Best Draft Picks, Mirrodin to Rise of the Eldrazi

[Thomas David Baker]

We're building a cube composed of the best draft picks (common and uncommon only) from Mirrodin thru Rise of the Eldrazi.  That's 22 sets not including core sets.  We'll take an average of 15 from each set plus leave some extra slots for fixing (Shards trilands, Rav bouncelands, maybe Signets, Vivids, Refuges, Armillary Sphere, Rupture Spire).

To avoid over-representing little sets like Worldwake and Conflux we will do 20 cards from the big sets and 10 from the small sets. 

The idea is that you open your first booster and think, "wow, these are all first picks".

We'll have to force ourselves to include 50-75% creatures as first picks tend to be removal.

We'll aim for about 50% creatures which is the ratio most sets have in common/uncommon.

I will probably print a version of the cube and bring it to Portsmouth tomorrow with commons and sleeves, if I have time.  But still post your opinion if it's after that ... this is a work in progress!

I'm going to actually make the cube and bring it to the Games Club this week.

Post below what you think should make the cut for one or more sets!  Especially the older ones where I don't have a clue!

The Sets:

Rise of the Eldrazi

Worldwake

Zendikar

Alara Reborn

Conflux

Shards of Alara

Eventide

Shadowmoor

Morningtide

Lorwyn

Future Sight

Planar Chaos

Time Spiral

Dissension

Guildpact

Ravnica: City of Guilds

Saviors of Kamigawa

Betrayers of Kamigawa

Champions of Kamigawa

Fifth Dawn

Darksteel

Mirrodin

[Thomas David Baker]

We had 21 RAV cards so I cut Last Gasp. Possibly should have been Belltower Sphinx or Trophy Hunter instead.

We're done until I get some revisions from folks that are offended by my awful Kamigawa, Lorwyn, Morningtide and other lists made in ignorance. You can see the full cube with mouseover card images here: http://demonictutor.ning.com/forum/topics/best-of-draft-cube

[ross miles]

i love the boosters!

[Paul Hodgson]

This looks *awesome*, can't wait to get some drafts done!

[Dan Barrett]

Do you own all of the actual cards for this?

i figure i've got a good percentage of them, so might be able to actually build it in due time...

[Paul Hodgson]

Just had a quick look through the list, and I'm not seeing many answers to enchantments/artifacts. O-ring is there, but didn't see naturalise, shatter etc - I wonder if it's worth having a similar section to the fixing one for "staples", or maybe using some of the M10 selection for these? Otherwise things like behemoth sledge and similar will run riot...

[Dan Barrett]

Good idea, Paul.


I twittered this, will post any/all replies i get:

jestermh: @dangerawesome in zen I would have prob. added goblin bushwhacker and kor hookmaster.

[Thomas David Baker]

@Paul - We have 2 x Oblivion Ring, Wickerbough Elder, the enchantment destroying Kami, Necrotic Sliver, Viridian Shaman and others (?) And how often do you maindeck Naturalize or Shatter in normal drafts? I guess you would still sideboard them against Sledge/Warhammer even if your deck is nuts? I think it might be OK. You will have your own bombs, after all :)

@Dan - I'm definitely building it. Today! I will build it in my standard fashion this afternoon ... color proxies over excess commons in sleeves. Otherwise it will cost a fortune to go back and buy all the money uncommons in the older sets that I don't have. I'm fairly excited to do Rise drafts so perhaps won't play it until Saturday at game day.

[Thomas David Baker]

In a test run I just got a 13th pick Knight of Meadowgrain :)

Also 13th pick Vithian Stinger, last pick Foresee for another player.

[Ben Titmarsh]

Tom, absolutely loving this idea. Like Dan I think it would be worthwhile using real cards. What with it being commons/uncommons, real cards add a certain aesthetic that would be nice. I'm happy to pitch in with any cards that I have excess of 4 of which would be quite a few. I reckon you should list all the ones you don't own and we'll make a concerted effort to get it together between us. That would also give the club a feeling of ownership over this awesome idea (despite it being almost 100% solely yours!)

[Paul Hodgson]

Well, in Mirrodin shatter was pretty much a first pick (and generally better than terror!) but it's not in the pack ;) I'm sure a few test runs will give an indication of overall balance between bombs and answers so no biggie.
More than happy to chip in cards for the cause as well.

Thomas David Baker said:

@Paul - We have 2 x Oblivion Ring, Wickerbough Elder, the enchantment destroying Kami, Necrotic Sliver, Viridian Shaman and others (?) And how often do you maindeck Naturalize or Shatter in normal drafts? I guess you would still sideboard them against Sledge/Warhammer even if your deck is nuts? I think it might be OK. You will have your own bombs, after all :)

@Dan - I'm definitely building it. Today! I will build it in my standard fashion this afternoon ... color proxies over excess commons in sleeves. Otherwise it will cost a fortune to go back and buy all the money uncommons in the older sets that I don't have. I'm fairly excited to do Rise drafts so perhaps won't play it until Saturday at game day.

[Kieran Symington]

I think Rise really needs Hada Spy Patrol - probably over Last Kiss, which isn't especially exciting as far as removal goes. Also, Guard Gomazoa and Cadaver Imp are pretty sweet - not sure what you could cut for them though!

[Dan Barrett]

Hmm, i might be willing to just spend a bit of £ or do some trading for older cards i don't have to make something like this, just because i've wanted a cube of my own for ages but am not willing to spend the money for a "proper" one - plus once you do it, keeping it updated each new block as "all blocks in extended" would be virtually free.