Sometimes it's really good. like when you loop shriekmaw or bone splitter. Other times you can't afford to do more than activate it twice and it isn't worth itself.
The only cut I'm sad about is Searing Blaze. I like having a burn spell that non-red decks won't splash for around.
While I also have a hybrid section, I'm not sure about putting the original guildmages in it. Most of them are a lot better with both sources of mana available, making them play much more like traditional gold cards than true hybrids.
Finally, Canker Abomination seems strong, but my gut feeling is that its significantly better in black decks than green ones due to the ability to use removal to make sure it comes in huge. However, I've not actually cubed with it, so let me know how it works out for you.
You may be right about Searing Blaze. I'll look for something else.
The guildmages get played in decks that have only one of their colors with regularity. Obviously, this isn't a perfect system; most of them have one ability that is much better than the other (looking at you, Azorius Guildmage). But this feels like a better fit than having them in the gold sections.
This applies to Canker Abomination, too. I know it's going to be better in black decks. I was struggling to find a better BG hybrid, but it was this or Rendclaw Trow.
I don't know what it's like to have people take mundane removal spells to splash for them. Like... splashing for even a lightning bolt just seems mostly unimportant to me.
Gruul guildmage is like 98% green, and azorius guildmage is like 90% white
Brave is a fine card, but white has a ton of combat tricks, and I had to cut something to try out the Recon. Most red decks aren't interested in five mana fat.
The draft was won by a RG mid-range deck. I had a pretty sweet WB aggro deck, but lost to color screw.
I forgot that you run a large cube, so that's my mistake. I think it's probably a 540+ card, so it makes sense that you'd run it.
In my 360 cube, people drafting white can pretty easily get one of those insane cards, leaving Test of Faith as a 23rd card or in the sideboard too often.
It takes a long time for the bots to draft well. All the decks you draft will be sweet for a while.
I put in like 15 drafts on cubetutor with my set and it's only starting to feel like not everything is wheeling.
It's definitely something you have to draft around. It can be quite good in the dedicated sacrifice deck. Just running it for value with no way to abuse it isn't great.
I dislike how binary Centaur Glade is. It either does nothing, or it completely overwhelms your opponent. I wouldn't say it's overpowered, but it can be very frustrating to play against.
I like Lightning Blast more than most people. Four damage is a lot. But you're probably right.
"Somewho" is essentially the same thing as "someone" (which also came into use in the Middle English period). "Somewhy" doesn't exist to my knowledge (and my Google-fu hasn't turned up anything, either).
More cards to clear away blockers. I'm going to keep a close eye on Feudkiller's Verdict. I cut Timely Reinforcements because it was too obnoxious; Verdict will likely be less so because it costs six, but we shall see. Meadowboon always sounds better in theory than it is in practice.
I really want the sacrifice deck to work. This is probably overkill, but I want to make sure people are drafting it. Tenacious Dead and Brood of Cockroaches are obviously much worse than Reassembling Skeleton, but I figure that kind of effect is so desirable for this deck that playing a few less good ones is probably worth it. I've also added more sacrifice food in other sections (Safehold Elite, Myr Sire, etc.).
I'm hesitant to add another double-colored two-drop, but Tusker seems awfully good. Shepherd might come back at some point. Ditto for Tromp. And Bestial Menace. Cutting stuff from green is hard.
Very few people were willing to play with a glorified Cancel. Opinion on the one-mana cantrips has shifted over the last few months in my group, so a few more are coming in.
Wall of Denial is a stupid card and I don't want it in my cube any more. Few people enjoy playing with it and everyone hates playing against it. Consider it banned.
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
-Soltari Foot Soldier
-Mana Tithe
+Lashknife Barrier
-Force Spike
-Favorable Winds
-Shaper Parasite
+Ponder
+Augury Owl
The Force Spikes were frustratingly inconsistent.
-Tormented Soul
-Wei Ambush Force
-Aphetto Exterminator
-Ebon Drake
-Okiba-Gang Shinobi
-Ambition's Cost
+Thoughtpicker Witch
+Dregscape Zombie
+Chain of Smog
+Syphon Life
+Bloodhunter Bat
-Searing Blaze
-Vithian Stinger
-Molten Rain
-Pillage
-Stone Rain
-Markov Warlord
+Act of Treason
+Mark of Mutiny
+Threaten
+Traitorous Instinct
-Basking Rootwalla
-Twinblade Slasher
-Hungry Spriggan
+Young Wolf
+Wild Growth
-Azorius Chancery
-Azorius Guildmage (moved to hybrid section)
+Azorius Guildgate
+Jelenn Sphinx
There are a bunch of cards that could fit into the Sphinx's spot, so it may get swapped out for something else shortly.
