Welcome to The Modern Darlings Cube! Named after the long-dead darlings of Pre-FIRE Modern, I aimed to recreate the nostalgic feel of old Modern and mixed in just a few post-Origins cards to supplement some archetypes. The typical Modern ban list has no power here, as things have changed a lot since 2015. Typical drafting/cubing rules apply here: 3 packs of 15 cards and 8 drafters (the whole cube is drafted) and only basics are available in the land box (sorry [[Wastes]], you're too new!). The Modern Darlings Cube breaks the singleton rule that most cubes follow. Included are 3 copies of each Shock Land (30 total*), along with 2* of each Fetch Land (20 total) to ensure that the decks created feel akin to constructed decks with good manabases, without every deck ending up as 5-Color Good Stuff. Two [[Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle]] are included to make it less likely to have a hate-drafter derail one’s whole draft. _*Previously 2 of each Shock Land and 4 of each of the Zendikar Enemy Fetch Lands were included. Tweaks were made to help smooth out the awkwardness of needing off-color Shocks to search for._ >>><<[[!Hallowed Fountain|af7091c9-5f98-4078-a42b-c9e057346d9b]][[!Scalding Tarn|327cf118-cc92-4073-85d0-94d2a0a6989a]][[!Polluted Delta|ff2f5f58-9a95-4ca6-93a0-813738f0072f]]>><<< Unfortunately, not every iconic Modern archetype can fit into a 360 card cube such as this. Amulet, [[Living End]], Dredge, Storm, Typal (Merfolk, Humans, etc.), and Tron (to name a few) were either too weak or too parasitic. Removing these archetypes allowed the focus to shift towards strengthening others that needed a boost to stay within the power band. Since this cube looks to recreate a constructed format, there is some color imbalance. The major archetypes include: WB Tokens/Sacrifice Bogles (Hexproof) Infect [[Birthing Pod]]/Kiki-Chord TitanShift UWx Control Jund/Junk Midrange Affinity Burn UR [[Splinter Twin]] Saheeli-Cat Naya Zoo Grixis [[Death’s Shadow|16e040c3-bf42-4a5b-aeb3-5dc9921151e5]] >>>{W}{B}<<< >>>WB Tokens<<< Although not the most powerful deck, WB Tokens has seen its fair share of play in Modern. [[Lingering Souls|891a92d7-9ccf-4de1-8286-aa5254f27ba9]] is THE premier WB Tokens card, but is very flexible and can go into other midrange strategies nicely also. The drain effects of [[Blood Artist]] and [[Zulaport Cutthroat|5c963d97-c948-45d9-84cc-58e246d35970]] provide reach, and [[Intangible Virtue|0dd21f5e-d284-4072-87b9-7f0e6140fe60]] and [[Sorin, Lord of Innistrad]] provide anthems for the last points of damage. >>>{W}{U}{G}<<< >>>Bogles (Hexproof)<<< Bogles, or Hexproof, since there’s only a single [[Slippery Bogle]] available here, aims to invalidate enemy targeted removal. Combining these hexproof creatures with [[Ethereal Armor|76960e65-e5c7-4414-b9a5-37d7b2ded4a0]], [[All That Glitters]], and other powerful auras turns an innocuous 1/1 into a giant threat in no time. In order to keep the pressure on, [[Kor Spiritdancer|03066fa1-ea16-4a87-9218-120efa976909]] and the more recently printed [[Sram, Senior Edificer]] make sure that the cards keep flowing. >>>{U}{B}{G}<<< >>>Infect<<< Less resilient but packing a bigger punch than the aforementioned hexproof creatures, Infect creatures only need to deal 10 to the opponent to secure a win instead of the regular 20 or more. Equally important to pumping your creatures is negating your opponents’ removal, so [[Blossoming Defense]] and [[Vines of Vastwood|e8bd8b10-de86-4bb6-b49f-6ccb5297c81c]] pull double