The Final Countdown (to M11)

The changes have been made.  The spreadsheet is mostly updated. The time is now.

Magic 2011 is upon us, mostly.

It's not until this Friday when boosters packs, boxes, cases, and more of the fabulous new Core Set go on retail sale, but it was this past weekend when we all had the chance to dig in deep with the latest in engineer addiction from our friends at Wizards.  (Note: No actual addictive ink was used in the production of M11, at least to my knowledge.)

It also means it's time for Cube enthusiasts gather around the holy Spoiler list and see what's new.  It's a time of change and joy for the new, sorrow for  the leaving, and way too many superfluous set reviews to actually itemize into a list.

So here, without fanfare or fuss, are the final changes I made for my cube.  I'll post the updated link to my cube at the end of the stretch, and there will be only minimal explanation along the way: see my previous two posts for virtually all the details (and grammatical and spelling errors) you need.

ARTIFACTS
In:
Dross Golem, Oxidda Golem, Razor Golem, Spire Golem, Tangle Golem, Prophetic Prism, Adventuring Gear
Out:
Chromatic Sphere, Chromatic Star

I'm looking forward to seeing how these "fair" affinity dudes work out.  Adventuring Gear with bouncelands also seems good.

WHITE
In:
Assault Griffin, Cloud Crusader, Shade of Trokair, Veteran Swordsmith, Veteran Armorsmith, Kirtar's Desire, Shelter, False Defeat
Out:
Akrasan Squire, Master Decoy, Pegasus Charger, Soul Warden, Benalish Trapper, Noble Templar,  Dawn Charm, Wispmare

I thought I couldn't find a Shu Cavalry in time - instead it came with an order of foils.  Look for a mini-update sometime soon as I'd like to shoehorn it in soon.

BLUE
In:
Æther Adept, Augury Owl, Diminish, Scroll Thief, Infiltrator il-Kor, Sea Gate Oracle, Double Header, Windrider Eel, Choking Tethers, Train of Thought, Remove Soul
Out:
Fowl Play, Thought Courier, Welkin Tern, Echo Tracer, Vedalken Dismisser, Prodigal Sorcerer, Shoreline Ranger, Wu Elite Cavalry, False Demise, Mystic Restraints, Miscalculation

Miscalculation loses a lot of its punch late in the game, though it can be cycled away. Blue wants creature kill but gets creature counters. I'm only running two (with the dual options of either bringing Miscalculation back or adding in two more versions of Remove Soul - False Summoning and Preemptive Strike.

BLACK
In:
Liliana's Specter, Okiba-Gang Shinobi, Null Champion, Duress, Warren Pilferers, Jagwasp Swarm,
Out:
Ravenour Skirge, Skittering Skirge, Prickly Boggart, Heartstabber Mosquito, Razortooth Rats, Cuombaj Witches

Usman got his wish: the Witches came out.
 
RED
In:
Act of Treason, Chandra's Outrage, Manic Vandal, Reckless Charge, Hissing Iguanar
Out:
Prodigal Pyromancer, Empty the Warrens, Martyr of Ashes, Fissure, Mudbutton Torchrunner 

I have a little more room for changed in red as I still want to yank the Chartooth Cougar.  Mini-update is definitely going to come.

GREEN
In:
Cultivate, Garruk's Companion, Sylvan Ranger, Hungry Spriggan, Wild Dogs, Wildheart Invoker
Out:
Gemhide Sliver, Acridian, Silhana Ledgewalker, Fists of Iron, Giant Dustwasp, Ferocious Charge

I forgot about Acridian and that it had echo - though I could see a 2/4 for two being printed straight up.  I'm looking for an alternative to Wirewood Guardian but so far haven't been impressed.

MULTICOLOR
In:
Architects of Will, Mystical Teachings, Henchfiend of Ukor, Scuzzback Marauders, Cultbrand Cinder, Probe, Thrill of the Hunt, Shrieking Grotesque, Rendclaw Trow, Orim's Thunder, Temporal Spring, Jilt
Out:
Jhessian Zombies, Cavern Harpy, Gobhobbler Rats, Valley Rannet, Suicidal Charge, Vodalian Zombie, Valeron Outlander, Galina's Knight, Pale Recluse, Helm of the Ghastlord, Traitor's Roar, Runes of Deus 

Going to 9 allied and 5 enemy colored should help encourage splashes and four-color specials. And getting rid of more landcyclers was also good.

