This is my own personal commons cube. I’ve maintained it for several years and I’m very proud with how it’s turned out. It has a nice balance with the colors and archetypes. Commons cubes are a lot like “limited on steroids” in that it’s mostly the same as limited – all about the creatures, removal, solid deckbuilding, but it’s turned up to 11. This isn’t to say that there are many creature standoffs, since removal’s much better – you won’t be paying 5 mana for a Weed Strangle since it’s just awful in this format. The best thing about the format is that it’s dirt cheap to build. Your sleeves will be your biggest expense, as aside from cards like Chain Lightning and Rancor, most cards won’t cost much and you can get the other cards very cheaply.
Note that cards like signets and borderposts are counted as multicolor and NOT as lands/artifacts (similarly, cards like are Bonesplitter considered colorless.) There aren’t enough quality artifacts to put cards like the cycling lands into their respective colors, but hopefully the rest of the Scars of Mirrodin block will change this.
Basic Info:
Cube size: 450 cards
Breakdown: 65 cards per color, 50 colorless, 75 multicolor (8 per guild, 1 for each allied-color tricolor [ie Shard.])
Card Selection:
Fully powered: Yes
Portal Legal: Yes
Unglued: No
Banned Cards for Power-Level: No
Snow Covered lands: No
Sideboards Allowed: Yes
Cube Design
Even Color Balance: Yes
Hybrid/Split/Kicker as Gold: Yes/Yes/No
Color Triggers as Gold (Kird Ape counted as RG): Yes
White:
Creatures:
Akrasan Squire
Benevolent Bodyguard
Caravan Escort
Gideon’s Lawkeeper
Goldmeadow Harrier
Icatian Javelineers
Martyr of Sands
Shade of Trokair
Steppe Lynx
Benalish Cavalry
Blade of the Sixth Pride
Fledgling Griffin
Knight of Cliffhaven
Kor Skyfisher
Lone Missionary
Leonin Skyhunter
Order of Leitbur
Order of the Golden Cricket
Phantom Nomad
Porcelain Legionnaire
Raise the Alarm
Soltari Trooper
Stormfront Pegasus
Apex Hawks
Aven Riftwatcher
Blinding Souleater
Kemba’s Skyguard
Kor Hookmaster
Village Bell-Ringer
Soltari Visionary
Aven Liberator
Cenn’s Enlistment
Coalition Honor Guard
Guardian of the Guildpact
Heavy Ballista
Kor Sanctifiers
Sanctum Gargoyle
Daru Lancer
Thraben Sentry
Plover Knights
Castle Raptors
Totem-Guide Hartebeest
Noble Templar
Benalish Lancer
Non-creatures:
Hyena Umbra
Sunlance
Mana Tithe
Niveous Wisps
Kirtar’s Desire
Pacifism
Shelter
Journey to Nowhere
Temporal Isolation
Cho-Manno’s Blessing
Disenchant
Bonds of Faith
Kor Chant
Burrenton Bombardier
Oblivion Ring
Prismatic Strands
Cage of Hands
Breath of Life
False Defeat
Blinding Beam
Faith’s Fetters
Blue:
Creatures:
Phantasmal Bear
Looter Il-Kor
Spined Thopter
Waterfront Bouncer
Soratami Cloudskater
Spiketail Hatchling
Giant Tortoise
Dreamscape Artist
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Halimar Wavewatch
Infiltrator Il-Kor
Errant Ephemeron
Calcite Snapper
Man-o’-War
Aether Adept
Pestermite
Sea Gate Oracle
Shaper Parasite
Rishadan Airship
Skywinder Drake
Spiketail Drakeling
Cloud Spirit
Stitched Drake
Windrider Eel
Shimmering Glasskite
Sentinels of Glen Elendra
Illusionary Forces
Impaler Shrike
Aven Fogbringer
Mnemonic Wall
Mulldrifter
Sky-Eel School
Spire Monitor
Non-creatures:
Brainstorm
Ponder
Preordain
Flood
Force Spike
