Fate Reforged Pauper Cube Update

By Adam Styborski

Posted on January 27, 2015

If you missed previous Pauper Cube updates, here are the last ten:

Gatecrash Pauper Cube Update

Dragon's Maze Pauper Cube Update

Modern Masters Pauper Cube Update

Magic 2014 Pauper Cube Update

Theros Pauper Cube Update

Born of the Gods Pauper Cube Update

Journey into Nyx Pauper Cube Update

Conspiracy and Vintage Masters Pauper Cube Update

Magic 2015 Pauper Cube Update

Khans of Tarkir Pauper Cube Update

As always, the Change Log tab is where you can see what’s been in and out of the Cube recently. The Khans of Tarkir update was a push to realize the shift to “best gameplay first,” and that theme continues with my updates. As usual, I will be as brief as possible.

Adding to this update is Pauper guru and associate editor Alex Ullman. Here’s some info on the awesome guy:

Alex Ullman is Associate Editor for Gathering Magic, a renowned Pauper (cube and Constructed) player, and member of the victorious 2009 Magic Online Community Cup team.You can find him on Twitter as @nerdtothecore.

Alex is my go-to guy and confidant for Pauper. He maintains his own list Pauper Cube list, and our philosophies vary. Instead of putting two updates out, we joined forces to make one supersized Pauper Cube discussion.

Let’s get started.

White

Sandsteppe Outcast

Adam: Mardu Hordechief was an easy addition with the last update. Sandsteppe Outcast is similar is function—generate two bodies from one card—but this one requires even less setup: Just play the card. A 2/1 is big enough to fight and trade, and a 1/1 flying is exactly the kind of threat a deck playing (spoiler alert) War Flare wants.

For a 3-mana investment, Sandsteppe Outcast should outperform Nyxborn Shieldmate easily.

Alex: Sandsteppe Outcast is quite a card. The ability to be either a 3/2 on curve or a 2/1 and a 1/1 flyer is huge, and the presence of the +1/+1 counter plays nicely with the addition of Ainok Bond-Kin in my Khans of Tarkir update. The Outcast also plays into white’s ability to go wide in certain decks, playing up one aspect of Boros. Additionally, Harsh Sustenance will be making it to the big leagues in this update, giving Orzhov a strong backup plan if the grind does not work out.

Sandsteppe Outcast will be earning its spot at the expense of Caravan Escort. While level up is a wonderful mana sink, white decks have been moving away from this card for quite some time. Caravan Escort did serious work in its day, and it will be fondly remembered.

Abzan Skycaptain

Adam: I want to like Abzan Skycaptain. The idea of rolling one creature—and evasive threat at that—into upsizing another is attractive. But 4 mana for a 2/2 flying isn’t efficient enough alone, and requiring another creature for the bolster to benefit is situational. I’m not impressed enough for the potential upside to accept the more likely downside.

Alex: If you’ve followed my adventures in the Commander format, you know how much I love sacrificing for fun and profit. That being said, this card is so far below the curve in my Cube it can’t make the cut. Compare this to Burrenton Bombardier, which gives the option of a 2/2 flyer at Wind Drake rate or instant-speed counters on whatever. I am certain bolster is going to be fun to play in Fate Reforged/Khans of Tarkir Limited, but the bar is high, and this Bird smacked into the power lines.

Arashin Cleric

Adam: If you use Temple Acolyte and need a second, or if you want a foil version to use instead, Arashin Cleric is for you. Enjoy!

Alex: What the Stybs said.

Soul Summons

Adam: Let’s talk about manifest for a moment. Thanks to the skew of additional Fate Reforged cards in the prerelease packs, I was able to enjoy ample manifest on both sides of the battlefield. I found it was as random and clumsy as I expected, seeing everything from “just a land” face down to my manifested Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury being nailed by removal while face down without anything I could do to a Lightform netting a Pine Walker. The upside can be strong, but a generic 2/2 isn’t exciting for the Cube. Paying going rate for it doesn’t help.

