I've been playing Magic for quite a while now and I have participated in a few cube drafts, and I figured I may as well put some of my old uncommons to use and I figured I'd try my hand a cube. I wanted to keep it simple, so I avoided multicolor and nonbasic lands. I don't really have limits on the power levels of cards. I'm of the opinion that every cube needs a few stinkers for flavor. Any advice on balance or power issues is very welcome. I have a sneaking suspicion that white is underpowered while black is overpowered, but I built with what I had.
I reformatted my original post with the each color ordered by mana cost, to make it easier to read. I can't seem to get mana tags to work inside spoiler tags, though.
I like the Guild lands, they are all interesting, at the very least, even if not game winning. I know the invasion duals aren't great, but I figured I needed more than one of each color combination. As for the trilands, I have one of each, but not with me where I am. If I were to buy a copy of each, that's close to 10 dollars, where the Lairs would only be one or two dollars for the whole cycle. The original manlands and Odyssey threshold lands would be good choices, though.
As for the trilands, I have one of each, but not with me where I am. If I were to buy a copy of each, that's close to 10 dollars, where the Lairs would only be one or two dollars for the whole cycle. The original manlands and Odyssey threshold lands would be good choices, though.
you could get the trilands for under $5. the lairs are not good.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
you could get the trilands for under $5. the lairs are not good.
Arcane Sanctum, Crumbling Necropolis, and Jungle Shrine all go for about $2.00
Savage Lands goes for almost $3.00
Seaside Citadel is about $1.00
Which adds up to $10.
The Lairs, which I know are worse, are each less than $1.00. For the purposes of this cube, I'm not interested in using only the best cards, but things I already have, or are cost negligible.
Arcane Sanctum, Crumbling Necropolis, and Jungle Shrine all go for about $2.00
Savage Lands goes for almost $3.00
Seaside Citadel is about $1.00
Which adds up to $10.
The Lairs, which I know are worse, are each less than $1.00. For the purposes of this cube, I'm not interested in using only the best cards, but things I already have, or are cost negligible.
three bucks for a Savage Lands? yeesh. i don't know where you're getting that price, but that's like double what any of the websites i look at have them for.
anyway, i still wouldn't put the Lairs in. i'd honestly rather run a basic land in virtually every situation i can think of. the tempo loss is just ludicrous.
a note on the threshold lands: i wouldn't play Nomad Stadium or Cephalid Coliseum. i had them in my common/uncommon cube for a long time and nobody ever used them. threshold is pretty difficult to achieve in these types of cubes, and the life loss just isn't worth the effect, in my opinion. the other three are fine, though.
similarly, i wouldn't use Forbidding Watchtower or Spawning Pool unless i had a lot of space in my list. good blockers, but that's not usually what i'm looking for in the cube.
i'll post some critiques on cards that aren't lands later.
Cauldron Dance can be difficult to set up (although, when it works, it's crazy good, especially when a Shriekmaw is involved). and i think you NEED Murderous Redcap.
i've never played with Martyrs' Tomb. i'd be tempted to suggest something else, but there really isn't much in the way of good WB uncommons that you don't already have.
Invert the Skies seems like it could be useful for an alpha strike for lethal, but i don't know what other applications it has. perhaps you could replace it with Lorescale Coatl?
to me, no cube is complete without Gelectrode and Electrolyze. UR spells/control is one of my favorite archetypes to draft.
when i draft WU, it's almost always control of some sort. i like Azorius Ploy, but i don't think it fits into control decks. i'd rather have something like Reviving Vapors or Sky Hussar (which makes for a tremendous finisher).
Bloodbraid Elf is an auto-include in every cube that can have it. i understand that it might be too costly, but just wait until it leaves standard and the price should drop. also, Firespout is awesome. Sangrite Surge is not.
i'd scrap your entire GW section. those cards are interesting, certainly, but there are better cards. Kitchen Finks is one of the best three drops in the game. they're kinda pricey, too, as far as uncommons go, but it's worth it. Behemoth Sledge is pretty ridiculous. also, i like Selesnya Guildmage, Enlisted Wurm and Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers quite a bit, so consider them. perhaps you could keep Hymn of Rebirth. if only for the sweet RKF art.
i have never been a fan of the flowstone creatures. and it is with that in mind that i suggest cutting Flowstone Charger for Hearthfire Hobgoblin. but that's up to you.
i hope i helped. if i sounded overly critical, i apologize.
