TooSarcastic's Cube Draft List v3.0

WHITE
Academy Rector
Aegis of Honor
Adarkar Valkyrie
Ajani Goldmane
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Armageddon
Armored Ascension
Arrest
Austere Command
Aven Mindcensor
Aven Riftwatcher
Balance
Blade of the Sixth Pride
Blazing Archon
Calciderm
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary
Cloudchaser Kestrel
Condemn
Crovax, Ascendant Hero
Crusade
Descendant of Kiyomaro
Disenchant
Divine Offering
Empyrial Armor
Enduring Renewal
Enlightened Tutor
Eternal Dragon
Faith's Fetters
Feudkiller's Verdict
Galepowder Mage
Genju of the Fields
Ghostly Prison
Glorious Anthem
Goldmeadow Harrier
Griffin Guide
Humility
Icatian Javelineers
Idyllic Tutor
Jareth, Leonine Titan
Kami of Ancient Law
Kataki, War's Wage
Knight of Meadowgrain
Knight of the Holy Nimbus
Kinsbaile Cavalier
Longbow Archer
Mirror Entity
Momentary Blink
Mother of Runes
Oblivion Ring
Order of the White Shield
Order of Whiteclay
Pacifism
Paladin en-Vec
Pariah
Prison Term
Radiant's Dragoons
Replenish
Reveillark
Reya Dawnbringer
Rule of Law
Sacred Mesa
Samurai of the Pale Curtain
Savannah Lions
Soltari Priest
Soul Warden
Spectral Procession
Stonecloaker
Stonehewer Giant
Story Circle
Swords to Plowshares
Temporal Isolation
Twilight Shepherd
Valor
White Knight
White Shield Crusader
Windborn Muse
Wing Shards
Wrath of God
Yosei, the Morning Star

BLUE
Aeon Chronicler
Aquamoeba
Arcanis the Omnipotent
Court Hussar
Body Double
Boomerang
Braingeyser
Brainstorm
Brine Elemental
Capsize
Clone
Collective Restraint
Compulsive Research
Confiscate
Consign to Dream
Control Magic
Counterspell
Cryptic Command
Cunning Wish
Deep Analysis
Desertion
Dissipate
Drift of Phantasms
Evacuation
Fact or Fiction
Fathom Seer
Force of Will
Force Spike
Frantic Search
Gifts Ungiven
Guile
Hydroblast
Impulse
Jace Beleren
Keiga, the Tide Star
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Looter il-Kor
Magus of the Future
Mana Drain
Mana Leak
Man-o'-War
Meloku the Clouded Mirror
Memory Lapse
Merchant Scroll
Merfolk Looter
Mulldrifter
Mystical Teachings
Mystical Tutor
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Ophidian
Pestermite
Ponder
Propaganda
Psionic Blast
Ray of Command
Remand
Repeal
Repulse
Riftwing Cloudskate
Rhystic Study
Rushing River
Spell Snare
Spiketail Hatchling
Surgespanner
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Thieving Magpie
Threads of Disloyalty
Tidespout Tyrant
Tidings
Time Walk
Tinker
Trinket Mage
Unstable Mutation
Vendilion Clique
Venser, Shaper Savant
Vesuvan Shapeshifter
Voidmage Prodigy
Waterfront Bouncer
Willbender
Wonder

BLACK
Animate Dead
Augur of Skulls
Avatar of Woe
Bad Moon
Beacon of Unrest
Bitterblossom
Black Knight
Bone Shredder
Braids, Cabal Minion
Chainer's Edict
Carnophage
Corpse Dance
Corrupt
Crypt Rats
Damnation
Dark Confidant
Dark Ritual
Darkblast
Dauthi Horror
Dauthi Slayer
Decree of Pain
Diabolic Edict
Diabolic Servitude
Duress
Entomb
Eyeblight's Ending
Festering Goblin
Funeral Charm
Graveborn Muse
Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
Hatred
Hymn to Tourach
Hypnotic Specter
Incremental Blight
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
Knight of Stromgald
Liliana Vess
Living Death
Lord of the Undead
Magus of the Abyss
Makeshift Mannequin
Midnight Banshee
Mind Twist
Nameless Inversion
Nantuko Husk
Necromancy
Necropotence
Nefashu
Nezumi Graverobber
Night of Souls' Betrayal
Nihilith
Null Profusion
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Oona's Prowler
Paralyze
Persecute
Pestilence
Phyrexian Arena
Plague Sliver
Priest of Gix
Profane Command
Reanimate
Rend Flesh
Sarcomancy
Shriekmaw
Skeletal Scrying
Skeletal Vampire
Skittering Skirge
Slaughter Pact
Smallpox
Smother
Stromgald Crusader
Sudden Death
Tendrils of Corruption
Terror
Thoughtseize
Twisted Abomination
Undead Warchief
Visara the Dreadful

