I ended up not adding the Phoenix, so the ash zealot is safe for now.
Wargear was the toughest cut as I do think it is quite good, I'm just not sure what else to cut instead.
I thought about spirit, but it didn't seem worth the effort for a slightly better blade of the sixth pride. If I open one in a draft I'll definitely reconsider adding it.
Questions for others: If I was going to cut mono-red aggro, what would people recommend? Just cut red entirely? How else could I get up to enough playables to replace all the mono-red cards?
Haven't had nearly as much time to work on my cube as I used to. Made changes for m14 and Theros, but just getting around to updating them now. Will be also making changes adding Born of the Gods, Commander and some old cards I want to add, which I will do next post.
Out -> In
Grim Tutor -> Hero's Downfall
Snuff Out -> Whip of Erebos
Lilliana Vess -> Dark Confidant
Trinket Mage -> Thassa God of the Sea
Sakashima's Student -> Prognostic Sphinx
Meloku -> Jace Architect of Thought
Sphinx of Jwar Isle -> Aetherling
Uvenwald Tracker -> Elvish Mystic
Experiment One -> Sylvan Caryatid
Phantom Centaur -> Eureka
Vengevine -> Garruk Caller of Beasts
Blastoderm -> Polukranos
Vorrapede -> Kalonian Hydra
Harrow -> Awakening Zone
Naturalize -> Gaea's Cradle
Mogg Fanatic -> firedrinker satyr
Hearth Kami -> Young pyromancer
Ghitu Slinger -> Lightning Strike
Pyrewild Shaman -> Sneak Attack
Fireball -> Chandra's Pyromancer
Chaos Warp -> Hammer of Purphoros
Steppe Lynx -> Soldier of the Pantheon
Precinct Captain -> Archangel of Thune
Leonin Relic-Warder -> Imposing Sovreign
Exalted Angel -> Spear of Heliod
Masticore -> Burnished Hart
Candles of Leng -> Cursed Scroll
Oblivion Stone -> Chrome Mox
Smokestack -> Pristine Talisman
Nev's Disk -> All is Dust
5 TriLands -> 5 Temples
Venser -> Lavinia
Swans of Bryn Argoll -> Supreme Verdict
Supreme Authority -> Ashiok
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch -> Steam Augury
Domri Rade -> Xenagos
Loxodon Smiter -> Assemble the Legion
Desolation Angel -> Obzedat
Boros Charm -> Boros Reckoner
Abrupt Decay -> Anax and Cymede
I'll definitely keep them in mind. We're really trying pushing green more to being a big mana deck, so they didn't seem to fit, but it's definitely possibly I'm just misevaluating. I've always found all three of the cards servicable but no amazing.
As for formatting, I agree, but didn't have time to go looking for other formats to do so. I'll take a look at some other people's threads and see what they do that is better when I get a chance.
Maybe. It was a tough call of whether to keep that or unvenwald tracker, but tracker seems better in midrange. We've decided to totally abandon green aggro, so it didn't seem quite good enough. It might come back for sure, but for now it'll take a rest.
Removals: Rakdos Shredfreak, Duegar Hedge-Mage, Jace Architect of Thought, Life from the Loam, Lapse of Certainty, Blastoderm, Brainstorm, Ancient Hydra, Memory Lapse, Confiscate, Martial Law, Wall of Denial
If you want to play a cheap equipment just run Shuko. You can at least use it for free on both offense and defense for no mana at the cost of losing 1 toughness.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to add Sakashima's Student myself so hopefully it does well.
Good point. It that point of toughness is definitely relevant though. We'll see.
Psychatog should stay in for sure. I'm not sold on most of those additions.
Did you get the cards yet?
Cheers,
rant
Psychatog has never been particularly impressive for us. I could see it coming back in for Finkel or Havengul Lich at some point, but the Strix is exactly what UB wants. The Sai might not be great, but it seems interesting. It seems like it'll always be equipped without spending any more mana on it. Other than Strix all of these cards are on unstable footing, but I think they're worth trying. I've definitely decided that I'm going to be much more liberal with what new cards I add. I'd rather add a bad card and cut it for being not good enough than miss a good card.
Wargear was the toughest cut as I do think it is quite good, I'm just not sure what else to cut instead.
I thought about spirit, but it didn't seem worth the effort for a slightly better blade of the sixth pride. If I open one in a draft I'll definitely reconsider adding it.
Questions for others: If I was going to cut mono-red aggro, what would people recommend? Just cut red entirely? How else could I get up to enough playables to replace all the mono-red cards?
