JaySherman - Cube Cobra

Yearly update - Part 3

JaySherman posted to Paupered Existence - 7 days ago

Mainboard Changelist+13, -13

Yearly update - Part 2

JaySherman posted to Paupered Existence - 1 week ago

Mainboard Changelist+8, -8

Red

Thunderhead Gunner's stellar run through DFT limited and the amount of selection it gives you merits a test. Great madness enabler for when we add Fiery Temper (#spoilers). Scrounger was nice but the "tap me" synergy is not there yet.

I don't know why I wasn't running Goblin Bushwhacker. As I've said before, I like the off color kicker cards from DMU, but this is such a jump in quality and notability.

I've been wanting to test Dwarven Hammer for a while, and since I just added another haste provider, I'm swapping equipments. I think it is a great pseudo-inevitability tool, making any 1/1 into a very dangerous must-block threat. Is it worse than Colossal Dreadmask? Probably, but we'll see.

Another artifact/multiple-objects-provider I wanted to test is Synthesizer. I think there is no need for sacrifice synergies (although there are some) and any curve-conscious deck can run it and play it when it's not risking losing the card. Same thing for sacrificing it for a Samurai.

Arena Athlete works as a payoff for "heroic" decks, which in this cube should be any kind of aggressive deck that drafted combat tricks or protection spells. There are several ways of targeting for value so I wanted to have a few and this one looks like it can help pushing a lot of damage while being really different from the white ones.

Given that I want to push a bit of "heroic" gameplay in RG and RG (actually across Naya but), having one of the best targeted spells available for those color pairs is great, even though we're reducing the amount of pump in red in general. Dreadship was there as a card that gave you multiple objects and as a hasty threat, so Reckless Charge covers part of that. About the other part I'm not worried, we'll have enough artifacts to sacrifice lying around.

I wanted to have the Epicure for card selection, multiple objects, being a staple in constructer, etc. Harrier is decent but I'm also adding another haste creature in Specialist, which can reach 4 power for reasons, with counters and similar damage output (given haste) than the card being removed.

Yearly update - Part 1

JaySherman posted to Paupered Existence - 1 week ago

White

Both Sentinel's Eyes and Courage play similarly by giving white some use for its graveyard, a small buff and vigilance, but Courage is explicitly counters synergy, and when you have Tethmos High Priest or other heroic cards you really want to target them them repeatedly.

All these changes are helping white to be more aggressive in general since control decks don't need the tools, there's plenty removal/defensive stats in the cube already.

It's time to dust of an old legend. I don't think it will be problematic, it can be raced and/or evaded, and there is multicolor removal to prioritize if you care.

Blue

Bringing back a classic (and good) 2x1 since I don't think we need the Mystic Sanctuary "lock" with Deprive, and there are many other ways or returning it to hand. Using Deprive in any other instance is pretty expensive.

Maximize Altitude was here for the blitz deck but I don't think it needs such a spell, and there are better alternatives around. Interference is just a good card.

A true like-for-like change, I think a 0/2 is much more ignorable than a 1/1 that can still kill you if you don't have blockers, so it will be better for blue decks overall.

Archaeologist is such a defensive card and we already have some of those around, I rather have a decent flyer that can also help with selection and filling the graveyard for delve or other reasons.

Black

I'm testing Deathgorger to give the +1/+1 counters synergy in black a second card (besides Hagra Constrictor). Now that black is more aggressive I think it is a decent effect in general. The dragon at the top end is not nothing, and some anti graveyard cards are great to have. Reaper of Night was a bit expensive for the effect and I think we have enough discard.

Gravestalker is replacing another early cycler. It is worse for reanimating it, but the potential of a 1 mana 5/4 is great if you self mill a little bit.

Gorehound, as Unwilling Ingredient before, is enabling ninjas being a 1 mv menace creature. Instead of drawing a card it enables self mill and great selection in low-to the ground black decks, with cards like the next one specially.

Brigade helps black push damage as well, and attacks relatively safely so you can take advantage of Mobilize with your sac outlets. I'm taking out Vanguard as I think it's very similar to Dark-Dweller Oracle and we still have enough of that effect.

July 2009

JaySherman posted to Standard Super Stars - 2 months ago

Maybeboard Changelist+2, -0

July 2009

Magic 2010 brought many changes to Magic regarding design of core sets and rules changes, but not many cards for a cube like this survided these days, even though they were staples in their time.

Legal Sets