Pauper Cube – Top 10 Creatures to First Pick

Today I will go over what I feel are first pickable creatures in the world of a common cube. Everyone has their own opinion but most of these I have seen in action multiple times and are usually the center point for any game in progress.  Consider this a cheat sheet directly from my drafting experience….your welcome.  These are in no particular order so lets get started.

As a reference, these are a part of this cube here:
http://www.editgrid.com/user/arndt/Common_Cube

HEAVY BALLISTA

This guy is a complete house against any deck except maybe the Spider deck.  He deals 2 to any creature getting in your way or trying to swing at you.  It has 3 toughness to evade most damage spells while costing 3 colorless and a single white, perfect for splashing.  If this guy sticks you can make any attack or block from your opponent very awkward if not impossible.  If you ever get passed this, TAKE IT and play it.

CRYPT RATS

This guy can be mana intensive if trying to kill larger creatures but most of the time dumping 1 or 2 black mana into it will reset a board state.  You can also just fireball your opponent out for the win with enough black.  It is fairly fragile with only 1 toughness but you don’t actually play this guy on turn 3, you wait until you can desecrate your enemies.  There are not many board wipes in this cube so take, take, take!

CAVERN HARPY

This guy is a little color intensive but if you open it, I don’t recommend passing it.  All you need to do is draft every blue and black come in to play ability and watch your opponent cry.  While being virtually unkillable, imagine reusing Parasitic Strix, Mulldrifter, Gravedigger, or Blind Hunter….over and over and over…  While I have beaten this card multiple times when it has been played against me, I have also taken over a few games where I was about to lose.  Even if you dont play it because of color cuts, dont let anyone else have it or else feel the wrath of the Harpy!

IZZET CHRONARCH

Another mana intensive guy but getting back a removal spell while having a blocker is exactly what you want to be doing in a Cube draft.  I see this guy getting passed way too much and I cant figure out why.  People always say they are passing my card and once I get it, I beat them with it.  Maybe they will learn….  In the mean time, imagine this guy with Cavern Harpy.  Geeeeezzzzzz

SERAPH OF DAWN

A new addition to the cube but should easily be a first pick.  Her four toughness is incredibly strong in a pauper cube, not to mention she has Flying and Lifelink. FLYING and LIFELINK!  I can see playing Green with her for all the power ups effects and enchantments.  She has the ability to completely take over a game and make it almost unreachable for an opponent to get back into it.  Double white is almost a turn off but its a necessary cost for her amazing abilities.

GRAVEDIGGER

So your saying I can rebuy my best creature that just died?  And he gets in for 2?  And hes black so he can be abused with Cavern Harpy?  So whats the problem?  I splash this guy every time if I see him late…hes that good.  There are clones like Driver of the Dead, Desecrator Hag, and Cadaver Imp but none of them are as efficient as this guy.  Take it first or come in last.

SHIMMERING GLASSKITE

A 2/3 Flier with semi-shroud…good enough in my book.  Some decks just cant beat this guy and thats the point.  Typically the only way to take it down is to have a larger flier or gigantic reach guy but your blue…you will have answers.  Another splashable 4 drop that is a beating.  Do yourself a favor and take him first, your opponents will hate you later.

BLIGHTWIDOW

I thought long and hard on this one as it was very close between this and Penumbra Spider.  In the end I liked how Blightwidow can just deteriorate a flying squad not just block one forever.  Occasionally you might win with Infect but typically he holds the fort down while your other green monsters get in for the win.  It doesnt have flavor text but if it did i’m sure it would read: Fort Knox.  By the way, I love this art.

BATTLE-RATTLE SHAMAN

There are a lot of good come into play abilities with red but the reason I like this guy is that he turns anyone on your team into a nice beat stick, every turn.  He gets played almost like an enchantment in that you almost never attack with him but gives you a static pump ability for your attacks.  I once drafted a Green/Red token deck and this Shaman was probably the best guy in my deck.  If your opponent cant deal with him they will either keep losing guys or just lose the game.

ELGAUD SHIELDMATE

Finally we have another blue creature and its a new inclusion.  This guy with any other creature is just awesome.  It gives you the ability to protect a creature with a very powerful ability like Blinding Mage or Prodigal Pyromancer while also protecting itself.  Unless they counter it or wipe the board, its will be very tough for any opponent to beat this once Soulbonded.

Below are some honorable mentions that are still insane but you probably shouldn’t take them over the above cards.  Let me know what you guys think or let me know if I missed anything.  Keep a look out for the Top 10 Instants, Sorceries, and Artifacts for Pauper Cube in future articles.  If you guys want any other Top 10 for the Pauper Cube, let me know!

5 Honorable Mentions:

• Pith Driller
• Penumbra Spider
• Nearheath Stalker
• Ninja of the Deep Hours
• Mulldrifter

Adam Arndt
MTGO: AdamRA4