General Battle Box

Onderzeeboot

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
It sounds like something I would fancy, but mentioning a one-and-a-half hour game between two fast players isn't good advertising for the format. What I like about it is that adding multicolor cards is actively interesting because you are always going to be able to cast them, but carefully sequencing your land plays becomes important. I also like that it can be lower powered. I might try and assemble one just for kicks.
 
Goldenpineapple

Goldenpineapple

What gates would you guys use? Does it even matter, really? In a completely random 5-color format there aren't an clear choices, right?

I'm a little interested in how few high-cmc cards are in his list, and how weak a lot of those are (gang of devils). I prefer a more color-intensive and powerful/interesting top-end, but in this format it's completely possible that you've been running heavy everything BUT red, and then you draw the gang on your turn 6 so you can just run your mountain out there? It would really suck to draw {X}{R}{R} after curving your other colors perfectly.

It also doesn't specify- do you both play off the top of a stack or do you split this thing in half? Griptide stronk if the former. (EDIT: I found him saying he finds it easiest to split the stack so you each have your own library, so I guess either?)
 
Jason Waddell

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
[4:29:44 PM] Jason Waddell: I like how this battlebox is really midrangey
[4:30:02 PM] Eric Chan: it does feel like the durdlier limited formats
[4:30:11 PM] Jason Waddell: it has to be
[4:30:15 PM] Jason Waddell: since you don't deckbuild
[4:30:33 PM] Jason Waddell: and like, the 6-drops aren't that powerful here
[4:30:36 PM] Jason Waddell: which is nice
[4:30:46 PM] Jason Waddell: because the game is going to unfold slowly with so many taplands
[4:30:55 PM] Jason Waddell: (eric: did you post this link in the forums?)
[4:31:15 PM] Jason Waddell: oh mean: wolfbitten captive, love it
[4:31:16 PM] Jeff Sheng: the way games typically play out in mine is either someone screws up their land sequencing and gets tempo'd out by their own guildgates
[4:31:23 PM] Jason Waddell: werewolves must be cool in this format
[4:31:33 PM] Jason Waddell: sequence your land-drop to keep playing spells?
[4:31:38 PM] Jeff Sheng: yeah
[4:32:07 PM] Jeff Sheng: the other way is that the board clutters up
[4:32:15 PM] Jeff Sheng: and then someone draws an evasion creature


