the discord seems a good place to gather until we find another forum. stuff like card evaluation doesnt work on that platform https://discordapp.com/invite/VnvEvft
oh man after discussing Scour All Possibilities for 10min there, it pretty clear they live in another cube dimension lol.
theyre totally hyped for this pretty mediocre card lol.
its definitely not a good place to gather tbh.
im k4yr4h there btw.
They are fans of the blog, and many are not as ancient or battle-hardened as this forum became. The big thing with that group is Cult-of-the-New, if a card is Bordeline and up, they want testing and discussions on how to fit it. Ob average, each set shakes up the Cube by 10-15 cards. We here keep it to about 3-8 on average
Covering the major players, or ones worth noting. Slivers, Snow, and Changelings go into appropriate cubes
WHITE Answered Prayers - Borderline - 3cc is a sweet spot. Turning into a Sorcery-proof 3/3 Flyer, awesome. Gaining incrimental life always, cool. But a 3/3 that cannot block means this is an aggro-favored card. But it only is a sometimes attacker, and does not really affect the board unless you have a more swarm-heavy design. Still a card that will usually find a home. WW slows the enthusiasm
Ephemerate - Cubeable - Mono Momentary Blink, or close enough. While not as opportune as flashback, rebound gets a second use for no extra mana. Any deck with 3+ EtB creatures starts to see this gain value. If Blink Archtype is in your cube, this will be an auto-include
Knight of Old Benalia - Borderline - Ampryn Tactician but with a 'Mail Order' option. If you like Swarm, this is better. But there are a host of bodies like this with their own quirks. Either you like EtB anthem bodies, or you don't; this is just a difference in timing.
Martyr's Soul - Cubeable - Swarm, and Aggro really like this body. It also works with mana rocks. Not likely to be a Turn 3 5/4, but poses a threat at that size before the late game.
Recruit the Worthy - Borderline - Obviously it raises in desireablity if a Swarm style deck that just nees to always have bodies arriving. But it is not Sprout Swarm, this cannot self-propetuate. 3w for a flash 1/1 is fine if you have nothing better to do; but then you have other problems. As for control, a slow stream of blockers is not moving the game forward and these tokens without pump are outclassed very fast.
Rhox Veteran - Staple - Combing Swarm needs with Aggro needs. Usually its tap ability is good on 3cc, but the body on 4cc is not enough. Here, the group pump combined with nullifying a blocker means damage in increasingly sinking in. And as a 2/4, it will take 2 bodies to kill in combat (1 will be tapped).
Settle Beyond Reality - Borderline - Almost always useful. And the ability to 2-for-1 make this solid. Sorcery drops the trick factor. But this is in the top Blink-style cards.
Stirring Address - Borderline - Compare to Borrowed Grace, and this helps more as a single pump that can anthem, as opposed to being used mostly for anthem.
Black Azra Smokeshaper - Borderline - Unlike other ninjas, this is a once and done ability. Great combat ability, but this has a few hoops to make it a 2-for-1, and even then it is just a 3/3 afterwards.
Defile - Cubeable - 1cc Removal that gets better the longer the game goes on. Unless you play heavy nonbasics, this will be better than Disfigure.
First-Sphere Gargantua- Staple - This is the true Pauper Phyrexian Gargantua. Having built-in value via Unearth means this fits decks that may have a self-discard theme, or just needing an extra push on a given post-death turn.
Gluttonous Slug - Cubeable - Early curve, evasive, and can potentially hit 3+ power. This is dangerous in arguably all but the slower decks.
Headless Specter - Cubeable - Pauper Hypnotic Specter. The ability is limited to being an aggressive candidate. But B/x aggro just got even more toys recently. Support for that, means this is an auto-include. Otherwise it is just a harder to cast Wind Drake
Ninja of the New Moon - Cubeable - While it is a vanilla Lava Axe ninja, it is a Lava Axe Ninja with only a single black in the Ninjitsu. Whether a curve-topper, or another step in a midrange stompy plan, this will hit hard once, reuse a smaller body, and then likely kill a blocker next turn. Ignoring a 6/3 is not a winning strategy. And the "haste" option really gives this a nice punch above what we'd expect for 3B mid-combat.
Rank Officer - Borderline - Good for aggro decks what need a late game outlet/finisher for their smaller bodies. The EtB is deceptive. But getting 5 power on the board for 3b is decent. Shame this things rear is so fragile it cannot block successfully.
Silumgar Scavenger - Cubeable - Likely going to be the largest black flying body to exist. Eating an outclassed body to get haste and soar over is much less expected in non-Red decks. This fits in non-Sacrifice decks too as it rewards alpha strike attacks by giving a threat that must be dealt with. Only the fastest, or most creature-lite, black decks do not want this.
Red Bogardan Dragonheart - Borderline - Definition of a Roleplayer. Some decks will love this aggro combo with a sac outlet. However, you generally are sacrificing a body to gain the flying BEFORE blockers, so this does open you up more than the "Rootwalla" abilities. Its best turn, no surprise is the turn it comes down and the Haste matters
Fists of Flame - Borderline - Somewhat unique in red cards, it draws a replacement, and can be boosted by other cards further. Most at home in R/U Spells-matter, but just fine in other midrange or aggro decks. Never dead is good in a combat trick.
Goblin Champion - Borderline - It fits the Aggro Red design, it is never really dead for the first few turns. However, once you look at swarm and decks that want multiple attackers, this loses some potency; as all aggressive 1cc do.
Goblin War Party - Borderline - Both options cost more than what already exist. And at 7cc Entwined, 3x 2/2 's will seldom swing the battle over an X-Spell.
Orcish Hellraiser - Borderline - Red's 3/2s are much more plentiful. Viashino Pyromancer with more reach, and more needs. It costing the next turns red source makes it a hard card to "curve out" with unless you have multiple 1-2cc cards ready.
