Hello folks! I hope you are having a great day today!

Let's talk Cube; and especially, my EDH Cube. Now I haven't updated it for you in a while. Sorry about that!

The projects that I write about are the projects that I am playing. I play Type 4 at least once a week, so I have been writing about it more, and updating you about it more. I used to play my EDH Cube once/week instead, so I had tons of articles, and updates, and such for you, as there was a reason to keep it current.

It's time to update my Cube! Today, you'll see cards from sets from War of the Spark, all the way to Battlebond making the cuts for my builds. I am also finally adding in cards that I always wanted to, but were too pricey at the time due to Standard demand.

My EDH Cube puts all of the draft targets in my draft itself, which makes the draft more organic. You draft both your leader, and the cards. Just like a real-life draft, you can change colors and your themes as the draft moves on. Each leader has a shell to draft around them, and I include 5 of each two-color, three-color, and all of the four-color options, as well as a small number of five colors. Each color pair tries to have five distinct themes within my Cube.

For example, Gruul:

Xenagos, God of Revels - Haste is given so a Fires-esque build around beating.

Omnath, Locus of Rage - Landfall and makes beaters, so lands matter.

Dragonlord Atarka - Dragons, mana ramping, big beaters!

Wort, the Raidmother - Spells matter.

Thromak the Insatiable - Make some tokens, eat 5 of them to make a 25/25 Thromak, kill in one punch.

Each of those is going to a different place, but they will support each other. Wort makes two Goblin tokens on arrival for Thromak. All of these are two colors for Wort's conspiring. Omnath can ramp to Atarka, etc. But they are also different themes.

Similarly, we have Esper enchantments (Zur), artifacts (Sydri, Sharuum the Hegemon), control (Dromar) and disruption (Sen Triplets). And they work together (The Triplets are artifacts, etc.) while also running cards like Spear of Heliod that work in multiple shells.

Here's an example of a card that demonstrates how my Cube has been built to support many different mechanics and concepts.

This is Herald of Anafenza. It's a great 1-drop for two builds. It's +1/+1 counter giving works with both Abzan's +1/+1 counter theme, as well as Atraxa's proliferate one that uses White as well. There are also +1/+1 counter uses in other builds too. Meanwhile, it also runs well in token builds, such as my Orzhov tokens and Selesnya token builds, both that share White. It has a clear purpose here.

My goal is to have cards like these be my Rathi Trapper:

This is Rathi Trapper. Now every deck that runs Black will want to draft a Rathi Trapper. A two-mana drop that can tap to tap down an opposing dork is something that a lot of decks are going to want. In the first edition of Modern Masters, this was a common, and was often drafted in the middle of the pack as it has value in many decks, but there were better options for many, so they'd grab it around the 6-9 mark.

However, two potential deck shells valued it more. There was a very strong Rebel build, and Rathi Trapper is a Rebel. Chaining into a tapper Rebel is very strong! If you were building a Rebel shell, then Rathi Trapper was often a 1st pick auto-draft card. It also had increased value as a Rogue with the cards with prowl. Latchkey Faerie was a good example. You could tap down a dork to punch with a Rogue so you could drop a card like this early, or you could just swing with it when you had the chance, and then drop a Latchkey Faerie on turn three for three mana and a card. In those shells, Rathi Trapper was better, and it was still valuable elsewhere too.

My goal is thus to have a Cube where the support cards are like Rathi Trapper, and can support multiple shells, but are good elsewhere. And if Herald of Anafenza didn't have the requirement to tap as a sorcery? It would never come out!

But it does, so it's not as good. Therefore, I want to pull it for something else that can support both themes:

This is Angel of Invention! It still works with the +1/+1 counter theme of Abzan or proliferating of Atraxa, while also giving you the ability to go wide with its tokens and to pump up your other stuff at the same time. It's also better in a White control deck like Treva's Bant Control, or a blink shell like Brago's Azorius Blink, or Sharuum's Esper Artifact shell, and such. It's just a much better card, and will be drafted more highly, so it will be heading in.

I spent some time on this conversation to show you where I am coming from for my Commander Cube swaps.

As a reminder, this is both a real-life Cube and on CubeTutor.com. Therefore, no changes are made if I don't own the card to send in. Here's the visual spoiler of my Cube, and you can draft it there as well. I'd recommend selecting six packs and seven bots. http://www.cubetutor.com/visualspoiler/14274

Changes:

In Angel of Invention; Out Herald of Anafenza

What other changes am I making?

Get ready!

