Hey folks,
I finally got around to getting my cube list cobbled together. There's probably a reasonable amount of questionable decisions here, but I've had a good bit of fun with it so far. I had a couple constraints when I made the cube:
1) I wanted some Conspiracies. A few of them are neat build-arounds and don't impact the game a ton, so I picked 5 of them. I explicitly ignored the 'Hidden/Double Agenda' ones as I didn't much like the bookkeeping.
2) I wanted at least 1 un-card in each color. I tried to pick neat cards that didn't completely break the game in half or something like that. (The Knight of the Kitchen Sink is the two-word names version, there doesn't seem to be a way to express it that I know of)
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Frankly, cutting down to this size is extremely hard nowadays...
some more tuning changes:
-5 total cards to bring the total to 375:
-Wild Nacatl
-Warden of the First Tree
-Perilous Voyage (Who//What//Where//When//Why is blue now
-Backup Plan (dear lord this card is busted)
-Weight Advantage (just not very good in this environment, really needs a lot of cards to build around to be worth picking)
the 2 green cards i pulled just to not trick people into playing green aggro. Warden may come in again later as a green card because I think it's good in ramp/midrange strats.
Then,
Skinrender > Liliana of the Veil (I really want LotV and I think Nekrataal and Chupacabra are enough for now)
Ashen Rider > Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Molten-Tail Masticore > Emrakul 2 (i want a colorless fatty and sadly Molten-tail just...isnt good enough)
Wear//Tear > Tajic, Legions Edge
Azorius Signet > Celestial Colonnade
Dimir Signet > Creeping Tar Pit
Staying Power > Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Dance of the Dead > Mind Twist
-5 artifacts, and general changes
Daze > Pestermite
Yawgmoth's Bargain > Sarcomancy
Gray Merchant of Asphodel > Bloodsoaked Champion
Profane Command > Carnophage
Fatal Push > Ravenous Chupacabra
Hero of Oxid Ridge > Sulfuric Vortex
Vampire Hexmage > Thoughtseize
Kodama's Reach > Yavimaya Elder
Scroll Rack > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Erratic Portal > Thrun, the Last Troll
Ratchet Bomb > Flickerwisp
Powder Keg > Mystic Confluence
Emrakul, the Promised End > Dance of the Dead
Manic Vandal > Magma Jet
Falkenrath Gorger > Monastery Swiftspear
Journey to Nowhere > Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
-down on multicolor, +2 monocolored cards for each color
Celestial Colonnade > Exalted Angel
Creeping Tar Pit > Gutterbones
Dreadbore > Legion Warboss
Raging Ravine > Verdurous Gearhulk
Stirring Wildwood > Remand
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad > Hanweir Garrison
Deathrite Shaman > Selfless Spirit
Lumbering Falls > Scrapheap Scrounger
Wandering Fumarole > Kalonian Hydra
Needle Spires > Fact or Fiction
-general
Fireblast > Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Retrofitter Foundry > Undiscovered Paradise
If you want to support aggro in black, you need more 1-drops. Two is definitely not enough. I'd suggest 2-3 more. Probably Gutterbones, Bloodsoaked Champion and the zombie of your choice. I'd also add Ravenous Chupacabra, Hero's Downfall and Thoughtseize. My cuts would be some mix of Hypnotic Specter, Fatal Push, Cast Down, Vampire Hexmage, Grey Merchant of Asphodel, Never//Return, Yawgmoth's Bargain, and Profane Command.
In multicolor, I don't like the guilds have unequal access to lands/fixing so I would change that.
I no longer run Ratchet Bomb, Scroll Rack, Molten-Tail, Erratic Portal, or Triskelion at 450, so I wouldn't consider them for a 380. I think you'd be better served by Coldsteel Heart, Lodestone Golem, Coalition Relic, Karn Liberated, and maybe Dust Bowl. Alternatively, find room for Coalition Relic and add one to each of the mono colors. I think you've got a lot of colorless here, but that's down to personal preference.
If you want to support aggro in black, you need more 1-drops. Two is definitely not enough. I'd suggest 2-3 more. Probably Gutterbones, Bloodsoaked Champion and the zombie of your choice. I'd also add Ravenous Chupacabra, Hero's Downfall and Thoughtseize. My cuts would be some mix of Hypnotic Specter, Fatal Push, Cast Down, Vampire Hexmage, Grey Merchant of Asphodel, Never//Return, Yawgmoth's Bargain, and Profane Command.
