Hey! I've been playing since Nemesis but have taken a break for an indefinite amount of time since I had kids.
First, thanks so much for this primer. When I occasionally get to go out to tourneys, I want to bring this deck, and your primer really helped educate me on the options. It's also great to see the fruits of all your hard work. I have a few questions for you:
1. Aspect of Hydra and Prey Upon seem like win-more cards. They're fantastic when you have creatures on the board, but pretty much a dead draw if you're behind or don't have that great of board position. Why do you run them over Giant Growth and Dismember? Do they provide any value that I'm not seeing?
2. Have you found Obstinate Baloth to be good enough against burn? Have you tried Nourish?
3. Why not just run 2 copies of Thrun, the Last Troll?
4. Have you ever tested single Hurricane in your sb just in case you're against a long control matchup?
If it were me, I'd cut Ratchet bomb. I've seen all the others be SO good in games... and Black Vise is great to punish control, and non-control needs all the help it can get.
Every now and then Austere Command did something really cool in my favor. Most of the time, though, I found that I had it ended up being pretty symmetrical. I just never found it to be worth the six mana.
I think the next good white card will kick Rout out. Austere Command, although not very popular on the forums, has proven itself every game it has seen. The most recent game I played it in made it a 1-sided Wrath of God along with a Shatterstorm (with no artifacts on my side). It's bonkers.
I'm going to need to force Urabrask into a draft or 2 to see how it plays. I'm so in love with the idea of it that I don't want to cut it for anything until I actually play it.
I know the obvious choice is World Queller, but I love the flavor he brings to cube games. The only other cut I could see is maybe Rout, but that brings my wrath effects down to 3: Wrath of God, Catastrophe, and Austere Command. Which is more important, wraths or disenchants?
I think that there are so many good cards nowadays that 540 isn't as easy to find cuts as people think.
I might like Kami because I run 360 power, though, so it might be nice to skip on that.
I think this is where Kami's strength is: being able to blow up moxen.
I'm still keeping Torch Fiend, Manic Vandal, and Pillage... Do I need more artifact hate in red? Keldon Vandals was always one of those cards that seemed better than it was... does it really deserve to bump something else off? Is the issue here finding room for Keldon Vandals or for finding room for 1 more Shatter... like Smash to Smithereens?
I've been absent for a while because:
1. My wife and I just had another boy 6 months ago
2. Fall 2013 was my final semester in college
3. In October, I was diagnosed with cancer... so I've been going through treatment since then (last radiation and chemo are both this week)
4. Having 2 kids while in school leaves little time for hobbies
Anyway, I wanted to update my cube so I don't fall too far behind, but I could use some advice if I missed anything or made some bad cuts.
Questions I have:
-Since there seem to be an influx of cards that support creature tokens.dec, should I bring back Slagstorm and Black Sun's Zenith to counter them?
-Is Master of Waves really any good? How much devotion does a blue deck typically go up to?
Lifebane Zombie. There is already not enough good discard spells in cube, and it's a solid answer to some hard-to-deal-with threats. Ogre Marauder is a bad punisher card, and you'd be better off with Dauthi Marauder.
Awesome suggestion, and I'd definitely take you up on it if I wasn't already running it =)
Thanks for the input, guys. I was already leaning lifebane and this just confirms it.
First, thanks so much for this primer. When I occasionally get to go out to tourneys, I want to bring this deck, and your primer really helped educate me on the options. It's also great to see the fruits of all your hard work. I have a few questions for you:
1. Aspect of Hydra and Prey Upon seem like win-more cards. They're fantastic when you have creatures on the board, but pretty much a dead draw if you're behind or don't have that great of board position. Why do you run them over Giant Growth and Dismember? Do they provide any value that I'm not seeing?
2. Have you found Obstinate Baloth to be good enough against burn? Have you tried Nourish?
3. Why not just run 2 copies of Thrun, the Last Troll?
4. Have you ever tested single Hurricane in your sb just in case you're against a long control matchup?
Thanks for your input!
(staples, like the specters, vampire nighthawk, and such)
--------------
I can't decide if I like this guy's beefier toughness to Lifebane's discard / peek ability... I'm wondering if I should just find a slot for him.
I ran Wrench Mind before, then cut it for IoK. If I wanted to beef up my discard suite even MORE, I think this would be the next addition.
I've never been a fan of Raven's crime... it's like it hurts caster and castee the same (unless the situation is perfect).
Cabal Therapy I think is better in a non-singleton format.
Given I'm already running Duress, Inquizition of Kozilek, Thoughtseize, Hymn to Tourach, and the typical discard dudes...
If I want 1 more discard spell to support the subtheme in my cube:
Stupor (2 for 1) vs. Despise (get to choose)
Bummer. Not my experience at all.
---------- An after-thought ---------------
Lightning Angel ---> Broodmate Dragon
It'll help support:
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
...but most importantly...
Natural Order (just added)
not to mention it's not unheard of simply to hardcast it.
The kicker for vandals was remembering I run Kiki-Jiki.
Leonin Relic-Warder ---> Revoke Existence
Kargan Dragonlord ---> Keldon Vandals
I think the next good white card will kick Rout out. Austere Command, although not very popular on the forums, has proven itself every game it has seen. The most recent game I played it in made it a 1-sided Wrath of God along with a Shatterstorm (with no artifacts on my side). It's bonkers.
I'm going to need to force Urabrask into a draft or 2 to see how it plays. I'm so in love with the idea of it that I don't want to cut it for anything until I actually play it.
As always, thanks for the input!
..but then again, I find white to be the hardest to find cuts from.
