Cube Maxim
I aim to create the most fun, exciting, powerful and balanced custom limited environment
that I can for my playgroup within the confines of a Vintage legal and Singleton legal frame.
that I can for my playgroup within the confines of a Vintage legal and Singleton legal frame.
Basic Info
Cube Size: 450 Cards
Breakdown: 55 Each Color, 105 Guild/Multicolor, 70 Colorless
Standard or Theme Cube: Standard
Average Draft: 3-6 players
Cube CMC: 2.762
Design Restrictions
Powered?: Yes
Vintage Legal?: Yes
Singleton Legal?: Yes
The only cards I ban from the cube are cards that aren't Vintage legal (Ante cards, Dexterity cards, Un- Cards, Conspiracies & Holiday Promos, etc), cards that can't function within all game types (like draft manipulators that are blanks in Sealed Deck, or cards that would require a commander to function, etc) and cards thar reference "outside of the game" as a zone (Wishes, Companions, etc).
Color Balance?: Yes
Guild Balance?: Yes
Mana Support?: No
Mana Support?: No
Other Info
Here's a link to the cube on CubeCobra if you want to mock draft it:
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/wtwlf123
I wrote a cube article about the fundamental cube design questions, and how I decided to build my cube to cater to my playgroup. The article was designed to help those folks that are still in the incipient phase of cube building, and may need some pointers on how to balance the cube for smoother drafts and gameplay. But hopefully even the veteran cube managers can find at least some useful information on how to streamline the cube and better enable aggressive archetypes. Here's a link:
"Cube Design Philosophy"
I also wrote an article that deals with managing your manabase when cubing, and the impact those mana demands have on drafting, deck-building and constructing the cube. Here's a link to that one:
"Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
Feel free to post comments on the article page or here in this thread with any questions or comments!
Additionally, I've written some Set Reviews in the form of top 20 countdowns based on set previews. Note, these are written as set previews, not necessarily set reviews, but here's the links to them anyways:
My Review #01 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from AVR!
My Review #02 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from M13!
My Review #03 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from RTR!
My Review #04 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from GTC!
My Review #05 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from DGM!
My Review #06 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from M14!
My Review #07 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from THS!
My Review #08 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from BNG!
My Review #09 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from JOU!
My Review #10 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from M15!
My Review #11 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from KTK!
My Review #12 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from FRF!
My Review #13 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from DTK!
My Review #14 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from ORI!
My Review #15 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from BFZ!
My Review #16 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OGW!
My Review #17 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from SOI!
My Review #18 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from EMN!
My Review #19 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from KLD!
My Review #20 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from AER!
My Review #21 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from AKH!
My Review #22 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from HOU!
My Review #23 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from XLN!
My Review #24 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from RIX!
My Review #25 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from DOM!
My Review #26 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from M19!
My Review #27 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from GRN!
My Review #28 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from RNA!
My Review #29 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from WAR!
My Review #30 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from M20!
My Review #31 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from ELD!
My Review #32 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from THB!
My Review #33 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from IKO!
My Review #34 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from M21!
My Review #35 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from ZNR!
My Review #36 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from KHM!
My Review #37 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from STX!
My Review #38 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from AFR!
My Review #39 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MID!
My Review #40 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from VOW!
My Review #41 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from NEO!
My Review #42 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from SNC!
My Review #43 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from DMU!
My Review #44 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from BRO!
My Review #45 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from ONE!
My Review #46 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MOM!
My Review #47 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from WOE!
My Review #48 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from LCI!
My Review #49 - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
Enjoy!
I was invited to be a guest on the MTGin3D Podcast with Liam and Pedro. Here's a link to that episode ...give it a listen!