Other comments from Skype:
[4:12:55 PM] Jason Waddell: somebody should import it into cubetutor
[4:13:06 PM] Eric Chan: that's not the worst idea in the world
[4:13:18 PM] Jason Waddell: I liked his thing about Leatherback Baloth
[4:13:24 PM] Jason Waddell: it's so smart
[4:13:46 PM] Eric Chan: ya, leatherback is harder to cast than woolly thoctar in this format.. and more satisfying, i would imagine
[4:14:01 PM] Jason Waddell: that land drop system seems super Hearthstone inspired
[4:14:26 PM] Jason Waddell: but with actual tension added into it
[4:14:29 PM] Jeff Sheng: I think it predates Hearthstone but I could be wrong, I don't even remember how old Hearthstone is at this point
[4:14:42 PM] Jason Waddell: I wonder if guildgates are the best to use there
[4:14:48 PM] Eric Chan: true, w/ regards to 10 land cap.. i hadn't even thought of the parallel there :O
[4:14:49 PM] Jason Waddell: could you do it with checklands?
[4:14:58 PM] Eric Chan: ya i think the first article about this was in 2012ish
[4:15:11 PM] Eric Chan: hearthstone is.. less than a year old?
[4:15:12 PM] Jason Waddell: maybe checklands aren't as interesting
[4:15:32 PM] Eric Chan: ya i imagine half taplands, half untapped basics is part of the skill-testing nature
[4:15:56 PM] Jason Waddell: I know, but there are other lands that can make fun sequencing
[4:16:14 PM] Jason Waddell: like, the only way to cast Baloth T3 is through one specific sequence
[4:16:17 PM] Eric Chan: throw in all the karoos
[4:16:20 PM] Jason Waddell: I guess that's a choice you make
[4:16:52 PM] Jason Waddell: that "Lands" game has nothing to do with Magic other than some vague flavor
[4:17:12 PM] Jason Waddell: but it has this beautiful simplicity to it
[4:17:27 PM] Jason Waddell: if I weren't at work I'd ask somebody to get on 'trice and play it with me
[4:21:15 PM] Jason Waddell: I really like the idea of games composed of simple tools that have a lot of depth to them
[4:21:26 PM] Jason Waddell: I think that's what appeals to me so much about the multi-Brainstorm idea
[4:21:50 PM] Jason Waddell: whenever I play a deck with a lot of Brainstorm interactions I feel really involved in the game
[4:23:44 PM] Eric Chan: BenS battle box: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/13444
[4:24:23 PM] Jason Waddell: did somebody else already make that?
[4:24:36 PM] Eric Chan: no idea
[4:24:54 PM] Eric Chan: i uploaded that just now tho
[4:25:06 PM] Jason Waddell: oh, okay
[4:25:09 PM] Eric Chan: maybe it exists already but i'm too lazy to search
[4:25:20 PM] Jason Waddell: it's interesting that color balance just doesn't matter here
[4:25:30 PM] Jeff Sheng: yeah
[4:25:32 PM] Jason Waddell: but still he stuck to an even card count
[4:25:35 PM] Eric Chan: ya, and you can jam in all the gold you want!
[4:25:48 PM] Eric Chan: ya, it could've been any size i imagine tho
[4:25:56 PM] Jeff Sheng: part of it could be the physical limit of cards he can hold in his box
[4:25:57 PM] Jeff Sheng: :V
[4:27:13 PM] Jason Waddell: I like the idea, it looks like a fun power level
[4:27:32 PM] Jeff Sheng: yeah
[4:27:53 PM] Jason Waddell: oh, capsize...
[4:27:57 PM] Jason Waddell: that seems out of place here
[4:28:00 PM] Jeff Sheng: my box is literally just random draft commons/uncommons and cube cuts
[4:28:08 PM] Jeff Sheng: and it's pretty fun
[4:28:11 PM] Eric Chan: ya this is definitely closer to limited power level, but with more wraths
[4:28:20 PM] Jason Waddell: wraths are sweet
[4:28:33 PM] Jason Waddell: and less powerful in regular limited than I though
[4:28:50 PM] Jason Waddell: I remember watching a friend draft 3xRTR and he had Supreme Verdict
[4:29:05 PM] Jason Waddell: and every time he had it in his opener I thought he was going to dominate
[4:29:10 PM] Jason Waddell: but it didn't really happen
[4:29:15 PM] Jason Waddell: maybe I am just anecdoting
[4:29:29 PM] Eric Chan: no, i don't think you're wrong
 
Eric Chan

Eric Chan

Hyalopterous Lemure
Staff member
Going through my box of Alara commons, it occurred to me that domain is a perfect theme for Battle Box.



And, of course...

50.jpg
 
Goldenpineapple

Goldenpineapple

Domain, if you control a (basic land type), off-color activations, off-color kickers/ravnica cycle of "keep this creature if you paid off-color" are all great, and Stark had a sprinkling of all of these, I believe.

Eric you forgot the single most bestest domain card! BEHOLD
 
Onderzeeboot

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
Goldenpineapple said:
Domain, if you control a (basic land type), off-color activations, off-color kickers/ravnica cycle of "keep this creature if you paid off-color" are all great, and Stark had a sprinkling of all of these, I believe.

Eric you forgot the single most bestest domain card! BEHOLD
Click to expand...

No no no, the bestest most superest domain card is definititely THIS! That is just mean though in battlebox :)
 
Changling Bob

Changling Bob

I like that last one.

E: in leaving this tab open a while reading something else, my doubling down on the evasive action comes across less well.
 
Goldenpineapple

Goldenpineapple

I'd swear I've made this post before but right now I DON'T CARE


ALSO



I'll probably slap together a battle box over the weekend, I've got a LOT of 'cool just not quite there' cards sitting in a box together already.
 
MCMcEmcee

MCMcEmcee

Jason Waddell said:
Also how about Extort creatures? This seems like the perfect place for that mechanic.
Click to expand...
Syndic of Tithes has been really strong in my stack. Same for all the guildmages. While you never flood or miss land drops, you still draw some amount of conditional and/or uncastable cards so all the 2-3 drop mana sinks are great.

Re: domain, I like how it influences land drops, though it has a tendency to bait people into poor land sequencing early and past turn 10 they are just efficient instead of interesting.

