>>><<[[!Bloodghast]][[!Trinket Mage]][[!Basking Rootwalla]][[!Murderous Redcap]]>><<< *** >>> # **The Synergy Cube** <<< *** >>><<[[!Saffi Eriksdotter]][[!Losheel, Clockwork Scholar]][[!Blasting Station]][[!Glissa, the Traitor]]>><<< >>>### 0. Table of Contents<<< > 1. [Introduction](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/2y129#1-introduction) > 2. [Philosophy](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/2y129#2-philosophy) > 3. [Lands/Mana Rocks](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/2y129#3-landsmana-rocks) > 4. [Archetypes](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/2y129#4-archetypes) > 5. [The Future](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/2y129#5-the-future) *** >>>### 1. Introduction<<< The Synergy Cube (better name pending) is all about having fun and exploring the synergies between magic cards in a powered vintage environment. Originally modeled after the [Caleb Gannon's Synergy cube](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/2rx6a), this cube seeks to offer powerful gameplay while placing less emphasis on standalone powerful cards. There have been lots of changes from the original build of this cube with some notable difference in archetypes, such as the inclusion of a proliferate archetype. With the recent design philosophy of Wizards of the Coast, each set offers many of potential additions to the cube, and as a result there have been many changes and updates to the list. The number of the cards in the cube is a floating number, but theoretically is designed to play as a 450 card cube with an additional 15 cards added to account for [[Booster Tutor]]. The actual card count tends to hover closer to 475 cards, as I'm not particularly strict on maintaining a set cube size. *** >>>### 2. Philosophy<<< The goal of the cube is to draft decks that are a sum of their parts. Less emphasis is placed on the bombs you might find in a typical vintage or legacy cube, while more emphasis is placed on finding enablers and payoffs. Cards that create insurmountable advantages on their own are generally not included. Role-players take on an important role as the way to tie decks together and also to allow for enough cross-pollination between archetypes to keep drafting interesting. This is what I think of as the 'glue' of the cube, and when selecting new additions for the cube I'm often placing heavier emphasis on cards that tie things together between archetypes rather than result in a powerful addition for a single archetype. As a result, the cube has a heavy artifact focus, as many of the artifacts found in the cube can fit in multiple archetypes and fulfill several purposes. This also lines up with the artifact archetype being playable in any color combination, but with less emphasis on green. Regardless of the archetype you draft, every deck will likely contain some artifacts in it's supporting cast. *** >>>### 3. Lands/Mana Rocks<<< Mana fixing focuses on your usual cast of duals, fetches, and shocks, but also contains the slow lands introduced in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, as well as a fixing land in each two color combination that fits the color combination. For example, {R/G} is represented by [[Grove of the Burnwillows]] to enable [[Punishing Fire]] loops. Triomes are not included as to limit the number of decks containing 3 or more colors. Utility lands are also represented by archetype enablers, such as [[Bazaar of Baghdad]] and [[Phyrexian Tower]], but also include colorless man-lands and [[strip mine]]/[[wasteland]]. Outside of the original moxen, mana rocks are few and far between. The functional purpose for this is that unlike a legacy or vintage cube, there are very few cards being cast with 4+ mana. Certain archetypes are more or less likely to want mana rocks, and some are still present. These include mana rocks such as [[Everflowing Chalice]], [[Pentad Prism]], and [[Fellwar Stone]], but notably omit a cycle of talismans or signets. This may change as the cube evolves and further develops. *** >>>### 4. Archetypes {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}Artifacts{W}{U}{B}{R}{G} <<[[!Master of Etherium]][[!Goblin Welder]][[!Yotian Dissident]][[!Skorpekh Lord]]>> *** {U}{B}{R}Self-discard{U}{B}{R} <<[[!Rielle, the Everwise]][[!Containment Construct]][[!Fiery Temper]][[!Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer]]>> *** {B}{R}{G}Hogaak Bridge{B}{R}{G} <<[[!Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis]][[!Bridge From Below]][[!Vengevine]][[!Stitcher's Supplier]]>> *** {U}{B}{R}Storm/spells matter{U}{B}{R} <<[[!Tendrils of Agony]][[!Young Pyromancer]][[!Manamorphose]][[!Yawgmoth's Will]]>> *** {W}{U}{B}{R}Eggs{W}{U}{B}{R} <<[[!Conjurer's Bauble]][[!Second Sunrise]][[!Disciple of the Vault]][[!Oni-Cult Anvil]]>> *** {W}{U}{B}{G}Proliferate{W}{U}{B}{G} <<[[!Ranger Class]][[!Grateful Apparition]][[!Flux Channeler]][[!Tyranid Prime]]>> *** {B}{R}{G}Sacrifice{B}{R}{G} <<[[!Korvold, Fae-Cursed King]][[!Cauldron Familiar]][[!Witch's Oven]][[!Ulvenwald Mysteries]]>> *** {W}{B}Aristocrats{W}{B} <<[[!Blood Artist]][[!Hallowed Spiritkeeper]][[!Welcoming Vampire]][[!Hidden Stockpile]]>> *** {B}Zombies{B} <<[[!Carrion Feeder]][[!Scourge of Nel Toth]][[!Gravecrawler]][[!Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia]]>> *** {R}{G}Lands{R}{G} <<[[!Fastbond]][[!Molten Vortex]][[!Life from the loam]][[!Living Twister]]>> *** {W}{U}Blink{W}{U} <<[[!Soulherder]][[!Flickerwisp]][[!Charming Prince]][[!Ephemerate]]>> <<< *** >>>### 5. The Future Further updates to the cube will be driven by new printings, player feedback, and the desire to tinker, add, or remove archetypes. Storm is a more recent addition to the cube, and archetypes such as Ninjas were eventually cut after not playing out as well as expected. Enchantments, as well as Legendary matters themes are archetypes that I've had my eyes on as potential future additions. Sets such as Kamigawa Neon Dynasty and the deluge of commander focused products has introduced lots of exciting options making both of these archetypes increasingly more viable than they had been at the onset of designing this cube. Further printing of cards that can assist in cross-pollinating with other archetypes (such as [[Ranger Class]], [[/Michiko's Reign of Truth]], and [[Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful]] will further strengthen the argument for bringing these themes into the fold.