In multicolor, I don't like the guilds have unequal access to lands/fixing so I would change that.
I no longer run Ratchet Bomb, Scroll Rack, Molten-Tail, Erratic Portal, or Triskelion at 450, so I wouldn't consider them for a 380. I think you'd be better served by Coldsteel Heart, Lodestone Golem, Coalition Relic, Karn Liberated, and maybe Dust Bowl. Alternatively, find room for Coalition Relic and add one to each of the mono colors. I think you've got a lot of colorless here, but that's down to personal preference.
Hope this was helpful!
Cheers,
rant
Hey, rant, thanks for taking the time to write these out! I'll summarize my thoughts on some of the cuts:
Steppe Lynx -- I...actually really like this card. No, it's really not that good anymore, but it seems to be a favorite of the folks I cube with...We'll see how long that lasts
Journey to Nowhere -- I tried to include a few of these effects because I was rather worried about my cube having too little removal when I first started designing it; I'll probably cut it for Flickerwisp when I can dig it out of my box.
Soltari Champion -- Brimasz is likely a straight upgrade, I have no problem making this exchange when I get my hands on one.
Baneslayer Angel -- I understand this isn't the most optimal card, but I really love this card. The art is gorgeous and it's a bit of a favorite. I really do want to find space for Elesh Norn, though. I don't think I could stomach putting Monastery Mentor in though; I despise the card.
Perilous Voyage/Daze -- I much like your suggestions over these cards here. I'll probably slip in Mystic Confluence and Consecrated Sphinx or something. TNN is another one of those cards I dislike very much; I couldn't bring myself to put a copy in my cube. However, I do agree in most cases it should certainly be in, just like Mentor.
re: black -- I'll add some of these. I was kind of trying to drift away from black aggro and go into a more of a 'big black/control' kind of route, but everyone tries drafting aggro in black/red anyway. Frankly my card selections here are a little half-assed in that regard and it just hasn't been working out. I'll bring back more of the aggro cards and play it that way instead. Thanks for the suggestions here.
I simply like all your suggestions in red; I meant to find a spot for Kiki-Jiki and never got around to it...I do agree, I think having Zealous Conscripts is much better with Kiki-Jiki in.
I also like your green suggestions. I'll stick Yavimaya Elder in over Cultivate.
Triskelion -- I've actually been really happy with this card so far. Maybe it's just coincidence, but he's been maindecked and had a chance to shine a few times in the last few drafts I've done. I'll keep him in mind when making changes, but I have the feeling he may not go anywhere for me.
The rest of the artifact cards I will certainly consider cutting. Scroll Rack and Erratic Portal have just been too clunky for me so far, I haven't really been terribly happy with them. I do want to give Molten-Tail a little more of a chance to shine, but I do think he'll end up on the chopping block too, much to my dismay.
I agree on the color balance -- I'm going to shave 5 off the colorless and distribute them out to each of the mono colors. It feels like just a little too many artifacts floating around when drafting.
Thanks a ton, again. This info helps a bunch.
Also, as an addendum, I'll just post some of my thoughts on the Un-cards I'm playing.
I've actually had a good bit of fun with these. The protection from two-word-names knight actually feels pretty balanced, and is fun to play with. Staying power is...not good, it will almost certainly get cut. What really surprised me is how good Who // What // When // Where // Why can be...The amount of flexibility it brings is silly, even if most of the modes are rather overcosted. I've had a good amount of fun with most of them so far, I don't see them going anywhere for me.
I've made some changes. I've put them in the first post but I'll make some comments here.