The ravnica off-color guys are sweet.
 
anotak

anotak

Jason Waddell said:
Anybody have a Cockatrice-importable list I can use?
Click to expand...

here paste this into it
1 Loam Lion
1 Inquisitor Exarch
1 Kor Skyfisher
1 Loyal Cathar
1 Starlight Invoker
1 Suture Priest
1 Wall of Omens
1 Aven Riftwatcher
1 Dawnglare Invoker
1 Fiend Hunter
1 Aven Cloudchaser
1 Elgaud Inquisitor
1 Loxodon Gatekeeper
1 Angel of Mercy
1 Voice of the Provinces
1 Sanctum Gargoyle
1 Condemn
1 Hallow
1 Clear
1 Shelter
1 Pitfall Trap
1 Sunfire Balm
1 Eyes in the Skies
1 Arrow Volley Trap
1 Oust
1 Final Judgment
1 Journey to Nowhere
1 Griffin Guide
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Faith's Fetters
1 Augur of Bolas
1 Oculus
1 Plaxmanta
1 Sejiri Merfolk
1 Spiketail Hatchling
1 Arctic Aven
1 Court Hussar
1 Deceiver Exarch
1 Mistblade Shinobi
1 Pestermite
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Stormbound Geist
1 Aven Fisher
1 Mist Raven
1 Ninja of the Deep Hours
1 Steamcore Weird
1 Tower Geist
1 Gryff Vanguard
1 Horizon Scholar
1 Courier's Capsule
1 Annul
1 Dispel
1 Saving Grasp
1 Spell Pierce
1 Vapor Snag
1 Whispers of the Muse
1 Delay
1 Essence Scatter
1 Impulse
1 Mana Leak
1 Negate
1 Peel from Reality
1 Remand
1 Telling Time
1 Think Twice
1 Withdraw
1 Cackling Counterpart
1 Capsize
1 Complicate
1 Dissipate
1 Forbidden Alchemy
1 Psionic Blast
1 Repulse
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Bone to Ash
1 Griptide
1 Summoner's Bane
1 Misdirection
1 Submerge
1 Disrupting Shoal
1 Divination
1 Into the Void
1 Bloodghast
1 Gatekeeper of Malakir
1 Ravenous Rats
1 Withered Wretch
1 Bloodrite Invoker
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Phyrexian Rager
1 Smokespew Invoker
1 Undead Gladiator
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Xathrid Necromancer
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Disciple of Phenax
1 Mortis Dogs
1 Farbog Boneflinger
1 Pith Driller
1 Executioner's Capsule
1 Cremate
1 Disfigure
1 Tragic Slip
1 Devour Flesh
1 Doom Blade
1 Go for the Throat
1 Dismember
1 Drag Down
1 Tribute to Hunger
1 Death Pulse
1 Duress
1 Thoughtseize
1 Sign in Blood
1 Morbid Plunder
1 Read the Bones
1 Recover
1 Barter in Blood
1 Damnation
1 Gruesome Discovery
1 Sever the Bloodline
1 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Kird Ape
1 Ember Hauler
1 Plated Geopede
1 Erdwal Ripper
1 Flamewave Invoker
1 Lavafume Invoker
1 Gang of Devils
1 Burst Lightning
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Desperate Ravings
1 Char
1 Fires of Undeath
1 Scrap
1 Staggershock
1 Volt Charge
1 Solar Blast
1 Boulderfall
1 Firebolt
1 Arc Trail
1 Rift Bolt
1 Slagstorm
1 Slice and Dice
1 Wild Nacatl
1 Wolfbitten Captive
1 Elvish Visionary
1 Flinthoof Boar
1 Kavu Titan
1 Overgrown Battlement
1 River Boa
1 Scryb Ranger
1 Stonewood Invoker
1 Wall of Roots
1 Wild Mongrel
1 Carven Caryatid
1 Citanul Woodreaders
1 Gloomwidow
1 Leatherback Baloth
1 Pyknite
1 Rot Wolf
1 Simian Grunts
1 Slaughterhorn
1 Spike Feeder
1 Ulvenwald Bear
1 Blightwidow
1 Briarpack Alpha
1 Nylea's Disciple
1 Tree of Redemption
1 Wildheart Invoker
1 Seshiro the Anointed
1 Naturalize
1 Primal Boost
1 Wild Hunger
1 Baloth Cage Trap
1 Recollect
1 Time to Feed
1 Break Asunder
1 Leafcrown Dryad
1 Ith, High Arcanist
1 Absorb
1 Dimir Doppelganger
1 Architects of Will
1 Soul Manipulation
1 Undermine
1 Brainbite
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Terminate
1 Blightning
1 Boggart Ram-Gang
1 Ghor-Clan Rampager
1 Deadshot Minotaur
1 Savage Twister
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Watchwolf
1 Centaur Healer
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Call of the Conclave
1 Blind Hunter
1 Zealous Persecution
1 Mortify
1 Castigate
1 Purge the Profane
1 Pillory of the Sleepless
1 Putrid Leech
1 Noxious Hatchling
1 Putrefy
1 Coiling Oracle
1 Shambleshark
1 Mystic Snake
1 Shrewd Hatchling
1 Izzet Chronarch
1 Fire // Ice
1 Izzet Charm
1 Belligerent Hatchling
1 Boros Charm
1 Lightning Helix
1 Jund Sojourners
1 Sprouting Thrinax
1 Jund Charm
1 Naya Sojourners
1 Naya Charm
1 Rhox War Monk
1 Bant Sojourners
1 Bant Charm
1 Kederekt Creeper
1 Grixis Sojourners
1 Perilous Myr
1 Plague Myr
1 Spellskite
1 Peace Strider
1 Pierce Strider
1 Origin Spellbomb
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
1 Contagion Clasp
1 Glint Hawk Idol
1 Mortarpod
1 Sickleslicer
1 Tumble Magnet
1 Serrated Arrows
1 Skinwing
 