Psychic Drain and Death Mutation are pet favorites of mine. They may not be incredible cards, but they come out of left field and are fun to see played. I do like Cankerous Thirst, though. I think my green is a little bit too short on combat tricks.
As for Murderous Redcap and Kitchen Finks, I started playing Magic after a bit of a hiatus just as Alara came out, so every deck was loaded with Redcaps and Finks. Something about them just doesn't seem fun, although I know many people love them. I'll definitely give them some consideration, though.
I totally forgot that Gelectrode and Electrolyze were both uncommon. They can definitely go in the place of Schismotivate and something else (probably Skyclaw Thrash, since coin flipping can be annoying)
Bloodbraid is sort of in the same boat as Redcap and Finks, just being so heavily played in recent Standard that it doesn't seem like much fun, although in cube, you will get to Cascade into things other than Blightning, Sprouting Thrinax, and Putrid Leech, so I could definitely stand to consider it some more.
I didn't think I'd need both Savage Twister and Firespout, but I agree that Firespout is very awesome. I have personally thought Sangrite Surge is hilarious. Sorcery speed hurts it, but it can potentially turn an moderately large creature into a game ending one-shot and huge MUST ANSWER bombs like that are relatively hard to come by at uncommon.
I agree about my GW. I love Charging Troll and Pollenbright Wings, but everything else was kind of 'meh'. I didn't think about Enlisted Wurm, which will easily replace Qasali Ambusher. I'm not entirely sure how Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers is that much better than Charging Troll, though. As for Behemoth Sledge, it certainly is good, but Pollenbright Wings is just so JUICY, especially with Juniper Order Ranger. I want to include both of those cards, on the off chance that one person gets both, which would be beautiful.
Flowstone creatures are not typically very good, but I think Crusher is the exception. Hobgoblin has more damage potential, but I think the Crusher is more versatile and, quite frankly, less well known, which is a plus for me.
For me, at least, part of the fun of cube is getting the chance to play with obscure cards that are never played, even if more popular or well-known cards are better.
After spending a couple weeks tinkering with my cube, it feels a little bit shallow. I looked through every uncommon ever, and I picked out about 140 cards that I think would add a little bit of depth. I'd appreciate it if someone could take a look at the cards and tell me if any obviously wouldn't work or would be too powerful in cube.
Creatures: 57
B - 1
1 Ghost-Lit Stalker
1B - 5
1 Nezumi Graverobber
1 Drekavac
1 Golgari Thug
1 Rotting Giant
1 Cackling Witch
BB - 4
1 Gatekeeper of Malakir
1 Black Knight
1 Hand of Cruelty
1 Slith Bloodletter
2B - 10
1 Bone Shredder
1 Nantuko Husk
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Ebon Drake
1 Priest of Gix
1 Tethered Skirge
1 Dauthi Trapper
1 Mischievous Poltergeist
1 Daggerclaw Imp
1 Aphetto Exterminator
1BB - 7
1 Ogre Marauder
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Junun Efreet
1 Arrogant Bloodlord
1 Soot Imp
1 Hidden Horror
1 Sanguine Guard
3B - 8
1 Souldrinker
1 Flayed Nim
1 Gravebane Zombie
