MTG Salvation

Last updated 5/23/12

This is my cube. It does not support reanimator so it's missing some reanimation spells, discard outlets and fatties that many other cubes run. I've also built this cube specifically with 8 man drafts in mind since that is how I usually play so there are more build around me and gold cards than most cubes because the support for the build around me cards will almost certainly be there and most of the color combinations will be represented so the gold cards get drafted more often.

Cube Stats
By Casting Cost
Alphabetical

Bench (Casting Cost then Alphabetical)
Change log

Quote from Donald_McDonald

Reserved for changes.

EDIT: I shamelessly copied Aznopium's list and plugged in my cards because I liked the way it was formatted, so thanks Aznopium!

lol

i should quote that.

it took me literally forever (like a full workday to the alphabetical lists and another full work day to seperate by CC for each color)

glad someone is making use for it.
i could send ya the html code, if it makes it easier.

Quote from Aznopium

lol

i should quote that.

it took me literally forever (like a full workday to the alphabetical lists and another full work day to seperate by CC for each color)

glad someone is making use for it.
i could send ya the html code, if it makes it easier.

I can imagine, my list was shorter than yours and it still took me most of my day, especially separating by mana cost. That part was brutal. I did notice however that I have too many black 2 drops and not enough 3 drops so it was at least helpful in some way. Blind Creeper and/or Mesmeric Fiend is going to have to get cut for a 3 drop. Anything better than Chittering Rats that I'm not already running? Nyxathid or Dusk Urchins maybe?

We've really liked Nyxathid. He can be super brutal to deal with if you have additional pressure out as well.

Now that the Cube Power Rankings for Multicolor have been posted I've decided to change around the multicolor section to try out some new cards.

-Dismantling Blow
+Azorious Guildmage
I didn't like the Guildmage very much when it was in the cube before but Dismantling Blow isn't very exciting either. Might as well use the one that most people like better.
-Nemesis of Reason
+Undermine
Nemesis is just worse than Oona & Psychatog as far as U/B finishers are concerned. Undermine is another card I just don't like but as high as it was voted it must be better than I give it credit for.
-Blightning
+Blazing Specter
Easy swap, I took out the Specter to try out Blightning but it hasn't been very exciting. Time for the Specter to go back in.
-Rakdos Guildmage
+Void
This was tough as I really like the Guildmage. I took out Void when I added Rare-B-Gone since they had similar effects. That was a mistake, Void is just better than the Guildmage.
-Spitemare
+Brion Stoutarm
Not sure about this one but the voting is pretty clear here.

Quote from DerBK

This makes me weep.

Nemesis is definitely the stronger card. I don't run it, though, because I dislike the card. If you can't remove it in three swings, the game is over. That's true of other creatures, too (Akroma perhaps most famously), but Nemesis of Reason is just unfun, IMO, and power level aside, I don't want to put an unfun card in my cube.

Quote from Dr. Tom

Nemesis is definitely the stronger card. I don't run it, though, because I dislike the card. If you can't remove it in three swings, the game is over. That's true of other creatures, too (Akroma perhaps most famously), but Nemesis of Reason is just unfun, IMO, and power level aside, I don't want to put an unfun card in my cube.

I've already got 2 better finishers in the blue/black color combination in addition to all the finishers those colors already have. Just feels a bit crowded.

Packs were getting a bit too multicolor and land heavy so I decided to move things around a bit, cut some multicolor & add some monocolor cards. Monocolor/land/artifact/multicolor are all at 62 cards each now. I'd like some advice on these before I buy the cards that I will need.

Multicolor
-Wall of Denial
-Wydwen, the Biting Gale
-Shambling Remains
-Rumbling Slum
-Wilt-Leaf Liege
-Tidehallow Sculler
-Duergar Hedge-Mage
-Spellbound Dragon
-Spitting Image
-Spiritmonger (I want to test Lord of Extinction some more)
+Maelstrom Nexus (Looks fun. Any better 5 color cards?)

Lands (Moved the color specific lands here)
-Mirrodin's Core
+Kjeldoran Outpost
+Shelldock Isle
+Barbarian Ring
+Treetop Village
+Volrath's Stronghold

White
+Orim's Chant
+Temporal Isolation
+Flickerwisp
+Scepter of Dominance
+Wall of Reverence

Green
+Wild Dogs
+Life from the Loam
+Viridian Zealot
+Overrun
+Woodfall Primus

Blue
+Memory Lapse
+Merfolk Looter
+Fathom Seer
+Deep Analysis
+Sleep

Red
+Goblin Patrol
+Mogg War Marshall
+Volcanic Hammer
+Words of War
+Demonfire

Black (Was in serious need of 3cc cards)
+Chittering Rats
+Dusk Urchins
+Necromancy
+Stinkweed Imp
+Mind Shatter

Artifacts
+Chimeric Idol
+Crucible of Worlds
+Etched Oracle
+Powder Keg

interesting changes. How many multicolor u running now? those are all pretty solid multicolor cards u cutting. (Spellbound is prolly the worse of that crew).

