How has Tectonic Break been? What decks typically run it?
It finishes the curve in red aggro-control. When combined with any other kind of LD spells, it's a house. Combine it with artifact mana producers and you're set. I only need to break for like 2 or 3 and it disrupts control so much...
I have won quite a few games because of this card. Run it where you'd normally run an Armageddon if in white, or a Nether Void if in black. It serves a similar purpose.
Yea, card definitely seems like it has potential. Probably overall better and more flexible than something like Boom/Bust even if your cube restrictions allowed for it's possible inclusion.
Yea, card definitely seems like it has potential. Probably overall better and more flexible than something like Boom/Bust even if your cube restrictions allowed for it's possible inclusion.
Ya, because you can dictate exactly how many lands get popped, it's like a 1-sided Armageddon sometimes. I know that I need to keep X lands to play something else next turn, whereas the opponent doesn't have that luxury.
X is usually set at 2 or 3. That is considerable disruption for the opponent, but you will retain the exact amount of lands you need so that the break doesn't interrupt your curve.
Or, late game you can always pop it for like 4-6 and actually have an Armageddon.
Sweet, I like that. I tried Thoughts of Ruin but it turned out badly, but Tectonic Break seems much more flexible and consistent!
Well, try i out and tell me what you think! I used to use it in Masques Standard all those years ago in mono-red LD, and I brought it back for my "classic" cube. It has really performed well.
The group has decided to cut the Wishes. Not because they're underpowered or overpowered, but we don't like the interruption of the game(s) when we fish through the undrafted cube to select Wish targets.
We're also expanding the cube by 5 cards to bring the total to 555 cards. We all just like that number.
I wanted to add the Crusade to assist WW aggro. It's not as good as Glorious Anthem in the cube, but I wanted to give it a try.
Show and Tell was in the cube before, and was the card that got cut for the Cunning Wish. The Show has a lot of cool things you can do with it, so it's going back in.
Opportunity is a card I've been wanting to add for a long time. 4 cards at instant speed for 4UU is really good.
Snuff Out. I don't know why this card wasn't in before, but it's going in now... to stay.
Disintegrate. This card ahs been in and out, but when the cube was expanded the first time (by +50 cards) I didn't increase the # of X-Damage spells. It's time to add one more in now.
Shivan Dragon is going in mostly for its flavor. It's just a really cool card, and it's decent enough for the cube, IMO. If the 4RR ends up being too much of a burden, I could always add the Fledgling Dragon back in, but I like 'em both, so I'm gonna give the Shivan a try.
Blurred Mongoose is a solid creature. Uncounterable, and with Shroud... an ability that's really rare in the "older" Magic cards. It's another decent aggro creature for green.
Might of Oaks. I can't use Stonewood Invocation, so this'll have to do. I got a foiled one from Destiny, so I'm gonna try it for a bit.
Opportunity is a freaking house. Our cube group often debates whether or not it's actually BETTER for Mono U then Fact or Fiction...FoF costs 2 less, and that's obviously VERY significant, butmy cube argues that FoF barely EVER gets cast on turn 4 or 5 and that Oppurtunity will almost always gets you 1 more card and your opponent doesn't get to know what it is...
Good changes all round, I can't complain about any of those add ins. Show and Tell looks interesting to say the least.
I also cut the Wishes early on as it was just too much hassle, IMO.
I think Might of Oaks is also a good choice - talking from my experience pre-Stonewood Invocation - as it's basically a clock-shortener-by-a-third for Green Stompy. You are nigh-on guaranteed an unblocked creature at some point, and after the first game, people get understandably edgy and start trying to play around it when you don't even have it in hand.
How has Sliver Queen been? I don't really like most 5-color cards, but if I'm going to throw a bone to support the archetype, this is probably the card I want most. My friend recently added that new Archangel to his, but I think Sliver Queen would be better most of the time, but idk honestly. Maybe both should be included or whatever, anyways just wanted your thoughts on the card.
Ha. Sliver Queen is the best WUBRG card that I can use in my "classic" cube. I wouldn't take out any of the newer 5-Color guys for her though. She's good because making tokens is really solid in any form of limited, so if you can cast her, she's amazing. She's also good for tossing to "pitch" spells in 5CC. She has a really nostalgic feel, so she has a home here, but I don't think she's got a place in any cube where she's competing for a spot with the new Angel.
I just ordered a Eureka for my cube... I'm so excited. It doesn't do what I thought it did, and now that I understand how it works, I can't wait to play it!
(weather the opponent chooses to stop or not, I play all the permanants from my hand that I want... sweet)
Cloud Cover failed to answer the question: "What have you done for me lately?" so it got 86'd for Rasputin Dreamweaver. I figure I'll give that old fogey a shot... he's got a "classic" feel to him.