-Probe
+Far // Away
-Fire // Ice (moved to hybrid section)
+Turn // Burn
-Ebony Treefolk
+Golgari Rotwurm
Rotwurm may get swapped out for Rot Farm Skeleton.
-Gruul Guildmage (moved to hybrid section)
+Gruul War Chant
-Spitemare (moved to hybrid section)
+Warleader's Helix
I might try Viashino Firstblade at some point.
-Centaur Healer
+Trostani's Summoner
-Elusive Krasis
-Patagia Viper
+Lorescale Coatl
+Nimbus Swimmer
Hybrids:
+Azorius Guildmage
+Fire // Ice
+Spitemare
+Rakdos Guildmage
+Canker Abomination
+Gruul Guildmage
I have no idea how good the Abomination is.
-Pilgrim's Eye
+Pristine Talisman
Overall, cutting some chaff to fit in more hybrids, axing the LD spells for Threatens and updates to the gold section.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
While I also have a hybrid section, I'm not sure about putting the original guildmages in it. Most of them are a lot better with both sources of mana available, making them play much more like traditional gold cards than true hybrids.
Finally, Canker Abomination seems strong, but my gut feeling is that its significantly better in black decks than green ones due to the ability to use removal to make sure it comes in huge. However, I've not actually cubed with it, so let me know how it works out for you.
The guildmages get played in decks that have only one of their colors with regularity. Obviously, this isn't a perfect system; most of them have one ability that is much better than the other (looking at you, Azorius Guildmage). But this feels like a better fit than having them in the gold sections.
This applies to Canker Abomination, too. I know it's going to be better in black decks. I was struggling to find a better BG hybrid, but it was this or Rendclaw Trow.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
Gruul guildmage is like 98% green, and azorius guildmage is like 90% white
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
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
-Brave the Elements
+Reconnaissance
-Scoria Cat
+Rubblebelt Maaka
Brave is a fine card, but white has a ton of combat tricks, and I had to cut something to try out the Recon. Most red decks aren't interested in five mana fat.
The draft was won by a RG mid-range deck. I had a pretty sweet WB aggro deck, but lost to color screw.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
Well, yes, but those cards are insane.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
In my 360 cube, people drafting white can pretty easily get one of those insane cards, leaving Test of Faith as a 23rd card or in the sideboard too often.
I have not yet acquired any Modern Masters cards, but I will soon.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
I put in like 15 drafts on cubetutor with my set and it's only starting to feel like not everything is wheeling.
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
My Peasant Cube thread !!! (380 cards)
Draft my Peasant Cube on Cube Cobra !!!
It's definitely something you have to draft around. It can be quite good in the dedicated sacrifice deck. Just running it for value with no way to abuse it isn't great.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
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
-Reconnaissance
-Meadowboon
-Charge Across the Araba
-Goldnight Redeemer
+Pollen Remedy
+Azorius Justiciar
+Blinding Beam
+Feudkiller's Verdict
Meadowboon seemed like it should be awesome, but it was always kinda disappointing. It was rarely used in blink decks.
-Fog Bank
-Vedalken Mastermind
-Withdraw
-Stormbound Geist
+Silent Departure
+Waterfront Bouncer
+Ray of Command
+Soulsworn Spirit
-Predatory Nightstalker
-Warren Pilferers
-Twisted Abomination
+Nantuko Husk
+Vampire Aristocrat
+Stab Wound
I'm trying to push the sacrifice deck. Also, it seemed like black had too many high end dudes.
-Blood Knight
-Searing Spear
-Gathan Raiders
-Cone of Flame
+Ashmouth Hound
+Searing Blaze
+Crossway Vampire
+Spur Grappler
Perhaps I should cut Lightning Blast instead of Searing Spear.
-Bellowing Tanglewurm
-Centaur Glade
+Sylvan Ranger
+Masked Admirers
-Crystal Ball
+Epochrasite
It was. "Sumwhanne" existed in Middle English, circa 1300.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
I like Lightning Blast more than most people. Four damage is a lot. But you're probably right.
"Somewho" is essentially the same thing as "someone" (which also came into use in the Middle English period). "Somewhy" doesn't exist to my knowledge (and my Google-fu hasn't turned up anything, either).