MTGin3D Episode #5 - Exploration
I was invited on as a guest for the "What's In The Box!?" Podcast with Zakeel and Drew. Here's a link to that episode:
What's in the Box EP8 - Community Spotlight: wtwlf123
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Please help us by voting on the current poll below:
CURRENT POLL:
3 CMC CARDS
Past poll threads:
1 CMC CREATURES (can still be voted on)
1 CMC SPELLS
2 CMC CARDS
RESULTS:
1. Swords to Plowshares (9.25)
2. Land Tax (9.00)
3. Path to Exile (8.13)
4. Enlightened Tutor (7.75)
5. Mana Tithe (5.75)
6. Terminus (5.38)
7. Condemn (4.33)
8. Sunlance (3.00)
9. Oust (2.00)
10. Harm’s Way (2.00) [PLURALITY]
Blue:
1. Ancestral Recall (10.0)
2. Mystical Tutor (8.38)
3. Ponder (7.38)
4. Preordain (7.00)
5. Brainstorm (6.50)
6. Force Spike (5.50)
7. Ancestral Vision (4.71)
8. Personal Tutor (3.4)
9. Serum Visions (2.75)
10. Vapor Snag (2.67) [PLURALITY]
Black:
1. Vampiric Tutor (10.0)
2. Imperial Seal (8.00)
3. Thoughtseize (7.50)
4. Reanimate (7.13)
5. Duress (5.38)
6. Entomb (5.33)
7. Dark Ritual (5.00)
8. Inquisition of Kozilek (4.14)
9. Unearth (3.00) [PLURALITY]
10. Tragic Slip (1.67) [PLURALITY]
Red:
1. Lightning Bolt (10.0)
2. Chain Lightning (8.75)
3. Faithless Looting (7.88)
4. Burst Lightning (6.25)
5. Firebolt (6.13)
6. Firestorm (6.00)
7. Forked Bolt (3.83)
8. Flame Slash (3.00)
9. Reckless Charge (2.33)
10. Gamble (4.50) [PLURALITY]
Green:
1. Rancor (9.13)
2. Worldly Tutor (8.50)
3. Fastbond (7.86)
4. Vines of Vastwood (6.00)
5. Utopia Sprawl (5.00)
6. Berserk (4.50)
7. Search For Tomorrow (4.20)
8. Wild Growth (3.50)
9. Sylvan Tutor (7.00) [PLURALITY]
10. Nature's Claim (6.00) [PLURALITY]
Multicolored:
1. Chained to the Rocks (10.0) [PLURALITY]
2. Edge of the Divinity [PLURALITY]
3. Safewright Quest [PLURALITY]
Colorless:
1. Sol Ring (10.0)
2. Skullclamp (8.75)
3. Mana Vault (8.43)
4. Sensei’s Divining Top (6.29)
5. Dismember (5.75)
6. Pithing Needle (5.00)
6. Bonesplitter (5.00)
8. Cursed Scroll (4.13)
9. Black Vise (2.14)
10. Trusty Machete (2.34) [PLURALITY]
Flawless Victory! Ancestral Recall, Vampiric Tutor, Lightning Bolt, and Sol Ring all received perfect scores from voters that included them.
Dissenting Opinion! Chained to the Rocks also received a perfect score, but was voted on by a plurality of voters. Sylvan Tutor received an average score of 7.00, but was only included by 37.5% of voters.
Manic Depression! Bonesplitter had the greatest spread in rankings, from #2 to #9.
Just Missed! Aether Vial (2.00), Careful Study (1.67), Rift Bolt (3.00), and Exploration (5.00) had enough votes to make it onto the list via plurality, but were defeated by Trusty Machete, Vapor Snag, Gamble, and Nature's Claim respectively.
Special thanks to our voters: willdice, LucidVision, Ennex, wtwlf123, Spike Rogue, calibretto, Dr. Tom, ColbyCube
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2U
Legendary Creature - Human Monk
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, you may pay (R/W)(R/W). If you do, target creature gains double strike until end of turn.
3/2
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I saw this guy in action recently, and he was much better than I initially gave him credit for. I'm really surprised there isn't a thread on this guy yet.
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Some combinations (green/black) will be seen less than other ones (blue/white) just because the overall quality of cards is worse, but it doesn't mean those decks have to be worse on average than the color combinations that see more play. Maybe only one person in a 8 man is drafting Golgari while two people are going after Azorius. Well, that Golgari drafter has a lot more access to cards that should generally be able to pull him up and over the Azorius drafters.
Really though, color balance is a significant problem of cube (and Magic lands in general).
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Also, I like Shu Yun -- he's very efficiently costed.
