By [ad_1]
In Chromatic Cube, be prepared to draft decks with more expensive spells, more colors, and more dreams to live in the newest addition to MTG Arena‘s growing cube offerings! Read on for more event details and the philosophy of this big-mana environment.
Phantom Event
Chromatic Cube is a Phantom event. Cards you draft are not added to your collection.
Event Details
Dates: June 25–July 8
Format: Draft Best-of-One and traditional Best-of-Three
Entry: 4,000 gold or 600 gems
Rewards:
Historic ICRs grant cards from pack releases on MTG Arena. They do not include cards that were released outside of packs (e.g., cards from Historic Anthologies). Historic uncommon ICRs have a 5% upgrade rate to rare. Historic rare ICRs may upgrade to a mythic rare; each rare is twice as likely to be awarded as each mythic rare.
The main goal of this cube is to deliver a cube experience unlike Arena Cube or Tinkerer’s Cube. If you’ve followed my exploits elsewhere, on Magic Online I created the Live the Dream Cube. So, I simply applied that cube’s philosophy to MTG Arena and its Historic card pool: lots of big-mana decks and a plethora of crazy interactions to help emulate Commander, all in the context of a cube!
While Arena Cube is a great overall representation of Cube and Magic, and Tinkerer’s Cube involves a great deal of synergistic small pieces to craft a deck with a unique and holistically strong mechanical identity, Chromatic Cube replaces aggressive creatures with mana rocks so we can get to the good stuff: cards that cost more and do more! This is a cube where Alloy Myr makes a great ally, and there’s more to Maskwood Nexus than meets the eye
Some cubes are pure “good stuff,” meaning all the cards are individually powerful, and you take the “best card per pack” in your deck of two or maybe three colors. Other cubes are synergy driven, which means you may draft a deck that is “on rails” and is looking for a very specific piece to complete your linear, sometimes parasitic, puzzle.
This is the dichotomy of Arena Cube and Tinkerer’s Cube. Chromatic Cube lies somewhere in the middle. A lot of the cards are individually good in decks, but there are eleven archetypes for ten color pairs in the game to guide drafters. Not all decks of the same two colors will be the same of course, but if you see an off-the-wall card, you can trust that the cube can support it. And since this is Chromatic Cube, you can bet that there will be enough fixing available to often play more than two colors.
Of course, there are many, many small strategies outside of these eleven archetypes; these are just the loud directions the cube will call out for you to try. Just don’t try too hard to draft an aggressive deck that aims to curve out in the early turns with small creatures. This ain’t that kind of cube.
Let’s just take a look at the ten archetypes, shall we?
White-Blue Tokens
In an unusually aggressive archetype for these two colors, you’ll want to “go-wide” and create a veritable cornucopia of creatures for your opponents to handle. Hint: they won’t be able to. Sure, this strategy is normally green’s territory, but can green cards draw as many cards as blue? Actually, don’t answer that.
Blue-Black Thievery
Sure, your deck might be sweet, but what about your opponent’s? Utilize your opponent’s cards in this controlling archetype to beat them at their own game. Just make sure you’ve got enough removal, as this is the slowest archetype, and you better hope your opponent drafted a good deck! Take all the fun, and give nothing back.
Black-Red Dragons
Dragons! Ramp into Dragons! Destroy creatures that aren’t Dragons! This deck often splashes for Dragons. Dragons are better than the creatures your opponents will play. Make sure you can cast your Dragons by picking up some mana acceleration. And if your Dragons die, reanimate them back to the battlefield. Dragons.
Red-Green Power Matters
Power is powerful. In this deck, you’ll want some mana acceleration, but then you’ll be pumping out creatures that are large and in charge with big numbers in the bottom right of the card. But not only do they hit hard, they also draw cards
Green-White Counters
In perhaps the most aggressive archetype in the cube, you’ll be placing fat stacks of counters onto your critters. How tall can a creature get? If each +1/+1 counter is a foot, then you’ll be able to make creatures as tall as Matt Tabak, and almost as fun.
This deck tends to go wide, which blends well with the White-Blue deck. Since this is Chromatic Cube, three-color decks tend to be the norm, so go ahead and dip into blue for some goodies. I won’t mind.
White-Black Legendary
Use legendary creatures and removal spells to lead your ragtag band of heroes (and villains) to victory! Like most strategies in this cube, this can be relatively slow, but this color pair tends to even the odds by killing anything that moves. And if your champions were to be killed in turn, they won’t be dead for long. There are lots of sneaky synergies with everybody’s favorite supertype, and since your opponent’s creatures won’t even have name tags, they’ll have no chance.