Silent Departure
Arcane Denial
Think Twice
Counterspell
Memory Lapse
Mana Leak
Miscalculation
Into the Roil
Narcolepsy
Impulse
Withdraw
Exclude
Repulse
Rushing River
Compulsive Research
Frantic Search
Wormfang Drake
Ray of Command
Deep Analysis
Foresee
Black:
Creatures:
Carnophage
Vampire Lacerator
Fume Spitter
Null Champion
Surrakar Marauder
Nezumi Cutthroat
Dauthi Horror
Dauthi Slayer
Blind Creeper
Skittering Skirge
Augur of Skulls
Order of the Ebon Hand
Undertaker
Wretched Anurid
Wei Ambush Force
Vampire Interloper
Fledgling Djinn
Zombie Cutthroat
Dauthi Marauder
Ravenous Skirge
Liliana’s Specter
Skittering Horror
Phyrexian Rager
Crypt Rats
Corrupted Zendikon
Wei Strike Force
Chittering Rats
Moriok Replica
Blind Zealot
Gravedigger
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Faceless Butcher
Mortis Dogs
Crypt Ripper
Pith Driller
Non-creatures:
Duress
Disfigure
Innocent Blood
Dark Ritual
Tortured Existence
Mindstab
Unearth
Ostracize
Dead Weight
Sign in Blood
Diabolic Edict
Hymn to Tourach
Victim of Night
Doom Blade
Nameless Inversion
Last Gasp
Exhume
Sinkhole
Wrench Mind
Terror
Red:
Creatures:
Mogg Fanatic
Goblin Patrol
Martyr of Ashes
Keldon Halberdier
Bloodfire Dwarf
Keldon Marauders
Goblin Shortcutter
Mogg War Marshal
Fireslinger
Plated Geopede
Hearth Kami
Goblin Bushwhacker
Skirk Marauder
Inner-Flame Acolyte
Keldon Vandals
Ghitu Slinger
Vulshok Sorcerer
Hissing Iguanar
Gathan Raiders
Manic Vandal
Spur Grappler
Vulshok Replica
Blood Ogre
Crossway Vampire
Stingscourger
Keldon Berserker
Gorehorn Minotaurs
Crusher Zendikon
Slash Panther
Flowstone Crusher
Kuldotha Ringleader
Pouncing Kavu
Pitchburn Devils
Non-creatures:
Smoldering Spires
Teetering Peaks
Lightning Bolt
Firebolt
Rift Bolt
Burst Lightning
Reckless Charge
Flame Slash
Chain Lightning
Faithless Looting
Brute Force
Lava Dart
Incinerate
Fire Ambush
Volcanic Hammer
Searing Blaze
Smash to Smithereens
Lash Out
Arc Lightning
Staggershock
Molten Rain
Act of Treason
Brimstone Volley
Traitorous Blood
Fireball
Disintegrate
Rolling Thunder
Green:
Creatures:
Llanowar Elves
Fyndhorn Elves
Wild Dogs
Pouncing Jaguar
Jungle Lion
Basking Rootwalla
Rogue Elephant
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Garruk’s Companion
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Wall of Roots
Gemhide Sliver
River Boa
Mire Boa
Thornweald Archer
Wild Mongrel
Ambush Viper
Darkthicket Wolf
Nest Invader
Viridian Emissary
Devoted Druid
Wall of Tanglecord
Werebear
Hungry Spriggan
Nessian Courser
Centaur Courser
Civic Wayfinder
Borderland Ranger
Nantuko Vigilante
Yavimaya Elder
Simian Grunts
Phantom Tiger
Wickerbough Elder
Elephant Ambush
Penumbra Spider
Blastoderm
Wild Leotau
Kozilek’s Predator
Thundering Tanadon
Festerhide Boar
Aerie Ouphes
Stampeding Rhino
Spike Colony
Sprout Swarm
Mold Shambler
Citanul Woodreaders
Wirewood Guardian
Havenwood Wurm
Maul Splicer
Non-creatures:
Groundswell
Rancor
Prey Upon
Vines of Vastwood
Edge of Autumn
Fertile Ground
Moment’s Peace
Explore
Krosan Tusker
Wildsize
Kodama’s Reach
Cultivate
Harrow
Gift of the Gargantuan
Overgrowth
Colorless:
Adventuring Gear
Leonin Bola
Bonesplitter
Leonin Scimitar
Wayfarer’s Bauble
Blazing Torch
Springleaf Drum
Sylvok Lifestaff
Flayer Husk
Copper Carapace
Armillary Sphere
Prophetic Prism
Mind Stone