Quakefoot Cyclops - Borderline - Lots of competition in Red for what a 5+ cost body should do. This is modal, and therefore never dead. But paying 5 for a 4/4 that doesn't attack now feels out of place for what we've come to expect. This is a fine curve-topper for X/r midrange-aggro as it does offer a hole.
Viashino Sandsprinter - Borderline - Never dead is an awesome trait. But in aggro red, the RR in the cost, you usually commit to a higher body count and expect your 3cc bodies to keep punching. Compare to Goblin Heelcutter.
GREEN Excavating Annurid - Cubeable - 5cc Green has a lot of solid options. This is closely compared to Tajuru Pathwarden meets Rhox Oracle. The abilites will trigger often enough, and the card draw and extra toughness may offset the loss of trample.
Mother Bear - Borderline - All the "exile from graveyard to make tokens" bodies are 'fine'. This gives more bodies. However, this only shines in Swarm and Sacrifice decks. And they seem to be excluding Green more and more.
Springbloom Druid - Borderline - Fixing and Ramp on a body is powerful. Being only a single green makes this useful in about any green deck. This has uses outside of just Ramp-style decks as it gives a body to block and recur while thinning/fixing.
Treefolk Umbra - Borderline - Only desirable if you want more Umbras. But aggressive decks want Moldervine Cloak and the Elephant Guide(if you allow), while Midrange probably needs more bodies or removal. It is really for Hexproof decks
Treetop Ambusher - Borderline - Green Dash. This is an aggressive modal body. It can be played on curve for its body, or as a topdeck to fiddle with combat math.
Trumpeting Herd - Borderline - Great value, but a pair of Hill Giants will only really swing games in Swarm decks, and there a GG mana cost may hinder its appeal.
Twin-Silk Spider - Borderline - Swarm usage. Not enough otherwise, it works for the Swarm Mirror Match, or Anti-Aggro. Sacrifice decks are ok with this, but it seems overcosted there.
Winding Way - Borderline - Better than Mulch or most other "reveal X, get all creatures". Directly competing with Grisly Salvage by upping raw power but slowing to Sorcery. Roleplayer in Graveyard cubes, and still good in any cube that likes Green Impulse effects.
BLUE Faerie Seer - Borderline - 1cc Flying and a pseudo-Cantrip (Scry 2 = Draw 1). It has many decks that would be ok playing it, but it does not define any if it is added.
Moonblade Shinobi - Borderline - The ability is cool. Repeating it takes some doing, but if you can get the extra value it will prove troublesome. Works better with auras or equipment to push it through. The ability cost, and the body size do not yield enough initially to make it an auto-include. Works great for recurring EtB bodies though.
Pondering Mage - Borderline - Lots of stiff competition at 5cc in Blue, and most of its competitors have flying. It is a fine card to use, but only if all the other Flying Draw/Scry have been exhausted. It is better in pure control as it holds the ground better.
Windcaller Aven - Borderline - Competes with Shimmerscale Drake and Shoreline Ranger All have their places. This is the strongest body, and has a cheaper cycling cost. But you will only have 0-2 of these high cost bodies in your 360 on average
LAND + ARTIFACT Cave of Temptation - Borderline - Replaces any Shimmering Grotto and has upsides in the later stages. Valid in higher land-count decks that likely play 3+ colors. Better in Sealed than Draft.
Fountain of Ichor - Bad - Seldom in pauper is there a "true" control deck with a need of a finisher. 3cc, and only giving back colorless should give more options than a mana sink 3/3. It can find a home, but Pristine Talisman would fit all those builds better first.
I feel like Trumpeting Herd and Pondering Mage atleast deserve to be cubeable. 6 power for 4 mana is a really good value. And if you get it on turn 3 with an elf, its even better. And the Mage is still a 3/4 body that can shuffle away dead cards, and then draw one. Its great with blinkers, like the new Ephemerate.
Have we updated the actual drop downs in awhile? I think we're missing stuff.
While I am attempting to make a Catch-up Update, is anyone able to make/work on a Downgrade Update? All the cards that have been taken from BORDERLINE-> BAD, etc. I do not think any really have won over a higher grade, but some have been outdated and should be lampooned; or Harpooned.
Cubable Law-Rune Enforcer – Colorless tapper is great and most threats would be 2 or more CMC anyways.
Borderline Loyal Sentry - Can be a nice defensive creature with pseudo-deathtouch for more controlling white decks. Does combo nicely with flicker effects. Healer's Hawk - Turn 1 Evasion and Lifelink on a small body is fine. Gets increasingly better with auras and equipment, especially when the opponent needs to spend removal to kill your 1 drop. Hunted Witness - a step down from Doomed Traveler. Lifelink on a 1/1 is more or less irrelevant unless you're also in black.
Cubable Fencing Ace On its own its strong enough and with some kind of pump it gets crazy. Only slightly worse then youthful knight.
Borderline Cavalry Drillmaster – a 2/1 that you almost always don’t want to cast on turn 2 to get the full effect. Wandering Champion – This is probably in the low mid-tier of 3/1s. Prowling Caracal - Another vanilla 3/1 to add to the stack. Syndicate Messenger – 2/3 flier that brings a spirit friend on death. War Screecher - Interesting for white weenie and go wide white decks. But costs a lot for the effect.
Cubable Trusted Pegasus /Heavenly Qilin – 2 power fliers that can jump another creature for 3CMC is a fine addition to most cubes. Martyr's Soul - Swarm, and Aggro really like this body. It also works with mana rocks. Not likely to be a Turn 3 5/4, but poses a threat at that size before the late game.
Borderline Geist of the Moors - 3 power combined with evasion makes for a solid card in an aggressive color. Sergeant-at-Arms – 4/5 worth of stats, on 3 bodies can be good. But the cost (3 mana kicker) is expensive. And on its own it’s only a 2/3. Aurora Champion - A decent warrior payoff if you want make it a small subtheme of your cube. Trusty Packbeast – Great for artifact based cubes. Else it’s just a 2/3 with a rare upside. Tethmos High Priest Although with some jumps you can make the card work, I don’t think the archetype is dense enough right now to go off. Rising Populace - Not specially bad... but needs the right archetype for use it. Makeshift battalion – a 3/2 that can get bigger is interesting, but takes some effort to get it going. Great flavor though.