-5 artifacts, and general changes
Daze > Pestermite
Yawgmoth's Bargain > Sarcomancy
Gray Merchant of Asphodel > Bloodsoaked Champion
Profane Command > Carnophage
Fatal Push > Ravenous Chupacabra
Hero of Oxid Ridge > Sulfuric Vortex
Vampire Hexmage > Thoughtseize
Kodama's Reach > Yavimaya Elder
Scroll Rack > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Erratic Portal > Thrun, the Last Troll
Ratchet Bomb > Flickerwisp
Powder Keg > Mystic Confluence
Emrakul, the Promised End > Dance of the Dead
Manic Vandal > Magma Jet
Falkenrath Gorger > Monastery Swiftspear
Journey to Nowhere > Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
-down on multicolor, +2 monocolored cards for each color
Celestial Colonnade > Exalted Angel
Creeping Tar Pit > Gutterbones
Dreadbore > Legion Warboss
Raging Ravine > Verdurous Gearhulk
Stirring Wildwood > Remand
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad > Hanweir Garrison
Deathrite Shaman > Selfless Spirit
Lumbering Falls > Scrapheap Scrounger
Wandering Fumarole > Kalonian Hydra
Needle Spires > Fact or Fiction
-general
Fireblast > Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Retrofitter Foundry > Undiscovered Paradise
I made a lot of general cuts based on rant's comments. Thanks!
I also took some more looks at some other cubes of similar size, and thought about how the draft felt...I decided to cut down on 1 card per guild, and distribute the cards back into monocolors. I feel like this will help the draft balance a lot. I really like the manlands but I think there's just not room at this cube size.
Lastly, I'm really sad to cut Retrofitter Foundry...I think the card has huge potential but I really wanna see if I can keep in Molten-Tail Masticore. I can almost guarantee it's going to end up cut, but we'll see where it goes. I was thinking of cutting Paliano as well, but I want to give it a little more time as well.
I like Gorger more than Swiftspear. Swiftspear has a greater potential, but I prefer having a better baseline.
If you are supporting reanimator/Sneak Attack/Show & Tell, you should keep Emrakul. I'd cut Triskelion, Lodestone, or Undiscovered Paradise instead. Masticore would be the best cut, but I know you want to keep it. I like Trik the least of the cards I suggested.
I'd keep the manlands so that each guild has 4 mana fixers. If you don't want to do that, keep at least Tar Pit and Colonnade (and maybe Ravine) cutting the weakest card for each of those guilds. Wear//Tear is pretty weak. I'd much prefer to see Ajani Vengeant or Tajic, Legion's Edge in that spot.
Sorin is better than either of the two fatties you have in Orzhov. I'd cut Ashen Rider, but I'm known for having too much love for Desolation Angel. Clearly, one of them should be Sorin.
I like Gorger more than Swiftspear. Swiftspear has a greater potential, but I prefer having a better baseline.
If you are supporting reanimator/Sneak Attack/Show & Tell, you should keep Emrakul. I'd cut Triskelion, Lodestone, or Undiscovered Paradise instead. Masticore would be the best cut, but I know you want to keep it. I like Trik the least of the cards I suggested.
I'd keep the manlands so that each guild has 4 mana fixers. If you don't want to do that, keep at least Tar Pit and Colonnade (and maybe Ravine) cutting the weakest card for each of those guilds. Wear//Tear is pretty weak. I'd much prefer to see Ajani Vengeant or Tajic, Legion's Edge in that spot.
Sorin is better than either of the two fatties you have in Orzhov. I'd cut Ashen Rider, but I'm known for having too much love for Desolation Angel. Clearly, one of them should be Sorin.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
rant
Thanks again, Rant! I made the following changes (rip molten-tail masticore it was worth a shot...):
-5 total cards to bring the total to 375:
-Wild Nacatl
-Warden of the First Tree
-Perilous Voyage (Who//What//Where//When//Why is blue now
-Backup Plan (dear lord this card is busted)
-Weight Advantage (just not very good in this environment, really needs a lot of cards to build around to be worth picking)
the 2 green cards i pulled just to not trick people into playing green aggro. Warden may come in again later as a green card because I think it's good in ramp/midrange strats.
Then,
Skinrender > Liliana of the Veil (I really want LotV and I think Nekrataal and Chupacabra are enough for now)
Ashen Rider > Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Molten-Tail Masticore > Emrakul, the Promised End (At least I can say i tried)
Wear//Tear > Tajic, Legions Edge
Azorius Signet > Celestial Colonnade
Dimir Signet > Creeping Tar Pit
Staying Power > Brimaz, King of Oreskos (Staying power sucks, it would be very good if it was 2 mana I think)
Dance of the Dead > Mind Twist (I think I have enough reanimation/cheat effects for this size and Mind Twist is very strong)
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I finally got around to getting my cube list cobbled together. There's probably a reasonable amount of questionable decisions here, but I've had a good bit of fun with it so far. I had a couple constraints when I made the cube:
1) I wanted some Conspiracies. A few of them are neat build-arounds and don't impact the game a ton, so I picked 5 of them. I explicitly ignored the 'Hidden/Double Agenda' ones as I didn't much like the bookkeeping.
