Cubing with Big Nass #1

Posted on May 7, 2012

Being unable to participate in Cube drafts the last time they were offered online, I’m definitely excited to cube now. From examining the Cube and watching some Drafts, I came up with a hare-brained theory that drafting storm combo was the nut-nut. I routinely saw amazing cards for the deck last pick, so I wanted to put my theory into practice.

These are the sorts of cards you’re looking for:

In other words: some of the most broken cards ever printed. Mind's Desire, in particular, is one of my favorite cards of all time. The first competitive deck I built was Masashi Ooiso’s Twiddle Desire deck from PT: New Orleans and, in my early Magic career, I was known for playing combo. Since I rarely play Eternal formats, the Magic Online Cube is going to be one of my only opportunities to play with these cards.

I know that other people have been successful with this deck, and I really want to explore how good it really is. If that means I lose some Drafts, well so be it. This is the first Draft I’ve done with the Magic Online Cube, and it was pretty rough, but I’m guessing at least one of you is going to enjoy living vicariously through me. Or at the very least, one of you will enjoy watching me fail miserably.

Eventually, I’ll figure out how viable this archetype is, but until then, enjoy!

Draft

Match 1, Game 1

Match 1, Game 2

Pack 1, Pick 1:

My Pick:

There aren’t any combo cards in this pack, so I’ll have to treat it as a normal Draft for now. Planeswalkers are typically very good in Cube, and Garruk Relentless is easily splashable.

Pack 1, Pick 2:

My Pick:

That’s what I’m talking about! Tendrils is the best win condition for this deck. I’ll be looking to wheel a Wheel.

Pack 1, Pick 3:

My Pick:

Nothing too exciting, but you do need a lot of cheap cantrips.

Pack 1, Pick 4:

My Pick:

I’m starting to think that combo might not be open. Either that or the packs just aren’t cooperating. Processor is at least a good sideboard card.

Pack 1, Pick 5:

My Pick:

Excellent. Hopefully, we draft a bomb such as Necropotence or Mind's Desire to build around.

Pack 1, Pick 6:

My Pick:

Pack 1, Pick 7:

My Pick:

Pack 1, Pick 8:

My Pick:

I really wish High Tide was in the Cube.

Pack 1, Pick 9:

My Pick:

I think this deck wants some amount of hand disruption, so cards such as this are usually pretty good.

Pack 1, Pick 10:

My Pick:

That was fortunate. This is a pretty clear signal that no one else is drafting this deck.

Pack 1, Pick 11:

My Pick:

Pack 1, Pick 12:

My Pick:

Pack 1, Pick 13:

My Pick:

Pack 1, Pick 14:

My Pick:

Pack 1, Pick 15:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 1:

My Pick:

MISS.

Pack 2, Pick 2:

My Pick:

DOUBLE MISS.

Pack 2, Pick 3:

My Pick:

I’m starting to question the direction I’ve taken with my deck. It’s worth noting that I might be able to cobble together some sort of combo-control deck.

Pack 2, Pick 4:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 5:

My Pick:

This is not going well. There’s an infinite-mana combo with Heartbeat of Spring and Palinchron, so if I table the Heartbeat, I’ll keep that in mind.

Pack 2, Pick 6:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 7:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 8:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 9:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 10:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 11:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 12:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 13:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 14:

My Pick:

Pack 2, Pick 15:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 1:

My Pick:

There’s still hope I guess.

Pack 3, Pick 2:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 3:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 4:

My Pick:

Finally we pick up something worth tutoring for. I’m still worried by the total lack of fast mana.

Pack 3, Pick 5:

My Pick:

By fast mana, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I guess I’ll take it.

Pack 3, Pick 6:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 7:

My Pick:

This is a ridiculously late Treachery. This card is bananas! I’ve seen it banned from Cubes because it’s too powerful.

Pack 3, Pick 8:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 9:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 10:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 11:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 12:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 13:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 14:

My Pick:

Pack 3, Pick 15:

My Pick:

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Here’s what I submitted:

"Cube Storm Attempt Uno"

I just didn’t have the right cards to make any sort of combo deck with the pile that I drafted, so this was my attempt to have some sort game plan to win a match or two. I’m pretty dead to any deck with a bunch of creatures, but I feel that I have a shot against most normal Cube decks. That is, other durdly control decks.

I got rocked pretty hard by a Squirrel-Opposition deck, so that’s that. I’m still going to try to draft this archetype a couple more times before giving up on it. Until then, good luck in your Cube drafts.

Nassim Ketita

arcticninja on Magic Online

http://www.youtube.com/nketita

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