Hello! I'm Kyle O'Neill (@imkyleoneill on Twitter), and I'm here to introduce you to the exciting refresh of the Core Set Cube.
As the senior retail development specialist for the Wizards Play Network, I put a premium on unique experiences that a wide audience of players can enjoy. It is a big part of the reason why I have such a deep respect for the role that core sets play. They're approachable, resonant, and encapsulate everything fun about Magic in a package easy for new players to digest.
Core sets are like coming home, or like checking in on friends you haven't seen in a while.
The original Core Set Cube debuted on Magic Online just two years ago, and since then, we've had two new sets of cards with which to upgrade it. I have also added in some old core set powerhouses that were absent from the last version so you can try new strategies. Overall, about a third of the cube is different, so you are in for a fresh experience.
You can draft the new Core Set Cube from November 24 to December 2.
THE CORE PHILOSOPHY
If this is your first time, here's the overview. The design rules for this cube are:
- It includes only cards from core sets ranging from Seventh Edition to Core Set 2021 (including Magic Origins).
- It's 540 cards, Singleton.
- It goes big on nostalgia and the most recognizable Magic archetypes.
This cube is a longtime favorite of our cubing group in the Wizards building. The core set restriction allows a great number of perfectly powerful cards to shine in a new environment, as you probably wouldn't see them as often in traditionally powered cubes.
We've learned a lot since the last time it's been on Magic Online. There are more flexible removal options and ways to deal with bombs, more of an ability to splash colors, and you can still draft Goblins or Elves.
THIS CUBE HAS EVERYTHING
Just because it's a core set cube doesn't mean it doesn't pack the same punch as "those other cubes." I mean, what do they have that we don't?
We have a Lotus and several gem-inspired rocks!
We have powerful "Sword of"s!
We have 'Goyfs, extra turns, and powerful discard effects!
We have dual lands, creature lands, and fetch lands!
We even have Splinter Twin combo!
KEEPING CORE
Control, Aggro, Mid-Range, Combo, Ramp, Spells, Tokens, Value, Reanimator, Life Gain, Mill, Lands, Goblins vs. Elves, Draw-Go, Burn . . . they're all here!
The Core Set Cube features the traditional Draft archetypes you know and love, except supercharged with a nostalgic core set flavoring. Below is where you can find these strategies the most, but these are not the only options available. Experiment with the card pool to discover exciting things to try!
White-Blue Control
Blue-Black Reanimator
Black-Red Sacrifice
Red-Green Ramp
Green-White Enchantments
White-Black Life Gain
Black-Green Midrange
Green-Blue Value
Blue-Red Spells
Red-White Go Wide
FIFTEEN THINGS TO TRY
Looking for a challenge? Check out these strategies to add some spice to your Core Set Cube experience.
- Try sacrificing Mitotic Slime to a Bloodthrone Vampire. Then Fling it.
- Rebuy Jester's Cap over and over with Buried Ruin and Crucible of Worlds.
- Cast Scapeshift into Field of the Dead with Zendikar's Roil in play.
- Make an impossibly huge creature with Kalonian Hydra and Invigorating Surge.
- Build a deck with Polymorph and no creature spells other than Darksteel Colossus.
- Cast a turn-two Thundermaw Hellkite off a Seething Song and a Llanowar Elves.
- Reanimate an Omniscience or Form of the Dragon with Starfield of Nyx, then attack with it!
- Go infinite with Natural Affinity, Intruder Alarm, and Ant Queen.
- Get swampy with Dread Presence and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.
- Take the Door to Nothingness challenge!
- Kick Hornet Nest with a giant Earthquake.
- Pillage and Plow Under your opponent's lands and beat in with Magnivore.
- Pick up your lands with Trade Routes and throw them with Molten Vortex.
- Copy Warp World with Pyromancer's Goggles.
- Double a creature's power with Unleash Fury, then do it again with Overwhelming Stampede!
What is your favorite core set card? Share your decks and cool moments on Twitter with #CoreSetCube, and I will see you in the queues!
