Pauper Cube – Decklists from the Finals of a Draft

So there we were, the eight of us on a typical Monday night doing none other that Pauper Cube Drafting.  We had some regulars like myself, Ryan, Roy, Bryan, & Brandon as well as Chris, Josh and Ian who have Cubed before but haven’t drafted our Pauper Cube.  We usually like to try and draft at least once a week to break up the play testing for tournaments and trying out new standard decks.

I always enjoy new comers to the Cube to see how their thought process works in drafting cards that otherwise wouldn’t be together.  I like to see how their deck plays out, the card interactions and so forth to possibly make the Cube better for everyone.  This draft was run on 04-30-2012 before any Avacyn Restored cards were put in so the Cube list that was posted here is relevant for the deck lists below.

This is the deck I drafted and it took me to the finals.  I took red removal early and often, passing some really good Esper colored cards (Black, White, and Blue).  My games revolved around attrition and an overwhelming token force.  Cards like Battle-Rattle Shaman and Kuldotha Ringleader can take over a game with enough tokens out.  Even Orchard Spirit with a Bonesplitter or Battle-Rattle Shaman win’s games by itself.

Adam A. - R/G Aggro

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-Creatures- Battle-Rattle Shaman Emrakul’s Hatcher Mogg War Marshal Kuldotha Ringleader Kird Ape Grotag Thrasher Sylvan Ranger Wild Nacatl Penumbra Spider Simian Grunts Ondu Giant Blightwidow Orchard Spirit Greater Basilisk   -Instants and Sorceries- Galvanic Blast Firebolt Lava Burst Searing Blaze Staggershock Flame Slash Burst Lightning   -Artifacts and Enchantments- Fists of Ironwood Bonesplitter Flayer Husk   -Lands- 6 Mountain 5 Forest Terramorphic Expanse Rupture Spire Desert Khalni Garden Gruul Turf

My buddy Chris drafted this sweet deck and I met him in the finals of his first Pauper Cube draft.  His ultimate combo seemed to be Silhana Ledgewalker and Trollhide.  His deck has some recursion and just large creatures which can be a complete house as most of the cards in the Pauper Cube are 2/2′s or smaller.  I didn’t get to see all his games but having a few infect creatures in his deck I wouldn’t be surprised if they won him a few games, especially Blight Mamba.

Chris B. - B/G Rock

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-Creatures- Stinkweed Imp Desecrator Hag Rendclaw Trow Manakin Myr Enforcer Sakura-Tribe Elder Cystbearer Kozilek’s Predator Jolrael’s Centaur Nest Invader Grazing Gladehart Blight Mamba Giant Spider Llanowar Elves Werebear Krosan Tusker Basking Rootwalla Silhana Ledgewalker   -Instants and Sorceries- Unearth Doom Blade Consume Strength   -Artifacts and Enchantments- Executioner’s Capsule Trollhide   -Lands- 9 Forest 5 Swamp Vault of Whispers Shimmering Grotto Jungle Basin

In the finals we made it a good one by going to game 3.  We had a huge crowd of 4 people gathered around as the game was coming to a close.  Chris was trying to find his other piece of the Ultimate Combo (he needed Trollhide) and I am trying to figure out how I can get in the last few points of damage by alpha swinging.  In the end, Chris alpha swung first and I blocked differently than what he anticipated and I was alive at 1 life!  Next turn I swung in for the win since his creatures were tapped out.  His next top card…Moments Peace, which he sided in against me to catch me and my aggro deck off guard.  It definitely would have worked on me the next turn.  As always a fun match and I cant wait for the next draft!

Adam
AJMTG/MTGO: AdamRA4