RED
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Ancient Grudge
Anger
Avalanche Riders
Ball Lightning
Blood Knight
Bogardan Hellkite
Boom // Bust
Chandra Nalaar
Countryside Crusher
Dead // Gone
Demonfire
Earthquake
Empty the Warrens
Fiery Temper
Fire Imp
Fireblast
Firebolt
Flame Fusillade
Flame Javelin
Flamebreak
Flametongue Kavu
Fork
Gathan Raiders
Ghostfire
Goblin Bombardment
Goblin Matron
Goblin Recruiter
Godo, Bandit Warlord
Gorilla Shaman
Grapeshot
Greater Gargadon
Grinning Ignus
Guerrilla Tactics
Hearth Kami
Hostility
Incinerate
Insurrection
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Jokulhaups
Kamahl, Pit Fighter
Keldon Marauders
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Kird Ape
Knollspine Dragon
Knollspine Invocation
Lash Out
Lava Hounds
Lightning Bolt
Magma Jet
Magus of the Arena
Magus of the Scroll
Mana Flare
Mogg Fanatic
Mogg War Marshal
Molten Rain
Orcish Lumberjack
Pandemonium
Pyroblast
Pyroclasm
Reckless Wurm
Rolling Thunder
Ryusei, the Falling Star
Seal of Fire
Shard Phoenix
Shivan Hellkite
Shock
Siege-Gang Commander
Squee, Goblin Nabob
Sudden Shock
Sulfur Elemental
Tarfire
Taurean Mauler
Thundermare
Tin Street Hooligan
Threaten
Tribal Flames
Wheel of Fortune
Wildfire
Word of Seizing

GREEN
Arrogant Wurm
Basking Rootwalla
Berserk
Birds of Paradise
Blanchwood Armor
Briarhorn
Call of the Herd
Caller of the Claw
Carven Caryatid
Civic Wayfinder
Chameleon Colossus
Channel
Chord of Calling
Cloudthresher
Cream of the Crop
Crop Rotation
Defense of the Heart
Devoted Druid
Essence Warden
Eternal Witness
Exploration
Fertile Ground
Fyndhorn Elves
Gaea’s Anthem
Garruk Wildspeaker
Giant Growth
Golgari Grave-Troll
Harmonize
Harrow
Hystrodon
Imperious Perfect
Indrik Stomphowler
Kodama of the North Tree
Kodama's Reach
Krosan Grip
Life from the Loam
Living Wish
Llanowar Elves
Might of Oaks
Mirri, Cat Warrior
Moldervine Cloak
Naturalize
Overrun
Phantom Centaur
Plow Under
Primal Command
Prismatic Omen
Protean Hulk
Quirion Ranger
Rancor
Regrowth
River Boa
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Saproling Burst
Scryb Ranger
Seal of Primordium
Seedborn Muse
Simian Grunts
Squall Line
Spawnwrithe
Spectral Force
Spidersilk Armor
Survival of the Fittest
Sylvan Scrying
Tarmogoyf
Thelonite Hermit
Tooth and Nail
Tower Above
Troll Ascetic
Uktabi Orangutan
Verdant Force
Vinelasher Kudzu
Viridian Shaman
Wall of Blossoms
Wall of Roots
Weatherseed Treefolk
Werebear
Wild Mongrel
Wood Elves

MULTICOLORED
Æthertow
Angel of Despair
Armadillo Cloak
Ashenmoor Liege
Azorius Guildmage
Boartusk Liege
Boggart Ram-Gang
Brion Stoutarm
Burning-Tree Shaman
Debtors' Knell
Desolation Giant
Doran, the Siege Tower
Electrolyze
Fiery Justice
Fire//Ice
Firemane Angel
Firespout
Ghost Council of Orzhova
Goblin Legionnaire
Grave-Shell Scarab
Izzet Chronarch
Kitchen Finks
Lightning Angel
Lightning Helix
Loxodon Hierarch
Memory Plunder
Mirrorweave
Mortify
Murderous Redcap
Mystic Enforcer
Mystic Snake
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Oversoul of Dusk
Pernicious Deed
Putrefy
Rakdos Guildmage
Recoil
Savage Twister
Selesnya Guildmage
Shadowmage Infiltrator
Silkbind Faerie
Simic Sky Swallower
Stormbind
Suffocating Blast
Sygg, River Cutthroat
Teferi's Moat
Temporal Spring
Terminate
Trygon Predator
Vindicate
Void
Vulturous Zombie
Zur the Enchanter

ARTIFACTS
Azorius Signet
Bosh, Iron Golem
Bottle Gnomes
Coalition Relic
Crystal Shard
Cursed Scroll
Dimir Signet
Duplicant
Fellwar Stone
Gilded Lotus
Golgari Signet
Grim Poppet
Gruul Signet
Icy Manipulator
Izzet Signet
Juggernaut
Lightning Greaves
Lotus Petal
Loxodon Warhammer
Mox Diamond
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Nevinyrral's Disk
Orzhov Signet
Pithing Needle
Platinum Angel
Rakdos Signet
Razormane Masticore
Scroll Rack
Selesnya Signet
Sensei's Divining Top
Serrated Arrows
Simic Signet
Skullclamp
Sol Ring
Solemn Simulacrum
Sundering Titan
Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Light and Shadow
Tormod's Crypt
Triskelion
Umezawa's Jitte