2) I wanted at least 1 un-card in each color. I tried to pick neat cards that didn't completely break the game in half or something like that. (The Knight of the Kitchen Sink is the two-word names version, there doesn't seem to be a way to express it that I know of)
Here's the list:
1x Dauntless Bodyguard
1x Dryad Militant
1x Isamaru, Hound of Konda
1x Mother of Runes
1x Skymarcher Aspirant
1x Steppe Lynx
1x Student of Warfare
1x Accorder Paladin
1x Imposing Sovereign
1x Remorseful Cleric
1x Selfless Spirit
1x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1x Wall of Omens
1x Blade Splicer
1x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Flickerwisp
1x Recruiter of the Guard
1x Soltari Champion
1x Hero of Bladehold
1x Restoration Angel
1x Angel of Invention
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Cloudgoat Ranger
1x Reveillark
1x Exalted Angel
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
White Planeswalker
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
White Artifact Creature
1x Knight of the Kitchen Sink
1x Porcelain Legionnaire
White Instant
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Mana Tithe
1x Path to Exile
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Unexpectedly Absent
White Sorcery
1x Balance
1x Council's Judgment
1x Spectral Procession
1x Armageddon
1x Day of Judgment
1x Wrath of God
White Enchantment
1x Land Tax
1x Seal of Cleansing
1x Oblivion Ring
White Land
1x Karakas
Blue Creature
1x Enclave Cryptologist
1x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1x Looter il-Kor
1x Phantasmal Image
1x Snapcaster Mage
1x Waterfront Bouncer
1x Man-o'-War
1x Pestermite
1x Trinket Mage
1x Vendilion Clique
1x Glen Elendra Archmage
1x Sower of Temptation
1x Venser, Shaper Savant
1x Clocknapper
1x Meloku the Clouded Mirror
1x Mulldrifter
1x Aetherling
Blue Planeswalker
1x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1x Tezzeret the Seeker
Blue Artifact Creature
1x Inkwell Leviathan
Blue Instant
1x Force of Will
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Arcane Denial
1x Counterspell
1x Mana Drain
1x Miscalculation
1x Remand
1x Who // What // When // Where // Why
1x Forbid
1x Fact or Fiction
1x Mystic Confluence
1x Dig Through Time
Blue Sorcery
1x Ponder
1x Preordain
1x Time Walk
1x Show and Tell
1x Timetwister
1x Tinker
1x Time Spiral
1x Upheaval
Blue Enchantment
1x Search for Azcanta
1x Control Magic
1x Opposition
1x Treachery
Blue Land
1x Tolarian Academy
Black Creature
1x Bloodsoaked Champion
1x Carnophage
1x Dread Wanderer
1x Gravecrawler
1x Gutterbones
1x Sarcomancy
1x Asylum Visitor
1x Bloodghast
1x Dark Confidant
1x Pack Rat
1x Drana, Liberator of Malakir
1x Hypnotic Specter
1x Ophiomancer
1x Braids, Cabal Minion
1x Nekrataal
1x Ravenous Chupacabra
1x Custodi Lich
1x Doom Whisperer
1x Grave Titan
1x Griselbrand
Black Planeswalker
1x Liliana of the Veil
1x Liliana, the Last Hope
Black Artifact Creature
1x Scrapheap Scrounger
Black Instant
1x Snuff Out
1x Booster Tutor
1x Dark Ritual
1x Entomb
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Cast Down
1x Dismember
Black Sorcery
1x Reanimate
1x Thoughtseize
1x Chainer's Edict
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Hymn to Tourach
1x Shriekmaw
1x Never // Return
1x Toxic Deluge
1x Damnation
1x Living Death
1x Mind Twist
1x Animate Dead
1x Bitterblossom
1x Necromancy
1x Recurring Nightmare
Black Land
1x Volrath's Stronghold
Red Creature
1x Goblin Guide
1x Goblin Welder
1x Grim Lavamancer
1x Monastery Swiftspear
1x Stromkirk Noble
1x Zurgo Bellstriker
1x Abbot of Keral Keep
1x Earthshaker Khenra
1x Goblin Cratermaker
1x Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
1x Stormblood Berserker
1x Goblin Rabblemaster
1x Hanweir Garrison
1x Imperial Recruiter
1x Legion Warboss
1x Najeela, the Blade-Blossom
1x Flametongue Kavu
1x Hellrider
