So -- there's a ton of discussion on Cube design and card evaluation... but, aside from occasional community drafting threads, not as much about how to actually build a deck from our Cubes.
With that, I'd like to start a thread for just such discussions. P1P1s are a classic example, though that's more or less just an assessment of card quality which we've all discussed a bunch of times before. It can be about building from draft (or sealed) pools, or -- as perhaps my favorite -- how to make picks while in the MIDDLE of a draft.
So I'll start off with some P1P2 scenarios. My cube, seen here; it has rare lands for fixing, but otherwise pretty standard power level for Peasant stuff.
The only green card here is pretty easily ignored -- Nemesis of Mortals is fine, but nowhere near P2 consideration. Epochrasite is a quality colorless card, but there's three good off-color options I'd rather take: Fiend Hunter, Murderous Redcap, and Mind Control (with Preordain slightly behind). My nod eventually went to Murderous Redcap; an early start into B/G or R/G is nice flexibility, enough for me to take it over the in-a-vacuum stronger Mind Control.
Speaking of "not easy" -- not a single mono-white card, and no high-end colorless cards. I'd briefly consider the G/W painland and Bant tri-land, since the Sentinel is a great card to have as a finished in a 3/4+ color goodstuff type of deck. Similarly, Utopia Sprawl puts us on the path of G/W Ramp which also would be very happy to have the Giant as a 6-drop. But, I'm going with Hypnotic Specter... not exactly a card that plays well with the Sentinel (though using them together in B/W midrange or control is certainly possible), but it's just by far the best card in the pack and something that can single-handedly win games if it nabs the right random discards.
Of the two cards that cost red mana, I like Firespout far more -- 3 to everything on T3 is an insanely good rate, and getting it early lets us move into a red control deck where the card would be at its best (as well as pick up R/G fixing when possible to hit flyers). But, that's not what I want to do here when there's a true colorless bomb available: Ancient Tomb is one of the best ramp effects ever made, and simply asks that you play cards that can be cast with colorless mana.
first 3-4 picks I'm trying to just pick very good cards that don't ask a lot of me.
Murderous redcap: Keeps open, is individually very strong.
Epochrasite close second for those reasons
After reading your pick: yeah
Seaside citadel: It was either this or utopia sprawl, since standstill I find is a bit demanding in what decks it likes to be in. I couldn't fault someone for thinking standstill.
After reading your pick: Hypnotic specter hasn't scared me in ages. The double color is also a turn off for so early in the draft.
Errant ephemeron: It is individually very strong and fits into any kind of deck, like lightning bolt.
After reading your pick: Ancient tomb didn't really pan out for me in my cube for some reason.
I've not played with Mind Control (Control Magic is enough of that BS at 360 for me.. although I could see an argument to swap them since CM is kind of nuts) but that was my choice for the first one. I feel like I'd rather just take the best card in a vacuum and shoot for the stars (but if I wasn't heavily biased towards always picking blue, Murderous Redcap followed by Epochrasite were my next choices).
Pack2 I'm taking Seaside Citadel. It's exactly the kind of card I'm happy to play with the Sentinel (which is a 5/5 card in my heart) and I've not seen the Specter overperform (it's pretty good but not amazing). 2nd choice would probably be Gush (you'll start to see a pattern with my pick order soon ) followed by Hypnotic Specter, then Standstill (followed by going deep on blue tempo)
Pack 3 - Ancient Tomb. Card is 100% flexible and super good. When the colourless card is that good, you really can't go wrong. The rest of that pack was actually pretty tight, with Ephemeron, Glasskite, Blood Artist all fighting for the next best slot. I'd give the Blood Artist the nod though because it's consistently been incredible for me (and look at avoiding blue after passing 2 great cards in that colour, though without seeing pick 1 it's hard to make a definitive ruling there )
This is probably my weak area since I don't get to play as much as I theory, so this type of thing should be interesting. I probably play too 'safe' and usually lock in to my colours / archetype based on my first few picks. So tear up my choices if I pick something stupid I'm going to go blind and not look at your cube.
1st one, I'd go Murderous Redcap. It's a good solid card in its own right, still allows some flexibility in color choice at this point, and both cards can grind advantage. I don't know if there are ways to give +1/+1 counters in the cube, but if there is, both will benefit.
Number 2, Hypno is solid enough for me that I would take it despite the double black. With a first pick end game card, Omenspeaker looks ok as an early staller, but I don't think I could take it over Hypno. Taking Seaside Citadel early doesn't seem out of the question, as none of the other picks are getting me too excited.
