Torch Fiend
Chandra's Phoenix
Hell's Thunder
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Zealous Conscripts
Fireblast
Pyroclasm
Shrine of Burning Rage
Smash to Smithereens
Hmm, that's interesting.
- Kiki-Jiki and Conscripts are brand-new additions that I haven't had a chance to play with yet, so they will probably stay for a little while.
- Interesting that you chose a lot of the Shatter effects. Sounds like maybe I have too many? What's the usual number for an unpowered 450 cube? I just increased my artifact count by about 6 or 8.
@Hell's Thunder: I'm concerned about the lack of red three-drops. I cant afford a Recruiter right now (unless someone gets me a sweet wedding present), and the other red threes are basically just Squee and some Vandals.
- I thought Fireblast was a cube staple...is it just narrower than the other burn spells, or is there some other reason?
@Pyroclasm: How many Earthquake effects should red typically have?
Hmm, that's interesting.
- Kiki-Jiki and Conscripts are brand-new additions that I haven't had a chance to play with yet, so they will probably stay for a little while.
That's cool. It just makes for a lot of 5cc creatures in red.
- Interesting that you chose a lot of the Shatter effects. Sounds like maybe I have too many? What's the usual number for an unpowered 450 cube? I just increased my artifact count by about 6 or 8.
I've been using Shaman, both Vandals and Pillage and been doing just fine.
@Hell's Thunder: I'm concerned about the lack of red three-drops. I cant afford a Recruiter right now (unless someone gets me a sweet wedding present), and the other red threes are basically just Squee and some Vandals.
Not having Recruiter hurts a bit, but I'd look into Fire Imp as well. And Blistering Firecat.
- I thought Fireblast was a cube staple...is it just narrower than the other burn spells, or is there some other reason?
It's one of the best burn spells for RDW. So if red does just that, it's a staple. But as soon as you start branching out red's role into other things, the more versatile burn spells become more important to a greater percentage of red decks.
@Pyroclasm: How many Earthquake effects should red typically have?
Well, it used to be a staple. But we've gotten so many good dividable burn spells lately, in addition to cards like Bonfire of the Damned ...it's just not as important as it once was. We have more cheap burn, a broader selection of 2cc red spells and more dividable damage than we used to (and got a big influx just recently) and this card is expendable now, where it wasn't before.
@Red fives: There's still just 4 of them (Siege-Gang and Thundermaw). Compared to five in green and 2.5 in other colors, and it's about average. Again, totally untested at this point. Conscripts is also randomly good against opposing planeswalkers, which are getting up there in numbers.
@Red threes: How is Blistering Firecat better than Hell's Thunder? Is it just for the morphing, or the fact that it does damage faster because of the cost of unearthing?
Squee is really fodder IMO. I've cut down on Masticores (and am really thinking about dropping them all entirely) -- one of the final reasons to hold onto him. That's 1 burn spell. The other would be Shrine or Pyroclasm.
Hell's Thunder is a solid 3 drop as it's a strong burn-creature. It also comes back as a game-ender/curve-topper for 5. 8 damage for 8 mana is a great investment over the lifetime of the card upon cast + flashback.
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I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
I like Firecat more for both of the reasons you mentioned, OCP. It has a better cost/damage ratio, it can deal more surprise damage, and it can stay on the board to block or pick up swords when the need arises. Also, Trample can be relevant against little flying tokens.
I would add both burn spells and I'd drop Inferno Titan and Keldon Vandals. I think the echo cost is too onerous for most decks and you said Kiki was off the table which would have been my other choice. Ill admit to an irrational hatred of combo decks.
I would add both burn spells and I'd drop Inferno Titan and Keldon Vandals. I think the echo cost is too onerous for most decks and you said Kiki was off the table which would have been my other choice. Ill admit to an irrational hatred of combo decks.
I can see vandals but omg Inferno Titan is insane man. It naturally creates 3 damage burn.