duty here. Infect decks can also benefit from a similar aura package that Bogles looks to be built around, but one-shot pump spells work just fine here too, especially with [[Blighted Agent]]’s evasion. >>>{W}{B}{G}/{W}{U}{B}{R}{G}<<< >>>[[Birthing Pod]]/Kiki-Chord<<< [[Birthing Pod]] defined Modern’s early years, so much so it was banned! Having only a single copy of [[Birthing Pod]] available drastically reduces the chances of it being cast on turn 2, so it’s safer here. Kiki-Chord, named after [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker|162018eb-5483-4fa2-9c5a-abb639eecf91]] and [[Chord of Calling|e064174b-8f07-4fea-9eef-c3b5d0220b1a]], was Pod’s spiritual successor after its ban, as both decks utilize various value creatures to out-resource the opponent and ideally combo. [[Melira, Sylvok Outcast]] enables infinite life with [[Kitchen Finks|7d203208-8a21-4c68-afa2-4efd8726f026]] or infinite damage with [[Murderous Redcap|5f7171f0-7d42-47c9-ab46-93c2bb42c914]] and also shuts off the Infect deck. >>>{U}{R}{G}<<< >>>TitanShift<<< [[Primeval Titan|fd6ddbca-b943-49d6-b341-509bb72dd5a6]] or [[Scapeshift|84829605-50eb-455d-a236-ebfa11e883c5]] along with [[Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle]] tends to end the game on the spot. This was too powerful for Modern when the format was first created, but soon after Valakut was unbanned and the rest is history. Newcomer [[Dryad of the Ilysian Grove|6d964876-194b-49f1-8e74-cfe9269f2c62]] combines with [[Prismatic Omen|e75594cc-de47-49f2-9a8b-ba76c576368e]] to help consistently turn on Valakut, while also powering up [[Vedalken Shackles]]. >>>{W}{U}/{B}/{R}/{G}<<< >>>UWx Control<<< Control strategies in Modern have ebbed and flowed in terms of viability and strength across its history. Whether being just {W}{U}, or adding {B}, {R}, or less commonly {G}, Control’s customizable nature is either its biggest flaw or greatest asset. Anchored by board wipes like [[Supreme Verdict|4e9648f9-7a67-4717-bca1-861d1f7fed43]] and powerful planeswalkers like [[Teferi, Hero of Dominaria]], Control looks to play on a different axis. >>>{B}{R}{G}/{W}{B}{G}<<< >>>Jund/Junk<<< Jund (and later Junk) had a long reign as Modern’s midrange boogeyman. [[Liliana of the Veil|ac506c17-adc8-49c6-9d8d-43db7cb1ec9d]] and [[Tarmogoyf|b6876d9e-0908-43ac-8542-09c7aa02b5ba]] combine with cheap removal to run the opponents out of resources and close the game out. Jund maximizes [[Olivia Voldaren]] and [[Bloodbraid Elf|7ef67487-c8e5-49bb-b0f7-e073ff2e31f1]], while Junk benefits from [[Lingering Souls|891a92d7-9ccf-4de1-8286-aa5254f27ba9]] and [[Siege Rhino|9011126a-20bd-4c86-a63b-1691f79ac247]]. Combining the two means getting to play the best cards in four colors {W}{B}{R}{G}. >>>{W}{U}{B}{R}{G}<<< >>>Affinity<<< Affinity (for artifacts) is one of the most versatile decks available. All builds usually look to get ahead on mana with [[Mox Opal|6be9b1d5-9ab8-4adb-ba54-2c0117e842fa]] and [[Springleaf Drum|fa8b09d0-fbd2-4441-9d87-02450412e0db]] but more aggressive builds can utilize [[Arcbound Ravager|72c1a731-7854-42b1-8719-ac3c2a269c1f]] along with the usually banned artifact land cycle ([[Ancient Den|cc857fbd-8e0f-4bff-8f14-561c9925c484]], etc.) to grow its forces or try to fly over with [[Blinkmoth Nexus|bf51c665-7823-4d6a-b1da-8c2d93dae10b]] and [[Inkmoth Nexus|ec50c1c3-885e-47d3-ada7-cc0edbf09df1]]. Newer cards [[Sai, Master Thopterist]] and [[Thought Monitor|996c1952-8d10-4296-8960-ff8993833649]] are important additions to slower