>>> # **Pauper Power Cube** # <<< My friend and I built this cube together just after the release of Eldritch Moon. I had boxes and boxes of commons (as many of us do) and wanted to do something with them. The original construction was loosely based upon [The Pauper Cube](http://thepaupercube.com), created by Adam Styborski. Although it hasn't always been timely, I have tried to update the cube after every set release. I do continue to keep an eye on cards being released with each set and ear mark cards that could eventually make their way into the cube. I also follow the updates that The Pauper Cube committee continues to make and use their card evaluations to help me better understand the changes in the Pauper Cube landscape as well as to get a sense of the community's view of the format. As a cube of all commons, mono-color and two-color decks are largely what will be drafted. While an occasional splash of a third color is possible, the land base does not provide the consistency that would be necessary to make this possible in most cases. Over time the cube has shifted from aggro towards more midrange and control strategies. The constant evolution and struggle over new inclusions continue to provide enjoyment for me even when the cube isn't seeing consistent play. *** >>> ## **The Bombs** ## <<< *** *White* <<[[!Guardian of the Guildpact|c8dd004b-01e4-4fe1-a164-9f2ea8d7d88e]][[!Pegasus Guardian|1d958ec3-1ddc-4622-9089-cbe5b3b47c90]][[!Palace Sentinels|3e002a99-eb2b-4cc3-992e-f3ee42245dba]][[!Suture Priest|31432e98-86cd-42ea-ad37-eb4383dc6a81]]>> **[[Guardian of the Guildpact|c8dd004b-01e4-4fe1-a164-9f2ea8d7d88e]]** is likely the single strongest card in the cube. With a limited amount of multicolor creatures and removal, it can stick around turn after turn and whittle away your opponents health. In a slower control based board game **[[Palace Sentinels|3e002a99-eb2b-4cc3-992e-f3ee42245dba]]** can provide a very reliable source of card draw regardless of any secondary color of your deck. With an emphasis on blink, **[[Suture Priest|31432e98-86cd-42ea-ad37-eb4383dc6a81]]** as well as the soul sisters can really help keep your life total in a healthy place while you build towards your late game build. Similarly, **[[Pegasus Guardian|1d958ec3-1ddc-4622-9089-cbe5b3b47c90]]** is a great early game play with some mid-late game potential to take over. *** *Blue* <<[[!Capsize|a51c1a95-e484-41e4-9c49-ffb115a7d1cc]][[!Gush|e755bbef-bf34-49c0-ae72-d70e3599de52]][[!Mirrorshell Crab|0394c8df-2e8a-4477-93b7-569934d7b936]][[!Counterspell|2c358d75-01ad-4487-8104-425124b96aae]]>> **[[Capsize|a51c1a95-e484-41e4-9c49-ffb115a7d1cc]]** can single handedly take over a game. If you are able to survive to a point where you can repeatedly cast it late game, you will rarely lose the game. Similarly, if you are able to cast a free spell like **[[Gush|e755bbef-bf34-49c0-ae72-d70e3599de52]]** and then somehow return it to your hand to cast again, your opponents will have a hard time keeping up. **[[Mirrorshell Crab|0394c8df-2e8a-4477-93b7-569934d7b936]]** and **[[Tolarian Terror|42f01cba-43d4-46ad-b7a5-d7631b0e1347]]** provide some inevitability on powerful late game bodies. Using control or ramp to navigate you into a position to have one or more of these on the battlefield will surely lead you to victory. **[[Counterspell|2c358d75-01ad-4487-8104-425124b96aae]]** is most emblematic