LANDS
Academy Ruins
Azorius Chancery
Badlands
Bayou
Bazaar of Baghdad
Blood Crypt
Boros Garrison
Breeding Pool
Dimir Aqueduct
Godless Shrine
Golgari Rot Farm
Gruul Turf
Hallowed Fountain
Izzet Boilerworks
Library of Alexandria
Murmuring Bosk
Mutavault
Orzhov Basilica
Overgrown Tomb
Plateau
Rakdos Carnarium
Sacred Foundry
Savannah
Scrubland
Selesnya Sanctuary
Simic Growth Chamber
Steam Vents
Stomping Ground
Strip Mine
Taiga
Temple Garden
Terramorphic Expanse
Tolarian Academy
Tropical Island
Tundra
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Volrath's Stronghold
Watery Grave
Wasteland

Notes:

THE MOVE TO 540 CARDS
After hosting a 12 man event last weekend I am heartily glad that we increased the size of the Cube. It adds to the variation of the drafting experience, and the over all power level has actually increased (in part because of proxies, see below). I think that an 8 person Cube is the best starting number and a good number overall, but going up to a 12 person Cube is worth it if people are willing to invest the time and cards to do it well. If we make the decision to go to a 16 person Cube I will likely relinquish stewardship to another responsible party. I want no part in counting, sorting, alphabetizing, typing, linking, and keeping track of ownership for 720 Goddamned cards. 540 is a great number for drafting, but it took me over six hours just to add the NEW cards to this list.

PROXIES
Yeah, we're proxying, and I would advocate the practice for anyone who wants to use Power in their Cube. In addition to our inclusions of Power, are also proxying Bazaar of Baghadad and Library of Alexandria. Honestly I would not go too proxy crazy with a Cube because fun Cubes can be assembled without really expensive cards, and each Cube should have its own flavor that reflects its ownership. Our Cube seems to have acquired quite an Elder Dragon Highlander feel, without the multiplayer aspect, obviously. In fact I'd describe it like EDH for Limited, if that makes any sense.

POWER
After much discussion we included some. We have Time Walk and the Moxen. The others were excluded for being too broken (i.e. Black Lotus) or too weak (i.e. Timetwister). So far this has worked out for us. It seems unlikely that any but the most die hard Magic geeks would put real Power into a Cube, but if you can afford to, God bless you.

BALANCE
We made efforts to balance out aggro strategies with more controlling cards. I think we have been mostly successful. I think the pendulum may need to swing a little back toward aggro, because I haven't seen a successful pure aggro deck thus far (Pseudonymous Drama Student's Mono Red Deck last night came pretty close). Midrange tempo or combo variants seem very powerful, and true control decks are possible but don't seem overwhelmingly great. I am getting a feeling (I haven't yet counted) we need to increase the ratio of creature to noncreature spells. This is something I'll be keeping at eye on for the future. I have also pushed for more Goblins, simply because the Cube is now 50% larger and we actually took Goblins out during the expansion. In my opinion there should be enough of them to make them the one really dangerous linear strategy in this Cube. People should need to make decisions about hating (objectively) less powerful Goblin cards in case one person at the table is drafting the awesome Goblin deck. We'll see. I might be overruled on this issue.

THE NAME
I would bet that not even half of the cards in the Cube are even mine anymore, so I dithered about as to whether to give it my name. I decided that only way to make the name sound more communal would be to name it after the Blog. Which shares a name with its creator. Who has made it clear that he is really, really not a fan of events that have included the Cube. So I just kept the old name, not out of hubris (well, okay, a little hubris!) but so that it wouldn't seem like some sort of sarcastic joke on Fugie. He's got it tough enough as it is.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Without the incisive insight of Tabasco and The Captain we'd still have an un-Powered 8 person Cube and I'd be sitting in my room wondering why nobody wants to play with it. Thanks for the harassment, the help, and the cards! We could've called it the Tabastictain Cube or something if that didn't sound disgusting. Whatever, you get the idea.
Thanks to Harry Potter, Major_Luck, and everyone else who added cool foils or foreign cards. You know it looks great now.
Thanks to Pseudonymous Drama Student for the foil land, and for the advice. He told me, "Every card in this Cube has a purpose. You need some cards that make people ask, 'What is THAT doing in here?!'"
Thanks to everyone else who has helped "test" and generally been involved in the process. I hope it's been fun. We'll be talking about Eventide additions soon, and any card suggestions (old or new) are welcome in the comments!

My next project is updating the Owners Database, then returning cards that have been cut to their rightful owners. I promise, I am going to be working on it!


T

Draftstravaganza III: Legend of the Cube- Recap!

Brunch!