Kyle O'Neill
@imkyleoneill on Twitter
FULL CUBE LIST
Card Name |
Color |
---|
Ajani Steadfast |
White |
Ajani's Chosen |
White |
Ajani's Pridemate |
White |
Ancestral Blade |
White |
Angelic Ascension |
White |
Angelic Destiny |
White |
Archangel of Thune |
White |
Attended Knight |
White |
Aura of Silence |
White |
Auramancer |
White |
Baneslayer Angel |
White |
Banisher Priest |
White |
Basri Ket |
White |
Basri's Lieutenant |
White |
Basri's Solidarity |
White |
Beacon of Immortality |
White |
Breath of Life |
White |
Captain of the Watch |
White |
Cavalier of Dawn |
White |
Chastise |
White |
Condemn |
White |
Consul's Lieutenant |
White |
Containment Priest |
White |
Day of Judgment |
White |
Devouring Light |
White |
Elite Vanguard |
White |
Faith's Fetters |
White |
Fiendslayer Paladin |
White |
Fortify |
White |
Gideon Jura |
White |
Gideon's Lawkeeper |
White |
Glorious Anthem |
White |
Gods Willing |
White |
Grand Abolisher |
White |
Hail of Arrows |
White |
Hanged Executioner |
White |
Harm's Way |
White |
Heliod's Pilgrim |
White |
Hixus, Prison Warden |
White |
Hushwing Gryff |
White |
Imposing Sovereign |
White |
Invoke the Divine |
White |
Knight of Glory |
White |
Kytheon, Hero of Akros |
White |
Leonin Vanguard |
White |
Leonin Warleader |
White |
Mangara, the Diplomat |
White |
Mentor of the Meek |
White |
Oblivion Ring |
White |
Open the Vaults |
White |
Oppressive Rays |
White |
Pacifism |
White |
Pariah |
White |
Peace of Mind |
White |
Pillar of Light |
White |
Raise the Alarm |
White |
Relic Seeker |
White |
Remorseful Cleric |
White |
Reprisal |
White |
Resplendent Angel |
White |
Return to the Ranks |
White |
Rhox Faithmender |
White |
Runed Halo |
White |
Safe Passage |
White |
Savannah Lions |
White |
Seasoned Hallowblade |
White |
Selfless Savior |
White |
Sephara, Sky's Blade |
White |
Serra Ascendant |
White |
Sigil of the Empty Throne |
White |
Soul Warden |
White |
Spectra Ward |
White |
Spirit Bonds |
White |
Spirit Link |
White |
Spirit Mantle |
White |
Starfield of Nyx |
White |
Sublime Archangel |
White |
Sun Titan |
White |
Swift Response |
White |
Timely Reinforcements |
White |
Topan Freeblade |
White |
Tragic Arrogance |
White |
Triplicate Spirits |
White |
Vryn Wingmare |
White |
War Priest of Thune |
White |
Windborn Muse |
White |
Wrath of God |
White |
Spectral Sailor |
Blue |
Brineborn Cutthroat |
Blue |
Harbinger of the Tides |
Blue |
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy |
Blue |
Merfolk Looter |
Blue |
Phantasmal Image |
Blue |
Thought Courier |
Blue |
Void Stalker |
Blue |
Æther Adept |
Blue |
Ambassador Laquatus |
Blue |
Barrin, Tolarian Archmage |
Blue |
Chasm Skulker |
Blue |
Cloudkin Seer |
Blue |
Jhessian Thief |
Blue |
Mirror Image |
Blue |
Mizzium Meddler |
Blue |
Archaeomancer |
Blue |
Clone |
Blue |
Dungeon Geists |
Blue |
Talrand, Sky Summoner |
Blue |
Whirler Rogue |
Blue |
Cavalier of Gales |
Blue |
Disciple of the Ring |
Blue |
Shipwreck Dowser |
Blue |
Soulblade Djinn |
Blue |
Stormwing Entity |
Blue |
Frost Titan |
Blue |
Jace's Mindseeker |
Blue |
Agent of Treachery |
Blue |
Sphinx of Uthuun |
Blue |
Waker of Waves |
Blue |
Stormtide Leviathan |
Blue |
Jace Beleren |
Blue |
Mu Yanling, Sky Dancer |
Blue |
Teferi, Master of Time |
Blue |
Tezzeret, Artifice Master |
Blue |
Force Spike |
Blue |
Opt |
Blue |
Peek |
Blue |
Quicken |