Alex: I love morph and the gameplay opportunities it provides. So many of the creatures in my Cube hold their spots due their to enters-the-battlefield triggers. Manifest takes that away and replaces it with a 2/2. This is simply not good enough.

Blue

Aven Surveyor

Adam: Do you need a 3/3 with flying? Do you need to bounce a creature? Why not Zoidberg? Aven Surveyor is everything that blue wants in my Cube. The costs are fair for either option, and the flexibility to have a bigger threat when you’re in command puts this card leaps above others. Replacing Nyxborn Triton feels a little bad—I really like the Triton—but for the same amount of mana, Aven Surveyor is amazing.

Alex: Now this is quite the card. Mist Raven is a huge tempo swing and a reasonable threat. Aven Surveyor is either a slower Mist Raven or a reasonable flying clock. Let’s be real—it’s going to be Mist Raven a lot of the time, and that is perfectly fine. Aven Surveyor will be replacing Voidwielder in my Cube since it has a similar effect. However, Voidwielder is much better at gumming up the ground, and I want blue to be somewhat vulnerable in the creatures. Its 3 toughness is less than 4, so it’s time for the Return to Ravnica Wizard to take a walk.

Lotus Path Djinn

Adam: Phantom Monster is a beautiful card in my Cube. The dark inking and look of a Beta card makes it stand out from the modern frames and foils that surround it. However, for the same mana cost, Lotus Path Djinn offers some interesting applications and support for a spell-laden tempo deck. We’ll see if this shift sticks.

Alex: Prowess needs a critical mass of cards with the ability to function optimally. Given the nature of my Cube, it will be incredibly difficult for such a confluence to occur. Therefore, these cards are riding the pine.

Enhanced Awareness

Is that three cards for 5 mana as an instant? The discard here, in Limited, will mostly be an extraneous land. Drawing cards is something I’ve been looking to upgrade in the Cube, and unlike all the other common card-draw available, this is an instant. Hands of Binding hasn’t been the most exciting card. Drawing three instead should suffice.

Treasure Cruise

Adam: It isn’t in Fate Reforged, and it’s been banned in multiple formats, but Treasure Cruise has elevated itself as a premier way to draw cards in every format it’s still legal in. Petals of Insight can theoretically dig for something specific over several turns, but gaining three cards for close to 1 mana is just better.

Alex: I have been eyeing Treasure Cruise for a while and have a feeling it might get a nod in a future update. Right now, I am very happy with how blue’s card-draw is working, and I do not want to give the color access to one of the stronger cards printed in recent years.

Whirlpool Whelm

Another not-in-Fate Reforged switch this update, Whirlpool Whelm has a slight potential upside over Voyage's End. This is just a texture change.

Sultai Skullkeeper

Sultai Skullkeeper is a second effective Screeching Skaab, which begs the question, “When will a self-mill theme make the Cube?” Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged added fuel with delve; recent sets have begun to use more put-some-cards-into-your-graveyard effects as drawbacks and bonuses on creatures (see Necromancer's Assistant, Satyr Wayfinder). I haven’t been able to fight through the work to see if refitting some Sultai synergy makes sense yet, but it’s still on my radar.

Whisk Away

Adam: I like Whisk Away since it’s an instant. While it lacks the two-for-one bounce punch of Command of Unsummoning, putting a creature on top of a library can lock away serious tempo. It’s an interesting card for Cubes looking to diversify from strictly bouncing creatures.

Alex: I am looking forward to casting this card and causing all sorts of problems. Blue is always on the lookout for variety in its spells, and while this resembles bounce, it is slightly different. It also allows me to cut Nyxborn Triton and skew blue toward more spells, which is one of my overarching goals in the Cube.

Will of the Naga

Alex: While I am not including this card yet, I have my eyes on it for future updates. Blinding Beam is quite a card, and being able to reduce the cost of this instant thanks to delve makes it rather alluring. If Azorius- and Simic-flavored tempo decks need a boost, this card is on the radar.

Black

No Changes

Black left me underwhelmed at common in Fate Reforged. Everything from uninspired dash creatures to too-expensive-to-compete-with-history removal was blasé. I’m looking forward to what the next set holds.

Alesha's Vanguard

Unlike Goblin Heelcutter, there’s no marginal benefit to trying to dash Alesha's Vanguard out a turn early or to keep it off the battlefield on an opponent’s turn. Hill Giant slamming in a turn early or unexpectedly makes sense when there isn’t a volume of burn around to compete with. This is arguably the “best” black common with dash.

And in a flavor fail, Alesha, Who Smiles at Death can’t even buy her own vanguard back. Just. Wow.

Gurmag Angler

Gurmag Angler is a nice body for a what is probably a fine price if there’s a self-mill theme in black. It’s on my shortlist to review when I tackle that potential in the future.

Hooded Assassin

Hooded Assassin as a 2/3 for 3 mana is decidedly unimpressive for my Cube. Its other ability to kill a creature that was already dealt damage requires some setup. The best-case scenario is nailing massive fatties that are tough for small fries to kill, but black has plenty of ways to kill them without any setup. I’m not impressed.

Sultai Emissary

Adam: Sultai Emissary feels similar to Butcher Ghoul, but with the added randomness of the top card of your library involved. Butcher Ghoul is a fine card, but it’s not a must-have-two type. Maybe playing more Fate Reforged will change my opinion of manifest.

Alex: I don’t have much to say here except I agree with the Stybs. I want to like Sultai Emissary, but I feel that manifest is a net negative in my Cube. One card that has piqued my interest is Ancestral Vengeance. Totem-Guide Hartebeest is quite the card in my Cube, and Heliod's Pilgrim may find a home in the sleeves. If that ever happens, I could see wanting to run this way to steal a single power.

Red

Mardu Scout

Adam: What’s cooler than a surfing Goblin? A 3/1 for just 2 mana is. Mardu Scout is going to pull the pants down on some combat math and provide a great body for aggressive red decks. Inferno Fist has been a cute experience, but the new Scout is going to do so much more work.

Alex: I want to like this card, but I am having trouble getting over the fragile body and heavy mana investment. While it plays nicely into red’s can’t-block-me theme, I’m not sure I want to run a non-trampling Spark Elemental. However, I will be giving it a chance over Torch Fiend for the time being. I am not sure this is the best swap (Keldon Marauders may be better), but this is where I am now.

Goblin Heelcutter

Adam: Coming down a turn (or two) sooner than Grotag Thrasher, Goblin Heelcutter delivered standout performances throughout prerelease events. Functioning as both a “blocker remover” and Lightning Bolt if an opponent is trying to stabilize, dash actually enhances what the Heelcutter can do since it dodges sorcery-speed removal and can stay hidden until the right time.

Spearpoint Oread didn’t find the home I wanted it to see, and I can’t imagine the Heelcutter underperforming in its stead.

Alex: Much like Adam, I am very excited about the Heelcutter, and exactly like Adam, I will be cutting Spearpoint Oread for this card.

Kruin Striker

Kruin Striker is a brew-favorite of red Human token decks during Avacyn Restored’s time in Standard. With so many ways to make tokens, the odds that the Striker will have a hard-hitting turn seem fair. Generator Servant hasn’t made the splash I hoped, so a different 2 mana 2/1 might work better.

Bathe in Dragonfire

Flame Slash isn’t coming back to a Standard set anytime soon.

Collateral Damage

There is plenty of burn in the Cube already. Collateral Damage plays nice with tokens, but Shard Volley is a surefire way to add another Lightning Bolt to the Cube. With burn options at a sweet spot so far, I’m just quietly adding a foil of Collateral Damage to my reserve binders of options.