Legends from legends certainly do...Cloud Cover just seems unexciting next to...good cards. At least Rasputin Ramps, really well if he lives a turn or you can get him out at instant speed before your turn. Does your cube have Quicksilver Amulet? That could be a pretty nice combo.
I think it's pretty good in control, giving all your creatures flash and making them cost 4. Could be pretty nice. Besides, it's a fun effect anyway, and it's not nearly as fragile as Elvish Piper.
OK... huge update. Massive cuts. 55 cards cut from the cube to make it a more balanced even 500 card cube. I cut 6 from each color, 9 artifacts, 11 gold cards and 5 lands. The gold isn't "perfectly" balanced anymore... there are a few 2-color gold slots that are taken up by shard colors now. Unbalanced by number, but balanced by color symbols and archetypes. Here are the cuts:
There are a lot of those cards that I'm going to miss, but for the most part they were under-performers that either went un-drafted or drafted and un-played most of the time. It makes the whole cube smaller which is a good thing, IMO... better chances to draft the other, better cube cards.
These look like sensible cuts to me with only three exceptions: Necropotence, Dark Hatchling, and Sneak Attack. Sneak Attack can enable sick things and Necro is absurd card advanatage. Hatchling is solid.
Trust me... I loved the Necropotence as much as anybody. Out of the 100+ drafts we've had, the Necro has only been played in 2 decks. Once in Mono Black when it was fantastic, and another time in BB/r when the BBB was so prohibitive that it wasn't played until like turn 7 or something. I wanted to keep it, but it never gor played, so it got the axe.
Dark Hatchling was another card I really wanted to keep. But, with the presence of Bone Shredder and Nekrataal, he was just underpowered. Now that the cube has been reduced in size, it was time to let him go.
Sneak Attack. Sometimes great, sometimes awful. It has been narrow for us here. Only drafted a few times. Without the presence of the Kamigawa dragons and stuff like Sundering Titan, the Sneak Attack just isn't as good in the "Classic Cube".
@ The_Grey_King:
We discussed the Quicksilver Amulet, and it would've made the cut prior to the reduction in size. Now that the cube's smaller, there's not enough room.
If you agree it would have made the cut back when the cube was bigger, you should at least try it out, at least temporarily.
Just cut out cards noone would miss for the test run, or merely add it in and "mess up" you cube...probably temp cut either Worn Powerstone, Jester's Cap or Null Brooch...and I know you're going to jump to defend those cards, but honestly, I think Quicksilver Amulet is on a similar powerlevel (If not stronger) then any of those cards, and is worth testing out regardless.
Also, randomly, is Ertai, Wizard Adept to fragile for your cube? Because I could see him easily sliding into the slot of Complicate...He's a card advantage HOUSE.
Complicate is outstanding. Ertai is fragile. We tried him and he was well below average.
We're going to test the cube as is for a while, but the next time an artifat needs to be replaced, we'll give the Amulet a whorl. (However, it won't be for the cards you mentioned, all of those cards are really strong... have you ever tried Null Brooch? It's an absolute beating).
It finishes the curve in red aggro-control. When combined with any other kind of LD spells, it's a house. Combine it with artifact mana producers and you're set. I only need to break for like 2 or 3 and it disrupts control so much...
The typical curve would be like T1: Mogg Fanatic, T2: Mind Stone, T3: Tectonic Break for 2, T4: Urza's Rage @EOT, T5: Avalanche Riders? Opponent = Scoop.
I have won quite a few games because of this card. Run it where you'd normally run an Armageddon if in white, or a Nether Void if in black. It serves a similar purpose.
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Ya, because you can dictate exactly how many lands get popped, it's like a 1-sided Armageddon sometimes. I know that I need to keep X lands to play something else next turn, whereas the opponent doesn't have that luxury.
X is usually set at 2 or 3. That is considerable disruption for the opponent, but you will retain the exact amount of lands you need so that the break doesn't interrupt your curve.
Or, late game you can always pop it for like 4-6 and actually have an Armageddon.
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Well, try i out and tell me what you think! I used to use it in Masques Standard all those years ago in mono-red LD, and I brought it back for my "classic" cube. It has really performed well.
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The group has decided to cut the Wishes. Not because they're underpowered or overpowered, but we don't like the interruption of the game(s) when we fish through the undrafted cube to select Wish targets.
We're also expanding the cube by 5 cards to bring the total to 555 cards. We all just like that number.