1x Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Siege-Gang Commander
1x Thundermaw Hellkite
1x Zealous Conscripts
1x Inferno Titan
Red Planeswalker
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Daretti, Scrap Savant
Red Instant
1x Burst Lightning
1x Lightning Bolt
1x Abrade
1x Incinerate
1x Magma Jet
1x Smash to Smithereens
1x Blast from the Past
Red Sorcery
1x Chain Lightning
1x Faithless Looting
1x Arc Trail
1x Arc Lightning
1x Light Up the Stage
1x Wheel of Fortune
1x Fiery Confluence
1x Burning of Xinye
1x Earthquake
1x Wildfire
Red Enchantment
1x Goblin Bombardment
1x Sulfuric Vortex
1x Sneak Attack
Green Creature
1x Arbor Elf
1x Birds of Paradise
1x Elvish Mystic
1x Fyndhorn Elves
1x Llanowar Elves
1x Noble Hierarch
1x Fauna Shaman
1x Lotus Cobra
1x Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Sylvan Caryatid
1x Tarmogoyf
1x Eternal Witness
1x Manglehorn
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Tireless Tracker
1x Yavimaya Elder
1x Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
1x Oracle of Mul Daya
1x Polukranos, World Eater
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
1x Wickerbough Elder
1x Acidic Slime
1x Deranged Hermit
1x Kalonian Hydra
1x Thragtusk
1x Primeval Titan
1x Hornet Queen
1x Woodfall Primus
Green Planeswalker
1x Garruk Relentless
1x Garruk Wildspeaker
Green Artifact Creature
1x Verdurous Gearhulk
Green Sorcery
1x Channel
1x Life from the Loam
1x Regrowth
1x Cultivate
1x Natural Order
1x Symbol Status
1x Plow Under
1x Green Sun's Zenith
Green Enchantment
1x Oath of Druids
1x Survival of the Fittest
1x Sylvan Library
Green Land
1x Gaea's Cradle
1x Treetop Village
Azorius
1x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Fractured Identity
1x Flooded Strand
1x Hallowed Fountain
1x Tundra
Dimir
1x Psychatog
1x Baleful Strix
1x Connive
1x Polluted Delta
1x Underground Sea
1x Watery Grave
Rakdos
1x Rakdos Cackler
1x Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast
1x Rakdos Signet
1x Kolaghan's Command
1x Badlands
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodstained Mire
Gruul
1x Bloodbraid Elf
1x Dragonlord Atarka
1x Ancient Grudge
1x Stomping Ground
1x Taiga
1x Wooded Foothills
Selesnya
1x Kitchen Finks
1x Knight of Autumn
1x Knight of the Reliquary
1x Horizon Canopy
1x Savannah
1x Temple Garden
1x Windswept Heath
1x Desolation Angel
1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1x Lingering Souls
1x Vindicate
1x Godless Shrine
1x Marsh Flats
1x Scrubland
Golgari
1x Meren of Clan Nel Toth
1x Abrupt Decay
1x Maelstrom Pulse
1x Pernicious Deed
1x Bayou
1x Overgrown Tomb
1x Verdant Catacombs
Simic
1x Master Biomancer
1x Mystic Snake
1x Simic Signet
1x Growth Spiral
1x Breeding Pool
1x Misty Rainforest
1x Tropical Island
Izzet
1x Dack Fayden
1x Izzet Signet
1x Fire // Ice
1x Izzet Charm
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Steam Vents
1x Volcanic Island
Boros
1x Figure of Destiny
1x Tajic, Legion's Edge
1x Boros Signet
1x Lightning Helix
1x Arid Mesa
1x Plateau
1x Sacred Foundry
Esper
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Grixis
1x Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
Colourless Creature
1x Emrakul, the Promised End
Colourless Planeswalker
1x Karn, Scion of Urza
1x Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Colourless Artifact Creature
1x Phyrexian Revoker
1x Deal Broker
1x Metalworker
1x Cogwork Librarian
1x Lodestone Golem
1x Phyrexian Metamorph
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Triskelion
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Myr Battlesphere
1x Sundering Titan
1x Hangarback Walker
1x Walking Ballista
Colourless Artifact
1x Black Lotus
1x Chrome Mox
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Mana Crypt
1x Mox Diamond
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Jet
1x Mox Pearl
1x Mox Ruby
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Bonesplitter