1 Gloomdrifter
1 Scourge of Numai
1 Scavenger Drake
1 Deathgazer
1 Crypt Champion
1 Pit Raptor
1 Stronghold Taskmaster
1 Carrion Ants
1 Phyrexian Defiler
1 Order of Yawgmoth
1 Howling Banshee
1 Keening Banshee
1 Abyssal Specter
1 Banshee
1 Cabal Executioner
4B - 2
1 Gluttonous Zombie
1 Grotesque Hybrid
3BB - 6
1 Painwracker Oni
1 Prowling Pangolin
1 Abomination
1 Gutwrencher Oni
1 Thrashing Mudspawn
1 Carrion Wurm
5B - 2
1 Grixis Slavedriver
1 Face of Fear
4BB - 1
1 Phyrexian Gargantua
7B - 1
1 Skeletal Wurm
Noncreatures: 39
B - 5
1 Deathmark
1 Inquisiion of Kozilek
1 Sarcomancy
1 Mind Peel
1 Blackmail
1B - 7
1 Sickening Dreams
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Smother
1 Animate Dead
1 Addle
1 Cruel Edict
1 Chainer's Edict
1 Marsh Casualties
2B - 3
1 Haunted Crossroads
1 Foosteps of the Goryo
1 Oni Possession
1BB - 4
1 Infest
1 Malevolent Awakening
1 Reckless Spite
1 Sudden Death
3B - 2
1 Breeding Pit
1 Diabolic Servitude
2BB - 4
1 Barter in Blood
1 Death Pulse
1 Struggle for Sanity
1 Vigor Mortis
4B - 2
1 Mind Sludge
1 Rise from the Grave
3BB - 3
1 Necrologia
1 Rhystic Syphon
1 Annihilate
5B - 2
1 Corrupt
1 Betrayal of Flesh
4BB - 2
1 Nemesis Trap
1 Enslave
XB - 2
1 Howl from Beyond
1 Skeletal Scrying
XBB - 1
1 Swallowing Plague
X3B - 1
1 Mind Warp
Creatures: 56
G - 2
1 Stampede Driver
1 Nimble Mongoose
1G - 2
1 Albino Troll
1 Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
GG - 3
1 Vintara Snapper
1 Slith Predator
1 Whirling Dervish
2G - 7
1 Ivy Dancer
1 Anurid Scavenger
1 Viridian Shaman
1 Gluttonous Slime
1 Twigwalker
1 Awakener Druid
1 Orochi Eggwatcher
1GG - 3
1 Ravaging Riftwurm
1 Turntimber Basilisk
1 Branchsnap Lorian
GGG - 1
1 Leatherback Baloth
3G - 10
1 Brawn
1 Hunted Wumpus
1 Algae Gharial
1 Bull Hippo
1 Rhox Charger
1 Centaur Chieftain
1 Squallmonger
1 Prized Unicorn
1 Kashi-Tribe Reaver
1 Wall of Pine Needles
2GG - 6
1 Uktabi Efreet
1 Cudgel Troll
1 Yavimaya Ants
1 Stampeding Wildebeests
1 Phantom Centaur
1 Rooting Kavu
1 Indrik Stomphowler
3GG - 7
1 Elven Riders
1 Gorilla Titan
1 Crashing Boars
1 Metamorphic Wurm
1 Arrogant Wurm
1 Acidic Slime
1 Gorilla Berserkers
5G - 2
1 Johtull Wurm
1 Roughshod Mentor
4GG - 3
1 Crashing Centaur
1 Baloth Woodcrasher
1 Brontotherium
6G - 2
1 Enormous Baloth
1 Venomspout Brackus
5GG - 3
1 Rootbreaker Wurm
1 Duskdale Wurm
1 Trolls of Tel-Jilad
6GG - 3
1 Tunneler Wurm
1 Walker of the Grove
1 Towering Baloth
7GG - 1
1 Body of Jukai
Noncreatures: 35
G - 6
1 Primal Bellow
1 Genju of the Cedars
1 One with Nature
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Animate Land
1 Piper's Melody
1G - 5
1 Howling Gale
1 Tel-Jilad Justice
1 Quest for the Gemblades
1 Canopy Surge
1 Nature's Spiral
1 Recollect
1 Primal Boost
1 Flash Foliage
1 Wind Shear
1 Elephant Guide
1GG - 2
1 Lure
1 Gravity Well
3G - 3
1 Snag
1 Slingbow Trap
1 Claws of Wirewood
2GG - 3
1 Rolling Spoil
1 Harmonize
1 Creeping Mold
4G - 2
1 Strength of Cedars
1 Gale Force
3GG - 2
1 Centaur Glade
1 Bestial Menace
2GGG - 2
1 Beast Attack
1 Overrun
5G - 1
1 One Dozen Eyes
6G - 2
1 Roar of the Wurm
1 Howl of the Night Pack
5GG - 1
1 Overwhelm
XG - 1
1 Windstorm
Creatures: 56
R - 1
1 Warbreak Trumpeter
1R - 4
1 Minotaur Explorer
1 Orcish Settlers
1 Bloodmark Mentor
1 Squealing Devil
RR - 3
1 Slith Firewalker
1 Ember Hauler
1 Pyre Charger