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I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
I can see vandals but omg Inferno Titan is insane man. It naturally creates 3 damage burn.
Most of the red decks in my cube want the game over with long before the titan would hit the board. I see the arguments that he might show up in R/G ramp, and might get paired with Sneak Attack or Wildfire but that doesn't happen often enough IMO. I know he's powerful, but cubes aren't just 'all my most powerful cards' in a pile. If he sees a lot of play in your cube then YMMV. I ran him for a while and didn't see him on the table, cut him and no one noticed.
I'm not going to exclude a really sick card because red has a lot of aggro. That just forces red into that approach, and restricts creativity. Every colour can do more than one thing, and adding the good cards that fall out the perceived remit of that colour allows a lost more deckbuilding creativity and choices for other deck types, or things get stale fast. Inferno Titan can fit into counterburn, R/G ramp, reanimator, Big Red control, Grixis control, and any kind of midrange decks.
Yes, red is a really good control color as well, and not providing at least a few cards for that aspect of red makes for a really linear and boring color.
I've always advocated red having other things to do besides constant attacking and burning, and Inferno Titan helps that. I can't imagine my Cube without it.
Inferno Titan is a card that would need some design constraints for me not to include it (pauper/peasent/low power), That card does everything I want a red 6 drop to do. I really wish it was a dragon so it would be even more iconic in my cube.
I really like Wolfir Silverheart. Blastoderm is just a 5/5 beater that goes away in 3 swings, whereas Wolfir Silverheart synergizes well with all your creatures, and the Soulbond acts as a sort of Haste effect. Wolfir Silverheart all the way, not even close.
I've always advocated red having other things to do besides constant attacking and burning, and Inferno Titan helps that. I can't imagine my Cube without it.
-AA
While I agree I can't imagine cubing without Inferno Titan, I think it is epitome of constant attacking and burning I mean, that's exactly what it does!
While I agree I can't imagine cubing without Inferno Titan, I think it is epitome of constant attacking and burning I mean, that's exactly what it does!
Most of the red decks in my cube want the game over with long before the titan would hit the board. I see the arguments that he might show up in R/G ramp, and might get paired with Sneak Attack or Wildfire but that doesn't happen often enough IMO. I know he's powerful, but cubes aren't just 'all my most powerful cards' in a pile. If he sees a lot of play in your cube then YMMV. I ran him for a while and didn't see him on the table, cut him and no one noticed.
Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but IMHO Inferno Titan is crazy good. If the deck has red, I always consider Titan fitting in the mix...as it's one of red's best creatures.
For fast aggro, there's no reason to bash Titan. You can have a deck full of 1, 2, and 3 drops. I understand that. However, I wouldn't point to 4RR as a backbreaker to the curve. Especially if he turns out to be the sole high cost in an otherwise low cc deck. Let's be clear that's also one of his more awkward inclusions. Unless you have a tendency to steamroll opponents, fast aggro can indeed hit the mid to late-game. This is where Inferno is the nail in the coffin. The card is a monster 6/6 that tosses burn at the opponent's head! IMO, he's the poster child for what red wants.
@Pringlesman: Wolfir. Dude is literally insane with any other creature. Birds of paradise becomes a true beatstick.
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I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
Hmm, that's interesting.
- Kiki-Jiki and Conscripts are brand-new additions that I haven't had a chance to play with yet, so they will probably stay for a little while.
- Interesting that you chose a lot of the Shatter effects. Sounds like maybe I have too many? What's the usual number for an unpowered 450 cube? I just increased my artifact count by about 6 or 8.
@Hell's Thunder: I'm concerned about the lack of red three-drops. I cant afford a Recruiter right now (unless someone gets me a sweet wedding present), and the other red threes are basically just Squee and some Vandals.
- I thought Fireblast was a cube staple...is it just narrower than the other burn spells, or is there some other reason?
@Pyroclasm: How many Earthquake effects should red typically have?