Yes, binders in the plural.

Lightning Shrieker

Lightning Shrieker feels like Lava Axe, except it’s blockable and counterable with instant-speed removal. I want to like this Dragon, but I just don’t see it doing anything amazing here.

Pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnics was a common in Classic Sixth Edition. If you don’t want to hunt down the sexy Seventh Edition foil, here’s an easy alternative.

Green

No Changes

Green was another disappointing color for my Cube in this set. However, there are some interesting things to consider if you want some variety.

Ainok Guide

Adam: Green has plenty of powerful mana-fixing at common throughout history. Ainok Guide’s choice between a 2/2 or drawing a land next is interesting, but it’s outshined by historical options such as Civic Wayfinder and Borderland Ranger.

Alex: This card just seems so bad. Sure, a 2/2 is a nice body, but would it have been too strong to let the card go into your hand a la Sylvan Ranger? Green loves card advantage even if it just draws lands, and this guy fails at that—bad dog, very bad dog.

Ambush Krotiq

Ambush Krotiq is a 5/5 with trample for 6 mana. It’s a fine card on the curve, though faster-to-the-battlefield threats like Imperiosaur and Blastoderm keep it out. The bonus ability of returning a creature you control to your hand synergizes well with blue’s bevy of bouncers, such as the new Aven Surveyor, but as a requirement, it gives it obvious downsides.

Frontier Mastodon

If you’re still using a vanilla creature like Trained Armodon or Centaur Courser, this is another wake-up call for you. Frontier Mastodon is a rich-get-richer (win-more) card, but on the curve, it’s fine. Not my cup of tea, but bigger Cube might like this over other options.

Multicolored and Artifact

Cunning Strike

Adam: I wasn’t expecting powerful enemy-color commons in Fate Reforged. Cunning Strike is a virtual free two-for-one in a color pair that leans on burn to close out games. “Draw a card,” is an incredible line of text on a removal spell. Replacing Goblin Electromancer, which did little other than be traded away before it could put in any work discounting spells, makes sense here—anything it could kill Cunning Strike will as well.

Alex: Sign me up. While expensive, this card deals 4 damage and replaces itself. I am very pleased with the way this card looks and plays, and it will be getting the nod over the fine, but unspectacular Crackling Triton. Again, this is part of an effort to give blue some vulnerability on the ground.

Grim Contest

There aren’t a ton of big butts in my Cube. Most, however, are in the bigger green creatures. While Grim Contest isn’t as exciting as I’d normally want a removal spell to be, it is both an instant and more useful than Grisly Salvage given what B/G can do. With so many small X/1 and X/2 creatures, Grim Contest will be surprising utility that won’t be snapped up by other decks or end up in the sideboard.

Harsh Sustenance

Adam: I struggled considering Harsh Sustenance. While W/B isn’t “the token deck,” there are good odds white token-makers will end up populating a W/B deck. Executioner's Swing is a reactive spell that commits to a creature dealing damage. Harsh Sustenance may end up being a “weaker” removal spell in the average game, and an instant Drain Life effect will beef up W/B’s life-gain theme (thanks, extort!) and support a more aggressive deck.

Alex: Orzhov already has a beatdown deck in my Cube, and Harsh Sustenance provides solid finisher. This also will turn on all the token cards in white and black for Orzhov and make going wide a viable option outside of Boros. Shrieking Grotesque is the weakest of the remaining W/B spells, so it ends up on the sidelines. If removal proves too strong after this update, Unmake might trade places with the Gargoyle in the future.

War Flare

Adam: War Flare is like I traveled back in time to tell the designers and developers of Fate Reforged what a R/W deck wants most: another Trumpet Blast effect. Unlike the red and white versions in the Cube already, War Flare will always end up where it belongs. Goblin Legionnaire had a great run, but it was much more powerful when combat damage used the stack. War Flare will always hit harder.