2R - 13
1 Thoughtbound Primoc
1 Pain Kami
1 Hellfire Mongrel
1 Thunder-Thrash Elder
1 Chandra's Spitfire
1 Prodigal Pyromancer
1 Brimstone Mage
1 Flamewave Invoker
1 Storm Shaman
1 Whip Sergeant
1 Arc Mage
1 Gnat Alley Creeper
1 Cunning Sparkmage
1RR - 2
1 Goblin Artillery
1 Akki Coalflinger
3R - 7
1 Changeling Berserker
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Indentured Oaf
1 Ridgetop Raptor
1 Goblin Psychopath
1 Akki Underminer
1 Hired Giant
2RR - 5
1 Stone Giant
1 Pardic Arsonist
1 Keldon Champion
1 Furnace Whelp
1 Dragon Whelp
1 Valakut Fireboar
1 Goblin Machinist
1 Frenetic Ogre
1 Dwarven Strike Force
1 Scourge Devil
1 Kumano's Pupils
3RR - 9
1 Fire Servant
1 Scoria Cat
1 Geyser Glider
1 Goblin Assassin
1 Thundering Giant
1 Orgg
1 Fire Elemental
1 Hulking Cyclops
1 Flowstone Crusher
5R - 2
1 Rapacious One
1 Iron-Barb Hellion
4RR - 3
1 Inferno Elemental
1 Akoum Boulderfoot
1 Rustmouth Ogre
5RR - 1
1 Goblin Dynamo
Noncreatures: 39
R - 3
1 Unstable Footing
1 Quest for Pure Flame
1 Burrowing
1R - 5
1 Breath of Darigaaz
1 Infectious Rage
1 Fractured Loyalty
1 Blood Lust
1 Magma Jet
2R - 8
1 Strange Inversion
1 Mark of Mutiny
1 Bestial Fury
1 Act of Treason
1 Goblin War Drums
1 Pyromania
1 Carbonize
1 War Cadence
1 Volcanic Fallout
3R - 6
1 Inferno Trap
1 Blind with Anger
1 Ricochet Trap
1 Traitorous Instinct
1 Demolish
1 Orcish Oriflamme
2RR - 1
1 Sunder from Within
1RRR - 1
1 Violent Eruption
4R - 2
1 Pyrotechnics
1 Skeletonize
3RR - 3
1 Conquer
1 Cone of Flame
1 Shower of Coals
4RR - 1
1 Slice and Dice
2/R 2/R 2/R - 1
1 Flame Javelin
XR - 4
1 Enrage
1 Fireball
1 Blaze
1 Flame Gambit
XXR - 1
1 Conflagrate
XRR - 1
1 Firecat Blitz
1XRR - 1
1 Goblin Offensive
Creatures: 45
1U - 5
1 Alluring Siren
1 Aether Figment
1 Willbender
1 Wall of Deceit
1 Hada Spy Patrol
2U - 6
1 Wormfang Turtle
1 Graceful Adept
1 Tideforce Elemental
1 Guard Gomazoa
1 Riptide Survivor
1 Psychic Membrane
1UU - 6
1 Phantom Warrior
1 Phantasmal Abomination
1 Metathran Transport
1 Indentured Djinn
1 Wall of Frost
1 Seasinger
3U - 9
1 Fledgling Mawcor
1 Wormfang Crab
1 Silver Erne
1 Wonder
1 Merfolk Seastalkers
1 Voyager Drake
1 Whirlpool Drake
1 Fatestitcher
1 Nevermaker
2UU - 5
1 Hoverguard Observer
1 Waterspout Djinn
1 Water Servant
1 Living Tsunami
1 Soratami Savant
1 Wind Spirit
1 Sea Spirit
1 Homarid Warrior
3UU -5
1 Air Elemental
1 Killer Whale
1 Spiketail Drake
1 Hydromorph Gull
1 Riftwing Cloudskate
5U - 3
1 Cloud Djinn
1 Zanam Djinn
1 Graxiplon
4UU - 1
1 Brine Elemental
6U - 1
1 Primoc Escapee
5UUU - 1
1 Deep Spawn
Noncreatures: 47
U - 4
1 Telepathy
1 Mark of Eviction
1 Mind Bomb
1 Crab Umbra
1U - 8
1 Rebound
1 Standstill
1 Sunken Field
1 Flashfreeze
1 Metamorphose
1 Viscerid Armor
1 Meddle
1 Compulsion
UU - 2
1 Familiar's Ruse
1 Boomerang
2U - 7
1 Spell Contortion
1 Arcane Laboratory
1 Circular Logic
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 False Demise
1 Reminisce
1 Complicate
1 Domineer
1 Hinder
3U - 2
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Mnemonic Nexus
2UU - 8
1 Chamber of Manipulation
1 Domestication
1 Concentrate
1 Foil
1 Discombobulate
1 Rhystic Scrying
1 Sleep
1 Levitation
4U - 5
1 Vapor Snare
1 Biting Tether
1 Laquatus's Creativity
1 Petals of Insight
1 Drake Umbra
3UU - 3
1 Persuasion
1 Mind Control
1 Tidings
5U - 1
1 Flow of Ideas
4UU - 1