Staple Rhox Veteran - Combing Swarm needs with Aggro needs. Usually its tap ability is good on 3cc, but the body on 4cc is not enough. Here, the group pump combined with nullifying a blocker means damage in increasingly sinking in. And as a 2/4, it will take 2 bodies to kill in combat (1 will be tapped).
Borderline Skystreamer – 3 power flier with a decent lifegain EtB effect. Skyspear Cavalry. The way double strike works it’s not a 4/2 first strike which at least would be a beast in combat. And toughness 2 on a 5 drop is also too fragile. Enforcer Griffin – 3/4 flier for 5 isn’t bad stats, but there are better options than the vanilla. Knight of Old Benalia - Ampryn Tactician but with a 'Mail Order' option. If you like Swarm, this is better. But there are a host of bodies like this with their own quirks. Either you like EtB anthem bodies, or you don't; this is just a difference in timing.
Borderline Watchful Giant – 4/7 worth of stats, for 6CMC is decent, but there are better options.
Bad Loxodon Restorer – 3/4 with an EtB life gain, but for 6 mana it’s too much. Bulwark Giant – 5 life is not enough to make this mediocre giant worth it.
Cubable Ephemerate - Mono Momentary Blink, or close enough. While not as opportune as flashback, rebound gets a second use for no extra mana. Any deck with 3+ EtB creatures starts to see this gain value. If Blink Archtype is in your cube, this will be an auto-include.
Borderline Recruit the Worthy - Obviously it raises in desirability if a Swarm style deck that just needs to always have bodies arriving. But it is not Sprout Swarm, this cannot self-perpetuate. 3w for a flash 1/1 is fine if you have nothing better to do; but then you have other problems. As for control, a slow stream of blockers is not moving the game forward and these tokens without pump are outclassed very fast.
Borderline Take Vengeance – Restrictive removal. 2 CMC isn’t bad, but better choices are available. Stirring Address - Compare to Borrowed Grace, and this helps more as a single pump that can anthem, as opposed to being used mostly for anthem.
Borderline Dragon's Presence – 5 damage makes it interesting, but Gideon's Reproach does basically the same thing for one less mana. Answered Prayers - 3cc is a sweet spot. Turning into a Sorcery-proof 3/3 Flyer, awesome. Gaining incremental life always, cool. But a 3/3 that cannot block means this is an aggro-favored card. But it only is a sometimes attacker, and does not really affect the board unless you have a more swarm-heavy design. Still a card that will usually find a home. WW slows the enthusiasm
Borderline Call the Cavalry - two, 2/2 bodies is good. But it’s outclassed in white, where better options are available. Resurrection - This does put the number of rez effects up to three in white (Breath of Life and False Defeat at common online) but you really need to hit an ETB creature to get value from it.
Borderline Mammoth Umbra – Creates a large body, but vigilance isn’t necessary on a such a big body. An there are cheaper aura’s that do the same nearly the same effect. Settle Beyond Reality - Almost always useful. And the ability to 2-for-1 make this solid. Sorcery drops the trick factor. But this is in the top Blink-style cards.
I'm on board with your list of staple/cubable. Its hard to tell on the borderline cards. Some are "just a smidge short of cubable" while others are more like "I guess I wouldn't object too much if someone insisted on cubing this"
I'm on board with your list of staple/cubable. Its hard to tell on the borderline cards. Some are "just a smidge short of cubable" while others are more like "I guess I wouldn't object too much if someone insisted on cubing this"
Yeah, i agree. That happened when pulling from across sets, from multiple people. Not many had well defined cubable/borderline lists. So I was trying to compile rather than rerate. But if it's not quite cubeable, then it's not cubeable. ¯\_('-')_/¯ We have to draw line in sand. And I think that a lot of borderline card in the full evaluation are like this. I welcome discussion.
And good catch on messanger. Just copy/paste slip up.
Looking at it, i dont know if i like Gluttonous Slug at cubeable. It forces you to play creatures before attacking, and even if you curve perfectly it's still only 2 power on turn 4. Is that really better than a 2 or 3 power menace creature on turn 2&3? And it's a horrible top deck.
Looking at it, i dont know if i like Gluttonous Slug at cubeable. It forces you to play creatures before attacking, and even if you curve perfectly it's still only 2 power on turn 4. Is that really better than a 2 or 3 power menace creature on turn 2&3? And it's a horrible top deck.
I'm not convinced either but it seems like some people will be trying it out so with some testing we should be able to settle the question.
Borderline Gearsmith Prodigy – For artifact based cubes, it’s a 2/2 for 1CMC. Else it’s unexciting. Artificer's Assistant – For artifact based cubes, it can help set up your draws. But it’s still just a 1/1 flier. Faerie Seer - 1cc Flying and a pseudo-Cantrip (Scry 2 = Draw 1). It has many decks that would be ok playing it, but it does not define any if it is added
Borderline Relic Runner – can get in some damage in artifact cubes, else don’t bother. Passwall Adept – Interesting effect, but it costs a lot and really only shines with another good creature. Vedalken Mesmerist – Sort of like a tapper, able to get past some potential blockers. But any two creature can gang up on this and kill it. Faerie Duelist – Interesting effect that can cause a 2-for-1, but it’s hard to set that up and otherwise it’s just a 1/2 flier. Sage's Row Savant – a 2 drop that smooths out your draws, but the 1 toughness is problematic.
Staple Cloudkin Seer – An evasive 2 power flier is already worth playing. But one that draws you a card is rare treat.