Blue-Red Storm
Draft some mana ramp, big spells, and some copy effects, and what do you get? The most fun you can have! There are lots of pieces to this strategy, but if the plan all comes together, you’ll be playing a completely different game than your opponents. Extra turn effects are particularly potent in this cube, so don’t waste any time in taking them.
Black-Green Death
This deck likes things to die: your creatures, your opponent’s creatures, your opponents. While this deck is generally fairly creature heavy, it’s so you can utilize their delicious life force to further your plans of total game domination. In other words, make more mana, play more creatures, and stop your opponent from doing those things. So, for black-green decks, just a regular Tuesday.
Red-White Equipment
Rule number fifteen says a hero is only as good as their weapon. Red-White takes that rule to heart, and you won’t be lacking in steel or sorcery in this archetype. This color combination is both fast and furious, so try to draft the Equipment-loving family first, and then their implements later. Once you play both edges of this double-edged sword of creatures and swords, you’ll have more edges in the game than you’ll know what to do with!
Green-Blue Lands
Every deck should have lands, but this deck should have the most, since that’s how you win! Often in Magic, the player with the most mana wins. And in this cube, that axiom is especially true, so be sure to grab all the land acceleration you can! You’ll most likely be able to splash all the other good cards you see, so you mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.
Five-Color Dream
And finally, we have the bonus eleventh archetype that uses every color we can throw at you. You’ll be the slowest deck, the most eccentric deck, and the deck with the most lands (I hope). What you’ll also be, though, is the deck with the sweetest turns, as you’ll be playing some of the most individually powerful cards in the cube. If you can dream it, you can do it!
-
Chromatic Cube Card List
-
Card Name Color Giant Killer White Mikaeus, the Lunarch White Rhys the Redeemed White Thraben Inspector White Usher of the Fallen White Adorned Pouncer White Bounty Agent White Charming Prince White Grateful Apparition White Hero of Precinct One White Luminarch Aspirant White Shaile, Dean of Radiance White Sram, Senior Edificer White Elite Spellbinder White Heliod, Sun-Crowned White Lurrus of the Dream-Den White Mentor of the Meek White Mila, Crafty Companion White Skyclave Apparition White Basri’s Lieutenant White Bishop of Binding White Emiel the Blessed White Halvar, God of Battle White High Sentinels of Arashin White Leonin Warleader White Shalai, Voice of Plenty White Angel of Invention White Angel of Sanctions White Cavalier of Dawn White God-Eternal Oketra White Lyra Dawnbringer White Regal Caracal White Harmonious Archon White Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite White Realm-Cloaked Giant White Basri Ket White Elspeth, Sun’s Nemesis White Ephemerate White Raise the Alarm White Unbreakable Formation White Response // Resurgence White Warrant // Warden White Finale of Glory White Release the Dogs White Sram’s Expertise White Starnheim Unleashed White Urza’s Ruinous Blast White Ancestral Blade White Maul of the Skyclaves White The Circle of Loyalty White Banishing Light White History of Benalia White Anointed Procession White Cast Out White Faith’s Fetters White Felidar Retreat White On Serra’s Wings White Cathars’ Crusade White Divine Visitation White Elspeth Conquers Death White Fae of Wishes Blue Ghostly Pilferer Blue Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive Blue Thieving Skydiver Blue Alirios, Enraptured Blue Barrin, Tolarian Archmage Blue Champion of Wits Blue Cosima, God of the Voyage Blue Glasspool Mimic Blue Nadir Kraken Blue Vizier of Tumbling Sands Blue Crafty Cutpurse Blue Murmuring Mystic Blue Orvar, the All-Form Blue Spark Double Blue Talrand, Sky Summoner Blue Vizier of Many Faces Blue Whirler Rogue Blue Alrund, God of the Cosmos Blue Cavalier of Gales Blue Djinn of Wishes Blue Mesmerizing Benthid Blue Omnispell Adept Blue Voracious Greatshark Blue Yorion, Sky Nomad Blue Dream Eater Blue Scholar of the Lost Trove Blue Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner Blue Rowan, Scholar of Sparks Blue Saheeli, Sublime Artificer Blue Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor Blue Mystic Reflection Blue Resculpt Blue Thassa’s Intervention Blue Hornswoggle Blue Supreme Will Blue Whirlwind Denial Blue Crush Dissent Blue Spell Swindle Blue Commence the Endgame Blue Sublime Epiphany Blue Nexus of Fate Blue Commit // Memory Blue Multiple Choice Blue Callous Dismissal Blue Chart a Course Blue Discovery // Dispersal Blue Quasiduplicate Blue Inscription of Insight Blue Mythos of Illuna Blue Talrand’s Invocation Blue Baral’s Expertise Blue Karn’s Temporal Sundering Blue Alrund’s Epiphany Blue Midnight Clock Blue Search for Azcanta Blue Reconnaissance Mission Blue The Mirari Conjecture Blue In Bolas’s Clutches Blue Shark Typhoon Blue Valentin, Dean of the Vein Black Blood Artist Black Brain Maggot Black Fiend Artisan Black Glint-Sleeve Siphoner Black Kitesail Freebooter Black Mire Triton Black Nullpriest of Oblivion Black Blex, Vexing Pest Black Callous Bloodmage Black Doomed Necromancer Black Isareth the Awakener Black Midnight Reaper Black Murderous Rider Black Plaguecrafter Black Sedgemoor Witch Black Selfless Glyphweaver Black Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire Black Woe Strider Black Yahenni, Undying Partisan Black Eradicator Valkyrie Black Erebos, Bleak-Hearted Black Gonti, Lord of Luxury Black Kels, Fight Fixer Black Nightmare Shepherd Black Rankle, Master of Pranks Black Ravenous Chupacabra Black Cavalier of Night Black Doom Whisperer Black Ghoulcaller Gisa Black Gravebreaker Lamia Black Syr Konrad, the Grim Black Tergrid, God of Fright Black Gyruda, Doom of Depths Black Massacre Wurm Black Noxious Gearhulk Black Sheoldred, Whispering One Black Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence Black Liliana, Death’s Majesty Black Liliana, Dreadhorde General Black Erebos’s Intervention Black Heartless Act Black Mythos of Nethroi Black Eat to Extinction Black Price of Fame Black Vraska’s Contempt Black Innocent Blood Black Agonizing Remorse Black Chainer’s Edict Black Feed the Swarm Black Finale of Eternity Black Blood for Bones Black Extinction Event Black Crux of Fate Black Unburial Rites Black Yawgmoth’s Vile Offering Black Thwart the Grave Black Never // Return Black Dreadhorde Invasion Black Phyrexian Arena Black The Eldest Reborn Black Dire Fleet Daredevil Red Dragonkin Berserker Red Earthshaker Khenra Red Magda, Brazen Outlaw Red Magmatic Channeler Red Plargg, Dean of Chaos Red Robber of the Rich Red Arni Brokenbrow Red Birgi, God of Storytelling Red Bonecrusher Giant Red Captain Lannery Storm Red Combat Celebrant Red Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge Red Grinning Ignus Red Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin Red Sin Prodder Red Captivating Crew Red Efreet Flamepainter Red Leyline Tyrant Red Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion Red Opportunistic Dragon Red Toralf, God of Fury Red Brash Taunter Red Cavalier of Flame Red Goldspan Dragon Red Ilharg, the Raze-Boar Red Jegantha, the Wellspring Red Obosh, the Preypiercer Red Terror of the Peaks Red Urabrask the Hidden Red Combustible Gearhulk Red Etali, Primal Storm Red Drakuseth, Maw of Flames Red Sarkhan, Fireblood Red Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast Red Sarkhan the Masterless Red Lightning Bolt Red Abrade Red Electrodominance Red Fire Prophecy Red Kazuul’s Fury Red Spit Flame Red Faithless Looting Red Purphoros’s Intervention Red Crackle with Power Red Shatterskull Smashing Red Fight with Fire Red Seize the Spoils Red Cut // Ribbons Red Mizzix’s Mastery Red Hour of Devastation Red Star of Extinction Red Crystal Slipper Red Mask of Immolation Red Scavenged Blade Red Dwarven Hammer Red Embercleave Red Fires of Invention Red Sarkhan’s Unsealing Red Double Vision Red Fiery Emancipation Red Gilded Goose Green Llanowar Elves Green Pelt Collector Green Swarm Shambler Green Dragonsguard Elite Green Dryad Greenseeker Green Fauna Shaman Green Ilysian Caryatid Green Incubation Druid Green Lotus Cobra Green Scavenging Ooze Green Voracious Hydra Green Wildborn Preserver Green Augmenter Pugilist Green Beanstalk Giant Green Dryad of the Ilysian Grove Green Evolution Sage Green Fertilid Green Jadelight