1x Mana Vault
1x Pithing Needle
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Skullclamp
1x Sol Ring
1x Grim Monolith
1x Mind Stone
1x Smuggler's Copter
1x Sorcerous Spyglass
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Winter Orb
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Grafted Wargear
1x Mimic Vat
1x Sword of Body and Mind
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Sword of War and Peace
1x Tangle Wire
1x Worn Powerstone
1x Smokestack
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Batterskull
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Memory Jar
Colourless Land
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Ash Barrens
1x Celestial Colonnade
1x City of Brass
1x Creeping Tar Pit
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Gemstone Mine
1x Library of Alexandria
1x Mana Confluence
1x Maze of Ith
1x Mishra's Factory
1x Mutavault
1x Paliano, the High City
1x Raging Ravine
1x Reflecting Pool
1x Rishadan Port
1x Strip Mine
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Undiscovered Paradise
1x Wasteland
Colourless Conspiracy
1x Advantageous Proclamation
1x Emissary's Ploy
1x Sentinel Dispatch
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Frankly, cutting down to this size is extremely hard nowadays...
some more tuning changes:
-5 total cards to bring the total to 375:
-Wild Nacatl
-Warden of the First Tree
-Perilous Voyage (Who//What//Where//When//Why is blue now
-Backup Plan (dear lord this card is busted)
-Weight Advantage (just not very good in this environment, really needs a lot of cards to build around to be worth picking)
the 2 green cards i pulled just to not trick people into playing green aggro. Warden may come in again later as a green card because I think it's good in ramp/midrange strats.
Then,
Skinrender > Liliana of the Veil (I really want LotV and I think Nekrataal and Chupacabra are enough for now)
Ashen Rider > Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Molten-Tail Masticore > Emrakul 2 (i want a colorless fatty and sadly Molten-tail just...isnt good enough)
Wear//Tear > Tajic, Legions Edge
Azorius Signet > Celestial Colonnade
Dimir Signet > Creeping Tar Pit
Staying Power > Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Dance of the Dead > Mind Twist
-5 artifacts, and general changes
Daze > Pestermite
Yawgmoth's Bargain > Sarcomancy
Gray Merchant of Asphodel > Bloodsoaked Champion
Profane Command > Carnophage
Fatal Push > Ravenous Chupacabra
Hero of Oxid Ridge > Sulfuric Vortex
Vampire Hexmage > Thoughtseize
Kodama's Reach > Yavimaya Elder
Scroll Rack > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Erratic Portal > Thrun, the Last Troll
Ratchet Bomb > Flickerwisp
Powder Keg > Mystic Confluence
Emrakul, the Promised End > Dance of the Dead
Manic Vandal > Magma Jet
Falkenrath Gorger > Monastery Swiftspear
Journey to Nowhere > Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
-down on multicolor, +2 monocolored cards for each color
Celestial Colonnade > Exalted Angel
Creeping Tar Pit > Gutterbones
Dreadbore > Legion Warboss
Raging Ravine > Verdurous Gearhulk
Stirring Wildwood > Remand
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad > Hanweir Garrison
Deathrite Shaman > Selfless Spirit
Lumbering Falls > Scrapheap Scrounger
Wandering Fumarole > Kalonian Hydra
Needle Spires > Fact or Fiction
-general
Fireblast > Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Retrofitter Foundry > Undiscovered Paradise
I can't comment on the Un-cards because I loathe them.
I think Steppe Lynx is pretty weak these days. Kytheon, Hero of Akros should be there instead.
Monastery Mentor, Flickerwisp, and/or Brimaz, King of Oreskos should replace Soltari Champion and probably Baneslayer Angel. I think you could also add Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Journey to Nowhere would be another good cut.