Borderline Nine-Tail White Fox – Functional reprint of Stealer of Secrets Aven Wind Mage - A side-graded Jeskai Windscout that's a lot better against pingers, but worse by not having actual prowess. Scholar of Stars – In an artifact based cube, this is a solid blue body that draws you a card. Else it’s over costed. Aviation Pioneer – A blue token maker, but there are better options of Eldrazi Skyspawner and Aven Eternal. Dimir Informant – Not a bad roadblock for the early game. But blue’s 3CMC are stacked. If it cost one less… but right now It's a stretch. Spellkeeper Weird - Unboltable blocker which gets you something out of the grave when it’s done with its value. But as stated, blue’s 3s are stacked.
Bad Soaring Show-Off – Giving your opponent a card is not worth it.
Borderline Homarid Explorer – A Hill Giant that helps fill the graveyard (or theoretical mill) based themes, but still not great. Saltwater Stalwart – Great effect, but typically needs some help to consistently hit an opponent (it doesn’t fair well against two 2/2s for instance). Skitter Eel – A Hill Giant that can get bigger at instant speed. But 7 mana for a 5/5 is a lot, even in blue. Thunder Drake – good for the spells matter decks. Needs a little effort and then it’s a serviceable flier. Moonblade Shinobi - The ability is cool. Repeating it takes some doing, but if you can get the extra value it will prove troublesome. Works better with auras or equipment to push it through. The ability cost, and the body size do not yield enough initially to make it an auto-include. Works great for recurring EtB bodies though.
Cubeable Cloudreader Sphinx – 3/4 flier that also Scrys 2 when EtB, which is almost a card at this stage of the game. Watcher in the Mist – 3/4 flier that Surveils 2 when EtB, which is also interesting letting you get rid of unwanted cards to the yard.
Borderline Chillbringer – 3/3 flying Frost Lynx effect is a powerful tempo play. Can hold back two attackers for a bit, or provide an opening to attack. Pondering Mage - Lots of stiff competition at 5cc in Blue, and most of its competitors have flying. But being able to ponder, and draw a card is powerful. It can also be blinked for great value. Salvager of Secrets – Basically a monocolored Izzet Chronarch. Being less color restrictive and able to be put into a lot more effects for those who want this type of creature makes this decent. Boreal Elemental – A 3/4 flier that’s harder to kill, but nothing else, no EtB effects.
Borderline Windcaller Aven – Competes with Shimmerscale Drake and Shoreline Ranger All have their places. This is the strongest body, and has a cheaper cycling cost. But you will only have 0-2 of these high cost bodies in your 360 on average
Borderline Arcane Flight – Giving something flying and +1/+1 is good for 1CMC, but at the cost of a card and leaves you open to 2 for 1s.
Cubeable Winged Words – Divination is acceptable, but with all the blue fliers in cubes, this will often be a 2 mana draw 2.
Borderline Quench – Close enough to Mana Leak, that you shouldn’t have trouble setting up a counter. Blink of an Eye – Functional reprint of Into the Roil Slimebind – the flash makes this effect very flexible. But it’s not premium removal by any means. Kasmina's Transmutation – A different type of removal, but leaving behind a 1/1 isn’t ideal compared to straight to removal. Teferi's Time Twist – A serviceable blink effect. But to really make it worth it, it need to be used in response to a removal.
Bad Scour All Possibilities – Deep Analysis and Think Twice exist. Sorcery speed and a drastic cost on the flashback nullify the advantage of double use.
Borderline Unwind – A “free” counter, but still requires you to hold up 3 mana, which can be a lot especially if they don’t do anything. No Escape – Worse than Exclude but if you’re really tight on counters it’ll do.
Borderline Capture Sphere – The flash almost pushes this to cubeable, but 4CMC is a lot to pay for this type of removal. Foil – Free spells are interesting, but 3-for-1ing yourself is a tough spot. Unless you have some major graveyard synergies going, it’s probably not worth it.
I appreciate that you were conservative in handing out "Cubeable" for blue (except for 5 cmc, which is a strange place to have a glut)
I haven't seen many Cubes with Neurok Invismancer in them, making me wonder about Phantom Ninja. Conceptually I like the idea.
Thanks for looking it over. To be honest, I've done very few ratings myself. I've been scouring our other pages for ratings, and often directly taking the descriptions as well (e.g. humphrey, hydra, yourself). I try to give a quick scan to the card list and see if theres anything we missed and compare it to the current list (how I got ninja). So credit goes to everyone.
Looking at it, i dont know if i like Gluttonous Slug at cubeable. It forces you to play creatures before attacking, and even if you curve perfectly it's still only 2 power on turn 4. Is that really better than a 2 or 3 power menace creature on turn 2&3? And it's a horrible top deck.
I'm not convinced either but it seems like some people will be trying it out so with some testing we should be able to settle the question.
we already know how evolve plays and its that good
What we do not know is the Menace + Evolve combo, let alone in a X/b or B/x Aggro/Tempo build. But I almost feel it is just beneath a necessity. Menace and out of Bolt range quickly, coupled with easy of play... I REALLY like it
I will let MrEng1neer handle the compilation. But I strongly disagree with the glut at Blue's Cubeable level. If it doesn't Fly AND Handle drawing, it is not able to compete with those that do.
I would never take the Mage of Chillbringer over the Watcher or Sphinx
As an aside: Blue 2cmc- Quench is a much worse Miscalculation. Which makes it Borderlin; imo. 1U counters are probably the only really playable 2cmc ones. But Mana Leak and Miscalc set the bar high with Mem Lapse and Arcan being able to work somewhere between
I will let MrEng1neer handle the compilation. But I strongly disagree with the glut at Blue's Cubeable level. If it doesn't Fly AND Handle drawing, it is not able to compete with those that do.
I would never take the Mage of Chillbringer over the Watcher or Sphinx
As an aside: Blue 2cmc- Quench is a much worse Miscalculation. Which makes it Borderlin; imo. 1U counters are probably the only really playable 2cmc ones. But Mana Leak and Miscalc set the bar high with Mem Lapse and Arcan being able to work somewhere between
This is why I wanted others to to chime in. My feeling of cards are not the only ones that should be considered. i can knockdown the ratings.