New ones on the left, old ones on the right.
1. Brimaz (Angel of Serenity)
2. Flame Wreathed Phoenix (Ash Zealot)
3. Reckless Reveler (Spikeshot Elder)
4. Courser of Kruphix (Gyre Sage)
5. Kiora (Bituminous Blast)
6. Kiora's Follower (Prophetic Bolt)
7. Astral Cornucopia (Chromatic Lantern)
8. Temple of Enlightenment (For now nothing will cut vivid lands when rest of cycle comes out)
9. Temple of Malice (For now nothing)
10. Temple of Plenty (For now nothing)
11. Talisman of Dominance (Black Vise)
12. Talisman of Indulgence (Helm of Possesion)
13. Talisman of Impulse (Chrome Mox)
14. Talisman of Progress (Grafted Wargear)
15. Talisman of Unity (Molten Tail Masticore)
16. Unexpectedly Absent (Knight of Meadowgrain)
17. True Name Nemesis (Thassa)
18. Toxic Deluge (Ob-Nixilis)
Decided not to add FlameWreathed Phoenix. Adding Living Death and cutting Dark Confidant instead.
Haven't had nearly as much time to work on my cube as I used to. Made changes for m14 and Theros, but just getting around to updating them now. Will be also making changes adding Born of the Gods, Commander and some old cards I want to add, which I will do next post.
Out -> In
Grim Tutor -> Hero's Downfall
Snuff Out -> Whip of Erebos
Lilliana Vess -> Dark Confidant
Trinket Mage -> Thassa God of the Sea
Sakashima's Student -> Prognostic Sphinx
Meloku -> Jace Architect of Thought
Sphinx of Jwar Isle -> Aetherling
Uvenwald Tracker -> Elvish Mystic
Experiment One -> Sylvan Caryatid
Phantom Centaur -> Eureka
Vengevine -> Garruk Caller of Beasts
Blastoderm -> Polukranos
Vorrapede -> Kalonian Hydra
Harrow -> Awakening Zone
Naturalize -> Gaea's Cradle
Mogg Fanatic -> firedrinker satyr
Hearth Kami -> Young pyromancer
Ghitu Slinger -> Lightning Strike
Pyrewild Shaman -> Sneak Attack
Fireball -> Chandra's Pyromancer
Chaos Warp -> Hammer of Purphoros
Steppe Lynx -> Soldier of the Pantheon
Precinct Captain -> Archangel of Thune
Leonin Relic-Warder -> Imposing Sovreign
Exalted Angel -> Spear of Heliod
Masticore -> Burnished Hart
Candles of Leng -> Cursed Scroll
Oblivion Stone -> Chrome Mox
Smokestack -> Pristine Talisman
Nev's Disk -> All is Dust
5 TriLands -> 5 Temples
Venser -> Lavinia
Swans of Bryn Argoll -> Supreme Verdict
Supreme Authority -> Ashiok
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch -> Steam Augury
Domri Rade -> Xenagos
Loxodon Smiter -> Assemble the Legion
Desolation Angel -> Obzedat
Boros Charm -> Boros Reckoner
Abrupt Decay -> Anax and Cymede
As for formatting, I agree, but didn't have time to go looking for other formats to do so. I'll take a look at some other people's threads and see what they do that is better when I get a chance.