Perilous Voyage and Daze are too weak for a 380. I'd cut them for something like True-Name Nemesis, Bribery, Consecrated Sphinx, and/or Mystic Confluence.
If you want to support aggro in black, you need more 1-drops. Two is definitely not enough. I'd suggest 2-3 more. Probably Gutterbones, Bloodsoaked Champion and the zombie of your choice. I'd also add Ravenous Chupacabra, Hero's Downfall and Thoughtseize. My cuts would be some mix of Hypnotic Specter, Fatal Push, Cast Down, Vampire Hexmage, Grey Merchant of Asphodel, Never//Return, Yawgmoth's Bargain, and Profane Command.
Red looks good. I'd cut Manic Vandal and Hero of Oxid Ridge for Purphoros, God of the Forge and Sulfuric Vortex. I'd also consider cutting Zealous Conscripts because I don't think they are very good unless you are also running the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker combo. You are missing the superb Magma Jet.
Green also good. I like Yavimaya Elder over Cultivate/Kodama's Reach and I'd miss both Tooth and Nail and Thrun, the Last Troll.
In multicolor, I don't like the guilds have unequal access to lands/fixing so I would change that.
I no longer run Ratchet Bomb, Scroll Rack, Molten-Tail, Erratic Portal, or Triskelion at 450, so I wouldn't consider them for a 380. I think you'd be better served by Coldsteel Heart, Lodestone Golem, Coalition Relic, Karn Liberated, and maybe Dust Bowl. Alternatively, find room for Coalition Relic and add one to each of the mono colors. I think you've got a lot of colorless here, but that's down to personal preference.
Hope this was helpful!
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
Hey, rant, thanks for taking the time to write these out! I'll summarize my thoughts on some of the cuts:
Steppe Lynx -- I...actually really like this card. No, it's really not that good anymore, but it seems to be a favorite of the folks I cube with...We'll see how long that lasts
Journey to Nowhere -- I tried to include a few of these effects because I was rather worried about my cube having too little removal when I first started designing it; I'll probably cut it for Flickerwisp when I can dig it out of my box.
Soltari Champion -- Brimasz is likely a straight upgrade, I have no problem making this exchange when I get my hands on one.
Baneslayer Angel -- I understand this isn't the most optimal card, but I really love this card. The art is gorgeous and it's a bit of a favorite. I really do want to find space for Elesh Norn, though. I don't think I could stomach putting Monastery Mentor in though; I despise the card.
Perilous Voyage/Daze -- I much like your suggestions over these cards here. I'll probably slip in Mystic Confluence and Consecrated Sphinx or something. TNN is another one of those cards I dislike very much; I couldn't bring myself to put a copy in my cube. However, I do agree in most cases it should certainly be in, just like Mentor.
re: black -- I'll add some of these. I was kind of trying to drift away from black aggro and go into a more of a 'big black/control' kind of route, but everyone tries drafting aggro in black/red anyway. Frankly my card selections here are a little half-assed in that regard and it just hasn't been working out. I'll bring back more of the aggro cards and play it that way instead. Thanks for the suggestions here.
I simply like all your suggestions in red; I meant to find a spot for Kiki-Jiki and never got around to it...I do agree, I think having Zealous Conscripts is much better with Kiki-Jiki in.
I also like your green suggestions. I'll stick Yavimaya Elder in over Cultivate.
Triskelion -- I've actually been really happy with this card so far. Maybe it's just coincidence, but he's been maindecked and had a chance to shine a few times in the last few drafts I've done. I'll keep him in mind when making changes, but I have the feeling he may not go anywhere for me.
The rest of the artifact cards I will certainly consider cutting. Scroll Rack and Erratic Portal have just been too clunky for me so far, I haven't really been terribly happy with them. I do want to give Molten-Tail a little more of a chance to shine, but I do think he'll end up on the chopping block too, much to my dismay.
I agree on the color balance -- I'm going to shave 5 off the colorless and distribute them out to each of the mono colors. It feels like just a little too many artifacts floating around when drafting.
Thanks a ton, again. This info helps a bunch.
Also, as an addendum, I'll just post some of my thoughts on the Un-cards I'm playing.