I'll continue to work on them. But if the weekend draws near and im not finish, i may ask for help (guild or artifacts likely)
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So RIP MTGS. Hopefully we will find another place to have a Paupercorner?
Forum goes in read only mode, so nothing is really lost.
Well, a lot if it went with that owner transition and now they shut it down. Great!
T2 powpercube Value https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
@Night_Hydra: Do you have a link for that Discord server?
Or are you interested in a Fiora flavor cube? Conspire and win!
Level 2 Judge
https://discordapp.com/invite/VnvEvft
T2 powpercube Value https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Edit. LoL don't know what happened to my account, nvm.
theyre totally hyped for this pretty mediocre card lol.
its definitely not a good place to gather tbh.
im k4yr4h there btw.
T2 powpercube Value https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Loose Change Pauper Cube-cast
Pauper Cube Article #1
Pauper Cube Article #2
Personal Enjoyment Cube
WHITE
Answered Prayers - Borderline - 3cc is a sweet spot. Turning into a Sorcery-proof 3/3 Flyer, awesome. Gaining incrimental life always, cool. But a 3/3 that cannot block means this is an aggro-favored card. But it only is a sometimes attacker, and does not really affect the board unless you have a more swarm-heavy design. Still a card that will usually find a home. WW slows the enthusiasm
Ephemerate - Cubeable - Mono Momentary Blink, or close enough. While not as opportune as flashback, rebound gets a second use for no extra mana. Any deck with 3+ EtB creatures starts to see this gain value. If Blink Archtype is in your cube, this will be an auto-include
Knight of Old Benalia - Borderline - Ampryn Tactician but with a 'Mail Order' option. If you like Swarm, this is better. But there are a host of bodies like this with their own quirks. Either you like EtB anthem bodies, or you don't; this is just a difference in timing.
Martyr's Soul - Cubeable - Swarm, and Aggro really like this body. It also works with mana rocks. Not likely to be a Turn 3 5/4, but poses a threat at that size before the late game.
Recruit the Worthy - Borderline - Obviously it raises in desireablity if a Swarm style deck that just nees to always have bodies arriving. But it is not Sprout Swarm, this cannot self-propetuate. 3w for a flash 1/1 is fine if you have nothing better to do; but then you have other problems. As for control, a slow stream of blockers is not moving the game forward and these tokens without pump are outclassed very fast.
Rhox Veteran - Staple - Combing Swarm needs with Aggro needs. Usually its tap ability is good on 3cc, but the body on 4cc is not enough. Here, the group pump combined with nullifying a blocker means damage in increasingly sinking in. And as a 2/4, it will take 2 bodies to kill in combat (1 will be tapped).
Settle Beyond Reality - Borderline - Almost always useful. And the ability to 2-for-1 make this solid. Sorcery drops the trick factor. But this is in the top Blink-style cards.
Stirring Address - Borderline - Compare to Borrowed Grace, and this helps more as a single pump that can anthem, as opposed to being used mostly for anthem.
Black
Azra Smokeshaper - Borderline - Unlike other ninjas, this is a once and done ability. Great combat ability, but this has a few hoops to make it a 2-for-1, and even then it is just a 3/3 afterwards.
Defile - Cubeable - 1cc Removal that gets better the longer the game goes on. Unless you play heavy nonbasics, this will be better than Disfigure.
First-Sphere Gargantua- Staple - This is the true Pauper Phyrexian Gargantua. Having built-in value via Unearth means this fits decks that may have a self-discard theme, or just needing an extra push on a given post-death turn.
Gluttonous Slug - Cubeable - Early curve, evasive, and can potentially hit 3+ power. This is dangerous in arguably all but the slower decks.
Headless Specter - Cubeable - Pauper Hypnotic Specter. The ability is limited to being an aggressive candidate. But B/x aggro just got even more toys recently. Support for that, means this is an auto-include. Otherwise it is just a harder to cast Wind Drake
Ninja of the New Moon - Cubeable - While it is a vanilla Lava Axe ninja, it is a Lava Axe Ninja with only a single black in the Ninjitsu. Whether a curve-topper, or another step in a midrange stompy plan, this will hit hard once, reuse a smaller body, and then likely kill a blocker next turn. Ignoring a 6/3 is not a winning strategy. And the "haste" option really gives this a nice punch above what we'd expect for 3B mid-combat.
Rank Officer - Borderline - Good for aggro decks what need a late game outlet/finisher for their smaller bodies. The EtB is deceptive. But getting 5 power on the board for 3b is decent. Shame this things rear is so fragile it cannot block successfully.
Silumgar Scavenger - Cubeable - Likely going to be the largest black flying body to exist. Eating an outclassed body to get haste and soar over is much less expected in non-Red decks. This fits in non-Sacrifice decks too as it rewards alpha strike attacks by giving a threat that must be dealt with. Only the fastest, or most creature-lite, black decks do not want this.
Red
Bogardan Dragonheart - Borderline - Definition of a Roleplayer. Some decks will love this aggro combo with a sac outlet. However, you generally are sacrificing a body to gain the flying BEFORE blockers, so this does open you up more than the "Rootwalla" abilities. Its best turn, no surprise is the turn it comes down and the Haste matters
Fists of Flame - Borderline - Somewhat unique in red cards, it draws a replacement, and can be boosted by other cards further. Most at home in R/U Spells-matter, but just fine in other midrange or aggro decks. Never dead is good in a combat trick.
Goblin Champion - Borderline - It fits the Aggro Red design, it is never really dead for the first few turns. However, once you look at swarm and decks that want multiple attackers, this loses some potency; as all aggressive 1cc do.
Goblin War Party - Borderline - Both options cost more than what already exist. And at 7cc Entwined, 3x 2/2 's will seldom swing the battle over an X-Spell.
