Rares are allowed if they’re cheap enough/not horribly broken, at least, so sayeth Marshall. Suggestions of rares are definitely welcomed. It’s available for drafting on TappedOut.
White: (57)
Steppe Lynx
Mother of Runes
Savannah Lions
Elite Vanguard
Goldmeadow Harrier
Gideon’s Lawkeeper
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Weathered Wayfarer
Knight of Meadowgrain
Soltari Monk
Soltari Priest
Soltari Trooper
Wall of Omens
Kor Skyfisher
Accorder Paladin
Leonin Relic-Warder
Mistral Charger
Porcelain Legionnaire
Cloistered Youth
Shrine of Loyal Legions
Lone Missionary
Stormfront Pegasus
Spectral Procession
Flickerwisp
Stonecloaker
Aven Riftwatcher
Kor Hookmaster
Midnight Haunting
Fiend Hunter
Celestial Crusader
Kor Sanctifiers
Calciderm
Guardian of the Guildpact
Voice of All
Glimmerpoint Stag
Master Splicer
Serra Angel
Cloudgoat Ranger
Taj-Nar Swordsmith
—
Swords to Plowshares
Path to Exile
Enlightened Tutor
Mana Tithe
Harm’s Way
Journey to Nowhere
Temporal Isolation
Disenchant
Otherworldly Journey
Seal of Cleansing
Test of Faith
Oblivion Ring
Griffin Guide
Scepter of Dominance
Story Circle
Faith’s Fetters
Day of Judgment
Miraculous Recovery
Blue: (57)
Enclave Cryptologist
Looter il-Kor
Azure Mage
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Riftwing Cloudskate
Waterfront Bouncer
Aether Adept
Man-o’-War
Willbender
Calcite Snapper
Serendib Efreet
Pestermite
Sea Gate Oracle
Old Man of the Sea
Thieving Magpie
Lu Xun, Scholar General
Wing Splicer
Clone
Phantasmal Dragon
Lu Meng, Wu General
Mulldrifter
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer
Murder of Crows
Jetting Glasskite
—
Force Spike
Brainstorm
Preordain
Ponder
Mystical Tutor
Counterspell
Memory Lapse
Impulse
Remand
Miscalculation
Mana Leak
Into the Roil
Thirst for Knowledge
Psionic Blast
Forbid
Crystal Shard
Repulse
Exclude
Frantic Search
Dismiss
Deep Analysis
Fact or Fiction
Control Magic
Binding Grasp
Careful Consideration
Mind Control
Persuasion
Capsize
Opportunity
Repeal
Condescend
Dominate
Faerie Conclave
Black: (57)
Carnophage
Vampire Lacerator
Pulse Tracker
Fume Spitter
Diregraf Ghoul
Blind Creeper
Nezumi Graverobber
Skittering Skirge
Dauthi Horror
Dauthi Slayer
Nezumi Cutthroat
Wretched Anurid
Arrogant Bloodlord
Bone Shredder
Liliana’s Specter
Dauthi Marauder
Vampire Nighthawk
Hypnotic Specter
Fleshbag Marauder
Bane of the Living
Gatekeeper of Malakir
Nekrataal
Keening Banshee
Skinrender
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Marsh Flitter
Plague Sliver
Moan of the Unhallowed
Shriekmaw
Sengir Vampire
Thrashing Wumpus
Phyrexian Gargantua
—
Snuff Out
Contagion
Dismember
Duress
Inquisition of Kozilek
Dark Ritual
Disfigure
Reanimate
Chainer’s Edict
Diabolic Edict
Hymn to Tourach
Animate Dead
Doom Blade
Go For The Throat
Sinkhole
Night’s Whisper
Exhume
Terror
Wrench Mind
Necromancy
Makeshift Mannequin
Diabolic Servitude
Barter in Blood
Enslave
Skeletal Scrying
Red: (57)
Mogg Fanatic
Goblin Patrol
Jackal Pup
Scorched Rusalka
Magus of the Scroll
Reckless Waif
Keldon Marauders
Stormblood Berserker
Hellspark Elemental
Ember Hauler
Fireslinger
Hearth Kami
Crimson Mage
Plated Geopede
Goblin Shortcutter
Ghitu Slinger
Keldon Vandals
Manic Vandal
Fire Imp
Sulfur Elemental
Cunning Sparkmage
