Heads up, we'll have about eight hours of site downtime as we migrate to the new site in the time that would be normally available for this pick. Accordingly, I'll be closing this pick on Tuesday evening (California time) instead of Monday evening to ensure that everyone has the chance to check in.
Thank you for your flexibility, and I look forward to processing this pick on the new site!
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
4 possible picks, none of which would be terrible.
My prelim pick in Rith. I think we need creatures more than we need burn so that eliminates Fiery Temper. None of the creatures really excite me, but that should be expected this late. Rith is a big evasive body to ramp into and the W should be splashable. I think Jeska or the Rootwalla would probably just be filler cards if they made our deck. Not that I think either are bad, just Rith could be our finisher if needed.
Both our colors are somewhat open (although oddly being drafted by the same seat, our R/G doppelganger across the table snapping up BBE and BTS!), so I think there will be no shortage of durdly low-drops to pick up on the wheel that we can sideboard in against aggro. I'll pass on Jeska and smallwalla.
There's a good argument for the fiery temper, but we've got five pieces of creature burn already, plus the sword (plus drop of honey... go p15!) to hold off smaller creatures.
In the meantime, we've earned a Rith, the Awakener. He's big, he's evasive, and he's pseudo-vigilant. Along with our flashback cards and regrowth shenanigans, he's something to do with our dynamo and metalworker.
Also, I've been looking over the cube's high-end--he's as good as it gets for big creatures. This cube is low on beef, and we haven't prioritized fatties all draft. I would bet Rith is our last chance to grab something in our colors that goes "over the top."
The more I sketch out our mana base, the more I see the white splash as effectively free. We've got two free white sources already, plus two R/G fixes to free up slots in the mana base for plains. We could end up with four white sources while keeping 17 sources for our other colors. Only plow under takes a hit in that version of the mana base...
One nice thing about Plow Under is that while it is best turn 5 or earlier, it is still an amazing top deck late game. In other words, if we have to wait a bit to find a second green source, it is not as horrible as it might be.
[soapbox] I have been on a bit of a crusade against the low-curve-in-cubes-at-all-cost mentality. I've seen plenty of drafts where entire archetypes that appear to be supported are undercut simply because there aren't enough high end creatures. Midrange usually wants one or two, ramp and reanimator need some... but many cubes only run one or two 6+ creatures in each color. I have been experimenting with playing more huge guys (at the cost of efficient midrange boring guys, like Phantom Centaur), and not minding if they table often. It has reduced drafting frustration in my group quite a bit.
[/soapbox]
I hear you. I run a pauper cube where the problem is especially acute, for obvious reasons. Ulamog's crusher is a decent card, but it's a first pick at my table, simply because nothing else gets that big at common.
I mentioned a few packs ago that we were at the point where we just needed a high end and some spells. We had some good fortune in getting a couple premium cards late, and at this point we should start thinking about where we need to fill out our curve/gameplan and where we need to upgrade.
My big concern is our artifact and creature count. I'd like to get three more artifacts, but they should be creatures to make the cut. The ideal card would be something we could also abuse with the welder, like Triskelion and Pentavus. Karn would also be huge. Beyond that, artifacts that also function as removal would be useful, more so than equipment.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
Quote from votan »
:ER:, you suck as a hero
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1 Winter Orb
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Lightning Helix
1 Brimstone Volley
1 Jackal Pup
1 Metalworker
1 Blast from the Past
1 Plow Under
1 Keldon Vandals
1 Roar of the Wurm
1 Call of the Herd
1 Ashmouth Hound
1 Goblin Wardriver
1 Drop of Honey
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Talisman of Unity
1 Boros Signet
1 Goblin Welder
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Stomping Ground
1 Talisman of Impulse
1 Regrowth
1 Chain Lightning
P2p10
Heads up, we'll have about eight hours of site downtime as we migrate to the new site in the time that would be normally available for this pick. Accordingly, I'll be closing this pick on Tuesday evening (California time) instead of Monday evening to ensure that everyone has the chance to check in.
Thank you for your flexibility, and I look forward to processing this pick on the new site!
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
My prelim pick in Rith. I think we need creatures more than we need burn so that eliminates Fiery Temper. None of the creatures really excite me, but that should be expected this late. Rith is a big evasive body to ramp into and the W should be splashable. I think Jeska or the Rootwalla would probably just be filler cards if they made our deck. Not that I think either are bad, just Rith could be our finisher if needed.
Draft my cube on cube tutor--------> here
My $40 MTGO cube
Draft my cube at Cubetutor!
There's a good argument for the fiery temper, but we've got five pieces of creature burn already, plus the sword (plus drop of honey... go p15!) to hold off smaller creatures.
In the meantime, we've earned a Rith, the Awakener. He's big, he's evasive, and he's pseudo-vigilant. Along with our flashback cards and regrowth shenanigans, he's something to do with our dynamo and metalworker.
Also, I've been looking over the cube's high-end--he's as good as it gets for big creatures. This cube is low on beef, and we haven't prioritized fatties all draft. I would bet Rith is our last chance to grab something in our colors that goes "over the top."
The more I sketch out our mana base, the more I see the white splash as effectively free. We've got two free white sources already, plus two R/G fixes to free up slots in the mana base for plains. We could end up with four white sources while keeping 17 sources for our other colors. Only plow under takes a hit in that version of the mana base...
[soapbox] I have been on a bit of a crusade against the low-curve-in-cubes-at-all-cost mentality. I've seen plenty of drafts where entire archetypes that appear to be supported are undercut simply because there aren't enough high end creatures. Midrange usually wants one or two, ramp and reanimator need some... but many cubes only run one or two 6+ creatures in each color. I have been experimenting with playing more huge guys (at the cost of efficient midrange boring guys, like Phantom Centaur), and not minding if they table often. It has reduced drafting frustration in my group quite a bit.
[/soapbox]
My $40 MTGO cube
Draft my cube at Cubetutor!
I mentioned a few packs ago that we were at the point where we just needed a high end and some spells. We had some good fortune in getting a couple premium cards late, and at this point we should start thinking about where we need to fill out our curve/gameplan and where we need to upgrade.
My big concern is our artifact and creature count. I'd like to get three more artifacts, but they should be creatures to make the cut. The ideal card would be something we could also abuse with the welder, like Triskelion and Pentavus. Karn would also be huge. Beyond that, artifacts that also function as removal would be useful, more so than equipment.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules