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]

Ignoring Rise where I assume I will or can get the cards here's the 95 (of 360) cards I'm missing:

Changeling Berserker, Crib Swap, Calciderm, Shaper Parasite, Necrotic Sliver, Deadwood Treefolk, Shade of Trokair, Harmonize, Pyrohemia, Enslave, Stonecloaker, Crookclaw Transmuter, Looter il-Kor, Nightshade Assassin, Riftwing Cloudskate, Sporesower Thallid, Tromp the Domains, Blind Hunter, Pillory of the Sleepless, Savage Twister, Condemn, Leafdrake Roost, Rakdos Guildmage, Belltower Sphinx, Boros Guildmage, Carven Caryatid, Compulsive Research, Galvanic Arc, Keening Banshee, Lightning Helix, Moroii, Oathsworn Giant, Selesnya Guildmage, Vedalken Dismisser, Watchwolf, Captive Flame, Death Denied, Feral Lightning, Ghost-Lit Raider, Hail of Arrows, Hand of Cruelty, Hand of Honor, Manriki-Gusari, O-Naginata, Genju of the Falls, Genju of the Fields, Genju of the Spires, Eye of Nowhere, Ghostly Prison, Hanabi Blast, Hinder, Kami of Ancient Law, Mystic Restraints, Nezumi Graverobber, No-Dachi, Otherworldly Journey, Rend Flesh, Sensei's Divining Top, Baton of Courage, Eternal Witness, Furnace Whelp, Grafted Wargear, Guardian Idol, Magma Jet, Vulshok Sorcerer, Chittering Rats, Darksteel Gargoyle, Juggernaut, Leonin Battlemage, Leonin Bola, Loxodon Mystic, Skullclamp, Vulshok Morningstar, Æther Spellbomb, Barter in Blood, Blinding Beam, Bonesplitter, Crystal Shard, Grab the Reins, Leonin Skyhunter, One Dozen Eyes, Predator's Strike, Pyrite Spellbomb, Slith Firewalker, Boros Garrison, Dimir Aqueduct, Gruul Turf, Orzhov Basilica, Selesnya Sanctuary, Azorius Signet, Dimir Signet, Golgari Signet, Izzet Signet, Orzhov Signet, Simic Signet

If people want to bring these to the club this week and contribute them we can try and do it with real cards. Expensive cards: Lightning Helix (actually I think I have a textless promo in my trades), Top (actually, I have one in my EDH) and Eternal Witness (3 GBP). The rest can probably be had from Mike for about 20 quid if we can't source them. Could happen!

Also SOMEONE please review Lorwyn and Morningtide because I'm pretty much 100% sure Changeling Berserker and his champion mates should not be in this cube!

[Ben Titmarsh]

Here's some Lorwyn pick orders. Couldn't find morningtide on the same site.

http://magic.tcgplayer.com/draft/Draft_data_071019.asp

[Kieran Symington]

I think you can live without Hero and Berserker, though I quite like Changeling Titan as he pretty much has to be killed. You should definately add Final Revels - mass removal/pump is pretty good. Probably also Thundercloud Shaman, despite the relatively few giants available in the set.
In Morningtide, Swell of Courage is awesome as an Overrun/Fireball, and Rivals' Duel looks like it would be pretty hot in this cube as almost always a 2-for-1. Moonglove Changeling and Festercreep could probably go - the 'Creep can only kill little guys and Changeling was only really good because of the Staff Combo.

[Thomas David Baker]

LRW: +Final Revels +Thundercloud Shaman, -Changeling Hero -Changeling Berserker
MOR: +Swell of Courage +Rivals' Duel, -Moonglove Changeling -Festercreep

Sweet.

Who knows about Kamigawa block draft? :P

Also I am thinking that Burrenton Forge-Tender is not good enough?

[Kieran Symington]

Thomas David Baker said:

Also I am thinking that Burrenton Forge-Tender is not good enough?

He probably isn't, to be honest. Should probably replace him with Dreamspoiler Witches - it's pretty sick in a deck with enough instants, which shouldn't be a problem for this cube!

[Charlie Grover]

Witches is good, changeling berserker is the sicknuts, hero and titan are pretty meh though. Eye of Nowhere is awful, if you want bounce id rather it was repeal, into the roil, or whiplash trap.

[Thomas David Baker]

I hate Eye of Nowhere but what is there in that set?

That Ginger One said:

Witches is good, changeling berserker is the sicknuts, hero and titan are pretty meh though. Eye of Nowhere is awful, if you want bounce id rather it was repeal, into the roil, or whiplash trap.