Inner-Flame Acolyte
Flametongue Kavu
Avalanche Riders
Keldon Champion
Goblin Ruinblaster
Lava Hounds
Ancient Hydra
Volcanic Dragon
—
Fireblast
Lightning Bolt
Chain Lightning
Reckless Charge
Firebolt
Burst Lightning
Forked Bolt
Magma Jet
Shrine of Burning Rage
Searing Blaze
Arc Trail
Incinerate
Breath of Darigaaz
Pyroclasm
Arc Lightning
Flame Javelin
Staggershock
Molten Rain
Pillage
Char
Brimstone Volley
Sulfurous Blast
Slice and Dice
Grab the Reins
Fireball
Banefire
Barbarian Ring
Ghitu Encampment
Green: (57)
Llanowar Elves
Fyndhorn Elves
Joraga Treespeaker
Wild Dogs
Twinblade Slasher
Jungle Lion
Pouncing Jaguar
Albino Troll
Wall of Roots
Wall of Blossoms
Garruk’s Companion
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Wild Mongrel
Jade Mage
Mire Boa
River Boa
Ambush Viper
Nest Invader
Hungry Spriggan
Yavimaya Elder
Eternal Witness
Nantuko Vigilante
Imperious Perfect
Uktabi Orangutan
Viridian Shaman
Blastoderm
Wickerbough Elder
Phantom Centaur
Yavimaya Ants
Briarhorn
Cudgel Troll
Ifh-Biff Efreet
Acidic Slime
Indrik Stomphowler
Grizzly Fate
Bestial Menace
Beast Attack
Deadwood Treefolk
Brutalizer Exarch
Pelakka Wurm
—
Rancor
Worldly Tutor
Regrowth
Sylvan Library
Vines of Vastwood
Cultivate
Kodama’s Reach
Beast Within
Elephant Guide
Krosan Tusker
Harrow
Harmonize
Stonewood Invocation
Creeping Mold
Overrun
Sprout Swarm
Treetop Village
Multicolor: (65)
UW:
Wall of Denial
Plumeveil
Momentary Blink
Azorius Guildmage
—-
Azorius Signet
Azorius Chancery
BU:
Psychatog
Moroii
Dimir Guildmage
Mask of Riddles
—-
Dimir Signet
Dimir Aqueduct
RB:
Murderous Redcap
Bituminous Blast
Blightning
Terminate
—
Sulfurous Springs
Rakdos Carnarium
RG:
Boggart Ram-Gang
Kird Ape
Bloodbraid Elf
Fires of Yavimaya
—
Karplusan Forest
Skarrg, the Rage Pits
GW:
Kitchen Finks
Loam Lion
Qasali Pridemage
Behemoth Sledge
—-
Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
Brushland
RU:
Gelectrode
Jilt
Nucklavee
Desperate Ravings
—
Izzet Signet
Izzet Boilerworks
UG:
Trygon Predator
Jungle Barrier
Snakeform
Plaxmanta
—-
Simic Signet
Simic Growth Chamber
GB:
Putrefy
Putrid Leech
Canker Abomination
Cankerous Thirst
—
Tainted Wood
Llanowar Wastes
BW:
Mortify
Tidehollow Sculler
Unburial Rites
Gerrard’s Verdict
—
Tainted Field
Caves of Koilos
WR:
Lightning Helix
Bull Cerodon
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Spitemare
—-
Battlefield Forge
Boros Garrison
Wild Nacatl
Stormscape Battlemage
Sunscape Battlemage
Slave of Bolas
Giant Ambush Beetle
Mana/Colorless (50):
Mishra’s Factory
Urza’s Factory
Strip Mine
Tectonic Edge
Gemstone Mine
Terramorphic Expanse
Evolving Wilds
Stalking Stones
City of Brass
Vivid Crag
Vivid Creek
Vivid Grove
Vivid Marsh
Vivid Meadow
Arcane Sanctum
Crumbling Necropolis
Jungle Shrine
Savage Lands
Seaside Citadel
Zuran Orb
Bonesplitter
Black Vise
Shuko
Sylvok Lifestaff
Leonin Bola
Trusty Machete
Perilous Myr
Mind Stone
Specter’s Shroud
Lightning Greaves
Mortarpod
Mask of Memory
Isochron Scepter
Everflowing Chalice
Phyrexian Revoker
Grafted Wargear
Loxodon Warhammer
Crystal Ball
Worn Powerstone
Tumble Magnet
Ring of Gix
Grifter’s Blade
Juggernaut
Etched Oracle
Galvanic Juggernaut
Lodestone Golem
Thran Dynamo
Icy Manipulator
Erratic Portal
Duplicant
SSo sweet! Can’t wait to try it!