Number 3, I can't pass up Blood Artist. Reading the above responses, I'm underestimating Ancient Tomb (never played it). It does look like the 'better' choice by keeping you open and just being outright strong.
Mind Control is still crazy good (I use the 5cmc versions and Domestication instead of true Control Magic), but at 5 mana it'll often just steal a tapped creature before you just die against an aggressive deck. It still might have a higher win % in decks that play it vs Murderous Redcap, but it's close enough that I value the flexibility of hybrid mana.
I still haven't had a night where Hypnotic Specter failed to be insane. Random discard is (probably?) stronger than a Scroll Thief effect, and this guy comes with built-in evasion and hits for two a turn? Awesome card.
Ancient Tomb does miss the maindeck after a reasonable amount of drafts, but any time it's paired up with good stuff with 2 in the cost it's very, very good. Doesn't NEED any ramp to be at its best, but it can combo with forest and T1 elf to make a T2 4-drop!
If I had written a little bit more for P3, Errant Ephemeron would probably be the second pick though. It's also exactly the kind of card I want in a Firespout deck, if I do wheel that card and head in that direction.
A 2 colour tap land that works in 40% of decks that run Sentinel seems pretty fine to me. I don't think most people here see a triland and think "this is only good in 3 colour decks".
It's kind of like playing Scalding Tarn in your UW deck in traditional cube (sort of).
Aether mutation for lashknife barrier or repulse. The deck is too top heavy for my liking and making sure you get the land drops on time is too important. Maybe flickerwisp for the other.
It depends a bit on quality and quantity of artifact removal and how much x/1 dudes there are in this cube. In a vacuum, probably staggershock, although there is something to be said for picking Ribbons and giving a very strong signal that red and green (ramp) are open.
I had forgot this thread existed and was pondering creating such a thread.
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I'm fairly certain I would take Staggershock over Arc Trail. Not sure whether I would take the sledgehammer over Staggershock or not though.. it is probably strong enough that it's OK to take a two-coloured card first up.
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I wold also go with Behemoth Sledge. One notable feature is that the pack contains two green 7-drops: picking one leaves the other to cause competition for ramp cards down the line. Sledge is one of those cards where splashing one of its colours is often fine, so it is not all that committing in terms of going Selesnya.
If Sledge wasn't here, and this was my cube, I'd take the wurm. I've recently put in a lot of work to make ramp a real thing (going so far as to include basalt monolith).
In a random cube, though, it'd be sledge, staggershock, wurm, then arc trail.
I'm starting to think I settle into colours too early, but my initial thought is Gore-House Chainwalker to move in on aggro control if we end up playing blue. I could see Wall of Roots though.
Yeah the Summoner was a case of going for "best card in the pack" in the first few packs when nothing fits obviously super-well with what has already been taken.
I'd be on Wall of Roots. Pairs well with Summoner but more importantly it's a good early creature which is something that we really need to start taking a few of. I wouldn't fault anybody for taking Chainwalker though, the choice between going into aggro or a midrange-ramp strategy is really just preference. Trostani's Summoner is a reasonable splash however your green deck ends up being built assuming it's comfortably able to pay 7 for a card and has some way to tutor for a white source (or duals to make the splash easier)
I would probably be on Wall of roots personally, aiming to build a slow, controllish GXy-deck. Hopefully blue enough to play control magic, splashing white for removal and summoner. This has a lot to do with me liking these kinds of durdly decks.
However, I wonder whether the "correct" pick would be to read the Chainwalker as a signal that red aggro is open.
However, I wonder whether the "correct" pick would be to read the Chainwalker as a signal that red aggro is open.
If that's the case, I would say you could equally use Wall of Roots as a signal that green is pretty open. It's a really strong card for any green deck that's not aggro.
With that, I'd like to start a thread for just such discussions. P1P1s are a classic example, though that's more or less just an assessment of card quality which we've all discussed a bunch of times before. It can be about building from draft (or sealed) pools, or -- as perhaps my favorite -- how to make picks while in the MIDDLE of a draft.
So I'll start off with some P1P2 scenarios. My cube, seen here; it has rare lands for fixing, but otherwise pretty standard power level for Peasant stuff.
Scenario 1: P1P1 Phantom Centaur
Scenario 2: P1P1 Sentinel of the Eternal Watch
Scenario 3: P1P1 Lightning Bolt
Murderous redcap: Keeps open, is individually very strong.