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1. Swords to Plowshares (9.25)
2. Land Tax (9.00)
3. Path to Exile (8.13)
4. Enlightened Tutor (7.75)
5. Mana Tithe (5.75)
6. Terminus (5.38)
7. Condemn (4.33)
8. Sunlance (3.00)
9. Oust (2.00)
10. Harm’s Way (2.00) [PLURALITY]
Blue:
1. Ancestral Recall (10.0)
2. Mystical Tutor (8.38)
3. Ponder (7.38)
4. Preordain (7.00)
5. Brainstorm (6.50)
6. Force Spike (5.50)
7. Ancestral Vision (4.71)
8. Personal Tutor (3.4)
9. Serum Visions (2.75)
10. Vapor Snag (2.67) [PLURALITY]
Black:
1. Vampiric Tutor (10.0)
2. Imperial Seal (8.00)
3. Thoughtseize (7.50)
4. Reanimate (7.13)
5. Duress (5.38)
6. Entomb (5.33)
7. Dark Ritual (5.00)
8. Inquisition of Kozilek (4.14)
9. Unearth (3.00) [PLURALITY]
10. Tragic Slip (1.67) [PLURALITY]
Red:
1. Lightning Bolt (10.0)
2. Chain Lightning (8.75)
3. Faithless Looting (7.88)
4. Burst Lightning (6.25)
5. Firebolt (6.13)
6. Firestorm (6.00)
7. Forked Bolt (3.83)
8. Flame Slash (3.00)
9. Reckless Charge (2.33)
10. Gamble (4.50) [PLURALITY]
Green:
1. Rancor (9.13)
2. Worldly Tutor (8.50)
3. Fastbond (7.86)
4. Vines of Vastwood (6.00)
5. Utopia Sprawl (5.00)
6. Berserk (4.50)
7. Search For Tomorrow (4.20)
8. Wild Growth (3.50)
9. Sylvan Tutor (7.00) [PLURALITY]
10. Nature's Claim (6.00) [PLURALITY]
Multicolored:
1. Chained to the Rocks (10.0) [PLURALITY]
2. Edge of the Divinity [PLURALITY]
3. Safewright Quest [PLURALITY]
Colorless:
1. Sol Ring (10.0)
2. Skullclamp (8.75)
3. Mana Vault (8.43)
4. Sensei’s Divining Top (6.29)
5. Dismember (5.75)
6. Pithing Needle (5.00)
6. Bonesplitter (5.00)
8. Cursed Scroll (4.13)
9. Black Vise (2.14)
10. Trusty Machete (2.34) [PLURALITY]
Flawless Victory! Ancestral Recall, Vampiric Tutor, Lightning Bolt, and Sol Ring all received perfect scores from voters that included them.
Dissenting Opinion! Chained to the Rocks also received a perfect score, but was voted on by a plurality of voters. Sylvan Tutor received an average score of 7.00, but was only included by 37.5% of voters.
Manic Depression! Bonesplitter had the greatest spread in rankings, from #2 to #9.
Just Missed! Aether Vial (2.00), Careful Study (1.67), Rift Bolt (3.00), and Exploration (5.00) had enough votes to make it onto the list via plurality, but were beaten out by Trusty Machete, Vapor Snag, Gamble, and Nature's Claim respectively.
Special thanks to our voters: willdice, LucidVision, Ennex, wtwlf123, Spike Rogue, calibretto, Dr. Tom, ColbyCube
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Helix > SGM > or = Rev > Venser
Hordechief > Aristocrat > Reckoner
Tasigur > Duskmantle
EDIT: You edited in Helix, so I edited in Helix.
I really like Helix. It's great in every deck that actually wants those colors. Some multicolored cards are only good in one deck, but they're definitely worth it for that deck (think, I dunno - uh, Sphinx's Revelation or Geist of Saint Traft. Both of those cards are specifically crafted for control or aggro decks. If you think about it, every deck except Storm wants Lightning Helix when it's red and white. That's pretty awesome and pretty difficult to find anywhere, let alone in the multicolored section. It's also just a bonus to support spells-matter cards like Guttersnipe, Talrand, Young Pyromancer, Monastery Mentor, etc. It's a two mana instant which might as well be the absolute best casting cost you could have in Magic if you were a spell considered good in the Magic Universe. If reincarnation is real, and I come back as a Magic card, and Richard Garfield is god and he tells me I get to choose my type and casting cost, I very well might go with instant and 2 cmc.
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I actually think I might like Silverblade Paladin a little more, though Exalted Angel is an oldie and a goodie and difficult to cut.
I like Hordechief more here. He'll serve as reach a lot like Aristocrat, and he gains you some life in the process. He also goes in Orzhov decks. I think he's a clear winner, though I've never been huge on aristocrat.
I like Malicious Affliction a lot. I just think it's so great when it's good and it's really not that difficult to cast -- it's easier than Hero's Downfall.
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