>>> No matter how closely I study it No matter how I take it apart No matter how I break it down It remains consistent I wish you were here to see it! —King Crimson, "Indiscipline" <<< Inspired by [Lucky Paper Episode 182](https://luckypaper.co/podcast/182/) and a dare within my cube playgroup to make [[Hibernation's End]] work in cube. This is will my experimental playground space for the [Spikeless Cube](/c/5fca9a5abada5f7f150c8c2e) where, during testing periods, I can use this as a more free-form experimental playground to try to look at the shape of bigger balance changes. # Iteration One >>> << [[!Hibernation's End]] >> <<< Iteration one of the Pointless Cube will experimenting with a few things in preparation for the next cube update to Spikeless Cube. 1. Figure out what shape I'd need to push down the power in such a way that [[Hibernation's End]] is an acceptable green 5-drop and, in doing so, experiment with Emergent Cube design. 2. Get rid of the most popular cards from the cube. Cube Cobra provides a tool to see what % of cubes certain cards show up in. A lot of the most popular cube cards are also the most obvious P1P1s and I want to get rid of them in order to fulfil my goal of "showcasing the power of less commonly cubed cards". **Results**: Pared down all of the cards cubed in more than 8% of the global cube population. Lower the average impact of especially low mv spells in order to make some higher mv cards more playable. # Iteration Two >>> << [[!Rakshasa's Secret]] >> <<< The next thing I sort of want to look into is how to squeeze extra synergy out of cards. Some types of effects feel necessary to the "limited" magic ecosystem but with all of the versions of "effect with set mechanic" that exists in magic, I should try to identify ways to choose boutique versions that suit the goals of my environment where possible. Additionally, I want to look at cards that just have _too many words_. In general, I think I've done a good job of lowering complexity but some cards like [[Gollum, Scheming Guide]] have been rejected by the playgroup for just being ungrokkably wordy. If I can shrink the Rules Appendix that I bring to Cube Night that feels like a win. **Results**: Wound up removing all of the DFCs since they disproportionately made up the wordiest cards in the environment. Also removed mentions of _Battles_, _Regeneration_, and _Fear_ and worked to narrow some power band outliers again. # Iteration Three >>> <<[[!Horrid Shadowspinner]]>> <<< This is a bit of a puzzler but the next thing I want to try to experiment with is seeing where I can replace _explicit_ archetype support cards with _implicit_ archetype support cards. I don't know how practical this is but, for instance, I've enjoyed exploring the concept of UG "Titania Control" as a way to naturally reward drafting the UG Flash cards. _Saboteurs_ obviously become stronger if you can clear blockers in the WU Tap Tempo deck rather than just cards that reward you for tapping things. In this way I can aim to avoid "unitaskers". **Results**: I was successfully able to cut the last typal and most of the lingering narrow effects from the environment. Additionally, I removed all of the cards from the environment that have every appeared in an iteration of the MTGO Vintage Cube in order to further push the goal of exploring the power of under-represented cube cards and added a much higher density of fixing in order to improve the draft experience overall. # Iteration Four >>> <<[[!Lightning-Core Excavator]]>> <<< As I prepare to go into a period of hiatus, the environment seems relatively stable. Other than one or two [[notable problem cards|Arboria]], I don't expect to be making any sweeping archetypal changes anytime in the near future. I'll be giving the environment some time to breathe so that I can accumulate actual data about the state of the meta and ascertain actual over- and under-performers rather than going on the usual gut-sense, vibes-first approach to meta sculpting that most cube curators must take. In particular I'm interested in seeing what sub-strategies and non-archetype decks emerge over time and how I can support them. [[Jeskai Grace|Abiding Grace]] and its