For Free

I am adding these cards for free:

Gateway Plaza - I need some more mana options!

Karn, Scion of Urza - Karn is fun! He gives you a powerful EDH option too with the drawing of many cards over time on a colorless card. I am putting him in for free.

For Later

These are being added as soon as I get a copy of one. They are a little pricey, and I may commit them to other projects first, but they'll get in eventually!

Ugin, the Ineffable - Later? For sure! Lots of power here, am I right? I'm right....

Niv-Mizzet Reborn - Perfectly flexible, and you can craft many a deck around this five-mana powerhouse!

Karn's Bastion - Very few archetypes in my Cube aren't going to want to pick up a Karn's Bastion.

Blast Zone - Duh!

In (for now): Gateway Plaza, Karn, Scion of Urza

Commander Swaps

These are the most important! Sometimes they will enable a new strategy, and that's cool!

In Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain, Out Nin, the Pain Artist - Nin was a fun counter-burn creature kill card, but there were limits on her, and New Jhoira is perfect at enabling a new archetype. I thought about Commander Saheeli for this spot to push Izzet artifacts, but I preferred Jhoira as she can go places a mere artifact leader in Izzet cannot, and offers cool card drawing as well! Welcome Jhoira!

She's mostly supported already, but I suspect we'll add a few cards here and there for her.

In, Muldrotha, the Gravetide, Out Vorosh, the Hunter - Muldrotha is too good not to be in my Cube, and she is already supported with Zur's enchantment cards like Seal of Doom, and Esper's-pro artifacts like Executioner's Capsule joining other repeatability effects like Sakura-Tribe Elder or Font of Fertility that are already in my Cube. Unlike Jhoira, I won't need to add in anything! I had to put Vorosh into my Cube after a certain Leovold, Emissary of Trest was banned... It was the weakest of my leaders - no more!

In Lord Windgrace, Out Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper - I had three Jund leaders that cared about sacrifice or engines - Sek'Kuar, the Shattergang Brothers, and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher. I pulled the worst, and sent in Lord Windgrace with his land-matters fun times. I already run cards like The Gitrog Monster so we have some support for Windgrace already! You might notice a card or two get added later to help make his Jund-land matters theme work.

I already have tons of synergies with Ramunap Excavator, Azusa, Lost but Seeking, and more.

In Aminatou, the Fateshifter, Out Sydri, Galvanic Genius - I have two Esper artifact leaders, and one will remain, but Aminatou slides right on in with a new top-of-the-library option for y'all! Enjoy a new and funky option.

In Teysa Karlov, Out Teysa, Orzhov Scion - The Karlov version is clearly leading an Orzhov tokens build, which we support, so it's easier to see and build for newer players of the Cube, and more powerful in doing so. While we don't have a "Death Trigger" build, we certainly have enough Blood Artists and Zulaport Enforcers and Grave Pacts to make it feasible to draft if you want to try to hew that path as well. But she's more clearly the Orhov Token leader, and I don't want someone drafting the Scion as their leader and then not knowing what to do with it in their first draft. Welcome Ms. Karlov!

In Trostani Discordant, Out Trostani, Selesnya's Voice - Speaking of which. Trostani Discordant may cost more, but it's easier to cast, and has an Anthem effect twinned to bringing two tokens to the battlefield, which I think is better than the populate option for leading my Selesnya token build.

In Niv-Mizzet, Parun, Out Melek, Izzet Paragon - When looking for an instant/sorcery matters leader, this is better. Plus, you'll have two Blue/Red Niv-Mizzets as well as Niv-Mizzet, Reborn, and who doesn't want that?!?!

Other Swaps

In Paradise Druid, Out Manaweft Sliver - It's a 2/1 instead of a 1/1 for the same tap ability and a potential hexproof too. I don't run a Sliver build, so this is obvious. Welcome!

In Circuitous Route, Out Explosive Vegetation - Although it would almost never matter, I have one gate, Gateway Plaza, so there is a little more synergy with it than my Vegetation.

In Knight of Autumn, Out Kitchen Finks - You can still gain the life if needed, but it has more dials to turn with a Naturalize or bigger body if needed. It's clearly the better card, and it isn't even close.

In Connive // Concoct, Out Extract from Darkness - This swap is closer. Concoct is both better (with surveil 3) and worse, (won't recur one of your opponent's dorks) than Extract. You often don't want to have your foes get fuel for graveyard-centric strategies, and you get the Connive option well, so this card is a little better for me.

