--- >>> ### Introduction <<< --- This brief abstract will give you a general overview of what to expect from drafting my Magic: The Gathering obsession, The G(u)ilded Cube, but for more specific things please look further down for the archetypes etc. built into this cube list. I’ll try to restrict my usage of cube terminology without explanation throughout, just to ensure no cube-building knowledge is assumed. I do assume, however, you know what a cube is and how to draft. If you don’t, please let me know asap. Let’s get into it. My cube is an Unpowered (no Power-9) Vintage Cube which aims to create a high-power draft environment that is fun and mostly fair. The cube is a passion project of mine, and as such I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time curating, refining, and playtesting it. I think it’s pretty good, personally, and I hope you think so too. Compared to lower-power cubes, deck archetypes at this level are not as clearly defined, but there is clear support for at least two themes or sub-themes per two-colour guild (and a few less-defined 3+ colour themes, only some of which I’ve found!). You can find a list of the kinds of archetypes present in the Archetypes section of this primer. Combos are also present here, but this is not a Combo Cube. There is no Splinter Twin combo (despite the presence of one of the combo pieces), there is no Storm. Instead, the combos in the cube usually fall neatly into one of the existing archetypes, or are rewards for drafting certain colours, or with restrictive deckbuilding limitations. Examples of the combos present in the cube are found in the Combos section of this primer. Mana fixing is abundant in the cube, with 5 two-colour lands per colour pair, as well as a handful of rainbow lands. Each colour pair has its respective shockland, fetchland, and original dual as part of this set of 5. There is also a full set of 10 Talismans, and several powerful mana rocks. >>> #### Cheat Sheet: <<< 💪 Power: High-power Vintage, with no Power Nine and mostly fair cards sprinkled with the odd bit of broken-ness. 🏃💨 Fast Mana: Only some, but what is here can be quite powerful. Part of my philosophy is a limitation on the outcome of games coming down to who had fast mana in their opening hand. The exceptions would be things like [[Lotus Petal|]], [[Mana Vault|]], [[Basalt Monolith|]], each of the 10 "Talismans of...", and plenty of mana dorks. So getting close to the bone but nothing as broken as Moxen (or Sol Ring *cough*). 👬 Singleton Breaks: None in the cube! Purely a singleton format with one copy of each card. 🌈 Supported Archetypes: *These are staples of cubes everywhere. SEE THE PRIMER further down this page if you are not familiar with how these classic archetypes function.* - Aggro: {W} White Weenie, {R} Red Deck Wins, {W}{R} Boros - Midrange: {U}x Tempo, {B}{R} Sacrifice/Aristocrats, {B}x Graveyard, {G}x Ramp, and much more. - Control: Control cards present throughout {W}{U}{B}{R} (sorry {G}) - go wild. Artifact control strat included in {U}{B}{R} and {W}{R}-ish too. - "Combo": Reanimation ({B}x), Sneak & Show Cheaty ({U}{R}{G}), Oath of Druids ({G}x). *Note: There is no Black aggro in this cube. The curve starts at 2 for Black (for creatures, at least). There is no Green aggro either, so no Jackal Pup (for any Jackal Pup fans out there).* --- >>> ### The Draft: Tips and "Rules" <<< --- ### Architects Vs Gardeners There are generally two types of drafters: Architects and Gardeners. Architects build decks which are curated to fit one or two themes or sub-themes, and have a draft goal in mind usually by their 4th or 5th pick. Gardeners tend to go for the few most powerful cards in a pack, and are largely focused on having a higher per-card power level in their decks. To get to the point, I would recommend drafters try and be Architects rather than Gardeners when drafting this cube. Architects will end up with more synergistic decks with better mana fixing (Gardener decks tend to be 4-5 colours in extremes, making hitting their drops harder). Feel free to pick the best cards, but I would recommend those picks are the best cards *for your game plan*. ### Hate Drafting Hate drafting is when you pick a card because, simply put, you don't like playing against it. I'd ask that drafters refrain from hate drafting archetype-defining cards, especially outside their colours. However, if you are a pure aggro deck, and you come across a Wurmcoil Engine (a card which is not archetype-defining and, if it's