relatives have been a known value in the format for awhile and I've taken steps to both make sure that that deck is well-supported but that its targets aren't so strong that they take over games. # Iteration Five >>> <<[[!Starting Town NPC]]>> <<< While I'm on hiatus I'll be occasionally poking and prodding at _Pointless_. In particular, I'm reconsidering some of my self imposed limitations--[[no MTGO vintage cards|Ranger of Eos]], [[no regenerate|Sanguine Guard]], [[no color hate|Jaya Ballard, Task Mage]], [[no typal effects|Nightpack Ambusher]]--and whether I think they benefit the environment. Additionally, the main thing I want to do post-hiatus is reshape the environment so that's it's less focused on specific two-color archetypes and more broadly allowed to have environmental _themes_ that are centered in certain color pairs as suggested by the signposts but with more options for splashing building into other colors. ## WU Tap Tempo Options Adding Green to Tap Tempo gives some freezers like [[Matsu-Tribe Sniper]] and [[Joven's Ferrets]] as well as new ophidians like [[Keen Sense]]. Adding Black to Tap Tempo gives some tappers like [[Rathi Trapper]] and [[Paralyze]] but also an occasional hate-tap effect like [[Seizures]]. Adding Red to Tap Tempo gives access to [[Onslaught]] which is genuinely a cool creature tapper but aside from that and like [[Curse of Hospitality]] as a "red [[Ophidian]]" there's very little going on in red that supports this strategy. [[Thundermaw Hellkite]] _is_ a creature tapper but is also a known quantity in cubes of my power-level as the kind of standalone threat that can invalidate games by itself so I'm not interested in that. ## UB Ninjas Options Adding Green to Ninjas gives [[Kappa Tech-Wrecker]] and [[Spring-Leaf Avenger]] as well as 'evasion' options like [[Bow of Nylea]] and [[Elvish Archers]]. Adding White to Ninjas gives [[Blade-Blizzard Kitsune]] as well as [[Flying Men]] like [[Swooping Lookout]] and interesting evasion options through cards like [[Spirit en-Dal]] and [[Archetype of Courage]]. Adding Red to Ninjas doesn't seem like a viable option. There are no red ninjas and the evasive creatures in red are generally worse than in every other color. ## BR Discard Options Adding Blue to BR gives access to discard-matters payoffs like [[All-Seeing Arbiter]] and [[Drake Haven]] as well as madness cards like [[Obsessive Search]] and [[Circular Logic]] and enablers like [[Wharf Infiltrator]] and [[Advanced Stitchwing]]. Adding Green to BR gives access to discard outlets like [[Noose Constrictor]] and madness cards like [[Arrogant Wurm]]/[[Basking Rootwalla]] as well as cool synergies for retrace like [[Nantuko Cultivator]] and [[Tilling Treefolk]]. Adding White to BR gives access to discard outlets like [[Seasoned Hallowblade]], discard payoffs like [[Bartered Cow]], and a variety of live-from-the-graveyard cards like [[Sentinel's Eyes]] and [[Skyblade's Boon]] but is generally the weakest of the options. ## RG Dorks Options Adding Blue to RG gives access to more spawns and eldrazi cards from MH3 like [[Emrakul's Messenger]] and [[Kozilek's Unsealing]] as well as cool devoid enablers like [[Apprentice Wizard]] and [[Deranged Assistant]]. Adding Black to RG gives access to more egg dorks like [[Blood Pet]] and [[Overeager Apprentice]] as well as [[Pawn of Ulamog]] but also cool enablers like [[Death Pit Offering]] and [[Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker]]. Adding White to RG doesn't seem like a viable option. There aren't really any dorks to speak of in white other than, I suppose, [[Sunseed Nurturer]] and some weird filter creatures like [[Helionaut]] and [[Farrelite Priest]]. The support is alright but White already passively supports some of the dork shenanigans anyways with [[Valor in Akros]] and [[Abiding Grace]]. ## GW Cookies Options Adding Black to GW is the easiest option but Abzan is also a hotly contested wedge. Black has food payoffs like [[Scavenger's Talent]], revolt and sacrifice payoffs like [[Vengeful Rebel]] and [[Seer of Stolen Sight]] as well as weird things like [[Bleak Coven Vampires]] and [[Refurbished Familiar]]. Adding Red to GW doesn't give any explicit