In Ral, Izzet Viceroy, Out Ral Zarek - I'll take an extra mana for a much stronger 'walker!

In Underrealm Lich, Out Spiritmonger - Sorry Spiritmonger! (Not really.) It's time for Spiritmonger to hit the bench, it's been here since we began my Cube almost a decade ago. Time to give way to a more on-theme powerhouse in the Lich. The Lich is also great with Lord Windgrace. You can help to sculpt lands to your hand for Windgrace's +2 discard, or put them into your graveyard for later battlefield recursion.

In Crush Contraband, Out Return to Dust - It's always two cards!

In Naru Meha, Master Wizard, Out Man-o'-War - I am sad. This was very close to not happening. Man-o'-War is MAN OF FREAKIN' WAR!!! It's been everywhere since it threw its Jellyfish self onto the game as one of the first Enters-the-Battlefield triggers in Visions. But I can't keep cards in based on my emotional connection with it. I still have multiple bounce-on-arrival bodies. Adding a Fork and Wizard, flash one to Blue that's legendary for Jhoira and a Wizard for cards like Azami, is good for the team.

In Thran Temporal Gateway, Out Ovalchase Dragster - Let's do a few more Jhoira swaps. This works better with artifact and legendary builds too, and it's stronger than the colorless artifact Ball Lighting effect for the Dragster which could punch out of nowhere and keep punching as long as you had crew for it.

In Blackblade Reforged, Out Strata Scythe - The Reforged Blade is much better than the Scythe, as it counts all of the lands! Your Commander will always need just three mana to equip as well as a number of allies. It's also faster to play, as you don't have to imprint anything either.

In Valduk, Keeper of the Flame, Out Smoldering Werewolf - Valduk is cheaper, and while he can't flip or deal damage on arrival, he's much better for my Boros equipment deck, and is one of the only Mono-Red dorks I have for that build, along with Godo, Bandit Warlord. He also works well in the new Jhoira deck as he's historic, and will certainly enjoy equipment or auras in those builds. He's also better in my Boros Aggro than the Smoldering Werewolf where he's a cheap 3/2 for three mana and thus can swing a turn earlier. Welcome Valduk!

In Weatherlight, Out Pariah's Shield - Again, you can see this as a useful addition to our historic fun cards and will be a better ally to the Cube. There were a few indestructible dorks that loved to be en-Shielded, like Tajic, Blade of the Legion and many of our Gods such as Karametra, God of the Harvest. But that's okay. The Weatherlight is better in most builds! It's also more on theme in my Azorius Saboteur build too, so it's a useful target for cards there.

In Smothering Tithe, Out Martial Law - The Smothering Tithe is an essential in a modern Commander Cube Context, and cannot be left on the sidelines if I own an extra copy - which I do!

In Arena Rector, Out Abzan Falconer - The Falconer is a good choice for +1/+1 counter builds in Abzan and Atraxa. But the Rector is just a better class of card, as it can get the best 'walker from your deck after it dies, and it plays into the self-sacrificing theme of many a leader out there. A lot of the same support cards that push a +1/+1 counter theme will also do so with a planeswalker's loyalty counters, so they still play in a similar space.

In Bloodtracker, Out Mer-Ek Nightblade - Similarly, I am pulling out this Abzan tool. Lots of Black legendary dorks had counters, like Marchesa, the Black Rose or Thraximundar that were interesting deathtouch options, but at the end of the day, Bloodtracker still helps +1/+1 counter themes with its own ability, and is better outside of those environments. It's time to head on in there!

In The Immortal Sun, Out Memory Jar - The Immortal Sun gives you a tool for answering planeswalkers, as well as pumping your team, giving you card advantage, and reducing costs, and playing better into a legendary matters theme. Welcome to my Cube!

In Geode Golem, Out Untethered Express - The Golem of the Geode is a great choice! It punches, and can help you accelerate your Commander, while also being a colorless tool for any leader and color combo, and working better with my many artifact builds. Welcome Geode Golem!

In Entreat the Dead, Out Consuming Vapors - I am trying to find a few more graveyard recursion spots in my Black. Entreat the Dead is great, and will work very nicely with Aminatou, who cares about setting up the top card of my library. Welcome!

In Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, Out Gideon Jura - Gids is cheaper than GJ, makes tokens for those shells, and has an emblem he can make for pumping the team as soon as he arrives on the battlefield. He's a better entrant for our Cube. He's not as good for White control as the Jura one, but he's still valuable to for them. The Ally is better for control builds than the GJ was for aggro ones.