cast, will end your chances of winning right there and then) I'd say go for it. That's just an example, but I think I've made the distinction clear. Just try and avoid "Ugh, Oko, I hate him. He made Standard miserable" while drafting your Rakdos deck, because there are Oko answers in black and red you can draft. You'd also be surprised at how powerful Oko is when compared to the other cards in the cube (Hint: he's good, but not broken here, I promise). So yeah, just be mindful of the other decks your fellow drafters are playing. We want a wide variety of decks and not 5 people hate drafting every blue card that comes their way. I may be preaching to the choir here, but I felt it needed to be said just in case. --- >>> ### (Just some of the) ### Guild Archetypes <<< --- >>> {W}{U} <<< >>> **Azorius** <<< >>> <<[[!5d10b752-d9cb-419d-a5c4-d4ee1acb655e]] [[!fcf7fd8a-adc3-4099-8e30-08375f263446]] [[!2ee3e42e-120c-468a-988d-4441b6025bbe]]>> <<< | Stoneblade Control | [[Teferi, Hero of Dominaria]], [[Counterspell]], [[Stoneforge Mystic]] A Modern classic of Azorius Control - uses counter magic to deny your opponent resources before playing high-mana finishers or equipping Swords before swinging in. Drag the game out as long as you like. | | Tempo | [[Exclusion Mage]], [[Brazen Borrower]], [[Path to Exile]] You have one priority in a Tempo deck, and that is board advantage. Use spells that bounce your opponents' creatures and play your own utility ETB creatures to out-value them. Typically uses a control shell, though more creature-heavy. | _________________ >>> {W}{R} <<< >>> **Boros** <<< >>> <<[[!636603a2-98d7-4d1e-a270-68756024b448]] [[!53e1eb00-412e-4c25-bc7b-6d074330fd97]] [[!Intangible Virtue]]>> <<< | Tokens | [[Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin]], [[Secure the Wastes]], [[Intangible Virtue]] "Go wide" and generate huge board advantage by creating more bodies on the battlefield than anyone else and using fewer cards to do it. | Aggro | [[Goblin Guide]] [[Kytheon, Hero of Akros]] [[Zurgo Bellstriker]] As far as the RW Aggro deck goes, very little costs more than 3 Mana. Stay low to the ground and outpace the slower decks with a slew of aggressively-statted 1- and 2-drops. | Equipment | [[Toolcraft Exemplar]] [[Bruenor Battlehammer]] [[Grafted Wargear]] The equipment deck is straightforward, in that it is relatively easy to draft and provides a fun experience wherein the pilot uses powerful equipment to maximise damage. Keep an eye out for powerful Boros cards like Bruenor to complement your deck, as well as a couple of artifact aggro pieces. _________________ >>> {U}{B} <<< >>> **Dimir** <<< >>> <<[[!1a7e242e-bb48-4134-a1c2-6033713d658f]] [[!df7536fa-a501-4e31-941f-b391a61e358a]] [[!3df8c148-e87d-4043-9d8b-ec72bf8b6d5d]]>> <<< | Control | [[Thoughtseize]], [[Vendilion Clique]], [[Baleful Strix]] A Dimir control deck that is generally more proactive than its more reactive Azorius cousin. Play efficient threats and use hand disruption to stop your opponent from assembling their win condition. | _________________ >>> {B}{G} <<< >>> **Golgari** <<< >>> <<[[!7b83536a-efa4-41f3-9424-75b0efc0aea5]] [[!0049e68d-0caf-474f-9523-dad343f1250a]] [[!d74e7ded-d063-4d90-a9ff-91c44a8098d7]]>> <<< | Reanimator | [[Hornet Queen]], [[Necromancy]], [[Griselbrand]] A midrange deck which almost functions as a combo deck. Use discard or Entomb to put creatures into your graveyard, then reanimate them to cheat massive threats onto the battlefield as early as turn 2. Can also be run as UB, but green recursion can be more easily employed as a backup plan to fetch Reanimator spells out of the graveyard. _________________ >>> {R}{G} <<< >>> **Gruul** <<< >>> <<[[!09fd2d9c-1793-4beb-a3fb-7a869f660cd4]] [[!13a35076-fc69-42f9-bae8-695462c67425]] [[!e41cf82d-3213-47ce-a015-6e51a8b07e4f]]>> <<< | Lands | [[Wildfire]], [[Wrenn and Six]], [[Plow Under]] A broader version of the classic Wildfire deck, the aim of the Lands deck is to win using Land-based effects. It can do this in a variety of ways, either by going old-school with Wildfire, using newer land recursion toys, or playing a Turn 2 Rofellos, followed by Plow Under 3 turns in a row to force a concede (no, wait, forget I said that). A lot of ways to win here. | Ponza/Mid-Range | [[Bonecrusher Giant]] [[Thragtusk]] [[Scavenging Ooze]] A strong Modern mid-range strategy characterised by value and utility creatures. Usually runs a smattering of both ramp in green and creature removal in red. _________________ >>> {U}{R} <<< >>> **Izzet** <<< >>> <<[[!a7c7757d-8036-4b33-a1cb-07795d392588]] [[!bbc0f3e7-a287-4624-8266-ca617448fcaa]] [[!866b7fd4-86e3-4b42-b1ea-33bad0db1f9f]]>> <<< | Spells | [[Counterspell]], [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Baral, Chief of Compliance]] The classic spellslinger deck. Can employ a Prowess backup plan or it can stand on its own; it just depends on what you want your win-con to be. Hit face, police the board. _________________ >>> {W}{B} <<< >>> **Orzhov** <<< >>> <<[[!0fe79ee4-c3f3-4a6b-a967-203ca3b70ee5]] [[!ce295f1e-fb31-4275-a5d3-8c6f29afff40]] [[!13896468-e3d0-4bcb-b09e-b5c187aecb03]]>> <<< | Lifegain | [[Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose]], [[Murderous Rider]], [[Charming Prince]] They can't beat you if your life total never becomes 0. Draft a critical mass of lifelink creatures and watch the aggressive decks struggle. | Vampire Tribal | [[Elenda, the Dusk Rose]], [[Bloodline Keeper]], [[Adanto Vanguard]] The only real tribal deck in the cube, the Vampires subtheme focuses on a combination of lifegain and token strategies. Can bleed into a third colour depending on how the draft plays out. If anyone goes 3-0 with this deck I will buy them a drink. It's a very hard deck to build (well). _____________ >>> {B}{R} <<< >>> **Rakdos** <<< >>> <<[[!52ef00c1-613a-4cbd-8972-77c41f649431]] [[!0dcafa9e-3637-42ca-bdb2-45a2b5da7294]] [[!260ecd56-a86f-49e7-81e0-919231aa9945]]>> <<< | Sacrifice/Aristocrats | [[Blood Artist]], [[Goblin Bombardment]], [[Ophiomancer]] A classic Rakdos archetype, Aristocrats relies on key cards to ping your opponent by sacrificing your own creatures (usually tokens) for value. Can also branch out into Mardu to take advantage of efficient White token generators. Needs good redundancy for key cards in order to come together, but is very fun when it does. _______________ >>> {W}{G} <<< >>> **Selesnya** <<< >>> <<[[!2e2d72f6-bde3-49fb-976e-2d0c4dce60e3]] [[!97ff44c9-6ff5-432d-9876-488c96833c39]] [[!5fcd6cd6-ec95-406c-92f7-c063254fb19a]]>> <<< | Death and Taxes | [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]], [[Qasali Pridemage]], [[Giver of Runes]] Death & Taxes is a Legacy staple; an aggro-control deck that plays fast threats which tax your opponents, called "hate bears", while simultaneously policing the board for a control-style finisher. It's generally quite low to the ground, with an average CMC of 2 (or 3). Generally the goal is to make your opponent's life as difficult as possible by building your deck so any symmetrical effects become that much less symmetrical. | +1/+1 Counters | [[Conclave Mentor]], [[Rishkar, Peema Renegade]], [[Nissa, Voice of Zendikar]] A classic mid-range deck which focuses on the "go tall" approach. More of a sub-theme than most of the major archetypes in the cube, but has a bunch of incidental overlap in the other colours if the draft isn't going your way. _____________ >>> {U}{G} <<< >>> **Simic** <<< >>> <<[[!Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath]] [[!Terastodon]] [[!Joraga Treespeaker]]>> <<< | Simic Ramp | [[Llanowar Elves]], [[Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath]], [[Primeval Titan]] The Magic curve equivalent of a bowling split, Ramp prioritises 1-2 CMC Mana dorks or ramp spells, and 6+ CMC bombs. Ramp aims to get as many lands into play as quickly as possible in a proactive strategy that forces your opponents to answer your threats, rather than the other way around. Usually a green shell that can be built into almost any Gx deck, Ramp is most often built with Blue in mind for the UG multicolour cards and general support. ____________________ >>> ### Shard/Wedge Archetypes <<< The 3-colour archetypes are mostly subthemes which are a bit looser than their 2-colour counterparts. There is no archetype present for each 3-colour combination (at least not that I've found), but those which are present are usually not as heavily supported, are incidental, or are supported in fewer colours regardless (the Artistocrats deck being a good example of that). Some examples include... {U}{B}{R} Grixis Artifacts - [[Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas]] | [[Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast]] | [[Whirler Rogue]] {W}{U}{B} Esper Control - [[Fractured Identity]] | [[Thoughtseize]] | [[Vendilion Clique]] {U}{R}{G} RUG Cheaty - [[Sneak Attack]] | [[Show and Tell]] | [[Natural Order]] {W}{U}{G} Bant Flicker - [[Ephemerate]] | [[Thragtusk]] | [[Venser, Shaper