Cloned from [Gems in the Rough](/c/622ceaa56702ae0ff7aa2ad9) !! If you live in the PNW United States Consider joining this Cube FB Group!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/pnwdrafts/ Gems in the Rough is a regularly updated Vintage Pauper cube which aims to push the bounds of competitive pauper cube game play. **TLDR** -Pauper Cube is primarily about Synergy, Card Value, and Card Advantage over time -Fast go wide stragies with pump/overrun effects is the main counter play to long game value decks -Cards with Monarch should be drafted very highly # **Drafting Archetypes and Synergies that Players can attempt in this cube:** Shortcuts: - [aggro](#aggro) - [token go wide](#token-go-wide) - [control](#control) - [card advantage tempo](#card-advantage-tempo) - [blink flicker](#blink-flicker) - [monarch](#monarch) - [ramp](#ramp) - [reanimator](#reanimator) - [spells matter](#spells-matter) - [counters](#counters) - [life swap life drain](#life-swap-life-drain) - [gates](#gates) # **aggro:** The two colors that are best suited to build an agressive deck is White {W} and Red {R}. The best way to acomplish this is to play as many small creatures as quick as possible, and then multi creature spells to make all your little guys hit hard. Your goal with this style of strategy should be to end the game as quickly as possible. Examples of Early Aggro Creatues: <<[[!Akroan Crusader|73d295ac-3c83-47db-a324-aa4907bcefdd]][[!Monastery Swiftspear|3c9899a8-f5b0-427f-ac87-09fc8afe0f23]][[!Faerie Guidemother|ed03df49-7ea7-40ca-96d6-3907d75cc8e3]][[!Seeker of the Way|b1e50811-048f-4dc6-a453-a5e36f3eb0a0]]>> Examples of Mid game Aggro Creatures: <<[[!Rhox Veteran|6384e266-d0dc-4af1-b3ab-ecaf9be2553c]][[!Midnight Guard|2264b760-c527-470d-bad0-d8baaf543631]][[!Skophos Reaver|32691e3f-dea9-45ac-96fe-96b34d5116a9]][[!Goblin Heelcutter|5b3bfeb6-95d6-4f00-8981-c6d3c9c93f67]]>> Examples of Multi Creature Pump Spells: <<[[!You Hear Something On Watch|76e939ab-9d0c-4685-805c-c8bc4e6af163]][[!Inspired Charge|43479f67-57b2-4a99-8928-10fc9dde33b9]][[!Ambitious Assault|d00d618d-abad-475b-b938-e111282ea1c3]][[!Rally the Peasants|3b300df0-c867-41e6-a1fd-fe547ed3dc51]]>> # **token go wide:** Pairing some what closely with both Aggro and Aristocrats, Ways to put multipule creatures on to the battelfield with a single spell or creature can create quite a bit of card advantage. Cards that creature two for ones can be key to winning in pauper. Examples of creatures that make tokens: <<[[!Attended Knight|eac22a3b-4536-4372-a854-bc7f0919830b]][[!Beetleback Chief|779d4745-ff14-4c79-b2c8-8e273faf7375]][[!Maul Splicer|69f66142-fda7-461b-a876-d055c9d4febf]][[!Swarming Goblins|623c1d1b-69a4-4bc4-b388-17a7600fd960]]>> # **control:** Is found primarily in the three colors of {U} Blue, {B} Black, and {R} Red. Control elements are certinly weaker at the common level then in other formats, and work better as a game stragey to knock your opponets off their vaule engines then controling the whole game. One of the main ways this is felt is with board wipes. There are no total board wipes at common, so were left with some partial wipes that mostly take out weaker creatures. Examples of Control Spells: <<[[!Lose Focus|985bdb0c-ce6c-4506-8163-76f3b2fdf5fb]][[!Repeal|9e7dd929-4bba-46a6-86c9-b8ed853eb721]][[!Duress|c0a72721-2a4a-4d48-a7b0-2370b90b8619]][[!Magma Spray|988a7993-eb7d-4ae2-8a22-1676f517558b]]>> Examples of Pauper Level Boardwipes: <<[[!Arms of Hadar|db1fd431-8f6d-4ca5-bc0c-53881c500da1]][[!Pestilence|29d852c4-bd53-4a3b-b1e2-896917cbc27f]][[!Sulfurous Blast|dabae267-54fa-4e6d-8f7d-15152fe37397]][[!Crypt Rats|96916db2-5121-4ff1-880c-369744f11ecf]]>> # **card advantage tempo:** Card advanatge and Tempo in pauper cube also works quite diffrently then in other higher power formats. In formats like pauper where alot of the cards are in the same power band it tends to be the player with the most resources who wins the game. So cards that replace themselves with draw ablities tend to be the best ways to gain resource or tempo ablities over an opponet. Exampels of Card Advantage Cards: <<[[!Mulldrifter|a5ad7ebb-4994-49f1-a211-90bdccb6a91b]][[!Borrowing 100,000 Arrows|26334142-e9a2-4bf0-983e-dca4b4d817d7]][[!Night's Whisper|e4638720-a55d-4c3b-b57d-2d028db5894d]][[!Reckless Impulse|6943c07f-ab0d-4f5a-bbe9-c0a83dc98546]]>> Examples of Draw Replacement Spells: <<[[!Stall for Time|f346defa-ee4a-404e-8154-0e33ebe9102c]][[!Suit Up|50870bfd-7779-4a1c-b18f-57fac7e193b1]][[!Recover|ba44d21e-b1f4-4691-9895-6dda5015ad34]][[!Wildsize|eb0e640d-9a24-471e-8092-0177ec8d824e]]>> # **blink flicker:** Blinking or flickering cards involves removing a permanent from play and then bringing it back to the battlefield from a cards effect. The primary purpose for doing so is to trigger both enter the battlefield effects or ablities of other creatures when certain card types enter the battlefield. Cards with the flicker/blink ability are found typically in {W} White and {U} Blue. Examples of Spells that Flicker: <<[[!Acrobatic Maneuver|74f92174-f38f-4623-a5f7-f5be7f7dcc9d]][[!Pegasus Guardian // Rescue the Foal|1d958ec3-1ddc-4622-9089-cbe5b3b47c90]][[!Ephemerate|f48ab69d-8a01-4dcb-af70-31e2c62278df]][[!Turn to Mist|75a62b31-986c-4722-97da-d984272f0f05]][[!Momentary Blink|fc147bf5-5608-43f5-b05f-7d8ec59f138e]][[!Icewind Stalwart|aeb153e2-345d-4993-9f2d-f0d0ddfbc8a7]][[!Ghostly Flicker|fccd7eda-5c10-4aa7-a70c-b52f685972e4]][[!Blur|77a43413-3ab0-4ef6-83de-192a11d48f00]]>> Examples of Creatures with ETB to Flicker: <<[[!Inspiring Overseer|35d9da1d-8678-4252-b0f8-9960795642f0]][[!Frost Trickster|fd79c9cc-0a8c-4d88-96e2-cb177134a18d]][[!Phyrexian Rager|bb0d354e-3a63-4dfe-ae6d-5e82cbf419ac]][[!Viashino Pyromancer|a82fdb2f-b199-44ff-9615-90fc074cb8b0]][[!Llanowar Visionary|d6e23afa-7e08-4049-baf0-d4d0134ba2c8]][[!Burning-Tree Emissary|ba327a5e-bd57-4e24-b4b4-062202df30e1]][[!Drey Keeper|995529d1-e2b0-4cce-bd40-56c7ef3c33da]][[!Pilgrim's Eye|da685792-5846-4201-ae64-19a822a4e575]]>> # **monarch:** Multiplayer based mechanics like Monarch have proven in multiple formats to be incredibly powerful in one on one play. While some pauper cubes choose not play the Monarch cards for this reason, this cube does for the sole purpose that they help break up boardstalls and force players to make play choices they might not otherwise make. Cards with the Monarch ability should be given serious value and drafted early. Cards with Monarch Ablity: <<[[!Palace Sentinels|4fd0e9a0-f974-412a-aba1-c4fb68351149]][[!Azure Fleet Admiral|c0889e22-deab-48ba-bbd6-f0d49bee5d9c]][[!Fall from Favor|e709a18f-b99d-4fa1-ae5c-7f22abd02c0a]][[!Thorn of the Black Rose|2b7538ad-cc41-4229-8a39-c1db21f2899a]][[!Crimson Fleet Commodore|c90fdccf-30a6-40ee-9b35-83a6ee5c0681]][[!Entourage of Trest|87e65427-1191-4f5a-b4ca-c383eecd274e]][[!Staunch Throneguard|41017b24-957b-403d-b417-d84ad2624794]]>> # **ramp**: Sometimes