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WHITE
I don’t think you need both Goldmeadow Harrier and Gideon’s Lawkeeper. I’d cut one in favor of something like Isamaru, which is only about 50 cents on MODO. That should probably qualify as a cheap enough rare that’s not super powerful.
The white 2-drops look good, but I found that in my C/U cube, the enchantment hate of the Kami/Unicorn just weren’t needed, at least not in doubles. I definitely don’t think you need both of those guys and Relic Warder. At the very least, I’d cut one of them in favor of Lone Missionary, which is quite the awesome little dude. I love him in any deck that’s playing white. He’s great as an extra aggro beater and as hate against aggro. Also, I know you’re not a fan, but I think at this rarity, white tends to be more aggro than control, so the Pegasus brothers become a lot better in helping flesh out white. I certainly like them a lot more than Whipcorder, which is just a clunky version of Goldmeadow Harrier. I’m also skeptical of the Shrine, but I’ve got no experience with it, so I can’t say for sure. I know that Kranny and Kenny both speak highly of it, so that’s probably enough to at least give it a test run.
Descendant of Kiyomaru looks pretty awesome on paper, but I chose not to run him. Like I said, white tends to be aggressive and so empties it’s hand fairly quickly. I’m not sure how good that guy will be, although I admit I have no experience with him. If he turns up awesome, let me know. I like Kemba’s Skyguard and Ballyknock Cohort both more than Soltari Crusader. That may be wrong, though. I think Skyguard is efficient and also abusable, with the life gain. And I’ve loved Cohort since I first saw that card, so I might be a little biased there. 3/3 first strike is no joke, though.
I’m surprised you didn’t include Glimmerpoint Stag, but I guess you just didn’t have room for him.
Land Tax seems quite powerful at this rarity. It’s pretty powerful in the rare cube, but here it just seems damn bonkers. I don’t know if that’s a rare (uncommon) that I’d allow in.
I passed on Enlightened Tutor for my C/U cube, mostly because it doesn’t feel like there are that many enchantments that I want to be searching for. I could be wrong about that, but I don’t know. I certainly wouldn’t include Condemn. I’d drop it in favor of something like Arrest or Prison Term. At least Arrest makes sense in an aggressive deck.
Despite the weird looking half naked chick on Shelter, I don’t think it feels like a cube card. It feels more like a limited card than a cube card (if that makes sense). I like Ghostly Prison a lot more than something like Shelter. They’re both defensive cards, but one helps to enable an entire archetype and one is just a cute trick.
I like Swell of Courage, but you might think about trying out Blinding Beam. There’s not wrong about either card, but Blinding Beam has been really good for us here and it randomly lets you just steal a win out of nowhere. It’s the closest thing you’re gonna get to Time Walk/Yosei at this rarity, especially in white.
BLUE
I’m really not a huge fan of Looter effects, but I definitely don’t think you need Cryptologist, 2 Merfolk Looters, and the shadow dude. I recently cut Cryptologist and am now only running Looter il-Kor. I feel like you’re heavy on creatures for blue, so I’d at least cut Merfolk Looter and Though Courier in favor of spells like Arcane Denial and Complicate.
I decided against Azure Mage, but it’s probably fine. I cut Ninja for basically being a one shot two damage draw a card spell. He gets blocked and/or dealt with too easily to be very useful beyond his first ninja sneak attack. Spiketail Hatchling seems like it would be more at home in a cube that was pushing blue aggro/tempo strategies. I’d much rather have Daze than this guy which just shouts, “Play around me!”. The beauty of Force Spike is its surprise factor. You completely lose that with this and he just becomes a 1/1 flying dork. Dreamscape Artist is a card that I really like, but just can’t seem to make room for. He just doesn’t feel blue at all and I think he just gets outclassed by better blue spells. FWIW, I’m only running two blue 2-drops (Looter il-Kor and Riftwing Cloudskate) and we’re at very similar cube sizes.
Your 3-drops look almost perfect. One card I’m running that you’re not is Deceiver Exarch. Maybe I just love the Exarch cycle too much, but this guy is just super solid. He flashes in and either taps down an attacker to save you some damage (he’s also very good at blocking) or he untaps your dude as a surprise blocker (and again, he’s not too shabby at that himself). I’d try to find room for him somewhere. Maybe instead of Phantom Monster, which feels incredibly generic and boring.