of blue's control spells. It sets the course for the entire counterspell suite. These cards will help you get into a position late game where the cards mentioned before it can then take over. *** *Black* <<[[!Pestilence|2f1f5630-647f-4789-8506-e7fafcbdd671]][[!Tortured Existence|1754b92b-d6f9-4503-af01-dee03f72a048]][[!Gurmag Angler|cedd44eb-f381-46e1-bcb0-88416b4ce33d]][[!Cast Down|a41150b2-44a6-4e80-8b32-afc6ea744fb3]]>> Focusing on attrition through incremental damage and life loss while using your creatures as fodder to feed to your draining machine, **[[Pestilence|2f1f5630-647f-4789-8506-e7fafcbdd671]]** can do all of these things efficiently. **[[Tortured Existence|1754b92b-d6f9-4503-af01-dee03f72a048]]** can also take advantage of these value based creatures to the keep drain and gain gears churning. After you've filled your graveyard with other cards **[[Gurmag Angler|cedd44eb-f381-46e1-bcb0-88416b4ce33d]]** can come down and be the big threat your opponents must deal with. Black has the most efficient suite of removal spells. Cards like **[[Cast Down|a41150b2-44a6-4e80-8b32-afc6ea744fb3]]** may have limitations, but in many matchups they are unrestricted removal spells. *** *Red* <<[[!Lightning Bolt|c8c8390f-4072-454f-8dc4-174919187a47]][[!Fireblast|14d6bfda-c066-4cc0-b317-3d8c7c168546]][[!Kaervek's Torch|0a1624ab-e50e-48a3-acf7-457069914616]][[!Kessig Flamebreather|04d9b71a-cbe6-4187-8fac-84d8ccd9a9cb]]>> Instant speed, 1 mana, 3 damage, any target... **[[Lightning Bolt|c8c8390f-4072-454f-8dc4-174919187a47]]** Free spells are always good, but especially ones that can significantly swing the game in your favor or even just outright win the game. **[[Fireblast|14d6bfda-c066-4cc0-b317-3d8c7c168546]]** may have a high casting cost, but its power is undeniable. Another card that can end the game all by itself is **[[Kaervek's Torch|0a1624ab-e50e-48a3-acf7-457069914616]]**. If you are able to recur this spell, your opponent's fate is all but sealed. With a 1/3 body **[[Kessig Flamebreather|04d9b71a-cbe6-4187-8fac-84d8ccd9a9cb]]** can stabilize an early board and provide a consistent damage output throughout the remainder of the game. As the cube has evolved, Red has moved away from go wide aggro and more towards spells matter. This card embodies that philosophy. *** *Green* <<[[!Llanowar Elves|27a21d19-5631-43f8-817d-51ccb5aa0f05]][[!Sprout Swarm|0b915355-4e98-44df-81bd-961a3d3c86b8]][[!Rancor|abd96a99-c3a0-4923-80a1-51d26fc8bb91]][[!Generous Ent|85d22d5d-3875-42ff-b51e-c6e21db201f5]]>> Green's ability to ramp early and often helps move quickly through the early and mid-game and apply heavy pressure before other colors are able to get there. **[[Llanowar Elves|27a21d19-5631-43f8-817d-51ccb5aa0f05]]** as well as cards like **[[Farseek|8b4708fb-864a-459c-9126-c9b9c17bd8a9]]** that can also provide fixing set green apart. Just like **[[Capsize|a51c1a95-e484-41e4-9c49-ffb115a7d1cc]]**, **[[Sprout Swarm|0b915355-4e98-44df-81bd-961a3d3c86b8]]** can take over a game if given the opportunity. It's instant speed, low casting cost combined with convoke make it a nearly free spell for late game board stalls. With large, sometimes dumb vanilla creatures, pushing every bit of damage through is vital for green. First turning 1/1s into actual threats that trade and pushing through large amounts of damage later, **[[Rancor|abd96a99-c3a0-4923-80a1-51d26fc8bb91]]**'s ability