Ranger Green Kianne, Dean of Substance Green Llanowar Visionary Green Oran-Rief Ooze Green Reclamation Sage Green Rishkar, Peema Renegade Green Selvala, Heart of the Wilds Green Beast Whisperer Green Bristling Hydra Green Canopy Tactician Green Champion of Rhonas Green Neyith of the Dire Hunt Green Oracle of Mul Daya Green Vizier of the Menagerie Green Ashaya, Soul of the Wild Green Biogenic Ooze Green Cavalier of Thorns Green God-Eternal Rhonas Green Keruga, the Macrosage Green Verdurous Gearhulk Green Kogla, the Titan Ape Green Ulvenwald Hydra Green Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider Green Nyxbloom Ancient Green End-Raze Forerunners Green Tyvar Kell Green Nissa, Vital Force Green Vivien, Monsters’ Advocate Green Inscription of Abundance Green Ram Through Green Primal Might Green Emergent Sequence Green Explore Green Finale of Devastation Green Regrowth Green Scale the Heights Green Planewide Celebration Green Find // Finality Green Lifecrafter’s Bestiary Green The Great Henge Green In Search of Greatness Green The First Iroan Games Green Guardian Project Green Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun Multicolor Dovin, Grand Arbiter Multicolor Niko Aris Multicolor The Raven’s Warning Multicolor Aven Wind Guide Multicolor Ojutai’s Command Multicolor Cloudblazer Multicolor Banish into Fable Multicolor Depose // Deploy Multicolor Thief of Sanity Multicolor Atris, Oracle of Half-Truths Multicolor Etrata, the Silencer Multicolor Hostage Taker Multicolor Ashiok, Nightmare Muse Multicolor Enter the God-Eternals Multicolor Silumgar’s Command Multicolor Zareth San, the Trickster Multicolor Angrath’s Rampage Multicolor Rix Maadi Reveler Multicolor Valki, God of Lies Multicolor Kolaghan’s Command Multicolor Immersturm Predator Multicolor Angrath, the Flame-Chained Multicolor Rakdos, the Showstopper Multicolor Bladewing the Risen Multicolor Domri, Anarch of Bolas Multicolor Radha, Heart of Keld Multicolor Svella, Ice Shaper Multicolor Escape to the Wilds Multicolor Nikya of the Old Ways Multicolor Samut, Voice of Dissent Multicolor Zilortha, Strength Incarnate Multicolor Ravager Wurm Multicolor Conclave Mentor Multicolor Dromoka’s Command Multicolor Faeburrow Elder Multicolor Knight of Autumn Multicolor Ajani, the Greathearted Multicolor Captain Sisay Multicolor Mirari’s Wake Multicolor Trostani Discordant Multicolor Hamza, Guardian of Arashin Multicolor Assure // Assemble Multicolor Killian, Ink Duelist Multicolor Aryel, Knight of Windgrace Multicolor Teysa Karlov Multicolor Arvad the Cursed Multicolor Kaya the Inexorable Multicolor Shadrix Silverquill Multicolor Athreos, Shroud-Veiled Multicolor Primevals’ Glorious Rebirth Multicolor Electrolyze Multicolor Prismari Command Multicolor Rootha, Mercurial Artist Multicolor Galazeth Prismari Multicolor Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain Multicolor Ral, Storm Conduit Multicolor Ral’s Outburst Multicolor Expansion // Explosion Multicolor Magma Opus Multicolor Deadly Brew Multicolor Rushed Rebirth Multicolor Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager Multicolor Leyline Prowler Multicolor Binding the Old Gods Multicolor Poison-Tip Archer Multicolor Polukranos, Unchained Multicolor Vraska, Golgari Queen Multicolor The Gitrog Monster Multicolor Beledros Witherbloom Multicolor Koll, the Forgemaster Multicolor Rip Apart Multicolor Swiftblade Vindicator Multicolor Akiri, Fearless Voyager Multicolor Forging the Tyrite Sword Multicolor Venerable Warsinger Multicolor Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients Multicolor Winota, Joiner of Forces Multicolor Lorehold Command Multicolor Velomachus Lorehold Multicolor Growth Spiral Multicolor Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy Multicolor Nissa, Steward of Elements Multicolor Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy Multicolor Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath Multicolor Eureka Moment Multicolor Quandrix Cultivator Multicolor Rashmi, Eternities Crafter Multicolor Tatyova, Benthic Druid Multicolor Chulane, Teller of Tales Multicolor Alela, Artful Provocateur Multicolor Nicol Bolas, the Ravager Multicolor Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God Multicolor Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh Multicolor Korvold, Fae-Cursed King Multicolor Vaevictis Asmadi, the Dire Multicolor Rienne, Angel of Rebirth Multicolor Zacama, Primal Calamity Multicolor Extus, Oriq Overlord Multicolor Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt Multicolor Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale Multicolor Ruinous Ultimatum Multicolor Omnath, Locus of the Roil Multicolor Illuna, Apex of Wishes Multicolor Genesis Ultimatum Multicolor Nethroi, Apex of Death Multicolor Eerie Ultimatum Multicolor Kykar, Wind’s Fury Multicolor Inspired Ultimatum Multicolor Titans’ Nest Multicolor Yarok, the Desecrated Multicolor Muldrotha, the Gravetide Multicolor Omnath, Locus of Creation Multicolor Path to the World Tree Multicolor Codie, Vociferous Codex Multicolor Esika, God of the Tree Multicolor Golos, Tireless Pilgrim Multicolor Kenrith, the Returned King Multicolor Maelstrom Archangel Multicolor Niv-Mizzet Reborn Multicolor Tazri, Beacon of Unity Multicolor Chamber Sentry Colorless Stonecoil Serpent Colorless Alloy Myr Colorless Farfinder Colorless Palladium Myr Colorless Scuttlemutt Colorless Skittering Surveyor Colorless Myriad Construct Colorless Solemn Simulacrum Colorless Platinum Angel Colorless Karn, Scion of Urza Colorless Ugin, the Ineffable Colorless Tezzeret’s Gambit Colorless Mascot Exhibition Colorless Mox Amber Colorless Animation Module Colorless Bonesplitter Colorless Shadowspear Colorless Zephyr Boots Colorless Azor’s Gateway Colorless Blackblade Reforged Colorless Coldsteel Heart Colorless Dowsing Dagger Colorless Goldvein Pick Colorless Guardian Idol Colorless Mazemind Tome Colorless Mind Stone Colorless Treasure Map Colorless Chromatic Lantern Colorless Cultivator’s Caravan Colorless Dragon’s Hoard Colorless Heraldic Banner Colorless Letter of Acceptance Colorless Mirage Mirror Colorless Replicating Ring Colorless Sigiled Sword of Valeron Colorless Skyclave Relic Colorless Firemind Vessel Colorless Hedron Archive Colorless Lithoform Engine Colorless Maskwood Nexus Colorless Gilded Lotus Colorless Tome of the Guildpact Colorless The Immortal Sun Colorless Chromatic Orrery Colorless God-Pharaoh’s Gift Colorless Glacial Fortress Land Hallowed Fountain Land Hengegate Pathway Land Irrigated Farmland Land Temple of Enlightenment Land Clearwater Pathway Land Drowned Catacomb Land Fetid Pools Land Temple of Deceit Land Watery Grave Land Blightstep Pathway Land Blood Crypt Land Canyon Slough Land Dragonskull Summit Land Temple of Malice Land Cragcrown Pathway Land Rootbound Crag Land Sheltered Thicket Land Stomping Ground Land Temple of Abandon Land Branchloft Pathway Land Scattered Groves Land Sunpetal Grove Land Temple Garden Land Temple of Plenty Land Brightclimb Pathway Land Concealed Courtyard Land Godless Shrine Land Isolated Chapel Land Shineshadow Snarl Land Frostboil Snarl Land Riverglide Pathway Land Spirebluff Canal Land Steam Vents Land Sulfur Falls Land Blooming Marsh Land Darkbore Pathway Land Necroblossom Snarl Land Overgrown Tomb Land Woodland Cemetery Land Clifftop Retreat Land Furycalm Snarl Land Inspiring Vantage Land Needleverge Pathway Land Sacred Foundry Land Barkchannel Pathway Land Botanical Sanctum Land Breeding Pool Land Hinterland Harbor Land Vineglimmer Snarl Land Savai Triome Land Ketria Triome Land Indatha Triome Land Raugrin Triome Land Zagoth Triome Land The World Tree Land Evolving Wilds Land Fabled Passage Land Field of the Dead Land Guildmages’ Forum Land Hall of Oracles Land Lotus Field Land Mirrodin’s Core Land Shimmerdrift Vale Land Terramorphic Expanse Land Thriving Bluff Land Thriving Grove Land Thriving Heath Land Thriving Isle Land Thriving Moor Land
I hope this has given you a brief insight into the machinations this cube can assemble and some of my thought processes. I truly love designing Magic cards, cubes, and experiences for you all to play and hope this brings you some joy.
Magic creates amazing stories, but none more powerful than the journey of meeting new friends through it. So, safely join a friend and get ready to draft the most colorful experience MTG Arena can offer, and you can let me know what you think of Chromatic Cube on Twitter @J_Beleren.
I’ll see you in the queues!
David McDarby
@J_Beleren on Twitter
@Linuka on Twitch
[ad_2]