Orcish Hellraiser - Borderline - Red's 3/2s are much more plentiful. Viashino Pyromancer with more reach, and more needs. It costing the next turns red source makes it a hard card to "curve out" with unless you have multiple 1-2cc cards ready.
Quakefoot Cyclops - Borderline - Lots of competition in Red for what a 5+ cost body should do. This is modal, and therefore never dead. But paying 5 for a 4/4 that doesn't attack now feels out of place for what we've come to expect. This is a fine curve-topper for X/r midrange-aggro as it does offer a hole.
Viashino Sandsprinter - Borderline - Never dead is an awesome trait. But in aggro red, the RR in the cost, you usually commit to a higher body count and expect your 3cc bodies to keep punching. Compare to Goblin Heelcutter.
GREEN
Excavating Annurid - Cubeable - 5cc Green has a lot of solid options. This is closely compared to Tajuru Pathwarden meets Rhox Oracle. The abilites will trigger often enough, and the card draw and extra toughness may offset the loss of trample.
Mother Bear - Borderline - All the "exile from graveyard to make tokens" bodies are 'fine'. This gives more bodies. However, this only shines in Swarm and Sacrifice decks. And they seem to be excluding Green more and more.
Springbloom Druid - Borderline - Fixing and Ramp on a body is powerful. Being only a single green makes this useful in about any green deck. This has uses outside of just Ramp-style decks as it gives a body to block and recur while thinning/fixing.
Treefolk Umbra - Borderline - Only desirable if you want more Umbras. But aggressive decks want Moldervine Cloak and the Elephant Guide(if you allow), while Midrange probably needs more bodies or removal. It is really for Hexproof decks
Treetop Ambusher - Borderline - Green Dash. This is an aggressive modal body. It can be played on curve for its body, or as a topdeck to fiddle with combat math.
Trumpeting Herd - Borderline - Great value, but a pair of Hill Giants will only really swing games in Swarm decks, and there a GG mana cost may hinder its appeal.
Twin-Silk Spider - Borderline - Swarm usage. Not enough otherwise, it works for the Swarm Mirror Match, or Anti-Aggro. Sacrifice decks are ok with this, but it seems overcosted there.
Winding Way - Borderline - Better than Mulch or most other "reveal X, get all creatures". Directly competing with Grisly Salvage by upping raw power but slowing to Sorcery. Roleplayer in Graveyard cubes, and still good in any cube that likes Green Impulse effects.
BLUE
Faerie Seer - Borderline - 1cc Flying and a pseudo-Cantrip (Scry 2 = Draw 1). It has many decks that would be ok playing it, but it does not define any if it is added.
Moonblade Shinobi - Borderline - The ability is cool. Repeating it takes some doing, but if you can get the extra value it will prove troublesome. Works better with auras or equipment to push it through. The ability cost, and the body size do not yield enough initially to make it an auto-include. Works great for recurring EtB bodies though.
Pondering Mage - Borderline - Lots of stiff competition at 5cc in Blue, and most of its competitors have flying. It is a fine card to use, but only if all the other Flying Draw/Scry have been exhausted. It is better in pure control as it holds the ground better.
Rain of Revelation - Cubeable - Invalidates Sift, and Enhanced Awareness. Opens up trickiness and deep digging for any deck splashing blue.
Scour All Possibilities - Bad - Deep Analysis and Think Twice exist. Sorcery speed and a drastic cost on the flashback nullify the advantage of double use.
Windcaller Aven - Borderline - Competes with Shimmerscale Drake and Shoreline Ranger All have their places. This is the strongest body, and has a cheaper cycling cost. But you will only have 0-2 of these high cost bodies in your 360 on average
LAND + ARTIFACT
Cave of Temptation - Borderline - Replaces any Shimmering Grotto and has upsides in the later stages. Valid in higher land-count decks that likely play 3+ colors. Better in Sealed than Draft.
Fountain of Ichor - Bad - Seldom in pauper is there a "true" control deck with a need of a finisher. 3cc, and only giving back colorless should give more options than a mana sink 3/3. It can find a home, but Pristine Talisman would fit all those builds better first.
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T2 powpercube Value https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
Have we updated the actual drop downs in awhile? I think we're missing stuff.
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Staple
Savannah Lions - Group with the similar Elite Vanguard
Cubable
Law-Rune Enforcer – Colorless tapper is great and most threats would be 2 or more CMC anyways.
Borderline
Loyal Sentry - Can be a nice defensive creature with pseudo-deathtouch for more controlling white decks. Does combo nicely with flicker effects.
Healer's Hawk - Turn 1 Evasion and Lifelink on a small body is fine. Gets increasingly better with auras and equipment, especially when the opponent needs to spend removal to kill your 1 drop.
Hunted Witness - a step down from Doomed Traveler. Lifelink on a 1/1 is more or less irrelevant unless you're also in black.
Cubable
Fencing Ace On its own its strong enough and with some kind of pump it gets crazy. Only slightly worse then youthful knight.
Borderline
Cavalry Drillmaster – a 2/1 that you almost always don’t want to cast on turn 2 to get the full effect.
Wandering Champion – This is probably in the low mid-tier of 3/1s.
Prowling Caracal - Another vanilla 3/1 to add to the stack.
Syndicate Messenger – 2/3 flier that brings a spirit friend on death.
War Screecher - Interesting for white weenie and go wide white decks. But costs a lot for the effect.
Cubable
Trusted Pegasus /Heavenly Qilin – 2 power fliers that can jump another creature for 3CMC is a fine addition to most cubes.
Martyr's Soul - Swarm, and Aggro really like this body. It also works with mana rocks. Not likely to be a Turn 3 5/4, but poses a threat at that size before the late game.
Borderline
Geist of the Moors - 3 power combined with evasion makes for a solid card in an aggressive color.
Sergeant-at-Arms – 4/5 worth of stats, on 3 bodies can be good. But the cost (3 mana kicker) is expensive. And on its own it’s only a 2/3.