Savant]] {W}{B}{R} Mardu Aristocrats - [[Blood Artist]] | [[Goblin Bombardment]] | [[Hidden Stockpile]] {B}{R}{G} Classic Jund Midrange - [[Scavenging Ooze]] | [[Liliana of the Veil]] | [[Lightning Bolt]] --- >>> ### Combos: <<< --- As stated previously, this is not a combo cube. It is not possible (well, maybe possible, but you'd be playing on Hard Mode) to build a full deck purely focused on combos. Having said that, there are a few combos in here which might form part of your deck, should you draft them. Here is a brief overview of each I've found and how they work: >>> {W}{C} **Heliod-Walking Ballista** <<< >>> <<[[!Heliod, Sun-Crowned]][[!Walking Ballista]]>> <<< This infinite death-by-a-thousand-cuts Pioneer combo makes an appearance in the cube! Have Heliod on the battlefield, then play Walking Ballista with X equal to at least 2. Use Heliod's ability to give the Ballista lifelink and then use the Ballista's ability to create a loop and ping your opponent to death. >>> {B} **Entomb-Reanimate** <<< >>> <<[[!Entomb]][[!Reanimate]]>> <<< A pretty simple one, and a staple of high-power cubes. Cast Entomb, targeting something beefy like Griselbrand, then cast Reanimate on Turn 2. This kind of play very rarely works out well for the player sitting across the table from you. >>> {G} **Oath** <<< >>> <<[[!Oath of Druids]][[!Forbidden Orchard]]>> <<< A tricky combo to pull off, both in deckbuilding and in-game. The gist is that you build your deck with Oath, Forbidden Orchard (not strictly necessary but a handy addition) and only a small handful of powerful creatures. The rest of the deck is made up of control spells, lands, and tutors. If you have Oath of Druids on the battlefield with fewer creatures than your opponent, on each of your upkeeps you can put cards from the top of your library into your graveyard until you hit something like Emrakul, and put it onto the battlefield. Oath by itself is a fine card, but with this strict deckbuilding limitation it becomes a fun, quasi-combo deck. >>> {B}{W} **Vito-Sorin** <<< >>> <<[[!Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose]][[!Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord]]>> <<< This isn't an instant win combo, but it can be plenty of fun. Sorin's static ability gives your creatures and planeswalkers lifelink, and Vito has a pretty cool [[Sanguine Bond]] ability attached to him. This essentially enables you to double the damage each of your creatures deals every turn, while at the same time gaining you a whole lot of life. Couple this with some spells to buff your creatures/tokens to increase its effectiveness. >>> {R}({G}) **Punishing-Willows** <<< >>> <<[[!Punishing Fire]][[!Grove of the Burnwillows]]>> <<< This combo offers a fun little way to recur Punishing Fire and ping your opponent or their creatures for 1 net damage. Sounds kind of weak, until you realise there are 65 creatures in the cube with 1 toughness. It's an old Legacy combo that isn't a win-con, but instead acts as a utility piece in any deck that supports red. >>> {G}{W} **Vizier-Druid** <<< >>> <<[[!Vizier of Remedies]][[!Devoted Druid]]>> <<< An infinite combo! Tap Devoted Druid to add {G}, then put the -1/-1 counter on it to untap. The -1/-1 counter is negated by Vizier, which then allows you to re-tap Druid. Infinite green mana to do with what you like, and you can trigger it every turn. Why not get creative and use it to play a [[Walking Ballista]] or [[Hangarback Walker]]? >>> {C}x **Depths** <<< >>> <<[[!Dark Depths]][[!Thespian's Stage]]>> <<< The most versatile combo in the cube, Depths requires both lands to be on the battlefield before using Thespian's Stage's ability, targeting Dark Depths. The copy of Dark Depths won't have any ice counters on it which will trigger its ability, creating the 20/20 Marit Lage token. It can go in almost any deck, but Lands can be incredibly hard to tutor up; especially those without any basic land types. So it may be best used as an alternative win condition in addition to your primary strategy. --- >>> ### Conclusion: <<< --- So that is the end of the primer. I hope it's useful to you. There is plenty of room in this cube for creative deckbuilding, so go wild and don't feel prescribed by what you've read here. Try and draft 4C Yorion if you like, I won't stop you. Go nuts. If you have any more questions, let me know. It's the easiest thing in the world to get a cube owner to talk about their cube, even down to each specific card choice. Best of luck with your drafting!