Very soon we will have an updated Cube list, possibly tonight, if my wife doesn't kill me for spending all my leisure time writing about Magical faeries and such. In the meantime, I want to briefly discuss the Draftstravaganza.

In a wonderful coincidence, Saturday stayed cool AND cloudy/rainy all day, making other summer activities less palatable. That and a late invite out on Facebook netted a surprising number of brunchers and drafters. All told, we had in attendance 13 drafters, two wives and a child, although the latter were mostly there for the food and conversation (whatever!). Since 12 (we gained Bagha midway through the first draft to make 13 total) was way too many to Rotisserie anything, we decided to Cube first. We did 2 six man pods for three rounds each. Then, after several hours, we decided to draft the Cube again, as a 10 man pod. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say this iteration of the Cube is about 200 zillion times more fun than the last one, as evidenced by the fact that we drafted Cube for 9 hours straight and not a single person wanted to play another format, the fact that nobody appeared too disapointed with the card pool (although there a few cards placed gently on the chopping block midway through) and I have received uniformly rave reviews since. For those of you who couldn't make it, it was fun. I mean, REALLY fun. These stupid plays, among others, were witnessed.

Jonathan made a 3 card infinite turn combo with Time Walk, Izzet Chronarch and Crystal Shard. I know he won at least two games with it. I guess you can't keep a good EDH idea down.

I heard Swizz Dizzle say (twice, to two different opponents) that he had no creatures left in his library- and then played Living Death! He had a nice little combo with Survival of the Fittest going.

I definitely got hit by Okiba Gang Shinobi- and "discarded" Reckless Wurm and Fiery Temper.

Jonathon also hit me with a turn 2 Hymn to Tourach and I had to ditch a Thundermare and a land. He then promptly cast Necromancy on the Mare turn 3 and swung with his hasty 5/5. Game two of that match saw Jonathon with FIVE enchantments on his side of the board; Exploration, Phyrexian Arena, Gaea's Anthem, Bitterblossom and Null Profusion. Yeah, he got there, even though he drew all but four cards from his library.

Bobby Hill Was playing a deck with Niv-Mizzet, Rhystic Study, Sensei's Divining Top and Force of Will. He won the pod, I think.

Tabasco totally played a turn 5 hardcast Sundering Titan against me, destroying three of my four lands. I also had a fifth land and Plow Under in hand, just waiting to make him pick up his bounce land. Imagine, this is a Limited format where turn 5 Plow Under (at least on the draw) is really just too slow!

My best play all day was when Sean resolved a turn seven Oona, Queen of the Fae against me. Turn six he had cast Guile, and he had some other beaters out too. I had taken the lead early with a morphed Thelonite Hermit that got in there twice. Now all I had was the unmorphed Hermit and his three tokens. Sean had tapped out to play Oona. I play... Mirrorweave on Guile! Swing with four Guiles, you can block one, so take 18 thanx.

There was a rumor that somebody over in the other pod got a turn 1 kill, but I may have been mistaken, let me know in the comments.

Tabasco watches Pseudonymous Drama Student play Rhyno.

Major_Luck tunes his deck at the end of the round, while Rhyno battles on.

Conn and a blurry Jonathon play at blinding speed (heh)! In the background is Tabasco.

Swizz Dizzle guards the prize packs while Jonathon plays in the background.

Major_Luck, Swizz Dizzle.

Tony and Swizz, playing.

Harry Potter and Bagha look like they were up a little late last night.

I will be at Game Universe this Friday (Don't even know/care if it's Standard or Draft down there). I will be bringing the Cube for an afterdraft. You really should come.

T

Soo tired...

Last night The Captain, Tabasco and I spent four hours collecting, compiling and editing the newest version of our Cube. We decided to go with 540 cards and just make some cuts when we add Eventide later on. I wish I had a list ready to go for everyone, but I would have been up all night. I went with the theory that some sleep is better than no sleep. Judging by how I feel this morning I'm not so sure. I wish I could tell you that we got wild and crazy with all sort of liquor and hookers but the process was one of sober calculation, collaboration, and occasional ridicule. I will attempt to post the Cube 3.0 list prior to Draftstravaganza 3: Legend of the Cube, for obvious reasons.

In the meantime, we are still looking for a few cards: Masticore (the elder), Diamond Valley (heh), and oddly, Demigod of Revenge. The ones I had got stolen at Nats along with a shitload of other Shadowmoor rares. We were still looking for The Captain's Tooth and Nail and his Decree of Pain at the end of the night too. If you have any of these cards and are willing to lend them to the Cube, we'd be much obliged. I think you'll find this iteration more powerful and larger, just like Tabasco promised.
T

Lightning Bug vs. Firefly- fight!

Really tedious but essential Cube stuff

YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO READ THIS STUFF UNLESS YOU WANT TO HELP PUT THE CUBE 3.0 TOGETHER.

Total Cards 540

Number of Drafters 12

Number of Packs 36



Ratios if we ported them over from Cube 2.0

Each color 85.5 cards

Multicolor 36

Artifacts 40.5

Lands 36



Not including Eventide cards we already have 22 proposed multicolor cards. The multicolor card ratio will have to be increased somehow. Also, if we don't cut any of the new adds, we have 16 Artifacts coming in prior to factoring in Eventide. We will need at least 2.5 more artifact slots, and that's if Eventide has no artifacts we want to add. Finally, we are short one land slot if we add Reflecting Pool, old Duals, Library of Alexandria and Bazaar of Baghdad (more if we add Mishra's Workshop, etc.).



Ways to tweak the numbers:



Give all the fractions to Multicolor- Now it is at 39 and Artiacts are at 40, Each other color at 85.



Reduce the number of each colored card to 81- This puts each color at an even 15% of the Cube. A full 25% of te Cube would be Multicolor Artifact and Land. To put this in perspective, three out of every four packs drafted will have two cards of any giver color. One of every four packs will have three cards of any given color. This frees up 25 slots. We could assign 20 to multicolor (now 59 total), 3 to Artifacts (43 total, right on target for what we currently would need with no cuts) and we are one ahead on Lands (at 37).



We could concievably go as low as 72 cards per color, which would be 13.33% for each color, leaving a full third of the Cube for Multicolor Artifacts and Lands, but this would mean exactly 2 cards per color per pack, every time. That would leave five cards that are Multicolor, Artifact and Land cards in each pack, every time. I would never want to see a pack with fewer than two cards of any given color, that is why this is the absolute bottom limit for me.



I do not think we should go below 80 cards for each color, personally, so that some packs do have three cards of a single color. This allows for more interesting decisions, encourages color signaling and a richer draft experience overall.



General Crap

I think since we are including Eventide cards in our 12 person Cube, until that set has come out and been played with we should bascially build an 11 person Cube, leaving 45 slots to be filled either with Eventide cards once they are available and evaluated, or with other good stuff.



We currently have 35 sleeved basics per color to accompany the Cube. If we port of the ratio to 540 cards, that equals 52.5 lands per color. I recommend adding 20 basic lands per color and going to at least 55 basic lands each, (maybe we even go 60, for safety) so that if we have a full twelve drafters there is a little more room on the top for any one color to be overdrafted.



T

More Cube ideas

I know, I know it's all we have been talking about lately, but Evan Erwin talks about it for half his video today and lists cards that may potentially make it into our cube, and is also packed with his wacky ideas about what will be played from Eventide.

Yes! Yes! A Thousand Times Yes!

Your eyes do not deceive you. I am definitely not Major_Luck, although I hail from the same lake-sodden state. Mr. Luck has had some rough times of late, with the passing of his grandmother and a lake-sized workload that does not pause, even for death. So I am here, apparently hypomanic judging from my current tone, just jazzed up to talk about the Cube 3.0. Tabasco and The Captain have been putting a lot of thought into the possible card choices for expansion. Kudos! You guys are awesome! I wish I would gotten behind you the first time you talked about expanding the Cube. I have always kind of felt like deciding what gets in the Cube is the most fun of the whole thing (CBG has said that he actually prefers cutting cards, proving he's batshit crazy). I wholeheartedly agree with all the proposed adds of the older cards. I thought we found a way to get Kinsbaile Cavalier in there, so maybe we put it in already but didn't change the list. I'll have to check. The Judgement Wishes were a particularly good suggestion that I had never even thought of. Good call! How Cloudthresher got missed I don't know. Obviously the original dual lands will be awesome for the Cube. Thanks to The Captain for agreeing to lend them. The Shadowmoor/Eventide cards are almost all good. But we currently have only 24 multi-colored cards in the entire Cube. That is exactly one per "pack" of 15 cards. By expanding the Cube we are in the pleasant position of being able to expand the percentage of multicolor cards without having to cut other good mono-colored cards. But there is still a limit to how hard we can push. As a result I think that the bar may need to be higher for the hybrid cards inclusion than the mono-colored Shadowmoor or Eventide cards. Still, most of the multicolor cards are really, really good. No one will disagree that Kitchen Finks or Murderous Redcap or Oona, Queen of the Fae deserve to be in the Cube.

Anyway, I did a quick count of all the proposed Shadowmoor/Eventide cards, and (with the proposed Power and older cards) the tally came out to about 105. So we are still around 75 cards short, if we can cram everything in there. I have been looking through some of our cuts from prior Cube versions, and came up with some other options for getting to 540. These are suggestions, feel free to refute them. These only include older cards, because Tabasco was so thorough with the recent sets.

White:
Blazing Archon
Soltari Crusader (I just like the idea of pumping for a shit load)
Stonecloaker (Versatile)
Soul Warden (How did this get cut?)
Knight of the Holy Nimbus (Maybe this is too many 2 mana Knights, but he's good)
Rule of Law (Control needs better tools in the Cube, Arcane Lab isn't good enough because Blue is so stacked. But in White, I think it works.)

Blue:
Ponder
Wonder (Another one that I don't know how we missed, especially because Blue always needs more creatures)
Meloku, the Clouded Mirror
Fathom Seer (Maybe. He's Gush on a dude, right?)
Mulldrifter (How did he not make the cut???)
Future Sight (Maybe? This is so sick in EDH, it seems like a card that translates well to Limited.)
Clone (Every creature is awesome. I want to copy them.)
Guile

Black:
Chainer's Edict
Slaughter Pact (Maybe? I don't know if it's the top tier of black spot removal, but it sure as hell makes things more interesting.)
Graveborn Muse (Another EDH port. It's a Hill Giant and a Phrexian Arena. Seems okay.)
Raise Dead (Classic.)
Ravenous Rats (When all your opponent's cards are awesome, discard is better.)
Funeral Charm (Ditto. Plus every once in a while it will be game-winning removal or pump.)
Duress
Rend Flesh and/or Eyeblight's Ending (Another few cards that are in contention for best spot removal in Black)
Last Gasp (Another maybe.)
Twisted Abomination

Red:
Threaten (Gets better with better creatures.)
Thundermare
Rolling Thunder (The most flexible red X spell, ever.)
Lash Out (Maybe?)
Guerrilla Tactics (Maybe?)
Ryusei, the Falling Star
Shivan Hellkite (Eh? Kills everything on the table eventually. Plus we need more Dragons, for flavor!)
Greater Gargadon (How did we miss this guy?)
Char (Maybe?)
Magus of the Moon (This "maybe" will totally depend on the saturation of non-basics after adding the ten duals. I see it as a potential hoser to four or five color decks, but don't know how it will pan out.)

Green:
Viridian Shaman (We already have the Sex Monkeys, but this reprint will become more useful if there's Moxen floating around.)
Civic Wayfinder (An Elf!)
Sylvan Scrying/Farseek (Find those duals!)
Chord of Calling (Think of the stoopid good targets!)
Weatherseed Treefolk (This was one of the last cuts we made to last Cube, and I always felt like they deserved to get in there.)
Squall Line (If we have to cut Hurricane so be it- this is way better.)

Artifacts:
Duplicant (Maybe, even though the creatures are great, the P/T isn't always amazing.)
Sundering Titan (Control decks rejoice!)
Jester's Cap (Maybe?)
Culling Scales (Again, for control decks.)
Oblivion Stone (Same.)
Mindslaver (Because... Why not?)
I don't know whether or not adding the last five Signets will negate this problem, but if we still want MORE fixing, I would add; Wanderer's Twig, Prismatic Lens, Coldsteel Heart, Spectral Searchlight and Darksteel Ingot.

Multicolor:
I kept these numbers small, since they're competing against a lot of good Shadowmoor and Eventide cards.
Terminate
Vindicate
Teferi's Moat (Again, trying to make control competitive)
Rumbling Slum

POWER:
Since someone who has actually PLAYED with the Power 9 has stated that it's better to include only some of them, I won't pretend to know any better. And obviously, proxies are the way to go with Power. Oddly, it's the proxies that make me uneasy. This is just me, but I kind of feel like if we add proxies, then we have no excuse for not adding other cards that were printed before Ice Age. I'm no Vintage player, but if we're allowing proxies, it seems like we have a burden for explaining why Library of Alexandria, Bazaar of Baghdad, and Mana Drain aren't in there. That's just me. What do you think?

Finally, is there any non-joke use for the phrase "We'll have to eat our way out?"

T

Expanding the Cube: Project 3.0

Here is our Current Cube...or at least close, I removed the following:

Deleted

Desert Twister (for six mana this effect is not strong enough)
Death Denied (again costs too much)
Pact of Negation (this card is absolute trash unless you are at five mana)
Mogg Flunkies (How is this better than Keldon Marauders)
Stinkweed Imp (he really sucks, at least Grave-Troll works towards something, getting bigger.)

With that I give you the current list:

WHITE

Adarkar Valkyrie
Ajani Goldmane
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Armageddon
Arrest
Austere Command
Aven Mindcensor
Aven Riftwatcher
Blade of the Sixth Pride
Calciderm
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary
Cloudchaser Kestrel
Condemn
Crovax, Ascendant Hero
Crusade
Descendant of Kiyomaro
Devouring Light
Disenchant
Empyrial Armor
Enduring Renewal
Enlightened Tutor
Eternal Dragon
Faith's Fetters
Genju of the Fields
Ghostly Prison
Glorious Anthem
Goldmeadow Harrier
Griffin Guide
Icatian Javelineers
Jötun Grunt
Kami of Ancient Law
Kataki, War's Wage
Knight of Meadowgrain
Longbow Archer
Mirror Entity
Momentary Blink
Mother of Runes
Oblivion Ring
Order of the White Shield
Pacifism
Paladin en-Vec
Pariah
Radiant's Dragoons
Radiant's Judgment
Reveillark
Reya Dawnbringer
Sacred Mesa
Samurai of the Pale Curtain
Savannah Lions
Soltari Priest
Swords to Plowshares
Temporal Isolation
White Knight
White Shield Crusader
Wing Shards
Wrath of God
Yosei, the Morning Star

