Art by Camille Alquier- Identity: Gameplay synergy focused
- Speed: Similar to limited
- Complexity: High
- Ideal Number of Colors: 2-3, more only as splashes.
- Singleton: All cards are one-ofs except there are two copies of each fetchland.
- Multicolor cards: Signposts and build-arounds
A synergy-focused cube with Masters+ level complexity and power, the Zonal Synergy Cube is built to maximize the potential of exile and the graveyard. Mill, reanimate, delve, and madness overlap with tokens, cast-from-exile payoffs, and several spicy buildarounds. This cube presents the challenge of creating a focused deck that is greater than the sum of its parts.
While the power level of this cube is not restricted, there are build-around cards that will reward players for executing specific strategies. Removal works in synergy with other cards rather than simply being efficient on its own. Winning through engine-building is often faster than relying on a deck with a lot of removal and "good" cards.
Initially conceived in 2022 as the Raveyard cube based around graveyard mechanics, this cube has since evolved to include more synergies not necessarily graveyard-focused. This has improved the gameplay significantly, and in 2023 large changes to the cube tightened the power band further, enabling even more diverse and skill-testing gameplay.
Know Before Cubing- Fetches and fetchables: 2x Fetchlands, 1x Shocklands, full cycle of triomes, 3 bicycle lands (Irrigated Farmland, Fetid Pools, Canyon Slough). The cube (as of Aug 2024) is 17% lands.
- Removal is less common and less efficient here than in the average cube.
- Graveyard hate exists but it is slow. No Tormod's Crypt etc. Either once-per-turn, costs mana, or is a static effect.
- The best reanimation targets are Titanoth Rex, Waker of Waves, and Scourge of Nel Toth.
- There are some sweepers in this cube. Hallowed Burial and Living Death, Starfall Invocation, Ill-timed Explosion.
- There is a few "graveyard-wipes" in this cube: Echo of Eons, Waste Management, Grip of Amnesia.
- Tokens are available in alphabetical order.
Miracles- Bring to Light
- Living Wish
- Crashing Footfalls
- Patchwork Beastie
- Emry, Lurker of the Loch
- Eagles of the North
- Hostile Negotiations
- Lapse of Certainty
- Fae of Wishes
- Monk of the Open Hand
- Tomb Trawler
- Canyon Crab
- Echo of EonsCommit // Memory
- Slogurk, the OverslimeMake Your Own Luck
- Faithful MendingZethi, Arcane Blademaster
- Prairie Dog