Eric Chan

Eric Chan

Hyalopterous Lemure
Staff member
Yep, this was my thought too. Mana sinks seem way better in a format where you can guarantee ten land drops, on curve, every game.



A lot of Rise of Eldrazi cards seem well-suited for this format.

 
Dom Harvey

Dom Harvey

Contributor
Early thoughts:

- With guaranteed land drops each turn your hand fills up very quickly, so you need a lot of cheap cards to a. dump your hand more quickly, b. have more decisions to make on any given turn, and c. ensure your basics/Guildgate sequencing actually matters (e.g. if you have Lightning Bolt the choice of whether to play so that you have R up is important, but an expensive card like Broodmate Dragon with a 'restrictive' casting cost can be played for sure on curve no matter what)
- The CD 2-drops (Putrid Leech, Battlewise Hoplite, and the like) are the sweet spot as far as land ordering goes
- Hybrid is really nice for that too; the CCC/DDD 3-drops like Boggart Ram-Gang hit every right note
- Are Kird Ape/Loam Lion/Wild Nacatl too good?
- Werewolves are perfect for this and Jason is smart for pointing that out
- Mana sinks! Level Up, bestow, flashback, everything
 
Eric Chan

Eric Chan

Hyalopterous Lemure
Staff member
I was going to dig up some old, rancid sleeves that had previously housed my cube, and reuse them.

But on second thought, maybe Battle Box deserves better.
 
anotak

anotak

playing against jason atm using ben stark's list, recording vid
zealous persecution and undead gladiator both seem way too good

zealous is a super feel-bad there's no good way to play around it, and it can be such a huge blowout.

i wonder if there's any merit to putting some low-power utility lands into the battlebox deck
 
Jason Waddell

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
I don't know if the land sequences were as fun as I wanted
[12:31:57 AM] anotak: yeah i dont know what would make it interesting
[12:32:19 AM] Jason Waddell: I kind of got slowly clawed away / blown out by zealous persecution
[12:32:45 AM] Jason Waddell: I like the "tense swings" of some of my cube games better
[12:33:20 AM] Jason Waddell: and people flooding / missing lands adds some surprisingly enjoyable tension
[12:33:29 AM] Jason Waddell: you have hope
[12:33:43 AM] Jason Waddell: here I never really felt all that in it
[12:33:45 AM] anotak: yeah the first time i played hearthstone
[12:33:48 AM] anotak: i was pretty unhappy
[12:33:55 AM] anotak: because of specifically that
[12:33:57 AM] Jason Waddell: like I was behind the whole time but it took a while to die
[12:34:00 AM] anotak: yeah
[12:34:01 AM] anotak: exactly
[12:34:05 AM] anotak: thats how hearthstone is
[12:34:21 AM] Jason Waddell: I like being "on the edge" more
[12:34:24 AM] anotak: its like i played duress into putrid leech
[12:34:28 AM] Jason Waddell: and setting up bigger plays
[12:34:31 AM] anotak: and i was so far ahead from that point on
[12:34:33 AM] Jason Waddell: this was so incremental
[12:34:34 AM] anotak: just because of my opening hand
 
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