1 Overwhelming Intellect
XU - 2
1 Prosperity
1 Breakthrough
X1U - 1
1 Flash of Insight
XUU - 1
1 Reality Spasm
Creatures: 49
W - 4
1 Bushi Tenderfoot
1 Icatian Priest
1 Elite Vanguard
1 Spurnmage Advocate
1W - 3
1 Beloved Chaplain
1 Sword Dancer
1 War Priest of Thune
WW - 7
1 Samurai of the Pale Curtain
1 Longbow Archer
1 Whipcorder
1 Leonin Skyhunter
1 Kor Aeronaut
1 Sigiled Paladin
1 White Knight
2W - 4
1 Shield Dancer
1 Master of Arms
1 Glittering Lion
1 Azorius Herald
1WW - 1
1 Chieftain en-Dal
3W - 12
1 Angelic Protector
1 Serra Advocate
1 Ballista Squad
1 Kami of Old Stone
1 Kithkin Rabble
1 Eiganjo Free-Riders
1 Wall of Swords
1 Sandsower
1 Liege of the Axe
1 Gustcloak Skirmisher
1 Luminous Guardian
1 Leonin Battlemage
1 Meadowboon
1 Reveille Squad
1 Rhox Pikemaster
1 Sustainer of the Realm
1 Gustcloak Sentinel
1 Trap Runner
1 Voice of All
4W - 4
1 Karona's Zealot
1 Ironfist Crusher
1 Shepherd of the Lost
1 Soulbound Guardian
3WW - 3
1 Phantom Flock
1 Serra Angel
1 Melesse Spirit
4WW - 3
1 Swooping Talon
1 Samurai Enforcers
1 Paladin of Prahv
6W - 1
1 Crowd Favorites
Noncreatures: 41
W - 3
1 Reciprocate
1 Emerge Unscathed
1 Condemn
1W - 6
1 Serra's Blessing
1 Celestial Purge
1 Otherworldly Journey
1 Terashi's Verdict
1 Gilded Light
1 Test of Faith
WW - 1
1 Eye for an Eye
2W - 8
1 Pitfall Trap
1 Serra's Boon
1 Rule of Law
1 Akroma's Blessing
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Luminous Wake
1 Afterlife
1 Vanquish
1 Prison Term
1 Devouring Light
3W - 8
1 Mirror Strike
1 Improvised Armor
1 Breath of Life
1 Angelic Benediction
1 Chastise
1 Armored Ascension
1 Angelic Favor
1 Surprise Deployment
2WW - 4
1 Windborne Charge
1 Entangler
1 Serra's Embrace
1 Divine Transformation
4W - 2
1 Stir the Pride
1 Mammoth Umbra
3WW - 3
1 Arrow Volley Trap
1 Righteous Cause
1 Swell of Courage
2/W 2/W 2/W - 1
1 Spectral Procession
XW - 2
1 Hail of Arrows
1 Festival of the Guildpact
XWW - 1
1 Alabaster Potion
Creatures: 18
0 - 1
1 Ornithopter
2 - 2
1 Myr Retriever
1 Spincrusher
3 - 3
1 Patchwork Gnomes
1 Cathodion
1 Bottle Gnomes
4 - 5
1 Synod Centurion
1 Needlebug
1 Hollow Warrior
1 Voltaic Construct
1 Rust Elemental
5 - 2
1 Myr Prototype
1 Glass Golem
6 - 3
1 Arcbound Fiend
1 Phyrexian Hulk
1 Mirror Golem
1 Darksteel Golem
1 Death-Mask Duplicant
Noncreatures: 37
1 - 10
1 Golem-Skin Gauntlets
1 Peregrine Mask
1 O-Naginata
1 Dead-Iron Sledge
1 Hankyu
1 Tel-Jilad Stylus
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Synod Sanctum
1 Aether Vial
1 Chromatic Sphere
2 - 14
1 Cyclopean Snare
1 Guardian Idol
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Manriki-Gusari
1 Gorgon Flail
1 Surestrike Trident
1 No-Dachi
1 Carnage Altar
1 Power Conduit
1 Ark of Blight
1 Ogre's Cleaver
1 Reito Lantern
1 Energy Chamber
1 Mind Stone
1 Puppet Strings
1 Sandstone Deadfall
1 Whispersilk Cloak
1 Chimeric Idol
1 Phyrexian Vault
1 Warlord's Axe
1 Pennon Blade
1 Wirefly Hive
1 Dragon Blood
1 Nuisance Engine
1 Worn Powerstone
4 - 2
1 Icy Manipulator
1 Hornet Cannon
Nonbasic Lands
Prahv, Spires of Order
Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace
Nivix, Aerie of the Firemind
Skarrg, the Rage Pits
Orzhova, the Church of Deals
Duskmantle, House of Shadows
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Svogthos, the Restless Tomb
Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