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
That's cool. It just makes for a lot of 5cc creatures in red.
I've been using Shaman, both Vandals and Pillage and been doing just fine.
Not having Recruiter hurts a bit, but I'd look into Fire Imp as well. And Blistering Firecat.
It's one of the best burn spells for RDW. So if red does just that, it's a staple. But as soon as you start branching out red's role into other things, the more versatile burn spells become more important to a greater percentage of red decks.
Well, it used to be a staple. But we've gotten so many good dividable burn spells lately, in addition to cards like Bonfire of the Damned ...it's just not as important as it once was. We have more cheap burn, a broader selection of 2cc red spells and more dividable damage than we used to (and got a big influx just recently) and this card is expendable now, where it wasn't before.
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@Red threes: How is Blistering Firecat better than Hell's Thunder? Is it just for the morphing, or the fact that it does damage faster because of the cost of unearthing?
EDIT:
@Shatters: I'm definitely keeping Pillage, and I think Smash to Smithereens as well because it's instant-speed and it burns the opponent. That leaves Torch Fiend, Keldon Vandals and Manic Vandal. Which one gets the cut?
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
-AA
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Hell's Thunder is a solid 3 drop as it's a strong burn-creature. It also comes back as a game-ender/curve-topper for 5. 8 damage for 8 mana is a great investment over the lifetime of the card upon cast + flashback.
10th at SCG: Syracuse (2014), GP:NJ Last-Chance Grinder Winner (2014):: Former Legacy Mod
Ad I like both Vandals more than Torch Fiend.
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I can see vandals but omg Inferno Titan is insane man. It naturally creates 3 damage burn.
10th at SCG: Syracuse (2014), GP:NJ Last-Chance Grinder Winner (2014):: Former Legacy Mod
Most of the red decks in my cube want the game over with long before the titan would hit the board. I see the arguments that he might show up in R/G ramp, and might get paired with Sneak Attack or Wildfire but that doesn't happen often enough IMO. I know he's powerful, but cubes aren't just 'all my most powerful cards' in a pile. If he sees a lot of play in your cube then YMMV. I ran him for a while and didn't see him on the table, cut him and no one noticed.
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-AA
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While I agree I can't imagine cubing without Inferno Titan, I think it is epitome of constant attacking and burning I mean, that's exactly what it does!
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(It fits much better into ramp/control/midrange archetypes than aggressive)
-AA
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Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but IMHO Inferno Titan is crazy good. If the deck has red, I always consider Titan fitting in the mix...as it's one of red's best creatures.
For fast aggro, there's no reason to bash Titan. You can have a deck full of 1, 2, and 3 drops. I understand that. However, I wouldn't point to 4RR as a backbreaker to the curve. Especially if he turns out to be the sole high cost in an otherwise low cc deck. Let's be clear that's also one of his more awkward inclusions. Unless you have a tendency to steamroll opponents, fast aggro can indeed hit the mid to late-game. This is where Inferno is the nail in the coffin. The card is a monster 6/6 that tosses burn at the opponent's head! IMO, he's the poster child for what red wants.
@Pringlesman: Wolfir. Dude is literally insane with any other creature. Birds of paradise becomes a true beatstick.
10th at SCG: Syracuse (2014), GP:NJ Last-Chance Grinder Winner (2014):: Former Legacy Mod
Glorious Anthem
Griffen Guide
Windbrisk Heights
Loam Lion
Entreat the Angels
Galepoweder Mage
They all do different things, so it's a matter of "which cards are least likely to find decks that want them."
Glorious Anthem for spear seems like an easy cut unless you want both anthem effects. I would cut Loam Lion for Soldier
Draft it on Cube Tutor
I'd definitely cut Windbrisk Heights, and then I'd cut Glorius Anthem or Loam Lion, depending on whether you need an additional anthem or an additional 1-drop.
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-AA
I use descriptive language. Assume that I'm being nice and respectful. (I'll tell you when I'm not.)
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