EDIT:
yeah the rest of the multi-color is pretty solid. it felt like a replica of my multicolor section

all the mono-colored cards are pretty solid. i don't run fathom seer and chittering rats but both seem okay.

nice double Chimeric Idol ftw
prolly just need 1x
(i just got 4x Foil ones at .99 eacH! thanks T&T! haha)

I like most of your adds, but I have some commentary on specific cards.

Treetop Village: It was between this or Gaea's Cradle in my cube, I gave it to the Cradle though there is nothing wrong with the former.

Your white add section looks good, though I've just taken our Wall of Reverence myself in favor of a more aggro approach to the slot.

Green looks good aside from Wild Dogs; the conditional nature of that card makes it hard for me to get behind it. Have you tried Kavu Titan?

Blue is solid, I have no qualms with any of those cards in particular, though I personally do not run many of them.

Red: I am not big on Goblin Patrol or Mogg War Marshal, they both seem just barely ok to me. I can't think of anything off the top of my head to put in there as of now.

For black 3-drops I like Undead Gladiator over some of those that you have listed and I have heard great things about the Urchins.

The artifacts are all good but you have listed Chimeric Idol twice.

I agree on most of the changes, though you are cutting really good cards in the multicolor section (some of those cards I run in my even smaller multicolor section), but that is a matter of preference, I suppose. However I would not cut Wall of Denial, it is so good, much rather cut Court Hussar instead or really any other U/W card!

As for blue and the counterspells, I would not go for Memory Lapse, seeing that you do not run Arcane Denial, Dissipate and Dismiss.

or Desertion and Complicate for that matter.

Thanks for all the responses. After further consideration I have decided not to run 2 Chimeric Idols (was supposed to be Powder Keg).

Your white add section looks good, though I've just taken our Wall of Reverence myself in favor of a more aggro approach to the slot.

I had it in before but took it out for the same reason. It was between the Wall & Ranger of Eos for me but I see you've got Academy Rector & Galepowder Mage. Which one of the 4 is the best?

Green looks good aside from Wild Dogs; the conditional nature of that card makes it hard for me to get behind it. Have you tried Kavu Titan?

OK, I definitely agree with cutting Wild Dogs (again). Is Kavu Titan better than Mire Boa? Basically between those 2.

Red: I am not big on Goblin Patrol or Mogg War Marshal, they both seem just barely ok to me. I can't think of anything off the top of my head to put in there as of now.

I was iffy on both of those but creaturewise I couldn't think of anything better. Mogg War Marshal can go out for Smash to Smithereens which I've wanted to try out for awhile. Is Goblin Welder good enough in a non-powered cube? Maybe Scorched Rusalka? Or I could just add a higher cc card like Sulfur Elemental.

For black 3-drops I like Undead Gladiator over some of those that you have listed and I have heard great things about the Urchins.

Not a big fan of the Gladiator, I'll stick with the ones listed and cut them if they don't work out.

I agree on most of the changes, though you are cutting really good cards in the multicolor section (some of those cards I run in my even smaller multicolor section), but that is a matter of preference, I suppose. However I would not cut Wall of Denial, it is so good, much rather cut Court Hussar instead or really any other U/W card!

Yeah, I basically cut 9 good cards so I didn't have to use Spellbound Dragon. I can agree with this change though, back to the bench with Court Hussar.

As for blue and the counterspells, I would not go for Memory Lapse, seeing that you do not run Arcane Denial, Dissipate and Dismiss.

No love for Memory Lapse? We apparently have a lot of contenders for this spot. What is the best between Memory Lapse, Arcane Denial, Dissipate, Dismiss, Complicate & Desertion? I'm still leaning towards Memory Lapse.

Quote from Donald_McDonald

I had it in before but took it out for the same reason. It was between the Wall & Ranger of Eos for me but I see you've got Academy Rector & Galepowder Mage. Which one of the 4 is the best?

..........

No love for Memory Lapse? We apparently have a lot of contenders for this spot. What is the best between Memory Lapse, Arcane Denial, Dissipate, Dismiss, Complicate & Desertion? I'm still leaning towards Memory Lapse.

Academy Rector is the best one on that list.

..........

There are a lot of blue cards I'd cut before excluding any of the countermagic listed above.

~ Ninja of the Deep Hours
~ Fathom Seer
~ Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
~ Wakethrasher
~ Sleep
and
~ Aeon Chronicler

Now... all those cards are good, so don't freak out or anything, but IMO, all could all be cut before excluding any of the countrspells on that list.

I'd cut at least three of those to find room for Arcane Denial, Dismiss and Desertion for starters.

Also, when you compare Draining Whelk to Desertion, it kind of fails in comparison. I like the Whelk, but the Desertion can be a counter + a creature OR a counter + an artifact... all for 1 less.

Academy Rector is the best one on that list.

Have never cubed with Rector so I'll give it a shot.

There are a lot of blue cards I'd cut before excluding any of the countermagic listed above.

~ Ninja of the Deep Hours
~ Fathom Seer
~ Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
~ Wakethrasher
~ Sleep
and
~ Aeon Chronicler

Now... all those cards are good, so don't freak out or anything, but IMO, all could all be cut before excluding any of the countrspells on that list.