Aurora Champion - A decent warrior payoff if you want make it a small subtheme of your cube.
Trusty Packbeast – Great for artifact based cubes. Else it’s just a 2/3 with a rare upside.
Tethmos High Priest Although with some jumps you can make the card work, I don’t think the archetype is dense enough right now to go off.
Rising Populace - Not specially bad... but needs the right archetype for use it.
Makeshift battalion – a 3/2 that can get bigger is interesting, but takes some effort to get it going. Great flavor though.
Staple
Rhox Veteran - Combing Swarm needs with Aggro needs. Usually its tap ability is good on 3cc, but the body on 4cc is not enough. Here, the group pump combined with nullifying a blocker means damage in increasingly sinking in. And as a 2/4, it will take 2 bodies to kill in combat (1 will be tapped).
Borderline
Gallant Cavalry - two, 2/2 bodies is good. Better in that it can be blinked. But it’s outclassed.
Star-Crowned Stag – there are better cheaper tappers for the same effect. See Territorial Hammerskull or Master of Diversion
Parhelion Patrol - Similar to Abzan Skycaptain except with 1 more toughness, vigilance, and a worse ability. Instead of giving 2 +1/+1 counters on your lowest toughness creature, puts 1 on an attacker with 1 or less power. Probably balances out.
Ledev Guardian - potentially has a spot as another pseudo-Acridian /Colossodon Yearling.
Lotus-Eye Mystics – Interesting in a heavy enchantment matters theme, but it’s an overpriced effect.
Earth-Origin Yak - Another Amperian Tactician, but different stats.
Civic Stalwart – Another Amperian Tactician
Cubable
Angel of the Dawn – Functional reprint of Dawnfeather Eagle. But arguably better art.
Borderline
Skystreamer – 3 power flier with a decent lifegain EtB effect.
Skyspear Cavalry. The way double strike works it’s not a 4/2 first strike which at least would be a beast in combat. And toughness 2 on a 5 drop is also too fragile.
Enforcer Griffin – 3/4 flier for 5 isn’t bad stats, but there are better options than the vanilla.
Knight of Old Benalia - Ampryn Tactician but with a 'Mail Order' option. If you like Swarm, this is better. But there are a host of bodies like this with their own quirks. Either you like EtB anthem bodies, or you don't; this is just a difference in timing.
Borderline
Watchful Giant – 4/7 worth of stats, for 6CMC is decent, but there are better options.
Bad
Loxodon Restorer – 3/4 with an EtB life gain, but for 6 mana it’s too much.
Bulwark Giant – 5 life is not enough to make this mediocre giant worth it.
Cubable
Ephemerate - Mono Momentary Blink, or close enough. While not as opportune as flashback, rebound gets a second use for no extra mana. Any deck with 3+ EtB creatures starts to see this gain value. If Blink Archtype is in your cube, this will be an auto-include.
Borderline
Recruit the Worthy - Obviously it raises in desirability if a Swarm style deck that just needs to always have bodies arriving. But it is not Sprout Swarm, this cannot self-perpetuate. 3w for a flash 1/1 is fine if you have nothing better to do; but then you have other problems. As for control, a slow stream of blockers is not moving the game forward and these tokens without pump are outclassed very fast.
Bad
Gideon's Sacrifice – Two for one-ing yourself is never a good idea.
Borderline
Take Vengeance – Restrictive removal. 2 CMC isn’t bad, but better choices are available.
Stirring Address - Compare to Borrowed Grace, and this helps more as a single pump that can anthem, as opposed to being used mostly for anthem.
Bad
Summary Judgment – Too many restrictions. If you need tapped removal, use Take Vengeance
Borderline
Dragon's Presence – 5 damage makes it interesting, but Gideon's Reproach does basically the same thing for one less mana.
Answered Prayers - 3cc is a sweet spot. Turning into a Sorcery-proof 3/3 Flyer, awesome. Gaining incremental life always, cool. But a 3/3 that cannot block means this is an aggro-favored card. But it only is a sometimes attacker, and does not really affect the board unless you have a more swarm-heavy design. Still a card that will usually find a home. WW slows the enthusiasm
Borderline
Call the Cavalry - two, 2/2 bodies is good. But it’s outclassed in white, where better options are available.
Resurrection - This does put the number of rez effects up to three in white (Breath of Life and False Defeat at common online) but you really need to hit an ETB creature to get value from it.
Borderline
Mammoth Umbra – Creates a large body, but vigilance isn’t necessary on a such a big body. An there are cheaper aura’s that do the same nearly the same effect.
Settle Beyond Reality - Almost always useful. And the ability to 2-for-1 make this solid. Sorcery drops the trick factor. But this is in the top Blink-style cards.
Borderline
Nothing Here
Syndicate Messenger is 4cmc not 2
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Yeah, i agree. That happened when pulling from across sets, from multiple people. Not many had well defined cubable/borderline lists. So I was trying to compile rather than rerate. But if it's not quite cubeable, then it's not cubeable. ¯\_('-')_/¯ We have to draw line in sand. And I think that a lot of borderline card in the full evaluation are like this. I welcome discussion.
And good catch on messanger. Just copy/paste slip up.
I'm not convinced either but it seems like some people will be trying it out so with some testing we should be able to settle the question.
Borderline
Gearsmith Prodigy – For artifact based cubes, it’s a 2/2 for 1CMC. Else it’s unexciting.
Artificer's Assistant – For artifact based cubes, it can help set up your draws. But it’s still just a 1/1 flier.
Faerie Seer - 1cc Flying and a pseudo-Cantrip (Scry 2 = Draw 1). It has many decks that would be ok playing it, but it does not define any if it is added
Borderline
Relic Runner – can get in some damage in artifact cubes, else don’t bother.
Passwall Adept – Interesting effect, but it costs a lot and really only shines with another good creature.
Vedalken Mesmerist – Sort of like a tapper, able to get past some potential blockers. But any two creature can gang up on this and kill it.