In Skarrgan Hellkite, Out Malignus - Malignus is not a bad card! It's been in my Cube since I created it years and years ago. But like Spiritmonger, it's time. Skarrgan Hellkite is stronger, has the riot options, plays better with leaders like the Dragon loving Bladewing the Risen and counters-matters leaders like Marchesa, the Black Rose.

In Dragon's Hoard, Out Vessel of Endless Rest - I don't run Manalith, so the Vessel was my worst Manalith effect and I almost never used its enters-the-battlefield trigger. Dragon's Hoard can draw you an epic-ton of cards, taps for mana of any color, and is a much better card in here.

In Hour of Devastation, Out Bonfire of the Damned - I am making this change as I wanted to add a few planeswalker answers, and this sweeps them as well as creatures, and Bonfire, unless you miracle it, is often too expensive to matter.

In Bedevil, Out Terminate - One more mana for two more options? One of which is 'walkers? Sure thing!

In Ravenous Chupacabra, Out Nekrataal - I finally had a spare copy! Can you believe that when I bought my booster box of Rivals of Ixalan, I didn't crack a single one? And then all of my single copies were pre-ordained for things like Abe's Deck of Happiness and Joy and Abedraft and EDH builds. Welcome the Chupacabra!

In Final Parting, Out Diabolic Tutor - For one more mana, your Tutor gets another card for the graveyard, so you can set up an Incarnation like Anger or Wonder or Genesis, cards for targeting, or just strip out that horrible card you drafted and don't want to draw.

In Leonin Warleader, Out Magus of the Disk - Magus comes into battlefield tapped and often won't do much for that reason. Leonin Warleader will swing with dorks and bring more and more dorks when he does, which works with all of my token-strategies more than Magus of the Disk helps my White control builds.

Swaps for the Future

These are planned for when I get the cards from War of the Spark:

In Liliana, Dreadhorde General, Out Mortivore - I have other Lhurgoyf and Mortivore effects in Golgari, and I could really use Lili, who supports token making and recursion strategies and is just a solid entrant for any deck out there.

In Nicol Bolas, the Ravager; Out Crosis, the Purger - Both are controlling discard related Dragons, but Nicol is better as he is flippable and always yields discards.

In Path of Ancestry, Out Rainbow Vale - Duh.

In Vivien Reid, Out Nissa, Nature's Artisan - I enjoy the card advantage of Nature's Artisan, but Vivien Reid gives me more and can destroy stuff too.

In God-Eternal Oketra, Out Vengeful Archon - Cheaper, makes tokens, plays well with aggro builds, and harder to answer. Easily the better class of card!

In God-Eternal Kefnet, Out Magus of the Jar - Cheaper. Bigger. Flies. Hard to kill. Only gives you cards, not them. What's not to enjoy about this change?

In God-Eternal Bontu, Out Throat Slitter - Wow. The synergies with GE Bontu are nuts. You can sacrifice a ton of lands for The Gitrog Monster and Lord Windgrace builds, and TGM will get twice as many cards! You can sacrifice tokens with Orzhov tokens, sacrifice for Orzhov, Sultai, Abzan and Golgari reanimation strategies to get the key cards in the graveyard, or sacrifice in the Jund, Golgari or Rakdos sacrifice triggers deck. This guy? Nasty!

In Angrath, the Flame-Chained, Out Demonspine Whip - The only thing keeping this from happening already is that I play Angrath so much I don't have any spare copies!

Cards on my watch list include Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge, Evolution Sage, Ilharg, the Raze-Boar, Command the Dreadhorde, Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor, Spellseeker, Divine Visitation, Doom Whisperer, Beast Whisperer and others. I need to pick up a Crucible of Worlds for my new Jund Lord Windgrace. I'm also looking at adding in Scapeshift, World Shaper, Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar, and Splendid Reclamation for my Windgrace watch list.

Cards on my can-pull-anytime list include Belfry Spirit, Blessed Alliance, Savage Twister, Drown in Sorrow, and others.

Should I pull Compulsion? Maybe for Imprisoned in the Moon?

Could I run one of the cool partner pairs from Battlebond? Like Pir and Toothy; Krav and Regna; or Sylvia and her Dragon Khorvath?

And there we are! What did you think? Anything you want to recommend? Try drafting the build, and let me know what you think! If you can build and save it after, I go through to see where people had hang-ups and questions after drafting. Thanks for your time, and let me know what you think!

http://www.cubetutor.com/visualspoiler/14274