Blue |
Boomerang |
Blue |
Counterspell |
Blue |
Disperse |
Blue |
Essence Scatter |
Blue |
Mana Leak |
Blue |
Memory Lapse |
Blue |
Negate |
Blue |
Peel from Reality |
Blue |
Remove Soul |
Blue |
Telling Time |
Blue |
Twincast |
Blue |
Artificer's Epiphany |
Blue |
Cancel |
Blue |
Dissipate |
Blue |
Rain of Revelation |
Blue |
Rewind |
Blue |
Ætherspouts |
Blue |
Evacuation |
Blue |
Jace's Ingenuity |
Blue |
Opportunity |
Blue |
Sublime Epiphany |
Blue |
Time Stop |
Blue |
Nexus of Fate |
Blue |
Ponder |
Blue |
Preordain |
Blue |
Sleight of Hand |
Blue |
Displacement Wave |
Blue |
Mind Spring |
Blue |
Polymorph |
Blue |
Sift |
Blue |
Talent of the Telepath |
Blue |
Talrand's Invocation |
Blue |
Bribery |
Blue |
Time Warp |
Blue |
Flood of Tears |
Blue |
Trade Routes |
Blue |
Claustrophobia |
Blue |
Equilibrium |
Blue |
Intruder Alarm |
Blue |
Sphinx's Tutelage |
Blue |
Teferi's Tutelage |
Blue |
Capture Sphere |
Blue |
Thopter Spy Network |
Blue |
Patient Rebuilding |
Blue |
Persuasion |
Blue |
Confiscate |
Blue |
Omniscience |
Blue |
Archfiend's Vessel |
Black |
Knight of the Ebon Legion |
Black |
Stitcher's Supplier |
Black |
Vampire of the Dire Moon |
Black |
Viscera Seer |
Black |
Will-o'-the-Wisp |
Black |
Black Cat |
Black |
Bloodthrone Vampire |
Black |
Doomed Dissenter |
Black |
Graveyard Marshal |
Black |
Kitesail Freebooter |
Black |
Knight of Infamy |
Black |
Ravenous Rats |
Black |
Reassembling Skeleton |
Black |
Crypt Rats |
Black |
Doomed Necromancer |
Black |
Embodiment of Agonies |
Black |
Fleshbag Marauder |
Black |
Hypnotic Specter |
Black |
Liliana, Heretical Healer |
Black |
Nantuko Husk |
Black |
Phyrexian Rager |
Black |
Rotting Regisaur |
Black |
Vampire Aristocrat |
Black |
Vampire Nighthawk |
Black |
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose |
Black |
Xathrid Necromancer |
Black |
Carrion Grub |
Black |
Demon of Catastrophes |
Black |
Disciple of Bolas |
Black |
Dread Presence |
Black |
Fell Specter |
Black |
Hell's Caretaker |
Black |
Mindslicer |
Black |
Mortivore |
Black |
Nekrataal |
Black |
Cavalier of Night |
Black |
Fallen Angel |
Black |
Priest of the Blood Rite |
Black |
Shadowborn Demon |
Black |
Vampire Sovereign |
Black |
Grave Titan |
Black |
Massacre Wurm |
Black |
Soul of Innistrad |
Black |
Lord of the Pit |
Black |
Rune-Scarred Demon |
Black |
Demon of Death's Gate |
Black |
Liliana of the Dark Realms |
Black |
Liliana, Waker of the Dead |
Black |
Sorin Markov |
Black |
Disfigure |
Black |
Ulcerate |
Black |
Abnormal Endurance |
Black |
Doom Blade |
Black |
Eliminate |
Black |
Grasp of Darkness |
Black |
Terror |
Black |
Murder |
Black |
Tendrils of Corruption |
Black |
Finishing Blow |
Black |
Blackmail |
Black |
Duress |
Black |
Ostracize |
Black |
Consume Spirit |
Black |
Distress |
Black |
Macabre Waltz |
Black |
Mind Shatter |
Black |
Sign in Blood |
Black |
Smallpox |
Black |
Read the Bones |
Black |
Blood for Bones |
Black |
Languish |
Black |
Mutilate |
Black |
Zombify |
Black |
Beacon of Unrest |
Black |
Necromantic Summons |
Black |
Sever Soul |
Black |
Corrupt |
Black |
Sorin's Vengeance |
Black |
Zombie Infestation |
Black |
Demonic Embrace |
Black |
Engineered Plague |
Black |
Phyrexian Arena |
Black |
Stab Wound |
Black |
Demonic Pact |
Black |
Liliana's Contract |
Black |
Sanguine Bond |
Black |
Frenzied Goblin |
Red |
Goblin Arsonist |