to provide pressure for only 1 mana makes it a powerful and consistent threat. While **[[Generous Ent|85d22d5d-3875-42ff-b51e-c6e21db201f5]]** is probably most powerful in a reanimator style deck, its ability to fix your mana or just go get another land as early as turn one is easy to overlook. Its 5/7 body is a formidable late game threat that will apply pressure to almost any board state. *** *Colorless* <<[[!Ulamog's Crusher|eda0fd38-38e6-4e9b-9c17-4d855e01b1e1]][[!Bonesplitter|465a7990-c9f9-4716-a833-fd41458b9cee]][[!Bonder's Ornament|5afe425c-50a7-4d29-ac14-0edb094fc770]][[!Wayfarer's Bauble|1272beac-71ac-4a88-bd49-a5a907c182ac]]>> If left unanswered **[[Ulamog's Crusher|eda0fd38-38e6-4e9b-9c17-4d855e01b1e1]]** will quickly end the game. Annihilator 2 can be devastating for a player even if they are able to chump block this huge threat. **[[Bonesplitter|465a7990-c9f9-4716-a833-fd41458b9cee]]** provides that little bit of extra oomph to help aggressive decks speed up the clock. It's low cost of commitment allow it to find a home in a plethora of decks. Providing repeatable card draw, ramp and fixing **[[Bonder's Ornament|5afe425c-50a7-4d29-ac14-0edb094fc770]]** fills a huge number of roles and can safely go in nearly any deck. This card may not feel like a bomb, but it can indirectly help you cross the finish line in many situations. Similarly, **[[Wayfarer's Bauble|1272beac-71ac-4a88-bd49-a5a907c182ac]]** may not feel impressive, but it's ability to ramp you into that all important second or splash color can be a massive boon to non-green decks. *** >>> ## **The Archetypes** ## <<< *** **Azorius** *Major Archetype - Blink* <<[[!Deputy of Acquittals|b0e7dff8-faae-46b8-8dd9-58830e1df61e]][[!Momentary Blink|3dfd5aa4-b920-4aff-ba0d-2d4777ebbf66]][[!Pegasus Guardian|1d958ec3-1ddc-4622-9089-cbe5b3b47c90]][[!Peregrine Drake|86eb4952-593b-4cdf-97b8-d3cdbe424ba6]]>> *Minor Archetype - Control/Fliers* >>>[[Faerie Seer|3989e920-05df-4b30-9ec3-e6ecaa436fce]] | [[Holy Cow|90de84c9-941b-4056-8501-ce8a948b9643]] | [[Shimmering Glasskite|94bfedca-5a85-41e9-94be-67ed16bd634e]] | [[Blessed Hippogriff|b4590e53-ca8d-4896-a8cf-6af1e4bc456f]]<<< *** **Orzhov** *Major Archetype - Control* <<[[!Tithe Drinker|e069aa06-35b0-4af8-89cb-af653708ed32]][[!Kingpin’s Pet|3465cf63-4f10-4b53-9703-69746364dbc7]][[!Vendetta|67ced38e-0f33-4bda-8e18-09f6ac03a3d7]][[!Ashes to Ashes|825496e5-19c7-4f50-8070-0265a58608dc]]>> *Minor Archetypes - Aristocrats* >>>[[Carrion Feeder|d3e33835-a293-4a1f-85d5-8ac22360ef35]] | [[Fleshbag Marauder|712c8708-cd43-4f1e-b520-ef90cf2ba72d]] | [[Dauntless Cathar|bb1a458a-d3b6-44d9-ac80-a7a46b505805]] | [[Doomed Traveler|1bbfd61b-fba3-4826-817a-e0eed7b8eda0]]<<< *** **Boros** *Major Archetype - Token* <<[[!Rally the Peasants|b9f3eab5-89fb-440a-b56a-b35e2dca44f0]][[!Goblin Bushwhacker|4085a5bf-a71b-4c73-9b39-0dcc328fe11b]][[!Soul's Attendant|3223c0ac-cc22-4886-8919-11273b477cc7]][[!Impact Tremors|56fb4035-197b-4d28-9bf7-bb62c304067e]]>> *Minor Archetype - Aggro* >>>[[Skynight Legionnaire|3c27f2ce-702a-4ec2-a470-982171a9ec73]] | [[Squee's Embrace|e682a705-9341-4d1e-a9c5-d428e50b9a03]] | [[Rhox Veteran|6384e266-d0dc-4af1-b3ab-ecaf9be2553c]] | [[Goblin Heelcutter|5b3bfeb6-95d6-4f00-8981-c6d3c9c93f67]]<<< *** **Selesnya** *Major Archetype - Tokens* <<[[!Selesnya Evangel|18bc93c1-f236-4d1b-bb54-5041b3cae5a6]][[!Scatter the Seeds|6b28c2a8-ee7d-4eea-8046-a47e81ddd28d]][[!Battle