Vulshok Morningstar
Prismatic Lens
Perilous Myr
Darksteel Pendant
Whispersilk Cloak
Darksteel Ingot
Strider Harness
Tumble Magnet
Pilgrim’s Eye
Pristine Talisman
Opaline Bracers
Serrated Arrows
Clay Statue
Spire Golem
Razor Golem
Tangle Golem
Dross Golem
Oxidda Golem
Lonely Sandbar
Forgotten Cave
Barren Moor
Secluded Steppe
Tranquil Thicket
Drifting Meadow
Polluted Mire
Remote Isle
Slippery Karst
Smoldering Crater
Desert
Rupture Spire
Quicksand
Terramorphic Expanse
Evolving Wilds
Multicolor:
Azorius Senate (
)
Feeling of Dread
Dismantling Blow
Curse of Chains*
Silkbind Faerie*
Azorius Chancery
Fieldmist Borderpost
Azorius Signet
(House) Dimir (
)
Probe
Mystical Teachings
Forbidden Alchemy
Dimir Infiltrator
Dimir Signet
Dimir Aqueduct
Mistvein Borderpost
(The Cult of) Rakdos (
)
Blightning
Bump in the Night
Terminate
Henchfiend of Ukor
Strangling Soot
Goblin Deathraiders
Veinfire Borderpost
Gruul Clans (
)
Scuzzback Marauders*
Kird Ape
Rhox Brute
Horned Kavu
Tin Street Hooligan
Scab-Clan Mauler
Firewild Borderpost
Selesnya Conclave ()
Thrill of the Hunt
Pale Recluse
Qasali Pridemage
Armadillo Cloak
Travel Preparations
Knight of the Skyward Eye
Wildfield Borderpost
Boros Legion ()
Skyknight Legionnaire
Goblin Legionnaire
Squee’s Embrace
Orim’s Thunder
Cerodon Yearling
Boros Garrison
Boros Signet
Izzet League ()
Steamcore Weird
Razorfin Hunter
Jilt
Izzet Chronarch
Noggle Bandit*
Izzet Signet
Izzet Boilerworks
Simic Combine ()
Snakeform*
Coiling Oracle
Temporal Spring
Assault Zeppelid
Gaea’s Skyfolk
Simic Signet
Simic Growth Chamber
Golgari Swarm ()
Consume Strength
Putrid Leech
Elves of Deep Shadow
Rendclaw Trow*
Desecrator Hag*
Golgari Signet
Golgari Rot Farm
Orzhov Syndicate ()
Pillory of the Sleepless
Shrieking Grotesque
Blind Hunter
Putrid Warrior
Darklit Gargoyle
Orzhov Basilica
Orzhov Signet
Tri-Color (Shard):
Wild Nacatl
Esper Panorama
Jund Panorama
Grixis Panorama
Bant Panorama
It could be an interesting discussion topic to talk about the various draft archetypes in Pauper Cube. There’s the obvious UW Control, GW Aggro, and so forth, but in my cube we’ve already found new archetypes such RG X-Spell Ramp, Grixis Control, and Boros has been working fine too.
What are your favorite archetypes, and in terms of reliability which do you prefer drafting towards?
I usually prefer stuff like black and/or red-centric aggro (BR aggro is very solid.) I’ve been making updates for my commons cube lately and I’m trying to make it so that there are more incentives to go G/X ramp, but it was solid as is. Generally my favorites are either those types or the “X-color special” control decks, typically either blue or black centric with lots of bouncelands/card draw/card advantage (recursion) for value.
White based aggro is pretty solid as well. No ‘geddons or planeswalkers, obviously, but lots of cheap and evasive beats (and agreed, Boros is awesome.)
It may be something I do in an article some time as pauper and regular cubes play pretty differently.
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Thanks for the update! Been waiting on this for a while. Curious, there’s still 449 cards on the list instead of 450. Also, I’m surprised Porcelain Legionnaire hasn’t made the cut.
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