I don't know about you but the decks I build on CubeCobra tend to be far better than the decks I get in paper draft - I suspect bot and human drafting patterns are different enough that it's not really representative.
To be completely honest I am not sure whether some restrictions are worth the payoff.
Keruga, for example, invalidates all 0-2 manacost cards. Sure you can get around this a little with Adventure cards or Evoke cards, but skipping your first two turns of the game seems backbreaking, especially if you're up against a streamlined aggro deck. You also lose out on a lot of good interaction like removal spells and counters and cantrips, which tend to be 1-2 CMC. Keruga itself is entirely bad as a maindeck card too.
Similarly, Umori as a creatures-only deck is very inflexible and while you still have Adventure/Evoke cards to fall back on for interaction, it's very inflexible and you risk being blown out by boardwipes. You don't even get to play Planeswalkers! Umori is an OK curve filler at 4CMC, but very unexciting maindeck.
What would be your best "4th land" in each guild? of course fetch/shock/dual are the unquestioned top 3, but what's your 4th? Unfortunately the Horizon land cycle remains unfinished...
WU - Celestial Colonnade
UB - Creeping Tar Pit
BR - Sulfurous Springs or Blackcleave Cliffs
RG - Karplusan Forest or Raging Ravine
GW - Horizon Canopy
WB - Silent Clearing
BG - Nurturing Peatland
GU - Waterlogged Grove
UR - Fiery Islet
RW - Sunbaked Canyon
Does this look roughly reasonable? Which would you choose in BR or RG?
With all the fuss about companions I'm considering whether I should test more than just the 2 slam-dunks (Lutri and Lurrus). I wonder how Yorion and Zirda will play out. Anyone have any thoughts and experience on the other few?
Thanks for the fast write up! Agree overall with the top picks. On the fence about Fiend Artisan and Mothra, though. Wish King Kong had trample. Companion is so busted!
So all spoilers are done, and all that remains is the big spoiler dump tomorrow. This time, however, they've kept a few spicy cards for the end! Taken from this post by /u/Ninjaboi333
There are FIVE rares left to be spoiled
Mythos of Illuna (blue)
Black Rare
Temur Ultimatum
Sultai Enchantment
WU Companion
There are FOUR uncommons left to be spoiled
Blue Keyword Cycle Counter Creature
Blue Keyword Mentor
Blue Uncommon
Green Uncommon
Otherwise, it will mostly be commons left. I'm not incredibly hopeful for anything good, but we'll wait and see!
Would be keen for someone to do the maths on this. Assuming an "average" Boros aggro deck with 8 humans/8 non-humans/8 spells/16 lands distribution, how likely are you to hit at least 1 human if you play Winota on Turn 4?
Card's interesting - dork tribal and rock tribal. Not sure where it fits into the Simic section though. Edric is already a dork tribal sort of creature.
Probably missed a few! I'm running a 360/powered cube, and I'm happy there are multiple cards worthy of inclusion and testing, although the set overall seems more aimed at big battlecruiser Magic. Also, I'm worried that the Companions may prove too powerful for many cubes.
Keruga, for example, invalidates all 0-2 manacost cards. Sure you can get around this a little with Adventure cards or Evoke cards, but skipping your first two turns of the game seems backbreaking, especially if you're up against a streamlined aggro deck. You also lose out on a lot of good interaction like removal spells and counters and cantrips, which tend to be 1-2 CMC. Keruga itself is entirely bad as a maindeck card too.
Similarly, Umori as a creatures-only deck is very inflexible and while you still have Adventure/Evoke cards to fall back on for interaction, it's very inflexible and you risk being blown out by boardwipes. You don't even get to play Planeswalkers! Umori is an OK curve filler at 4CMC, but very unexciting maindeck.
WU - Celestial Colonnade
UB - Creeping Tar Pit
BR - Sulfurous Springs or Blackcleave Cliffs
RG - Karplusan Forest or Raging Ravine
GW - Horizon Canopy
WB - Silent Clearing
BG - Nurturing Peatland
GU - Waterlogged Grove
UR - Fiery Islet
RW - Sunbaked Canyon
Does this look roughly reasonable? Which would you choose in BR or RG?
As a human itself, thiz card doesn't trigger itself when it attacks, so haste doesn't add all that much
There are FIVE rares left to be spoiled
This creature doesn't need to attack itself for you to trigger its ability (plus it's a human, so it won't trigger it on its own anyway)
Definite Includes:
Lutri, the Spellchaser
Lurrus of the Dream-Den
Shark Typhoon
Heartless Act
For Testing:
Vivien, Monsters' Advocate
Fiend Artisan
Watching:
Luminous Broodmoth
Neutralize
Gemrazer
Titanoth Rex
Winota, Joiner of Forces
Probably missed a few! I'm running a 360/powered cube, and I'm happy there are multiple cards worthy of inclusion and testing, although the set overall seems more aimed at big battlecruiser Magic. Also, I'm worried that the Companions may prove too powerful for many cubes.
Nissa, Who Shakes the World or Nissa, Worldwaker or Vivien, Monsters' Advocate?