Coastal Tower
Elfhame Palace
Salt Marsh
Shivan Oasis
Urborg Volcano
Vivid Crag
Vivid Creek
Vivid Grove
Vivid Marsh
Vivid Meadow
Bad River
Flood Plain
Grasslands
Mountain Valley
Rocky Tar Pit
Crosis's Catacombs
Darigaaz's Caldera
Dromar's Cavern
Rith's Grove
Treva's Ruins
Akoum Refuge
Greypelt Refuge
Jwar Isle Refuge
Kazandu Refuge
Sejiri Refuge
UB
Moroii
Twisted Justice
Psychic Drain
Psychatog
GB
Morbid Bloom
Putrefy
Ebony Treefolk
Stalker Hag
RB
Bituminous Blast
Cauldron Dance
Deepfire Elemental
Torrent of Souls
BW
Gerrard's Verdict
Mortify
Tidehollow Sculler
Martyrs' Tomb
UG
Jungle Barrier
Leafdrake Roost
Trygon Predator
Nulltread Gargantuan
UR
Skyclaw Thrash
Schismotivate
Crag Puca
Swerve
UW
Kiss of the Amesha
Plumeveil
Sawtooth Loon
Wall of Denial
RG
Boggart Ram-Gang
Fires of Yavimaya
Sangrite Surge
Voracious Cobra
GW
Juniper Order Ranger
Hymn of Rebirth
Pollenbright Wings
Qasali Ambusher
RW
Captain's Maneuver
Flowstone Charger
Spitemare
Lightning Helix
the guild lands are mostly unimpressive. i like Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree quite a bit, and Skarrg, the Rage Pits seems decent, but the rest have overly expensive or difficult-to-set-up abilities. i suppose Duskmantle, House of Shadow is fine if you're supporting mill.
the Invasion duals are not that good. if you're ok with having cards that are strictly worse than the Refuges, then go for it, but i don't like them.
the Lairs are terribad. i highly recommend you replace them with the Alara Tri-lands.
there are some random lands that aren't part of a cycle that i'd include as well: Mirrodin's Core, Gemstone Mine, Krosan Verge.
not to mention non-mana fixing lands like Urza's Factory, Treetop Village and friends, Barbarian Ring and Cabal Pit, etc.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
you could get the trilands for under $5. the lairs are not good.
Arcane Sanctum, Crumbling Necropolis, and Jungle Shrine all go for about $2.00
Savage Lands goes for almost $3.00
Seaside Citadel is about $1.00
Which adds up to $10.
The Lairs, which I know are worse, are each less than $1.00. For the purposes of this cube, I'm not interested in using only the best cards, but things I already have, or are cost negligible.
three bucks for a Savage Lands? yeesh. i don't know where you're getting that price, but that's like double what any of the websites i look at have them for.
anyway, i still wouldn't put the Lairs in. i'd honestly rather run a basic land in virtually every situation i can think of. the tempo loss is just ludicrous.
a note on the threshold lands: i wouldn't play Nomad Stadium or Cephalid Coliseum. i had them in my common/uncommon cube for a long time and nobody ever used them. threshold is pretty difficult to achieve in these types of cubes, and the life loss just isn't worth the effect, in my opinion. the other three are fine, though.
similarly, i wouldn't use Forbidding Watchtower or Spawning Pool unless i had a lot of space in my list. good blockers, but that's not usually what i'm looking for in the cube.
i'll post some critiques on cards that aren't lands later.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
That aside, I greatly appreciate any input.
is Psychic Drain your only mill card? i'm not sure i'd run it if you're not supporting mill as an archetype.
