This is the current prototype for my reject rare cube. Nothing too good, all <$1 rares, and a few hopefully interesting subthemes to make it a cohesive limited environment.
I've tried to make it draftable by supporting certain archetypes for each colour pair, sort of like a real Limited environment, though my hope is that even decks not built to these archetypes will have the capacity to be successful. I've also tried to add various combo-enabling cards, as my playgroup has a large number of Johnnies and I'm sure the challenge of drafting a partial combo deck out of reject rares will appeal to them.
Here are the themes I tried to support, with a brief description of each:
WU - enchantments matter, evasion
This deck tends to be a control shell that overpowers its opponents through card advantage and evasion.
See: Righteous Authority, Serra Aviary and Lone Revenant.
WB - life matters (gain/pay life)
This deck runs creatures with lifelink and various "pay life" effects to gain advantage. It can also try to combo out with Near-Death Experience or Celestial Convergence.
WR - general aggro
Because of the constraints of the format, this was actually a really hard colour pair to fill. I knew that I wanted it to be aggressive and creature-based, along with a few buff effects for good measure. I also wanted it to have a better late-game strategy than the other aggro deck, BR goblins, so it has a number of higher-costed bombs to help hold its own.
See: Tivadar of Thorn, Assemble the Legion, Uthden Troll and Blood Hound.
WG - tokens / anthem effects
This deck runs token producers like Caribou Range and White Sun's Zenith and then buffs them with either anthem effects or +1/+1 counters.
UB - zombie tribal
(there's also a Laboratory Maniac self-mill combo deck which falls pretty soundly into UB but I don't want the major archetype to be a specific combo)
This deck runs a bunch of Zombie creatures and cards that care about Zombies.
See: Call to the Grave, Rooftop Storm, Graveborn Muse.
UR - Izzet (spellcasting with creature support)
This deck has the most cantrips and recursion, with some beefy creatures to support the Sorceries and Instants that are its main threat.
See: Galvanoth, Spellweaver Volute, Charmbreaker Devils.
UG - ramp (typically into artifacts like the Towers or big overcosted creatures)
This deck does its own thing until it can resolve something really massive. It has a higher reliance on artifacts than the other decks (besides Hellkite Tyrant combo) and can be a real late-game threat.
See: Tower of Calamities, Skill Borrower, Charmed Pendant and Unexpected Results.
BR - goblin tribal, the other aggro deck.
This deck is a bit more reliable than WR aggro, albeit narrower. It's mostly the usual goblin tribal things you'd expect, with a low curve and short-term gains. BR also gets perhaps the bombiest card in the format, the Un-set card Rare-B-Gone, which if followed up by some cheap goblins is a surefire way to turn the tides of the game at the last minute.
See: Mad Auntie, Goblin Assault and Dralnu's Crusade.
BG - graveyard shenanigans with some extra Spirit tribal
I tried for a while to come up with an identity for BG, and I think the combination of graveyard shenanigans/reanimator and Spirit-related effects gives it its own distinct identity. This deck can be weak but it has some real power if built right.
See: Jarad's Orders, Ghoultree, He Who Hungers.
RG - +1/+1 counters, undercosted creatures with drawbacks
The spreadsheet I used to design this cube has this row titled "No One Clan Should Have All This Power". RG builds up a fairly sizeable army on the cheap in the early-to-mid game and overwhelms its opponents by sheer force.
See: Rubblebelt Raiders, Spawnwrithe, and Valleymaker.
27/11/2013
+
Cowardice
Pillaging Horde
Primeval Force
Extortion
Formation
-
broken visage
goblin assault
favor of the mighty
beguiler of wills
splinterfright
vagueabond says... #1
If you've read this far, please tell me what you think! Are any of the cards too strong? Too edge-case? Am I ridiculous for building what some might consider an anti-Cube? Just what is the deal with airline food, anyway?
October 26, 2013 12:21 p.m.