SUMMARY

There you have it!  Those are the changes I've made.  And, as always, feel free to share your thoughts or ideas. I consider a lot of things and new perspectives are the only way to ensure continuous improvements occur!

I'll be updating the spreadsheet and I finish filing the foils into the cube.  You can find the latest version here. 

Magic 2011 is Bat$#!% Insane(ly Awesome)

Magic 2011 has a little grouping of worldwide parties called Prerelease Events going on this Saturday. While my local TO asked me to gunsling a few weeks back she just recently found out that the man, myth, and legend Scott Larabee was also coming to join in the fun (check it here). As an avid fan of EDH I'm sure he'll bring some solid decks to rock out with. If you're near the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area I hope you can make it out for what's shaping up to be an epic day of Magic goodness!


Of course, I blog (or 'formally document my thoughts' as I like to put it) about my cube here. Last week I shared a whole series of potential changes outside of M11 considerations. This week I handle the greatest core set yet.

But first thing's first, I forgot to cover one proposed change last week:

MULTICOLOR:

SWAP:
-Jhessian Zombies, +Architects of Will
I originally had Architects in when I started my cube. Now it's clear that landcyclers aren't that hot but mild "griefing" effects are actually very good. Locking your opponent out of something relevant seems amazing - and something that will surprise a lot of players when it happens to them.

Now, I'll handle my Magic 2011 thoughts. Since it's not in the Gatherer yet please use both the Visual Spoiler as well as my crude, shortcut notes to understand what the cards I'm referring to do.

Example Note:
CARDNAME [MANA COST] {Abilities} POWER/TOUGHNESS

WHITE:
+Assault Griffin [3W] {Flying} 3/2
+Cloud Crusadter [2WW] {Flying, First Strike} 2/3
-Akrasan Squire
-Master Decoy
There are a few too many tappers and the Squire hasn't done much exciting. More fliers gives midrange and control decks difficult to answer creatures once they are in control of the game.

BLUE:
+Æther Adept [1UU] {ETB Unsummon} 2/2
+Augury Owl [1U] {Flying, ETB Scry 3} 1/1
+Diminish [U] {Instant, Target creature becomes 1/1 until EOT}
+Scroll Thief [2U] {When ~ deals combat damage to a player, draw 1} 1/3
-Fowl Play
-Thought Courier
-Merfolk Looter
-Echo Tracer
Fowl Play wants to be Diminish. I like the "loses all abilities" part but blue removal is at a premium. The looters never performed as well as hoped, but an extra, fixed Ophidian and some scry on flying legs looks very promising. Tracer is tricky but expensive. Adept gets the job done much more efficiently.

BLACK:
+Liliana's Specter [1BB] {Flying, ETB opponent discards 1} 2/1
-Dirge of Dread
Dirge has had it's time to shine: it hadn't yet. Specter hits the board with evasion and disruption.

RED:
+Act of Treason (it's a common in M11)
+Chandra's Outrage [2RR] {Instant, Deals 4 damage to target creature and 2 to it's controller}
+Manic Vandal [2R] {ETB Shatter} 2/2
-Prodigal Pyromancer
-Aftershock
-Keldon Vandals
Treason is amazing and will likely make the cut in place of Pyromancer. Manic Vandal is a nice tempo upgrade over the Keldon variety - echo really rubs red the wrong way. Outrage costs like Aftershock, kills creatures almost just as well, and tacks a little player burn onto it too.

GREEN:
+Cultivate (it's a function reprint of Kodama's Reach)
+Garruk's Companion [GG] {Trample} 3/2
+Hornet Sting [G] {Instant, 1 damage to target creature/player}
+Sylvan Ranger [1G] {ETB seach for a basic land into your hand} 1/1
-Edge of Autumn
-Wirewood Guardian
-Centaur Courser
-Land Aid '04
There's a lot of good stuff in M11 for green. Cultivate and Sylvan Ranger feel so much smoother than Edge of Autumn and Land Aid '04. I hate cutting any of the Un-set cards but here is makes sense. Wirewood Guardian is the landcycler hanger-on that makes more sense as a curve-bust 3/2 trample for just two. Hornet Sting is going to blow people out just as often as Brute Force does in red - no one will miss the plain Centaur Courser.

So there you have it: my M11 cube changes. Let me know what you think of the cumulative changes soon - I'll be desperately updating my cube for the Saturday showdown against the Magic world!