Red |
Goblin Glory Chaser |
Red |
Grim Lavamancer |
Red |
Mogg Fanatic |
Red |
Abbot of Keral Keep |
Red |
Dark-Dweller Oracle |
Red |
Dismissive Pyromancer |
Red |
Ember Hauler |
Red |
Generator Servant |
Red |
Goblin Instigator |
Red |
Goblin Piledriver |
Red |
Heartfire Immolator |
Red |
Stormblood Berserker |
Red |
Viashino Pyromancer |
Red |
Young Pyromancer |
Red |
Ball Lightning |
Red |
Bolt Hound |
Red |
Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh |
Red |
Chandra's Phoenix |
Red |
Ghirapur Gearcrafter |
Red |
Goblin Chieftain |
Red |
Goblin King |
Red |
Goblin Rabblemaster |
Red |
Guttersnipe |
Red |
Scab-Clan Berserker |
Red |
Thopter Engineer |
Red |
Viashino Sandstalker |
Red |
Krenko, Mob Boss |
Red |
Magnivore |
Red |
Ogre Battledriver |
Red |
Pia and Kiran Nalaar |
Red |
Scampering Scorcher |
Red |
Cavalier of Flame |
Red |
Siege-Gang Commander |
Red |
Terror of the Peaks |
Red |
Thundermaw Hellkite |
Red |
Inferno Titan |
Red |
Shivan Dragon |
Red |
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames |
Red |
Bogardan Hellkite |
Red |
Chandra, Acolyte of Flame |
Red |
Sarkhan, Fireblood |
Red |
Chandra, the Firebrand |
Red |
Lightning Bolt |
Red |
Shock |
Red |
Fling |
Red |
Guerrilla Tactics |
Red |
Incinerate |
Red |
Lightning Strike |
Red |
Reverberate |
Red |
Searing Spear |
Red |
Thrill of Possibility |
Red |
Unleash Fury |
Red |
Burn Bright |
Red |
Seething Song |
Red |
Goblin Wizardry |
Red |
Stoke the Flames |
Red |
Beacon of Destruction |
Red |
Banefire |
Red |
Crash Through |
Red |
Earthquake |
Red |
Fireball |
Red |
Magmatic Insight |
Red |
Thud |
Red |
Dragon Fodder |
Red |
Krenko's Command |
Red |
Pyroclasm |
Red |
Tormenting Voice |
Red |
Volcanic Hammer |
Red |
Exquisite Firecraft |
Red |
Flames of the Firebrand |
Red |
Hammer of Bogardan |
Red |
Mark of Mutiny |
Red |
Molten Birth |
Red |
Pillage |
Red |
Threaten |
Red |
Transmogrify |
Red |
Chandra's Ignition |
Red |
Cone of Flame |
Red |
Wildfire |
Red |
Destructive Force |
Red |
Warp World |
Red |
Mask of Immolation |
Red |
Hammerhand |
Red |
Molten Vortex |
Red |
Form of the Dragon |
Red |
Arbor Elf |
Green |
Birds of Paradise |
Green |
Caustic Caterpillar |
Green |
Elvish Reclaimer |
Green |
Llanowar Elves |
Green |
Elvish Visionary |
Green |
Fauna Shaman |
Green |
Joiner Adept |
Green |
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse |
Green |
Leaf Gilder |
Green |
Satyr Wayfinder |
Green |
Scavenging Ooze |
Green |
Skinshifter |
Green |
Sylvan Ranger |
Green |
Thorn Lieutenant |
Green |
Utopia Tree |
Green |
Azusa, Lost but Seeking |
Green |
Elvish Archdruid |
Green |
Elvish Champion |
Green |
Elvish Rejuvenator |
Green |
Hornet Nest |
Green |
Llanowar Visionary |
Green |
Managorger Hydra |
Green |
Nissa, Vastwood Seer |
Green |
Reclamation Sage |
Green |
Thrashing Brontodon |
Green |
Troll Ascetic |
Green |
Wood Elves |
Green |
Elvish Piper |
Green |
Master of the Wild Hunt |
Green |
Nightpack Ambusher |
Green |
Obstinate Baloth |
Green |
Roaring Primadox |
Green |
Yeva, Nature's Herald |
Green |
Acidic Slime |
Green |
Ant Queen |
Green |
Cavalier of Thorns |
Green |
Kalonian Hydra |
Green |
Mitotic Slime |
Green |
Seedborn Muse |
Green |
Silklash Spider |
Green |
Thragtusk |
Green |
Primeval Titan |
Green |
Soul of Zendikar |
Green |
Hornet Queen |
Green |
Pelakka Wurm |
Green |