food payoffs but does give access to way to leverage food entering and getting sacrificed with things like [[Krenko, Baron of Tin Street]] and [[Hedron Detonator]] as well as [[Aether Revolt]] for more burn. Adding Blue to GW likewise doesn't give access to any exciting food options but does grant access to interesting effects that can leverage food for value like [[Archway of Innovation]] and [[Vedalken Humiliator]] and [[Skilled Animator]]-type effects. ## WB Tokens Options Adding Green to WB is the cleanest option. I already like cards like [[Propagator Drone]] and [[Hazardroot Herbalist]] and [[Cloakwood Swarmkeeper]] and [[Selesnya Eulogist]] are well in-line with the kind of magic I want to encourage. Adding Red to WB gives interesting options since red makes lots of goblin tokens that can be leveraged through things like [[Siege-Gang Commander]] as well as very aggressive token enablers like [[Roar of Resistance]] and [[Determined Iteration]]. Adding Blue to WB is interesting but not especially practical since most of the coolest blue token synergy cards aren't exactly in-budget: [[Curiosity Crafter]], [[Worldwalker Helm]], [[/Poppet Stitcher]]. Both [[Junk Winder]] and [[Perplexing Test]] _are_ cool cards that I've had fun with in the past though. ## UR Multispell Options Adding Green to UR gives access to cool multi-spell enablers like [[Starting Town NPC]] and [[Mistbreath Elder]] as well as storm-like payoffs like [[Krosan Adaptation]] and [[Thrasta, Tempest's Roar]]. Adding Black to UR gives access to [[Infernal Pet]] and [[Bloodsky Berserker]] as well as [[Tendrils of Agony]] as payoffs and some things like [[Magus of the Will]] and adventure creatures for enablers. Adding White to UR gives access to [[Clarion Spirit]] and [[Murmuration]] as payoffs as well as a healthy variety of recastable spells like [[Skyblade's Boon]] and [[Sentinel's Eyes]]. ## BG Delirium Options Adding White to BG gives access to interesting cheap payoffs like [[Mystic Penitent]] and [[Topplegeist]] as well as flashback cards like [[Battle Screech]]. Adding Red to BG gives access to powerful payoffs like [[Unholy Heat]] and [[Fear of Missing Out]] as well as plenty of enablers and leaves-graveyard triggers like [[Fuming Effigy]] Adding Blue to BG gives access to interesting delirium and threshold cards like [[Shoreline Looter]] and [[Foul Watcher]] as well as plenty of live-from-graveyard cards like [[Otherworldly Gaze]] and even [[Start the TARDIS]] if I don't mind the format-irrelevant trinket text. ## WR Historic Options Adding Blue to WR Historic gives access to cool and powerful artifact lords like [[Unctus, Grand Metatect]] as well as plenty of artifact creatures and historic enablers like [[Silver Raven]], [[Artificer's Assistant]], and [[Ballad of the Black Flag]]. Adding Black to WR Historic adds an "artifactocrats" spin to the archetype supplementing the list with blaggro artifacts like [[Etherium Pteramander]] or [[Retrofitted Transmogrant]] or [[Triarch Praetorian]] alongside cards like [[Thran Vigil]] or [[Cabal Paladin]] to keep the beats coming. Adding Green to WR Historic isn't super practical. Beyond the couple of artifact-matters payoffs I already have like [[Teething Wurmlet]] and [[Sarinth Steelseeker]], most of the artifice cards so far in green aren't very aggressive. I suppose if I end up not caring about trinket text again I could add something like a [[Jamie McCrimmon]] since green naturally has a lot of good sagas but I'm generally not very interested in this idea. ## UG Flash Options Adding White to UG gives some of the plot-synergy cards from OTJ like [[Prairie Dog]] and some cool flash enablers and cards like [[/Heliod, the Radiant Dawn]] and [[Mantle of Leadership]]. Adding Black to UG gives access to the remaining off-turn casting matters synergies like [[Faerie Tauntings]] and [[Dreamspoiler Witches]] as well cool flash cards like [[Liliana's Standard Bearer]]. Adding Red to UG gives access to a few interesting lines like combining [[Wilderness Reclamation]] with [[Bogardan Hellkite]] is kind of cool and [[Electrodominance]] can grant spells psuedo-flash but red generally doesn't work well with the core strategies of UG.