Like some cube enthusiasts, I like to keep up with the latest expansions and products of Magic: the Gathering and skim through various reviews, made by various individuals, and base my decision off their opinions of which cards are worth running. Often times I’m happy to agree with them. However, at random times, I find myself flipping through my cube and thinking to myself, “Why do I run this card?”.

This blog contains the first five cards I mentioned in my posts titled “Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube” which were originally posted on Reddit.com. I hope this blog is informative and thought provoking for all of you cube enthusiasts out there. So, without further rambling, I give you the first five cards I mentioned in “Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube?”.

Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube? #1: Student of Warfare

Pros:

She can become a threat rather fast if unchecked.

She easily fits into white weenie.

She is a human (for those who run tribal humans).

Cons:

Doesn’t “splash” well into decks that aren’t primarily white

She doesn’t reward the caster immediately when she is casted/put into play.

Without investing additional white mana, she is rather dull as a 1/1.

Click Here for original post on Reddit

Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube? #2: Thassa, God of the Sea

Why Thassa? I chose her today because she is an unusual card that has added to various powered and un-powered cubes alike. I gave her a spot in my powered cube but sadly she spends alot of time sitting in sideboard piles of players that favor familiar/reliable cards . With that being said, have any of you had any experiences with her that make her a staple at your table or did she suffer the fate of a forgotten god?

Pros:

She splashes well into decks with the one required blue in her already low mana cost.

She is tough to be rid of once she is in play.

She has capabilities of being a large creature with evasion for a small investment.

She generates evasion for creatures that you control.

She gives you scry 1 on your upkeep.

Cons:

She, often times, is just an enchant if blue devotion isn’t pushed.

She does’t reward the caster immediately when she comes into play.

As an enchantment, she can be a wee bit dull.

Click Here for the original post on Reddit

I chose Nezumi Graverobber today because he has been in powered/un-powered lists long before I ever started playing Magic: the Gathering. He, like the last two cards I’ve mentioned, has a reputation of getting looked over and passed around the table with my play group. I added him to my list because he comes into play as a “bear” for two mana and has potential to graveyard hate and a chance to turn into a beater. Sadly, though, he hasn’t been used in my group, at all, to my knowledge. At some point and time I plan on pushing him into one of my decks just to show what he can do.

Pros:

He can splash into decks that hate on and/or run reanimater.

He can target creatures, for reanimating, in any graveyard (not just your own).

He works well with Pack Rat.

He is able to grow into a beater with investing un-used mana and a bit of strategy which can be done at instant speed.

Cons:

It is scary investing crucial mana into a creature that can be removed easily and he doesn’t reward the caster the second he hits the board.

Click Here for the original post on Reddit

Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube? #4: Firestorm

Firestorm is a very interesting card period. I personally see many fun interactions that Firestorm can be a part of.

Pros:

Firestorm is an instant that can be used in response to discard spells.

It can be used in reanimater to discard fatties.

It works well with Timetwister and Wheel of Fortune.

It can be a one-drop ,instant-speed, board wipe.

Cons:

If used incorrectly, it creates card disadvantage for the caster.

You have to have a target for every single card you discard.

Click Here for the original post on Reddit

Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube? #5: Genesis

Genesis is considered a cube classic. I’m personally a fan of recursion and Genesis does recursion like a champion. However, his engine is a bit slow in a powered environment. But, in his defense, he can be a “house” in a ramp/mana abusive deck.

Pros:

Genesis has a built in recursion ability that allows the caster to return any creature (including himself) to the caster’s hand during the caster’s upkeep while he is in the graveyard.

He can splash easily into decks that run more than just green mana.

Cons:

Genesis’s body isn’t as desirable as it once was.

He doesn’t reward the caster immediately when casted.

His upkeep ability costs a crucial three mana.

Click Here for the original post on Reddit

Disclaimer: The purpose of this blog is create individual thoughts and opinions of why you, fellow cubers, run the cards you run and to ask yourself why you run them. PLEASE keep an open mind to every opinion that is shared in this blog and PLEASE be kind to each other.

Now that you have viewed the first five cards that I featured on my Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube? posts, what are your views/opinions on each card?

Thanks for your opinions everyone! –Hanzelgravey

P.S. Let me know if you would like me to do future posts of featured “cube” cards while asking the question “Why is [insert-card-here] in your cube?”.