Faerie Duelist – Interesting effect that can cause a 2-for-1, but it’s hard to set that up and otherwise it’s just a 1/2 flier.
Sage's Row Savant – a 2 drop that smooths out your draws, but the 1 toughness is problematic.
Staple
Cloudkin Seer – An evasive 2 power flier is already worth playing. But one that draws you a card is rare treat.
Cubeable
Aven Eternal – A 2/2 flier that brings a friend. Like Eldrazi skyspawner with no ramp potential, but not pingable.
Phantom Ninja – A Phantom Warrior, not far off from Neurok Invisimancer
Borderline
Nine-Tail White Fox – Functional reprint of Stealer of Secrets
Aven Wind Mage - A side-graded Jeskai Windscout that's a lot better against pingers, but worse by not having actual prowess.
Scholar of Stars – In an artifact based cube, this is a solid blue body that draws you a card. Else it’s over costed.
Aviation Pioneer – A blue token maker, but there are better options of Eldrazi Skyspawner and Aven Eternal.
Dimir Informant – Not a bad roadblock for the early game. But blue’s 3CMC are stacked. If it cost one less… but right now It's a stretch.
Spellkeeper Weird - Unboltable blocker which gets you something out of the grave when it’s done with its value. But as stated, blue’s 3s are stacked.
Bad
Soaring Show-Off – Giving your opponent a card is not worth it.
Borderline
Homarid Explorer – A Hill Giant that helps fill the graveyard (or theoretical mill) based themes, but still not great.
Saltwater Stalwart – Great effect, but typically needs some help to consistently hit an opponent (it doesn’t fair well against two 2/2s for instance).
Skitter Eel – A Hill Giant that can get bigger at instant speed. But 7 mana for a 5/5 is a lot, even in blue.
Thunder Drake – good for the spells matter decks. Needs a little effort and then it’s a serviceable flier.
Moonblade Shinobi - The ability is cool. Repeating it takes some doing, but if you can get the extra value it will prove troublesome. Works better with auras or equipment to push it through. The ability cost, and the body size do not yield enough initially to make it an auto-include. Works great for recurring EtB bodies though.
Cubeable
Cloudreader Sphinx – 3/4 flier that also Scrys 2 when EtB, which is almost a card at this stage of the game.
Watcher in the Mist – 3/4 flier that Surveils 2 when EtB, which is also interesting letting you get rid of unwanted cards to the yard.
Borderline
Chillbringer – 3/3 flying Frost Lynx effect is a powerful tempo play. Can hold back two attackers for a bit, or provide an opening to attack.
Pondering Mage - Lots of stiff competition at 5cc in Blue, and most of its competitors have flying. But being able to ponder, and draw a card is powerful. It can also be blinked for great value.
Salvager of Secrets – Basically a monocolored Izzet Chronarch. Being less color restrictive and able to be put into a lot more effects for those who want this type of creature makes this decent.
Boreal Elemental – A 3/4 flier that’s harder to kill, but nothing else, no EtB effects.
Borderline
Windcaller Aven – Competes with Shimmerscale Drake and Shoreline Ranger All have their places. This is the strongest body, and has a cheaper cycling cost. But you will only have 0-2 of these high cost bodies in your 360 on average
Borderline
Arcane Flight – Giving something flying and +1/+1 is good for 1CMC, but at the cost of a card and leaves you open to 2 for 1s.
Cubeable
Winged Words – Divination is acceptable, but with all the blue fliers in cubes, this will often be a 2 mana draw 2.
Borderline
Quench – Close enough to Mana Leak, that you shouldn’t have trouble setting up a counter.
Blink of an Eye – Functional reprint of Into the Roil
Slimebind – the flash makes this effect very flexible. But it’s not premium removal by any means.
Kasmina's Transmutation – A different type of removal, but leaving behind a 1/1 isn’t ideal compared to straight to removal.
Teferi's Time Twist – A serviceable blink effect. But to really make it worth it, it need to be used in response to a removal.
Bad
Scour All Possibilities – Deep Analysis and Think Twice exist. Sorcery speed and a drastic cost on the flashback nullify the advantage of double use.
Borderline
Unwind – A “free” counter, but still requires you to hold up 3 mana, which can be a lot especially if they don’t do anything.
No Escape – Worse than Exclude but if you’re really tight on counters it’ll do.
Cubeable
Tamiyo's Epiphany – Functional copy of Foresee
Rain of Revelation - Invalidates Sift, and Enhanced Awareness. Opens up trickiness and deep digging for any deck splashing blue.
Borderline
Capture Sphere – The flash almost pushes this to cubeable, but 4CMC is a lot to pay for this type of removal.
Foil – Free spells are interesting, but 3-for-1ing yourself is a tough spot. Unless you have some major graveyard synergies going, it’s probably not worth it.
Nothing Here
Nothing Here
I haven't seen many Cubes with Neurok Invismancer in them, making me wonder about Phantom Ninja. Conceptually I like the idea.
Thanks for looking it over. To be honest, I've done very few ratings myself. I've been scouring our other pages for ratings, and often directly taking the descriptions as well (e.g. humphrey, hydra, yourself). I try to give a quick scan to the card list and see if theres anything we missed and compare it to the current list (how I got ninja). So credit goes to everyone.
we already know how evolve plays and its that good
T2 powpercube Value https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/37t
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I would never take the Mage of Chillbringer over the Watcher or Sphinx
As an aside: Blue 2cmc- Quench is a much worse Miscalculation. Which makes it Borderlin; imo. 1U counters are probably the only really playable 2cmc ones. But Mana Leak and Miscalc set the bar high with Mem Lapse and Arcan being able to work somewhere between
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This is why I wanted others to to chime in. My feeling of cards are not the only ones that should be considered. i can knockdown the ratings.
I'll continue to work on them. But if the weekend draws near and im not finish, i may ask for help (guild or artifacts likely)