At 4cc, I’m running Impaler Shrike and you’re not. Even as a one shot hit you for three and draw three cards, he’s not too bad. I can’t fault Wing Splicer or Voyager Drake either, though, so I’m not sure on that comparison.
The rest of the blue guys look good. I’m running Stratozeppelid, but with the P3K guys, he’s probably not needed. I wish I could find room for Mnemonic Wall, but I just can’t. I really like that card.
I already suggested Arcane Denial and Daze as blue 2cc spells. You might be an anti Arcane Denial guy, though. I can’t remember. The rest of the 1 and 2cc spells look solid, though.
For 3cc spells, I’d suggest both Propaganda and Frost Breath. Propaganda is a pretty powerful control card in the same vein as something like Moat, but not near as game breaking. It just helps control to make it to the late game and can cause aggro fits. And I love Frost Breath as well as Sleep, which is, again, about as close to Time Walk as you’ll get at this rarity. Repulse and Exclude have both been pretty good as well, but it doesn’t look like you have any where near room for those without cutting some creatures. I would probably cut Azure Mage, Ninja of the Deep Hours, and maybe Dreamscape Artist to make room for some of these spells.
I’m running Binding Grasp over Persuasion, but I don’t know if that’s right. It’s probably not now that I think about it, although the upkeep on Grasp hasn’t really been that hindering that I can remember. And again, Sleep is quite powerful at this rarity.
I recently cut Jace’s Ingenuity, but not for lack of power. I just didn’t have room for it and I brought in Thirst For Knowledge instead. Because of this, I chose to keep Opportunity at 6cc and cut Confiscate instead. Mostly because in this cube, there’s not much you want to steal outside of creatures and the occasional artifact (and even those aren’t the most powerful in the world). You might take and Icy or maybe a Loxodon Warhammer with it, but mostly it was just an overpriced Control Magic.
BLACK
Pulse Tracker seems decent, but I’m not sure there’s room for him at this size, despite a necessity to keep aggro viable. Maybe he’s better than I’m giving him credit for, though. Only being a 1/1 in combat is kind of a downer.
I used to run Cabal Interrogator in my rare cube in it’s first incarnation. According to my friends, that guy was a complete powerhouse in his respective limited format. I had no experience there, so cube is the only place I got to see him in action. In the cube, I never saw him be all that great. He’s a late game card on an early game body and he’s incredibly fragile. I never liked him in the rare cube and I never even considered him for my c/u cube.
I’m a little surprised at the Knight suite you’re running. Is the pump really all that useful? I’m running Black Knight and I could probably be convinced to take him out for Crusader, but I think he’s maybe better than the other pump knights. Plus, that’s a lot of BB casting costs.
I’m also running Wretched Anurid and Child of Night that you’re not. I recently cut Skittering Skirge for lack of popularity among my group. He was ok, but I was the only one playing him, so he got cut for Blind Creeper. You might keep Wretched Anurid in mind if the Skirge doesn’t work out. And Child of Night has been surprisingly solid as a french vanilla aggro beater. She’s just an efficient little duder. You might think about her if you need a break from all the BB casting costs from the knights.
You’re not running Crypt Rats, which seems like a cardinal sin. In the words of Forrest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.”
Gatekeeper was kinda meh for us. His triple black was just too much for the ability. In this format, I’d rather have Predatory Nightstalker, and I recently cut him as well because I felt I had too much removal in black. He was solid, though and came down on about the same turn as Gatekeeper.
I think Ogre Marauder is a much better aggressive option than Skittering Horror. He’s evasive and he gets in for three. I really can’t say enough good things about that guy. If you don’t like him, then at least think about Phyrexian Rager. I feel like that guy should be a 360 staple in this format. Heck, it made me a little sad to take him out of my rare cube.
I don’t really like Xiahou Dun. He’s basically just a 3/2 unblockable. And while I can’t really argue with that, I think I’d rather have the Gravedigger ability. For that, I’d prefer Entomber Exarch, which gives me options. So, I guess it’s a question of which you want in that slot: a Gravedigger or an evasive beater?
Sadistic Hypnotist seems decent, but hard to abuse which his “only as a sorcery” clause. That might be a slot to give to something like Vampire Outcasts or Twisted Abomination. I don’t know, though. I’ve never played with Hypnotist, so he may be better than I think.
I recently cut Disfigure for Reanimate. Disfigure is certainly a solid removal spell, but I just felt like my removal was way too dense. It was hard to build a black deck without it being removal.deck and somewhat boring. I’m not suggesting you make the same change, but pointing it out as something you should keep an on eye on in this cube. The best C/U black cards tend to be removal, so it’s easy to end up with a removal section instead of a black section.