Death Mutation is REALLY expensive. i think i like Cankerous Thirst more. or Necrogenesis.
Cauldron Dance can be difficult to set up (although, when it works, it's crazy good, especially when a Shriekmaw is involved). and i think you NEED Murderous Redcap.
i've never played with Martyrs' Tomb. i'd be tempted to suggest something else, but there really isn't much in the way of good WB uncommons that you don't already have.
Invert the Skies seems like it could be useful for an alpha strike for lethal, but i don't know what other applications it has. perhaps you could replace it with Lorescale Coatl?
to me, no cube is complete without Gelectrode and Electrolyze. UR spells/control is one of my favorite archetypes to draft.
when i draft WU, it's almost always control of some sort. i like Azorius Ploy, but i don't think it fits into control decks. i'd rather have something like Reviving Vapors or Sky Hussar (which makes for a tremendous finisher).
Bloodbraid Elf is an auto-include in every cube that can have it. i understand that it might be too costly, but just wait until it leaves standard and the price should drop. also, Firespout is awesome. Sangrite Surge is not.
i'd scrap your entire GW section. those cards are interesting, certainly, but there are better cards. Kitchen Finks is one of the best three drops in the game. they're kinda pricey, too, as far as uncommons go, but it's worth it. Behemoth Sledge is pretty ridiculous. also, i like Selesnya Guildmage, Enlisted Wurm and Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers quite a bit, so consider them. perhaps you could keep Hymn of Rebirth. if only for the sweet RKF art.
i have never been a fan of the flowstone creatures. and it is with that in mind that i suggest cutting Flowstone Charger for Hearthfire Hobgoblin. but that's up to you.
i hope i helped. if i sounded overly critical, i apologize.
My Type 4 stack (Cube Tutor link)
Psychic Drain and Death Mutation are pet favorites of mine. They may not be incredible cards, but they come out of left field and are fun to see played. I do like Cankerous Thirst, though. I think my green is a little bit too short on combat tricks.
As for Murderous Redcap and Kitchen Finks, I started playing Magic after a bit of a hiatus just as Alara came out, so every deck was loaded with Redcaps and Finks. Something about them just doesn't seem fun, although I know many people love them. I'll definitely give them some consideration, though.
I totally forgot that Gelectrode and Electrolyze were both uncommon. They can definitely go in the place of Schismotivate and something else (probably Skyclaw Thrash, since coin flipping can be annoying)
Sky Hussar looks pretty good. I was also looking at Thoughtweft Gambit, Repel Intruders, and Prismatic Boon, but I didn't really know which to pick.
Bloodbraid is sort of in the same boat as Redcap and Finks, just being so heavily played in recent Standard that it doesn't seem like much fun, although in cube, you will get to Cascade into things other than Blightning, Sprouting Thrinax, and Putrid Leech, so I could definitely stand to consider it some more.
I didn't think I'd need both Savage Twister and Firespout, but I agree that Firespout is very awesome. I have personally thought Sangrite Surge is hilarious. Sorcery speed hurts it, but it can potentially turn an moderately large creature into a game ending one-shot and huge MUST ANSWER bombs like that are relatively hard to come by at uncommon.
I agree about my GW. I love Charging Troll and Pollenbright Wings, but everything else was kind of 'meh'. I didn't think about Enlisted Wurm, which will easily replace Qasali Ambusher. I'm not entirely sure how Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers is that much better than Charging Troll, though. As for Behemoth Sledge, it certainly is good, but Pollenbright Wings is just so JUICY, especially with Juniper Order Ranger. I want to include both of those cards, on the off chance that one person gets both, which would be beautiful.
Flowstone creatures are not typically very good, but I think Crusher is the exception. Hobgoblin has more damage potential, but I think the Crusher is more versatile and, quite frankly, less well known, which is a plus for me.
Overall some good suggestions. Thanks!
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