BLUE

Aeon Chronicler
Aquamoeba
Arcanis the Omnipotent
Body Double
Boomerang
Braingeyser
Brainstorm
Brine Elemental
Capsize
Compulsive Research
Confiscate
Control Magic
Counterspell
Cryptic Command
Deep Analysis
Desertion
Dissipate
Drift of Phantasms
Evacuation
Force of Will
Force Spike
Frantic Search
Gifts Ungiven
Hydroblast
Impulse
Jace Beleren
Keiga, the Tide Star
Looter il-Kor
Mana Leak
Man-o'-War
Memory Lapse
Merchant Scroll
Merfolk Looter
Mystical Teachings
Mystical Tutor
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Ophidian
Propaganda
Ray of Command
Remand
Repeal
Repulse
Riftwing Cloudskate
Rushing River
Spell Snare
Stroke of Genius
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Thieving Magpie
Tidings
Unstable Mutation
Venser, Shaper Savant
Vesuvan Shapeshifter
Vendillion Clique
Vexing Sphinx
Voidmage Prodigy
Waterfront Bouncer
Willbender

BLACK

Animate Dead
Bad Moon
Black Knight
Bitterblossom
Bone Shredder
Carnophage
Consume Spirit
Contamination
Corpse Dance
Corrupt
Crypt Rats
Damnation
Dark Confidant
Dark Ritual
Darkblast
Dauthi Horror
Dauthi Slayer
Diabolic Edict
Diabolic Servitude
Dread Return
Exhume
Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
Hatred
Hymn to Tourach
Hypnotic Specter
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
Knight of Stromgald
Liliana Vess
Living Death
Nameless Inversion
Nantuko Husk
Necropotence
Nezumi Graverobber
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Oona's Prowler
Paralyze
Persecute
Pestilence
Phyrexian Arena
Plague Sliver
Priest of Gix
Profane Command
Sarcomancy
Shriekmaw
Skeletal Vampire
Skittering Skirge
Smallpox
Smother
Stromgald Crusader
Sudden Death
Tendrils of Corruption
Terror
Thoughtseize

RED

Akroma, Angel of Fury
Avalanche Riders
Bogardan Hellkite
Boom // Bust
Chandra Nalaar
Countryside Crusher
Demonfire
Earthquake
Empty the Warrens
Fiery Temper
Fireball
Fireblast
Flame Fusillade
Fork
Tauren Mauler
Gathan Raiders
Goblin Bombardment
Goblin Matron
Goblin Patrol
Goblin Recruiter
Gorilla Shaman
Grapeshot
Grinning Ignus
Hearth Kami
Hostility
Incinerate
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Jokulhaups
Kamahl, Pit Fighter
Keldon Marauders
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Kird Ape
Lava Hounds
Lightning Bolt
Magus of the Scroll
Mana Flare
Mogg Fanatic
Mogg War Marshal
Orcish Lumberjack
Pyroblast
Pyroclasm
Reckless Wurm
Red Elemental Blast
Seal of Fire
Shard Phoenix
Shock
Siege-Gang Commander
Sudden Shock
Sulfur Elemental
Tarfire
Tin Street Hooligan
Tribal Flames
Wheel of Fortune
Wildfire
Word of Seizing

GREEN

Arrogant Wurm
Basking Rootwalla
Birds of Paradise
Blanchwood Armor
Briarhorn
Caller of the Claw
Carven Caryatid
Channel
Chameleon Colossus
Cream of The Crop
Crop Rotation
Essence Warden
Fertile Ground
Fyndhorn Elves
Gaea’s Anthem
Garruk Wildspeaker
Giant Growth
Golgari Grave-Troll
Harmonize
Harrow
Hurricane
Hystrodon
Indrik Stomphowler
Kodama of the North Tree
Kodama's Reach
Krosan Grip
Life from the Loam
Llanowar Elves
Might of Oaks
Moldervine Cloak
Natural Order
Naturalize
Overrun
Phantom Centaur
Protean Hulk
Quirion Ranger
Rancor
Regrowth
River Boa
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Scryb Ranger
Simian Grunts
Spectral Force
Tarmogoyf
Thelonite Hermit
Timbermare
Troll Ascetic
Uktabi Orangutan
Verdant Force
Vinelasher Kudzu
Wall of Blossoms
Wall of Roots
Werebear
Wild Mongrel
Wing Snare
Wood Elves

MULTICOLORED

Angel of Despair
Armadillo Cloak
Azorius Guildmage
Burning-Tree Shaman
Shadowmage Infiltrator
Electrolyze
Ghost Council of Orzhova
Grave-Shell Scarab
Lightning Angel
Lightning Helix
Loxodon Hierarch
Mortify
Mystic Enforcer
Mystic Snake
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
Putrefy
Rakdos Guildmage
Recoil
Savage Twister
Selesnya Guildmage
Stormbind
Void
Watchwolf
Who/What/When/Where/Why