These are all fantastic cards coming back in. Glad to see Catastrophe given another chance!
Disenchant, Seal of Cleansing, Unexpectedly Absent, Oblivion Ring, Leonin Relic-Warder, Kor Sanctifiers, and World Queller is what I can currently find room for at 540 who can take care of artifacts / enchantments.
I know the obvious choice is World Queller, but I love the flavor he brings to cube games. The only other cut I could see is maybe Rout, but that brings my wrath effects down to 3: Wrath of God, Catastrophe, and Austere Command. Which is more important, wraths or disenchants?
I think that there are so many good cards nowadays that 540 isn't as easy to find cuts as people think.
I think this is where Kami's strength is: being able to blow up moxen.
I'm still keeping Torch Fiend, Manic Vandal, and Pillage... Do I need more artifact hate in red? Keldon Vandals was always one of those cards that seemed better than it was... does it really deserve to bump something else off? Is the issue here finding room for Keldon Vandals or for finding room for 1 more Shatter... like Smash to Smithereens?
Bane of the Living, Toxic Deluge, Damnation, as well as a few situational wraths (Skinrender, Consuming Vapors)... it's tough. It seems like black wrath effects are right at the intersection of needing BSZ or being just right.
Pelakka Wurm is coming out because I want to see how Hornet Queen and Craterhoof Behemoth perform.
Phantom Centaur was my least favorite of the dudes on my 4 and 5 drops.
...and as far as Fireslinger goes... just like Keldon Vandals... I can't find anything to cut!
Thanks! I don't get a chance to play that often, so the majority of these cuts were just hypothetical.
Thanks, rant. The baby's doing great.
Treatment really, really sucks... but like you said. I'm finishing it! It's almost done.
Agreed. Thornling should go before Vorapede
I've been absent for a while because:
1. My wife and I just had another boy 6 months ago
2. Fall 2013 was my final semester in college
3. In October, I was diagnosed with cancer... so I've been going through treatment since then (last radiation and chemo are both this week)
4. Having 2 kids while in school leaves little time for hobbies
Anyway, I wanted to update my cube so I don't fall too far behind, but I could use some advice if I missed anything or made some bad cuts.
1-11-13
Mistral Charger ---> Imposing Sovereign
Keiga, the Tide Star ---> Aetherling
Nantuko Shade ---> Blood Scrivener
Arrogant Bloodlord ---> Lifebane Zombie
Goblin Patrol ---> Legion Loyalist
Keldon Vandals ---> Imperial Recruiter
Pouncing Jaguar ---> Elvish Mystic
Thornling ---> Natural Order
Indrik Stomphowler ---> Kalonian Hydra
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV ---> Lavinia of the Tenth
Desolate Lighthouse --->Ral Zarek
Putrefy ---> Deathrite Shaman
Kitchen Finks ---> Voice of Resurgence (finks moved to green)
Sphinx of the Steel Wind ---> Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
Testing Zone ---> Swans of Bryn Argoll
Testing Zone ---> Dolmen Gate
Mikaeus, the Lunarch ---> (nothing)
Bellowing Tanglewurm ---> (nothing)
Shrine of Burning Rage ---> (nothing)
Colorless goes down to 70
Chimeric Idol ---> (empty)
Puppet Strings ---> (empty)
Bonehoard ---> (empty)
Palladium Myr ---> (empty)
Vesuva ---> (empty)
Each color goes up to 73
(new slot) ---> Kjeldoran Outpost
(new slot) ---> Lu Xun, Scholar General
(new slot) ---> Liliana's Reaver
(new slot) ---> Shrine of Burning Rage
(new slot) ---> Kitchen Finks
------------------------update, continued-----------------------
Knight of the White Orchid ---> Soldier of the Pantheon
Glorious Anthem ---> Spear of Heliod
Elspeth Tirel ---> Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Revoke Existence ---> Unexpectedly Absent
Ronom Unicorn ---> Leonin Relic-Warder
Thieving Magpie ---> Master of Waves
Misdirection ---> Thassa, God of the Sea
Repeal ---> True-Name Nemesis
Thirst for Knowledge ---> Omenspeaker
Sudden Death ---> Curse of Shallow Graves
Life's Finale ---> Hero's Downfall
Ogre Marauder ---> Ophiomancer
Skittering Skirge ---> Tormented Hero
Black Sun's Zenith ---> Toxic Deluge
Slagstorm ---> Sneak Attack
Legion Loyalist ---> Firedrinker Satyr
Hearth Kami ---> Lightning Strike
Chandra, the Firebrand ---> Purphoros, God of the Forge
Banefire ---> Tempt with Vengeance
Fireslinger ---> Reckless Waif
Ember Hauler ---> Young Pyromancer
Winter's Grasp ---> Curse of Predation
Chameleon Colossus ---> Polukranos, World Eater
Twinblade Slasher ---> Sylvan Caryatid
Phantom Centaur ---> Thornling
Thermokarst ---> Hornet Queen
Pelakka Wurm ---> Craterhoof Behemoth
Tattermunge Maniac ---> Xenagos, the Reveler
Prophetic Bolt ---> Steam Augury
Questions I have:
-Since there seem to be an influx of cards that support creature tokens.dec, should I bring back Slagstorm and Black Sun's Zenith to counter them?
-Is Master of Waves really any good? How much devotion does a blue deck typically go up to?
Awesome suggestion, and I'd definitely take you up on it if I wasn't already running it =)
Thanks for the input, guys. I was already leaning lifebane and this just confirms it.
Discard (or at least hand information) with less-reliable evasion vs. evasion that is guaranteed to kill a dude if it gets blocked?