bigger is better and getting their faster then your opponet can be a way to win games. Ramp based stragies in pauper work similar to other cube formats but are definetly slower. The big mana rocks are not avilable in this format so most many rocks only produce one mana. This means cards like [[Pristine Talisman]] are very helpful because they add mana up, allowing youto cast higher costing creatures, and later can be sacrificed to become card draw. Still at the end of the day your looking to cast a big creature that either creates values or runs away with the game. Examples of Mana Ramp: <<[[!Pristine Talisman|a8f2df9a-b521-4b46-b9b7-250f1529041a]][[!Llanowar Elves|1f8a1386-77ca-46ae-8987-aaed435556ea]][[!Kozilek's Channeler|c550d179-32ec-4ad8-91c2-d79320a21cba]][[!Farseek|f9b69d33-96dd-4844-aefa-27a885cb2ffc]]>> Examples of Creatures to Ramp into: <<[[!Ulamog's Crusher|eda0fd38-38e6-4e9b-9c17-4d855e01b1e1]][[!Dread Linnorm // Scale Deflection|174ee9e7-8040-4b53-8d0d-177ce924521c]][[!Annoyed Altisaur|6108741c-30de-4390-8482-3f293bdce4bd]][[!Fang Dragon // Forktail Sweep|3d74937b-c87f-4894-8f00-36e4d6844ebd]]>> # **reanimator**: Unlike formats with higher rarities where reanimation is typically found in {B} Black, in pauper the more powerful reanimation spells are found in {W} White. Because reanimation stragies typically require discard outlets in order to place creatures in the graveyard, you will most likely need to pair your {W} White reanimation spells with {B} Black or {R} Red discard spells. Most of the white reanimation spells are not very cost effective mana wise for most creatures, so alot of times returning a creature to the battlefield is more for value generationg purpouses and less to play larger creatures for smaller amounts of mana. Examples of Reanimation Spells: <<[[!Breath of Life|5bdae766-9f3f-4a76-b383-f21f8163ee6c]][[!Late to Dinner|6633cab9-23f9-474e-96f1-ca7c0c67691c]][[!Resurrection|a176b295-9406-4d6b-b15c-e81a72e66874]][[!Rise Again|660ec88f-2063-404a-853e-c985e21d17b0]]>> Eamples of Discard Outlets: <<[[!Bone Shards|1ee98955-4c47-4d45-9377-608dfa755337]][[!Undertaker|e99bb258-7b05-4c70-8a67-d7a5709a60ff]][[!Faithless Salvaging|2958aa5c-176d-4f6e-be52-ef2afbe8d452]][[!Tormenting Voice|2f5b0a20-2422-465e-b74e-4402b34fb57b]]>> Examples of Creatures to Reanimate for Value: <<[[!Soul of Migration|4541217f-5e86-491b-918b-ed7a2eb3e4eb]][[!Wavesifter|0a269277-7f4e-40de-a2b4-53aa50cfd665]][[!Warren Pilferers|2ac647ea-e81e-46d4-9a65-613d6643362b]][[!Conclave Naturalists|082a5372-b25a-4559-96b8-2d8d54199a38]]>> Examples of Creatures to Reanimate for Size: <<[[!Ulamog's Crusher|eda0fd38-38e6-4e9b-9c17-4d855e01b1e1]][[!Dread Linnorm // Scale Deflection|174ee9e7-8040-4b53-8d0d-177ce924521c]][[!Greater Sandwurm|6411d177-45fd-4193-8414-0f7e7846d2b9]][[!Fang Dragon // Forktail Sweep|3d74937b-c87f-4894-8f00-36e4d6844ebd]]>> # **spells matter**: Like spells matters style decks in other draft formats at other power levels, this is a style of deck that requires both A.) cards that require you to cast spells to get a repeatable ablity, and B.) Spells to cast to triger those ablities. The best way to build this style of deck is to make sure you have enough of both enablers and payoffs. This style of game play is found mostly in {R} and {U}, but there are a few cards hiding in {G} as well. Spells Matters Payoffs: <<[[!Murmuring Mystic|9f19337d-0824-442d-bb67-748a9980e816]][[!Guttersnipe|a4276d10-d163-4068-a6db-5bb0a1ac88e3]][[!Thermo-Alchemist|c9cac6a6-ded0-47cb-88d2-8838db9cc6b2]][[!Unruly Catapult|3dc275f8-f060-4c15-9b8f-63cf3857eaa7]]>> Other Cards that Care about Instants and Sorceries: <<[[!Tolarian Terror|42f01cba-43d4-46ad-b7a5-d7631b0e1347]][[!Spellgorger Weird|baefa06e-28ba-41b9-866e-1ed0c4969852]][[!Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration|abff6c81-65a4-48fa-ba8f-580f87b0344a]][[!Quandrix Pledgemage|07633b7f-4150-458b-89c3-d05dc0e3c4bd]]>> # **counters**: Who doesnt love making their creatures bigger and harder to deal with. In this cube you will find a number of cards that distribute +1/+1 counters on to your creatures, as well as creatures that give extra benifits to cards that have +1/+1 counters on them. Proliferate is another fantastic way to help creatures with counters get bigger. While cards that deal with +1/+1 counters can be found in all 5 colors, {U} and {G} have a high density of payoffs and role players for this style of game play. Examples of cards that distribuate +1/+1/ counters: <<[[!Vigean Hydropon|6373aedc-4385-4608-bfbc-1937d6528d28]][[!Ivy Lane Denizen|78bea375-8af3-4425-a418-bb5503e2dfb7]][[!Travel Preparations|e9654ae7-af2c-4956-be3a-68befa33f523]][[!Thrive|43c8bdb1-fa35-462e-ac3f-6953fe7f3476]]>> Examples of Cards that Give abilties for +1/+1 Counters: <<[[!Duskshell Crawler|1af03fc3-5eb6-404e-96d9-e291a1e11ec3]][[!Helium Squirter|35a9a786-8d15-4186-8030-4151bddcc0f7]][[!Aquastrand Spider|af9dd8d6-013a-4018-9186-988f5e8d0ab9]][[!Hagra Constrictor|f971b71a-af69-43a7-b06c-e80eaaaf4a5f]]>> Examples of Cards that Proliferate: <<[[!Bloom Hulk|fd1c9129-254d-4d1d-9d95-112292bd6bcc]][[!Thrummingbird|df368f26-e9e7-476c-be59-a141392e3932]][[!Courage in Crisis|b836b0a9-c38b-423a-bf22-c9041acf1952]][[!Urban Daggertooth|4ab83a39-d90d-403e-b74d-fe99c8b2aacd]]>> # **life swap life drain**: In the colors of {W} and {B} there is some seeded cards for a life exchange style stragey. Either cards that make your opponet lose a life when ever you gain a life, or cards with Extort, which allow you to pay to have an opponet lose a life and have you gain a life. This is a stragey that works really well when blended together which just other good cards in the same colors. Examples Life Drain cards: <<[[!Marauding Blight-Priest|730ddbcd-0814-4e22-85e9-78b0878324b6]][[!Epicure of Blood|ac79386b-91eb-4813-8f3c-3b74b45be188]][[!Mirkwood Bats|15f035df-784a-4dc8-b7f5-77139a4e6e99]][[!Falkenrath Noble|89420882-5833-46f0-9a3f-3c8e694074df]]>> Examples of Life Gain triggers: <<[[!Soul Warden|d96266b3-a7cb-40ce-a328-ac13719fe5f0]][[!Suture Priest|430b96aa-7bb0-4d2b-b265-9c4987db28a2]][[!Lunarch Veteran // Luminous Phantom|d2704743-2e23-40b9-a367-c73d2db45afc]][[!Dogged Pursuit|60f6a159-b969-4767-802e-409f8bf286fe]]>> Examples of Extort: <<[[!Syndic of Tithes|2bafaa3b-eeaa-427f-9a73-6a1c98d257ca]][[!Tithe Drinker|e069aa06-35b0-4af8-89cb-af653708ed32]][[!Kingpin's Pet|3465cf63-4f10-4b53-9703-69746364dbc7]][[!Basilica Screecher|d233c6bc-c4dd-482d-b0f4-87359acab7cb]]>> # **gates**: A single card build around strategy found in this cube is drafting as many of the gate lands in the cube as you can and taking advantage Basilisk Gate to pump up a creature each turn. <<[[!Basilisk Gate|8733a4fc-4068-4af4-9598-dc3d895e8556]][[!Boros Guildgate|73c423b7-cab8-4e69-8070-9edbf96a6c2c]][[!Black Dragon Gate|dde6bce5-8bbe-4866-b5aa-2c05c7d37241]][[!Selesnya Guildgate|c65f7fe6-faca-4911-b7bf-72f081dd5fea]]>>