ARTIFACTS

Azorius Signet
Bottle Gnomes
Coalition Relic
Cursed Scroll
Dimir Signet
Fellwar Stone
Gruul Signet
Icy Manipulator
Ivory Tower
Juggernaut
Lotus Bloom
Lotus Petal
Loxodon Warhammer
Memory Jar
Mirari
Mox Diamond
Nevinyrral's Disk
Pithing Needle
Platinum Angel
Rakdos Signet
Razormane Masticore
Scroll Rack
Selesnya Signet
Sensei's Divining Top
Serrated Arrows
Sol Ring
Tormod's Crypt

LANDS

Academy Ruins
Azorius Chancery
Blood Crypt
Boros Garrison
Breeding Pool
Dimir Aqueduct
Godless Shrine
Golgari Rot Farm
Gruul Turf
Hallowed Fountain
Izzet Boilerworks
Mutavault
Orzhov Basilica
Overgrown Tomb
Rakdos Carnarium
Sacred Foundry
Selesnya Sanctuary
Simic Growth Chamber
Steam Vents
Stomping Ground
Temple Garden
Terramorphic Expanse
Tolarian Academy
Volrath's Stronghold
Watery Grave

I think the following should be in here for starters:

Adds

Badlands
Bayou
Plateau
Savannah
Scrubland
Taiga
Tropical Island
Tundra
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
5 Enemy Color Signets (Simic, Orzhov, Izzet, Boros, and Golgari)
Gilded Lotus
Cloudthresher (he wasn’t invited, and is kinda pissed about it)
Vindicate
Pernicious Deed
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of Fire and Ice
Solemn Simulacrum
Imperious Perfect (he makes tokens and is fine in any green deck not just one infested with elves)
Kinsbaile Cavlier (there are many knights, Shadowmoor is only going to add more)
Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
Jeska, Warrior Adept
Visara the Dreadful
Jareth, Leonine Titan
Maybe some Judgement wishes (you will always have a sideboard)

Shadowmoor cards that merit inclusion:

AEthertow
Armored Ascension
Augury Adept
Bogart Ram-Gang
Consign to Dream
Demigod of Revenge
Devoted Druid
Dusk Urchins
Everlasting Torment
Firespout
Flame Javelin
Grim Poppet
Incrimental Blight
Seedcradle Witch
Inkfathom Witch
Mistmeadow Witch
Tattermunge Witch
Jaws of Stone
Kitchen Finks
Knollspine Invocation
Memory Plunder
Midnight Banshee
Murderous Redcap
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Order of Whiteclay
Oversoul of Dusk
Prismatic Omen
Prison Term
Puppeteer Clique
Reflecting Pool
Silkbind Faerie
Spawnwrithe
Spectral Procession
Swans of Bryn Argoll
Torrent of Souls

My Personal Shadowmoor picks

Twilight Shepard
Deus of Calamity
Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers

Possible Eventide Inclusions. Spoiler can be found here

Archon of Justice
Light from Within
Recumbant Bliss
Inundate
Wakethrasher
Ashling the Extinguisher
Necroskitter
Needle Spector
Raven's Crime
Fiery Bombardment
Flame Jab
Hateflayer
Puncture Blast
Stigma Lasher
Thunderblust
Unwilling Recruit
Bloom Tender
Talara's Batallion
Wicker-Bough Elder
Creakwood Liege
Galefire Liege
Deathbringer Liege (B/W)
Murkfiend Liege (G/U)
Divinity of Pride
Dominus of Fealty
Overbeing of Myth
Nobilis of War
Evershrike
Unmake
Crackleburr
Cankerous Thirst
Gift of the Deity
Fire at Will
Fable of Wolf and Owl
Glen Elendra Archmage
Idle Thoughts
Flickerwisp
Hearthfire Hobgoblin

and Lastly and I know this has been long, some of you may be asleep after reading all of that, but here is the big issue at hand. The addition of 6 power cards. The five Moxen and Time Walk

Yes I know we discussed adding the 3 blue pieces but let me explain. Timetwister is useless, and Ancestral Recall is too good, it reads U: Win the game. Time walk is fair enough I think we can all agree, so thats brings us to the moxen. The cube is riddled with cheap artifact removal. Mox monkey is getting kinda hungry, starving in fact he has nothing to eat. and Tin Street Hooligan wants to be more useful that just a 2/1 for 2. A Mox only adds one mana, Black Lotus is way to powerful as well in fact it is not allowed for the same reason as Ancestral Recall, it just wins the game. Not to mention if someone first picks a mox, they didn't pick a good card, and if the mox isn't in your colors it is only as broken as Sol Ring (it nets you a colorless mana), which everyone is fine having in the cube. I realize that we would have to get some very good proxy versions to include them, but please give it some thought.

Please leave feedback and your thoughts on cube inclusions in comments

Thanks for bearing with me,
Hot Sauce