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
-Reconnaissance
-Whipcorder
-Coalition Honor Guard
-Meadowboon
-Charge Across the Araba
-Goldnight Redeemer
+Pollen Remedy
+Master of Diversion
+Azorius Justiciar
+Blinding Beam
+Feudkiller's Verdict
More cards to clear away blockers. I'm going to keep a close eye on Feudkiller's Verdict. I cut Timely Reinforcements because it was too obnoxious; Verdict will likely be less so because it costs six, but we shall see. Meadowboon always sounds better in theory than it is in practice.
-Fog Bank
-Vedalken Mastermind
-Withdraw
-Latch Seeker
-Thirst for Knowledge
+Silent Departure
+Waterfront Bouncer
+Tandem Lookout
+Soulsworn Spirit
+Ray of Command
Again, more cards to clear away blockers.
-Fume Spitter
-Dauthi Slayer
-Chain of Smog
-Marsh Casualties
-Daggerclaw Imp
-Ashes to Ashes
-Vampire Outcasts
-Dread Return
-Predatory Nightstalker
-Sengir Vampire
-Warren Pilferers
-Twisted Abomination
+Carrion Feeder
+Tenacious Dead
+Brood of Cockroaches
+Butcher Ghoul
+Nantuko Husk
+Pawn of Ulamog
+Vampire Aristocrat
+Reckless Spite
+Stab Wound
+Viscera Dragger
+Fallen Angel
+Dance of Shadows
I really want the sacrifice deck to work. This is probably overkill, but I want to make sure people are drafting it. Tenacious Dead and Brood of Cockroaches are obviously much worse than Reassembling Skeleton, but I figure that kind of effect is so desirable for this deck that playing a few less good ones is probably worth it. I've also added more sacrifice food in other sections (Safehold Elite, Myr Sire, etc.).
-Blood Knight
-Gathan Raiders
-Fault Riders
-Lightning Blast
-Cone of Flame
-Kaervek's Torch
+Ashmouth Hound
+Young Pyromancer
+Goblin Bombardment
+Searing Blaze
+Crossway Vampire
+Spur Grappler
-Boreal Druid
-Gatstaf Shepherd
-Slaughterhorn
-Bellowing Tanglewurm
-Bestial Menace
-Tromp the Domains
+Elvish Mystic
+Kalonian Tusker
+Sylvan Ranger
+Crocanura
+Masked Admirers
I'm hesitant to add another double-colored two-drop, but Tusker seems awfully good. Shepherd might come back at some point. Ditto for Tromp. And Bestial Menace. Cutting stuff from green is hard.
-Torrent of Souls
+Spike Jester
Torrent is cool, but I want BR to be focused on aggro, not value.
Selesnya Guildmage moved to hybrid
+Safehold Elite in hybrid
+Centaur Healer
-Blind Hunter
+Maw of the Obzedat
-Thoughflare
+Fluxcharger
-Crystal Ball
-Ulamog's Crusher
+Epochrasite
+Myr Sire
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
-Gitaxian Probe
-Dissipate
-Benthicore
+Opt
+Serum Visions
+Spin into Myth
Very few people were willing to play with a glorified Cancel. Opinion on the one-mana cantrips has shifted over the last few months in my group, so a few more are coming in.
-Walker of the Grove
+Reach of Branches
Walker hasn't been hardcast in a long time.
-Agony Warp
+Cavern Harpy
I love Agony Warp, but I really want to try out Harpy and it's the easiest cut.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
-Opt
-Inaction Injunction
-Archaeomancer
+Snap
+Claustrophobia
+Water Servant
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
+Emancipation Angel
-Syphon Life
+Duress
-Arctic Nishoba
+Beast Attack
-Wojek Halberdiers
+Viashino Firstblade
-Prophetic Prism
+Spawning Pit
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
Haste creatures are really good against control decks.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
+Brave the Elements
Five mana is just too much for a trick. Swell of Courage is on the watch list.
-Skirk Marauder
+Hissing Iguanar
Iguanar got cut a while ago, but that was before the advent of the sacrifice deck, so he's getting another shot.
-Nantuko Vigilante
+Gatstaf Shepherd
Morph is a neat mechanic in its native limited formats, but without a bunch of them, it's just awkward and not that great.
-Wall of Denial
+Deputy of Acquittals
Wall of Denial is a stupid card and I don't want it in my cube any more. Few people enjoy playing with it and everyone hates playing against it. Consider it banned.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)