin.
Ramp
A more focused deck than Temur, this ramp deck has one goal; get lots of mana and win. Access to Seek the Horizon and other ramp spells Sheltered Aerie ensure you never miss a land drop, until you can play the big man himself, Ugin, the Spirit Dragon.
Counters
This deck is all about bolstering your on board creatures. Whether that be with combat tricks Dromoka's Command, Dragonscale Boon or with other powerful spells Incremental Growth. Use the Outlast Abzan Falconer and Bolster Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit abilities to keep your creatures strong.
Warriors
Warriors are the foremost tribe in this cube (yes there are dragons, good luck building a five colour dragon deck though). They have their fingers in pretty much all the mechanics Mardu Strike Leader, Timely Hordemate, Hidden Dragonslayer, and so can adapt to any situation. Access to most of the best removal in the cube too!
() Morph
Deception and trickery are the name of the game here. Confuse your opponents and keep them on the back foot, questioning everything. is the core of this archetype, with being the best support colour (although you can play any colour support). Den Protector and Deathmist Raptor provide excellent card advantage. While Stratus Dancer and Silumgar Spell-Eater provide timely stack control. You can also utilise Ghostfire Blade as a cheap way to pump your face down creatures.
There is enough fixing to help you with your two/three colour decks, but be careful as there may not be enough to share between other players!
You have access to:
Allied Fetches, Allied battle lands (I know they're not Khans but they're too good), Cycle of tap lands, and 2 of each Khan land:
There are also 10 mana rocks, one for each of the Dragonlords and Clans: