Art by Dimitar MarinskiPhase I - "Flashback" Sets for 2-6 Players
Ixalan is a faction-based "tribal" set that includes pirates, dinosaurs, and vampire conquistadors! The designers got a lot of flak from veteran players for this set, but it currently stands among my most played sets because it is the only one my partner will play. Anything that gets her to play is worth it in my book!
This set has since been retired, and Ixalan is represented in Planar Masters, an advanced cube that consolidates many planes into one unique experience.
This small cube draws upon and focuses the draft experience of the Ixalan block--the last of its kind--around the following archetypes:
- WU Ascend
- UB Treasure (Pirates)
- BR Aggro (Pirates)
- RG Enrage (Dinosaurs)
- GW Ramp (Dinosaurs)
- WB Vampires
- UR Raid (Pirates)
- BG Explore
- RW Aggro (Dinosaurs)
- GU Merfolk
In the years since Ixalan came out, a couple cards that originally made it into this budget cube have skyrocketed in price, probably due to Commander. If you are putting this cube together today, you'll want to find replacements for Pitiless Plunderer and Revel in Riches. Doing so would drop the overall price down to a much more reasonable $40 "board game" territory.