Alex: I have been hesitant to include too many of these cards in my Cube. However, during a solo build exercise, I looked over a theoretical Boros deck and saw it was basically begging for this card. And lo, the Wizards answered. While I am not going crazy with them just yet, I could absolutely see returning Dynacharge to the fold. Cerodon Yearling takes a time out since it is the least impressive of all the Boros beaters.

Colossal Might

Nobody was super-impressed by Deadshot Minotaur. Even I wasn’t particularly enthused, though the potential two-for-one built into its enters-the-battlefield ability and cycling meant it was never an outright dead card. One foil I hadn’t picked up and kept forgetting about was Colossal Might. The cheap, powerful instant has its home in many common/uncommon Cubes and gives R/G an aggressive tool. With the sprinkling of hexproof in green, I anticipate Colossal Might being a blowout before too long.

Ethereal Ambush

I’m not exactly sold on a manifest yet, but creating 4 power and 4 toughness at instant speed is attractive. Ethereal Ambush might make its way into the Cube, but I’m waiting for more play with manifest to sort it out. An end-of-turn Ambush into turning Charging Rhino or bigger face up feels like a potential win to me.

Land

No Changes

We just had a beefy update thanks to Khans of Tarkir’s cycle of common dual lands as well as the retrofitting of some corner-case commons from Magic’s wild printing past. What Fate Reforged really brings us is a choice of which cycle of foil common dual lands we want to use.

I can confirm that a foil Fate Reforged Tranquil Cove replaces a common, not the fixed nonbasic land, in packs, so they shouldn’t be too tough to pick up if you like the newer art showing an older Tarkir more.

I can say I’m happy with the big changes that came last update. Aggressive decks can take advantage of the tempo loss dual lands provide, but value decks enjoy gaining like quite a bit. It’s a nice balance that I didn’t expect.

Summary

Adam:

Color	In	Out
	Sandsteppe Outcast	Nyxborn Shieldmate
	Aven Surveyor	Nyxborn Trition
	Lotus Path Djinn	Phantom Monster
	Enhanced Awareness	Hands of Binding
	Treasure Cruise	Petals of Insight
	Whirlpool Whelm	Voyage's End
	Mardu Scout	Inferno Fist
	Goblin Heelcutter	Spearpoint Oread
	Kruin Striker	Generator Servant
	Cunning Strike	Goblin Electromancer
	Grim Contest	Grisly Salvage
	Harsh Sustenance	Executioner's Swing
	War Flare	Goblin Legionnaire
	Colossal Might	Deadshot Minotaur

I’m excited for the new card-drawing spells and support for R/W tokens as well as the new variety of enemy-colored commons. Let’s just hope Dragons of Tarkir has common Dragons worth playing.

Alex: I am very happy with how my Cube has been playing recently, and I am looking forward to taking the new version for a spin. I may do a mid-set update with the cards that I spoke about here and tweak to make sure everything is running smoothly. I am also considering growing the Cube, if only to make six-person Sealed Draft a thing, but I am not sure about that just yet. In the interim, I may try it out with thirty cards in the initial Sealed and then fourteen-card packs there on out. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Color	In	Out
	Sandsteppe Outcast	Caravan Escort
	Aven Surveyor	Voidwielder
	Whisk Away	Nyxborn Triton
	Mardu Scout	Torch Fiend
	Goblin Heelcutter	Spearpoint Oread
	Cunning Strike	Crackling Triton
	Harsh Sustenance	Shrieking Grotesque
	War Flare	Cerodon Yearling

And as always, here is the updated list to my Cube. Happy drafting!

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TAGS articles, casual, analysis, update, cube, adam styborski, pauper cube, pauper, cube update, common, #mtgcube, alex ullman, the pauper cube

White

Blue

Black

No Changes

Red

Green

No Changes

Multicolored and Artifact

Land

No Changes

Summary

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