Because of that, I’d recommend putting in something like Stupor over Terror, which has become pretty outclassed as a removal spell over the past couple of years. Stupor gives black a solid card and helps to keep black from just being a bunch of removal cards. Plus Stupor is awesome!
I can’t recommend Pestilence high enough. It’s pretty much the bombiest of bombs for black. It’s so good that I contemplated adding in Pyrohemia to red (and probably would add it if my cube got bigger). It’s incredibly powerful and it’s not hard to abuse at all. It’s definitely on the high end of black control cards. I’d cut Makeshift Mannequin for it. I’ve found that not every c/u that’s good in rare cube is also good in c/u cube. For instance, I just cut Makeshift Mannequin for Diabolic Servitude and think that swap makes complete sense. But I don’t think I’d ever do that in my rare cube.
Quick aside about Diabolic Servitude: We run several foreign cards in the cube and so are used to having people ask, “What’s this do?” when one comes up. One time a dude pulled Servitude from a pack and gave it to my friend that helps manage the cube and says, “What’s this do?” To which my friend replied, “Dude… it’s in English. RTFC.” Since then, Diabolic Servitude always gets a laugh when it comes up.
RED
I don’t think the need for 1-drops is so high that something like Frenzied Goblin should make the cut at this size. He’s ok, I guess, but is still just a 1/1 with a meh ability. I really don’t think he’s worth it at all.
Our 2-drop sections are the same except for you add in Dwarven Blastminer. I found that nonbasic specific hate wasn’t near as useful at this rarity since the fixers aren’t as good and there aren’t as many good utility lands.
You seem to be incredibly undervaluing pingers as well. I really can’t praise Cunning Sparkmage and Vulshok Sorcerer high enough here. They are both quite the pain in the ass to see across from you and their haste means they aren’t completely useless if they’re removed right away. They come online the same turn as Fireslinger and do it without hitting you for one. (Fireslinger is still better for only costing 1R, but I think that tid bit counts for something.) They completely eff up combat math since you’re two power aggro dudes can now take out my three power dudes and they make all of your burn spells better.
I also recently cut Manic Vandal for a lack of targets. As I said before, the artifacts at this rarity are somewhat lacking, especially in comparison to most rare artifact sections (even unpowered). I’ve gotten a lot more miles out of Skirk Marauder and even Gathan Raiders than I ever did out of Manic Vandal while he was still in the cube. He was a Gray Ogre a lot more often than he should have been.
Sulfur Elemental was never that great for me. He felt like he was only really good when my opponent played Soltari Priest and just kinda random and sub par every other time. He’s also super awful against Silver Knight. Making their pro red guy I can’t touch into a 3/1 first striker instead of a 2/2 is really bad for a red deck.
I don’t like Roc of Kher Ridges. I mean, sure, he’s a 3/3 flyer for four. Whoopideedoo. He’s a solid limited beater. Good for him. I think cube creatures, even c/u cube creatures, need to offer something more than just being a 3/3 flyer for four. I’m sure he’s efficient, but that’s so boring. I also cut Goblin Ruinblaster for the same reasons I’m not running Dwarven Blastminer. Nonbasics just aren’t as good here, so the specific hate isn’t as necessary. And that guy was a random 2/1 haste for 2R a lot here and that didn’t feel good enough to me. A card that I do really like at 4cc is Tormentor Exarch. He’s removal on a stick and with an evasive guy on the table or with any guy on the table against an empty board, he can go to the dome for an extra two. He’s been really fun and incredibly solid. That’s exactly what I want from my cube creatures.
I see Reckless Charge in cubes and it seems like a surprising spell, but I can’t help but be unimpressed with it. I’m sure it’s ok, but I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel needed in a color like red. I have no experience with it, though so I could be undervaluing it quite a bit.
Everything else in that section seems pretty straight forward (aka solid burn spells). One bit of advice I can give you is to watch out for the numbers on the burn spells. Red, like black, can easily end up the burn section instead of the red section and I don’t think that’s very healthy for the cube as a whole. I recently cut stuff like Pyrokinesis and Slice and Dice for Act of Aggression and Blind With Anger just to give red some different effects that are still powerful and solid and get away from everything being just another burn spell.
I also think Kaervek’s Torch is quite awesome as a poor man’s Banefire. One X spell seems like a really low number at this size. I think two should be the default at least.
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