I'd cut at least three of those to find room for Arcane Denial, Dismiss and Desertion for starters.

I'll try out the blue section with less creatures and see how it goes. Let's try this:

-Ninja of the Deep Hours
-Fathom Seer
-Aeon Chronicler
+Arcane Denial
+Dismiss
+Desertion

I'm going to test out Sleep and see how it goes but it could definitely be cut if it doesn't work out.

I like that change!

So after making changes to the changes we have the following:

liking it.
good changes

good move on cutting court hussar for wall of denial.

Quote from Aznopium

liking it.
good changes

good move on cutting court hussar for wall of denial.

Thanks! Now all I have to do is spend $100+ on Magic cards.:facepalm:

EDIT: Tiny update so that I will have 0 proxies after FTV:E comes out.

-Mana Drain (Strictly because I don't own one)
+Time Spiral

I know it is a downgrade but now at least all my cards will be real.

EDIT# 2: One more tiny update.

-Ensnaring Bridge
+Grafted Wargear
-Grim Poppet
+Ring of Gix

Quote from Donald_McDonald

Thanks! Now all I have to do is spend $100+ on Magic cards.:facepalm:

EDIT: Tiny update so that I will have 0 proxies after FTV:E comes out.

-Mana Drain (Strictly because I don't own one)
+Time Spiral

I know it is a downgrade but now at least all my cards will be real.

EDIT# 2: One more tiny update.

-Ensnaring Bridge
+Grafted Wargear
-Grim Poppet
+Ring of Gix

Do your really need the beef from Grafted Wargear so bad???

I dont like Ensnaring Bridge for the Cube, but for a equipment that just beef up creatures, or you have more plans for the unequip effects?

Ring of Gix is a good move to include. I like that. By the way, do you trade that Grim Poppet?

Grafted Wargear is, in my experience, insane for aggro. I've not really seen the wargear get destroyed, it's pretty much a permanent giant growth and like Sigil of Distinction, if the opponent deals with the creature, the next equipped creature's going to be just as (or almost as) insane after the dust settles.

Zendikar update:

Enemy Filter lands -> Enemy Fetch lands
Cold Snap -> Day of Judgment
Cold Snap is excellent but forcing people to use snow basics is not if they don't want to. Now people can play with non-snow basics if they want.
Stromgald Crusader -> Vampire Lacerator
Stinkweed Imp -> Vampire Nighthawk
Arc Lightning -> Burst Lightning
Maybe I should cut Volcanic Hammer instead?
Flameblast Dragon -> Chandra Ablaze
Rorix Bladewing -> Hellkite Charger
Sulfur Elemental -> Goblin Guide
I like all my 1 drops already and I don't think red will complain about a lower curve.
Mire Boa -> Lotus Cobra
Could be Albino Troll instead, he hasn't been getting much love lately.
Overrun -> Rampaging Baloths
I want to continue to push green as a more controlling color.
Ravenous Baloths -> Oracle of Mul Daya
I actually think Baloths was affected very little by M10. That doesn't change the fact I like Briarhorn more and want to try out the Oracle.
Silent Specter -> Sorin Markov
Tough choice between Specter and Predatory Nightstalker. Thoughts?

Honorable mentions:
Kor Sanctifiers - Good but not great. Would be nice to have this effect in white, though.
Expedition Map - I don't have the best land to fetch with this so it would mostly be a manafixer.
Emeria Angel - White has a nice token theme going but it came down to this or Serra Avenger which is a more aggressive and allows you to play 2 2cc creatures on turn 4.
Journey to Nowhere - Good card, no doubt but white has no shortage of efficient removal.
Luminarch Acension - Anyone tested this yet?
World Queller - Not excited about this guy, seems like a bad Braids.
Bloodghast - Aggro black creatures are nice but aggro decks don't like making lots of land drops.
Guul Draz Specter - Seems OK but not better than other options.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen - Should I try this guy out? Was very close to including him.
Goblin Ruinblaster - Feels like I have enough LD already and I don't want the Karoos to be too much of a liability.
Scute Mob - Albino Troll could be swapped out for this guy.

I'll update my first post in a couple of days, hopefully I can get some advice before then.

I'd replace Condemn with Journey to Nowhere, because I think white spot removal should always be playable both in aggro and control.

Good changes mostly. Here are the ones I quetion:

Chandra Ablaze clearly needs to go in, but Flameblast Dragon has been a total house in my cube. It just deals an insane amount of damage.

I'd cut Albino Troll long before Mire Boa. I like the Troll, but Boa is better.

I don't understand pushing green as control. Sure it's got its controlling elements but it really shines in aggro and ramp. The Rampaging Baloths are awesome, but I do like me some Overrun. It wins!

I've seen Predatory Nightstalkers in some cube lists. It looks underwhelming to me. How has it been for you (and others)?

Kor Sanctifiers and Journey to Nowhere are almost auto-includes IMO. White has longed for a ETB Disenchant critter forever. Now white has a really good one. Journey is much stronger than any of the Pacifism-type cards. I'd replace the weakest one of those that I ran for it. In my cube, I took out the never-impressive Crib Swap for it.

Cheers,
rant