builds. >>>{R}/{W}/{B}<<< >>>Burn<<< Burn baby burn! [[Lightning Bolt|e768c957-3a1f-42f5-853a-96942f645df5]] and its cousins [[Lava Spike|60b2fae1-242b-45e0-a757-b1adc02c06f3]] and [[Skewer the Critics]] look to provide the last points of damage after attacking fast and early. [[Goblin Guide|b2e2a777-0705-4a37-937d-c6e020ebc0f0]]’s drawback is minimized since the game should end early, and [[Hellrider]] helps more creature-heavy builds close things out. If the opportunity arises for a splash or two, [[Boros Charm|d4ddf9cc-40a7-4b4f-bb51-b08171453c9a]] and [[Lightning Helix]] or [[Bump in the Night|5c3ec389-a267-484f-994d-4a29ef494eb1]] and [[Blightning]] are powerful additions instead of just being {R}. >>>{U}{R}<<< >>>UR [[Splinter Twin]]<<< [[Splinter Twin]] was a defining pillar of Modern up until its banning. A controlling deck with a combo finish, Twin aims to use red removal to control the board and blue card draw to find the pieces to end the game on the spot. [[Pestermite|f252ae53-443c-4a27-b8f0-639a9a2b8598]] and [[Deceiver Exarch]] go infinite with [[Splinter Twin]] or [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker|162018eb-5483-4fa2-9c5a-abb639eecf91]], and other powerful and banned cards [[Dig Through Time|5c18c2d8-995c-4736-bdef-464abcd1d31a]] and [[Treasure Cruise|7a59d4b1-6cf4-44ec-8a96-1bb7094fea21]] help put the pieces together. >>>{W}{U}{R}<<< >>>Saheeli-Cat<<< [[Saheeli Rai]] and [[Felidar Guardian]] is Modern’s spiritual successor after the [[Splinter Twin]] banning. Saheeli-Cat aims for a similar game plan as Twin’s, but instead of needing to untap with a creature in play it can go for the combo with just six lands in play. Since both pieces of the combo are sorcery speed, Saheeli-Cat can play more of a tap-out midrange game instead of a flash strategy. [[Felidar Guardian]] along with [[Flickerwisp]] and [[Restoration Angel|c2ad8639-e586-47f4-baca-2a1af5aa281b]] can form a formidable value engine when paired with [[Wall of Omens|6e3510f5-e450-400b-98ea-341dbf212054]], [[Snapcaster Mage|9e5b279e-4670-4a1e-87d0-3cab7e4f9e58]], or [[Goblin Dark-Dwellers|ddf91a4e-97f7-4189-823d-b619bb3b3d55]]. >>>{W}{R}{G}<<< >>>Naya Zoo<<< [[Wild Nacatl]] was once too good for Modern, but here it’s just another loose cat in this Naya Zoo, with [[Kird Ape]], [[Loam Lion]], and [[Steppe Lynx|b0aaec1c-8084-4468-82e7-2e4cc5ebe244]] doing their best Nacatl impressions. A {W} base lets [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben|824423ff-6441-4be6-b754-810adf9ca6a2]] shine, while a {R} base brings more burn spells for reach and removal. [[Collected Company|cfa7b456-7e83-4587-a875-9b35fde318c2]] is a great way to cheat on mana for this creature-based deck. >>>{U}{B}{R}<<< >>>Grixis [[Death’s Shadow|16e040c3-bf42-4a5b-aeb3-5dc9921151e5]]<<< An alternative take on midrange, [[Death’s Shadow|16e040c3-bf42-4a5b-aeb3-5dc9921151e5]] takes advantage of the typically painful Fetch-Shock manabases and turns the drawback into an advantage. Having only one copy of the namesake card definitely can get complicated, but [[Dark Confidant|94f7a441-bf2d-46fb-a7b6-9bd6137f86d9]] and [[Street Wraith|672e2815-bbcc-4338-a8ba-9aa97142ea69]] help not only find [[Death’s Shadow|16e040c3-bf42-4a5b-aeb3-5dc9921151e5]] but also help it grow. [[Temur Battle Rage|8a1dd786-f4e3-4951-b87b-82442edec016]] and [[Distortion Strike|315f1cf8-7bde-4592-a14e-ef9e2e3e7ac0]] provide ways to end the game in a turn or two once [[Death’s Shadow|9ddf501c-af11-4e97-81f7-32c9ee384a27]] is online.