Screech|c3c38264-0d79-47d4-bca2-a20a991bbac9]][[!Triplicate Spirits|3d6498d3-bf1f-4bf1-a602-7c21fb44c106]]>> *Minor Archetype - +1/+1 Counters* >>>[[Travel Preparations|e9654ae7-af2c-4956-be3a-68befa33f523]] | [[Ainok Bond-Kin|1778cf9a-2703-41e9-86d7-ec21af8cf61d]] | [[Tuskguard Captain|b65932c2-726d-4466-8efb-e7af5bd9c474]] | [[Ivy Lane Denizen|b95be874-93c0-4e05-9e5a-fe8f38bcb445]]<<< *** **Dimir** *Major Archetype - Control* <<[[!Hymn to Tourach|f4089e6c-51eb-44c4-8395-68e43cbed93d]][[!Crypt Rats|96916db2-5121-4ff1-880c-369744f11ecf]][[!Deep Analysis|821cc8b6-eb2e-4441-8d88-c54cb44ab024]][[!Dinrova Horror|644e3ff9-94be-49f1-82f1-b844e025645a]]>> *Minor Archetype - More Control* >>>[[Cavern Harpy|adfb0804-50d6-4bca-8733-72e01030a543]] | [[Chittering Rats|980135d5-dfaa-4beb-b4b3-1e256bb46e61]] | [[Treasure Cruise|3ff91245-57d8-4020-b260-495c938a515b]] | [[Mystical Teachings|b9f3a4e2-b3d2-4803-bcaf-5d63bff0feb5]]<<< *** **Izzet** *Major Archetype - Spells* <<[[!Goblin Electromancer|2f17a1fc-b6cc-4f62-96df-3cde940a3bea]][[!Murmuring Mystic|9f19337d-0824-442d-bb67-748a9980e816]][[!Guttersnipe|a4276d10-d163-4068-a6db-5bb0a1ac88e3]][[!Tolarian Terror|42f01cba-43d4-46ad-b7a5-d7631b0e1347]]>> *Minor Archetype - Prowess* >>>[[Monastery Swiftspear|e8b9d59d-bac9-4092-901e-2b861c186868]] | [[Bloodwater Entity|cdddab31-1455-4b31-ba81-c346e608c34e]] | [[Thermo-Alchemist|c6c194ea-32a5-4683-a6da-4a93d9b4722e]] | [[Fire//Ice|0e09b054-4d33-4a12-bf2a-9b0009f33044]]<<< *** **Simic** *Major Archetype - Ramp* <<[[!Coiling Oracle|46ddfce6-5b8c-4ce1-a329-6a4a4576ca9c]][[!Beanstalk Wurm|19f20c0a-22be-4a9c-96ce-4047f7a2d424]][[!Colossal Dreadmask|98164430-64c1-465f-b786-45753c965f44]][[!Greater Tanuki|b4fbaee3-a10f-4b2d-b07e-d041a96a7e27]]>> *Minor Archetype - Tempo* >>>[[Applied Biomancy|f91ed618-7b0b-4a70-95ad-d9ed46e28692]] | [[Mire Boa|190dffdc-9d85-430d-9aea-b75084104840]] | [[Blastoderm|13a736c5-9bff-4e2f-a150-2133b9c3af89]] | [[Vapor Snag|70305148-23bd-41dd-9de5-13cf5ae591ae]]<<< *** **Rakdos** *Major Archetype - Aristocrats* <<[[!Fireblade Artist|df03ac18-1ab4-4264-9821-3f92333c3ed8]][[!Carrion Feeder|d3e33835-a293-4a1f-85d5-8ac22360ef35]][[!Dark-Dweller Oracle|bd35664f-b99d-46b6-988e-8f2814b0a854]][[!Persistent Specimen|df9efc5d-c477-49d1-aeb4-7e8c8f101a15]]>> *Minor Archetype - Aggro* >>>[[Body Dropper|0fcb6d47-dccb-4b69-aed4-7a6215857606]] | [[Harried Spearguard|1db79785-4f55-445f-93f2-14c6e4606fc5]] | [[Guildsworn Prowler|d7efb10f-c760-431c-8ac6-904965d850dc]] | [[Red Herring|6c137a44-9ab6-4e59-8324-34d9dca8f5a6]]<<< *** **Golgari** *Major Archetype - Dredge* <<[[!Stinkweed Imp|628903a0-6695-4643-80f3-9a6efc4d6a27]][[!Golgari Brownscale|e41f3323-f702-46a6-92db-33ec0afd75d2]][[!Gisly Salvage|dcb5eb2a-ae7a-4416-970c-6e9306689c88]][[!Satyr Wayfinder|13c5a1ce-932a-4b3d-8b86-ed920e646afc]]>> *Minor Archetype - Graveyard Matters* >>>[[Rhizome Lurcher|db9ce92b-79cc-4e26-b511-30ae8ea6a2a1]] | [[Hooting Mandrills|6dfbd094-1d59-4539-80e1-595227d3e64d]] | [[Rot Shambler|6e13e1c2-376f-4ce6-bdc0-e000e99e5b9c]] | [[First-Sphere Gargantua|e387dc5d-292f-4c69-9cf7-0b489bd0a027]]<<< *** **Gruul** *Major Archetype - Beatdown* <<[[!Goblin Anarchomancer|f7f07a80-05b5-4108-9e68-f8da05866acc]][[!Annoyed Altisaur|7536d618-0c98-45bb-913b-b8117b4acf87]][[!Oliphaunt|fa65958a-f601-472e-a9b6-42650b97fa44]][[!Temur Battle Rage|5796d5e7-78b9-419a-a04a-fa3232bd2906]]>> *Minor Archetype* ***