I've actually had a good bit of fun with these. The protection from two-word-names knight actually feels pretty balanced, and is fun to play with. Staying power is...not good, it will almost certainly get cut. What really surprised me is how good Who // What // When // Where // Why can be...The amount of flexibility it brings is silly, even if most of the modes are rather overcosted. I've had a good amount of fun with most of them so far, I don't see them going anywhere for me.
-5 artifacts, and general changes
Daze > Pestermite
Yawgmoth's Bargain > Sarcomancy
Gray Merchant of Asphodel > Bloodsoaked Champion
Profane Command > Carnophage
Fatal Push > Ravenous Chupacabra
Hero of Oxid Ridge > Sulfuric Vortex
Vampire Hexmage > Thoughtseize
Kodama's Reach > Yavimaya Elder
Scroll Rack > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Erratic Portal > Thrun, the Last Troll
Ratchet Bomb > Flickerwisp
Powder Keg > Mystic Confluence
Emrakul, the Promised End > Dance of the Dead
Manic Vandal > Magma Jet
Falkenrath Gorger > Monastery Swiftspear
Journey to Nowhere > Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
-down on multicolor, +2 monocolored cards for each color
Celestial Colonnade > Exalted Angel
Creeping Tar Pit > Gutterbones
Dreadbore > Legion Warboss
Raging Ravine > Verdurous Gearhulk
Stirring Wildwood > Remand
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad > Hanweir Garrison
Deathrite Shaman > Selfless Spirit
Lumbering Falls > Scrapheap Scrounger
Wandering Fumarole > Kalonian Hydra
Needle Spires > Fact or Fiction
-general
Fireblast > Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Retrofitter Foundry > Undiscovered Paradise
I made a lot of general cuts based on rant's comments. Thanks!
I also took some more looks at some other cubes of similar size, and thought about how the draft felt...I decided to cut down on 1 card per guild, and distribute the cards back into monocolors. I feel like this will help the draft balance a lot. I really like the manlands but I think there's just not room at this cube size.
Lastly, I'm really sad to cut Retrofitter Foundry...I think the card has huge potential but I really wanna see if I can keep in Molten-Tail Masticore. I can almost guarantee it's going to end up cut, but we'll see where it goes. I was thinking of cutting Paliano as well, but I want to give it a little more time as well.
I like Gorger more than Swiftspear. Swiftspear has a greater potential, but I prefer having a better baseline.
If you are supporting reanimator/Sneak Attack/Show & Tell, you should keep Emrakul. I'd cut Triskelion, Lodestone, or Undiscovered Paradise instead. Masticore would be the best cut, but I know you want to keep it. I like Trik the least of the cards I suggested.
I'd keep the manlands so that each guild has 4 mana fixers. If you don't want to do that, keep at least Tar Pit and Colonnade (and maybe Ravine) cutting the weakest card for each of those guilds. Wear//Tear is pretty weak. I'd much prefer to see Ajani Vengeant or Tajic, Legion's Edge in that spot.
Sorin is better than either of the two fatties you have in Orzhov. I'd cut Ashen Rider, but I'm known for having too much love for Desolation Angel. Clearly, one of them should be Sorin.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
rant
My Cube
CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/5f5d0310ed602310515d4c32
Cube Tutor: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1963
Thanks again, Rant! I made the following changes (rip molten-tail masticore it was worth a shot...):
-5 total cards to bring the total to 375:
-Wild Nacatl
-Warden of the First Tree
-Perilous Voyage (Who//What//Where//When//Why is blue now
-Backup Plan (dear lord this card is busted)
-Weight Advantage (just not very good in this environment, really needs a lot of cards to build around to be worth picking)
the 2 green cards i pulled just to not trick people into playing green aggro. Warden may come in again later as a green card because I think it's good in ramp/midrange strats.
Then,
Skinrender > Liliana of the Veil (I really want LotV and I think Nekrataal and Chupacabra are enough for now)
Ashen Rider > Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Molten-Tail Masticore > Emrakul, the Promised End (At least I can say i tried)
Wear//Tear > Tajic, Legions Edge
Azorius Signet > Celestial Colonnade
Dimir Signet > Creeping Tar Pit
Staying Power > Brimaz, King of Oreskos (Staying power sucks, it would be very good if it was 2 mana I think)
Dance of the Dead > Mind Twist (I think I have enough reanimation/cheat effects for this size and Mind Twist is very strong)