Epochrasite close second for those reasons
After reading your pick: yeah
Seaside citadel: It was either this or utopia sprawl, since standstill I find is a bit demanding in what decks it likes to be in. I couldn't fault someone for thinking standstill.
After reading your pick: Hypnotic specter hasn't scared me in ages. The double color is also a turn off for so early in the draft.
Errant ephemeron: It is individually very strong and fits into any kind of deck, like lightning bolt.
After reading your pick: Ancient tomb didn't really pan out for me in my cube for some reason.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
Pack2 I'm taking Seaside Citadel. It's exactly the kind of card I'm happy to play with the Sentinel (which is a 5/5 card in my heart) and I've not seen the Specter overperform (it's pretty good but not amazing). 2nd choice would probably be Gush (you'll start to see a pattern with my pick order soon ) followed by Hypnotic Specter, then Standstill (followed by going deep on blue tempo)
Pack 3 - Ancient Tomb. Card is 100% flexible and super good. When the colourless card is that good, you really can't go wrong. The rest of that pack was actually pretty tight, with Ephemeron, Glasskite, Blood Artist all fighting for the next best slot. I'd give the Blood Artist the nod though because it's consistently been incredible for me (and look at avoiding blue after passing 2 great cards in that colour, though without seeing pick 1 it's hard to make a definitive ruling there )
Draft it on Cubetutor here, and CubeCobra here.
Treasure Cruise did nothing wrong.
1st one, I'd go Murderous Redcap. It's a good solid card in its own right, still allows some flexibility in color choice at this point, and both cards can grind advantage. I don't know if there are ways to give +1/+1 counters in the cube, but if there is, both will benefit.
Number 2, Hypno is solid enough for me that I would take it despite the double black. With a first pick end game card, Omenspeaker looks ok as an early staller, but I don't think I could take it over Hypno. Taking Seaside Citadel early doesn't seem out of the question, as none of the other picks are getting me too excited.
Number 3, I can't pass up Blood Artist. Reading the above responses, I'm underestimating Ancient Tomb (never played it). It does look like the 'better' choice by keeping you open and just being outright strong.
Mind Control is still crazy good (I use the 5cmc versions and Domestication instead of true Control Magic), but at 5 mana it'll often just steal a tapped creature before you just die against an aggressive deck. It still might have a higher win % in decks that play it vs Murderous Redcap, but it's close enough that I value the flexibility of hybrid mana.
I still haven't had a night where Hypnotic Specter failed to be insane. Random discard is (probably?) stronger than a Scroll Thief effect, and this guy comes with built-in evasion and hits for two a turn? Awesome card.
Ancient Tomb does miss the maindeck after a reasonable amount of drafts, but any time it's paired up with good stuff with 2 in the cost it's very, very good. Doesn't NEED any ramp to be at its best, but it can combo with forest and T1 elf to make a T2 4-drop!
If I had written a little bit more for P3, Errant Ephemeron would probably be the second pick though. It's also exactly the kind of card I want in a Firespout deck, if I do wheel that card and head in that direction.
It's kind of like playing Scalding Tarn in your UW deck in traditional cube (sort of).
Draft it on Cubetutor here, and CubeCobra here.
Treasure Cruise did nothing wrong.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
i think i take arc trail but there are so many strong p1p1s here.
My C/Ube on Cube Cobra
Behemoth Sledge[/], Arc Trail or Staggershock are all viable picks. I'd go with Behemoth Sledge, keeping in mind that i dont HAVE to go green/white.
My win % after resolving this guy is quite high... especially when you pair it with flicker and reanimate.
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
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I'm fairly certain I would take Staggershock over Arc Trail. Not sure whether I would take the sledgehammer over Staggershock or not though.. it is probably strong enough that it's OK to take a two-coloured card first up.
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Also, this is no longer true:
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
In a random cube, though, it'd be sledge, staggershock, wurm, then arc trail.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
In a 4 man draft with simple, straight up booster draft. 15 cards per pack, 3 packs per player, nothing burned or anything similar.
p1p1 is Control Magic form a pack that also had Fact or Fiction. Next two packs don't have any exiting blue cards, so the picks are Arc Trail(p1p2) and Trostani's Summoner(p1p3).
What would you take as p1p4 with the following pack:
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Probably would wind up Wall of Roots, but not by a huge margin.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Draft it on Cubetutor here, and CubeCobra here.
Treasure Cruise did nothing wrong.
However, I wonder whether the "correct" pick would be to read the Chainwalker as a signal that red aggro is open.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
My cube discussion thread
Pair of P1P1's for y'all to ponder over