OUT
Cunning Wish
Burning Wish
Living Wish
IN
Crusade
Show and Tell
Opportunity
Snuff Out
Disintegrate
Shivan Dragon
Blurred Mongoose
Might of Oaks
I wanted to add the Crusade to assist WW aggro. It's not as good as Glorious Anthem in the cube, but I wanted to give it a try.
Show and Tell was in the cube before, and was the card that got cut for the Cunning Wish. The Show has a lot of cool things you can do with it, so it's going back in.
Opportunity is a card I've been wanting to add for a long time. 4 cards at instant speed for 4UU is really good.
Snuff Out. I don't know why this card wasn't in before, but it's going in now... to stay.
Disintegrate. This card ahs been in and out, but when the cube was expanded the first time (by +50 cards) I didn't increase the # of X-Damage spells. It's time to add one more in now.
Shivan Dragon is going in mostly for its flavor. It's just a really cool card, and it's decent enough for the cube, IMO. If the 4RR ends up being too much of a burden, I could always add the Fledgling Dragon back in, but I like 'em both, so I'm gonna give the Shivan a try.
Blurred Mongoose is a solid creature. Uncounterable, and with Shroud... an ability that's really rare in the "older" Magic cards. It's another decent aggro creature for green.
Might of Oaks. I can't use Stonewood Invocation, so this'll have to do. I got a foiled one from Destiny, so I'm gonna try it for a bit.
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Opportunity is a freaking house. Our cube group often debates whether or not it's actually BETTER for Mono U then Fact or Fiction...FoF costs 2 less, and that's obviously VERY significant, butmy cube argues that FoF barely EVER gets cast on turn 4 or 5 and that Oppurtunity will almost always gets you 1 more card and your opponent doesn't get to know what it is...
Bottom line, you'll like Oppurtunity.
Currently 62/265 cards.
I also cut the Wishes early on as it was just too much hassle, IMO.
I think Might of Oaks is also a good choice - talking from my experience pre-Stonewood Invocation - as it's basically a clock-shortener-by-a-third for Green Stompy. You are nigh-on guaranteed an unblocked creature at some point, and after the first game, people get understandably edgy and start trying to play around it when you don't even have it in hand.
Good work!
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(list is always current)
I used a Mox to T2 Show and Tell my Yawgmoth's Bargain into play. I won that game. In the next draft, my opponent T3 S&T-d an Akroma, Angel of Wrath into play. I lost that game.
I drafted Opportunity TWICE yesterday. Amazing in both drafts.
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(weather the opponent chooses to stop or not, I play all the permanants from my hand that I want... sweet)
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My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Currently 62/265 cards.
Thanks. Opportunity has been stellar.
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Currently 62/265 cards.
Not yet, but I'll talk to the playgroup and see what they think. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Currently 62/265 cards.
There are a lot of those cards that I'm going to miss, but for the most part they were under-performers that either went un-drafted or drafted and un-played most of the time. It makes the whole cube smaller which is a good thing, IMO... better chances to draft the other, better cube cards.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Cheers,
rant
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Did you ask your group about Quicksilver Amulet yet?
Currently 62/265 cards.
Trust me... I loved the Necropotence as much as anybody. Out of the 100+ drafts we've had, the Necro has only been played in 2 decks. Once in Mono Black when it was fantastic, and another time in BB/r when the BBB was so prohibitive that it wasn't played until like turn 7 or something. I wanted to keep it, but it never gor played, so it got the axe.
Dark Hatchling was another card I really wanted to keep. But, with the presence of Bone Shredder and Nekrataal, he was just underpowered. Now that the cube has been reduced in size, it was time to let him go.
Sneak Attack. Sometimes great, sometimes awful. It has been narrow for us here. Only drafted a few times. Without the presence of the Kamigawa dragons and stuff like Sundering Titan, the Sneak Attack just isn't as good in the "Classic Cube".
@ The_Grey_King:
We discussed the Quicksilver Amulet, and it would've made the cut prior to the reduction in size. Now that the cube's smaller, there's not enough room.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Just cut out cards noone would miss for the test run, or merely add it in and "mess up" you cube...probably temp cut either Worn Powerstone, Jester's Cap or Null Brooch...and I know you're going to jump to defend those cards, but honestly, I think Quicksilver Amulet is on a similar powerlevel (If not stronger) then any of those cards, and is worth testing out regardless.
Also, randomly, is Ertai, Wizard Adept to fragile for your cube? Because I could see him easily sliding into the slot of Complicate...He's a card advantage HOUSE.
Currently 62/265 cards.
We're going to test the cube as is for a while, but the next time an artifat needs to be replaced, we'll give the Amulet a whorl. (However, it won't be for the cards you mentioned, all of those cards are really strong... have you ever tried Null Brooch? It's an absolute beating).
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!