Additions: Bane of the Living, Shadowborn Demon, Massacre Wurm, Rune-Scarred Demon, Dark Ritual, Imperial Seal, Cabal Therapy, Inquisition of Kozilek, Duress, Grim Tutor, Makeshift Mannequin, Tendrils of Agony, Trinket Mage, Vesuvan Shapeshifter, Sphinx of Jwar Isle, Brainstorm, Force Spike, Memory Lapse, Arcane Denial, Gifts Given, Confiscate, Mind's Desire, Spelljack, Arbor Elf, Fyndhorn Elves, Devoted Druid, Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary, Uktabi Orangutan, Blastoderm, Master of the Wild Hunt, Deranged Hermit, Primeval Titan, Avenger of Zendikar, Hornet Queen, Craterhoof Behmoth, Naturalize, Heartbeat of Spring, Recollect, Tooth and Nail, Genesis Wave, Goblin Welder, Pyrewild Shaman, Goblin Ruinblaster, Kiki-Jiki, Searing Spear, Smash to Smithereens, Molten Rain, Empty the Warrens, Rolling Earthquake, Burning of Xinye, Wildfire, Leonin-Relic Warder, Soltari Trooper, Accorder Paladin, Flickerwisp, Blade Splicer, Geist Honored Monk, Scion of Vitu-Ghazi, Spectral Procession, Parallax Wave, Ravages of War, Elspeth Tirel, Decree of Justice, Kozilek, Ulamog, Emrakul, Metalworker, Rishadan Port, Mishra's Workshop, Everflowing Chalice, Mana Crypt, Coldsteel Heart, Basalt Monolith, Staff of Domination, Geist of Saint Traft, Swans of Bryn Argoll,Far/Away, Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch, Falkenrath Aristocrat, Domri Rade, Voice of Resurgance, Ral Zarek, Turn/Burn, Deadbridge Chant, Down/Dirty, Plasma Capture, Progenitor Mimic
Removals: Drana, Pouncing Jaguar, Wolfbitten Captive, River Boa, Mire Boa, Blind Obedience, Rakdos&Boros&Gruul&Golgari&Selsnya Signets,
Wild Mongrel, Orhan Viper, Phyrexian Processor, Stillmoon Cavalier, Unexpected Results, Wild Nacatl
Removals: Rakdos Shredfreak, Duegar Hedge-Mage, Jace Architect of Thought, Life from the Loam, Lapse of Certainty, Blastoderm, Brainstorm, Ancient Hydra, Memory Lapse, Confiscate, Martial Law, Wall of Denial
Removals: Accorder Paladin, Kird Ape, Mortify
Additions: Jace Architect of Thought, Cyclonic Rift, Pack Rat, Deadbridge Goliath, Precinct Captain, Dryad Militant, Deathrite Shaman,
Removals: Arcane Denial, Vesuvan Shapeshifter, Ink Eyes Servant of Oni, Ice Storm, Elspeth Tirel, Shadowmage Infiltrator, Shardless Agent
Added Power & Dual Lands (Proxy), Unbalanced multicolor, Moved signets back to artifacts
Additions: Snuff Out, Diabolic Revelations, Vendillion Clique, Ancestral Recall, Time Walk, Memory Lapse, Timetwister, Oracle of Mul-Daya, Thragtusk, Gorilla Shaman, Ash Zealot, Gore-house Chainwalker, Ancient Hydra, Barbarian Ring, Sublime Archangel, Lapse of Certainty, Martial Law, 5 moxen, black lotus, Chromatic Lantern, Phyrexian Processor, Memory Jar, 10 ABU Duals, Sphinx's Revelation, Supreme Authority, Dreadbore, Rackdos Cackler, Rackdos Shred-freak, Selesnya Charm, Loxodon Smiter, Stillmoon Cavalier, Izzet Charm, Lolteth Troll, Dreg Mangler, Abrupt Decay
Removals: Cabal Interogator, Plague Sliver, Enclave Cryptologist, Body Double, Keiga, the Tide Star, Deadeye Navigator, Stroke of Genius, Call of the Herd, Noxious Revival, Ember Hauler, Markov Blademaster, Goblin Ruinblaster, Moltensteel Dragon, Magmaquake, Loyal Cathar, Spectral Procession, Calciderm, Bonehoard, Juggernaut, Mirrodin's Core, Reflecting Pool, Top, Lightning Greaves, Vessel of Endless Rest, Ring of Gix, Grinning Totem, 5 Trilands, Azorious Guildmage, Arctic Aven, Terminate, Loam Lion, Gelectrode, Spiritmonger
Moved: Remaining Signets from Gold to colorless
Removals: Sai of the Shinobi, Oracle of Mul-Daya, Terror, Drogskol Reaver, Vexing Devil, Thunderous Wrath, Mana Flare
(Not yet logged in Original Post)
Good point. It that point of toughness is definitely relevant though. We'll see.
Psychatog has never been particularly impressive for us. I could see it coming back in for Finkel or Havengul Lich at some point, but the Strix is exactly what UB wants. The Sai might not be great, but it seems interesting. It seems like it'll always be equipped without spending any more mana on it. Other than Strix all of these cards are on unstable footing, but I think they're worth trying. I've definitely decided that I'm going to be much more liberal with what new cards I add. I'd rather add a bad card and cut it for being not good enough than miss a good card.
And rant, no I haven't gotten them yet.
Additions: Sai of the Shinobi, Ink Eyes Servant of Oni, Sakashima's Student, Shardless Agent, Maelstrom Wanderer, Baleful Strix
Removals: Dungeon Geists, Enslave, Psychatog, Broodmate Dragon, Kozilek, Simic Signet
Thankfully as cards to lose go Oracle Mul-Daya is on the very acceptable end. It's not that expensive and it's borderline anyways.
Edit: The oracle turned up.