Genesis Hydra |
Green |
Primordial Hydra |
Green |
Voracious Hydra |
Green |
Garruk Wildspeaker |
Green |
Nissa, Worldwaker |
Green |
Vivien Reid |
Green |
Giant Growth |
Green |
Ranger's Guile |
Green |
Heroic Intervention |
Green |
Return to Nature |
Green |
Fungal Rebirth |
Green |
Invigorating Surge |
Green |
Natural Affinity |
Green |
Might of Oaks |
Green |
Chord of Calling |
Green |
Primal Might |
Green |
Farseek |
Green |
Gather the Pack |
Green |
Rampant Growth |
Green |
Cultivate |
Green |
Nissa's Pilgrimage |
Green |
Bramblecrush |
Green |
Fungal Sprouting |
Green |
Ranger's Path |
Green |
Scapeshift |
Green |
Overwhelming Stampede |
Green |
Plow Under |
Green |
Hurricane |
Green |
Rancor |
Green |
Wild Growth |
Green |
Evolutionary Leap |
Green |
Fertile Ground |
Green |
Arachnus Web |
Green |
Blanchwood Armor |
Green |
Gift of Paradise |
Green |
Overgrowth |
Green |
Rites of Flourishing |
Green |
Verdant Haven |
Green |
Zendikar's Roil |
Green |
Primeval Bounty |
Green |
Prodigious Growth |
Green |
Dauntless River Marshal |
Multicolor |
Tomebound Lich |
Multicolor |
Flinthoof Boar |
Multicolor |
Radha, Heart of Keld |
Multicolor |
Satyr Enchanter |
Multicolor |
Corpse Knight |
Multicolor |
Poison-Tip Archer |
Multicolor |
Garruk, Apex Predator |
Multicolor |
Risen Reef |
Multicolor |
Enigma Drake |
Multicolor |
Experimental Overload |
Multicolor |
Skyknight Vanguard |
Multicolor |
Heroic Reinforcements |
Multicolor |
Chromium, the Mutable |
Multicolor |
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager |
Multicolor |
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker |
Multicolor |
Vaevictis Asmadi, the Dire |
Multicolor |
Kykar, Wind's Fury |
Multicolor |
Yarok, the Desecrated |
Multicolor |
Hangarback Walker |
Colorless |
Phyrexian Revoker |
Colorless |
Adaptive Automaton |
Colorless |
Palladium Myr |
Colorless |
Skyscanner |
Colorless |
Solemn Simulacrum |
Colorless |
Scuttling Doom Engine |
Colorless |
Triskelion |
Colorless |
Pentavus |
Colorless |
Platinum Angel |
Colorless |
Darksteel Colossus |
Colorless |
Brittle Effigy |
Colorless |
Elixir of Immortality |
Colorless |
Pithing Needle |
Colorless |
Charcoal Diamond |
Colorless |
Fellwar Stone |
Colorless |
Fire Diamond |
Colorless |
Howling Mine |
Colorless |
Marble Diamond |
Colorless |
Mazemind Tome |
Colorless |
Mind Stone |
Colorless |
Moss Diamond |
Colorless |
Ratchet Bomb |
Colorless |
Sky Diamond |
Colorless |
Star Compass |
Colorless |
Sword of the Animist |
Colorless |
Crucible of Worlds |
Colorless |
Darksteel Ingot |
Colorless |
Dragon's Hoard |
Colorless |
Druidic Satchel |
Colorless |
Loxodon Warhammer |
Colorless |
Sigiled Sword of Valeron |
Colorless |
Sword of Vengeance |
Colorless |
Haunted Plate Mail |
Colorless |
Icy Manipulator |
Colorless |
Jester's Cap |
Colorless |
Perilous Vault |
Colorless |
Quicksilver Amulet |
Colorless |
Trading Post |
Colorless |
Coat of Arms |
Colorless |
Gilded Lotus |
Colorless |
Meteorite |
Colorless |
Pyromancer's Goggles |
Colorless |
Door to Nothingness |
Colorless |
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim |
Colorless |
Adarkar Wastes |
Land |
Glacial Fortress |
Land |
Dismal Backwater |
Land |
Drowned Catacomb |
Land |
Underground River |
Land |
Dragonskull Summit |
Land |
Sulfurous Springs |
Land |
Karplusan Forest |
Land |
Rootbound Crag |
Land |
Blossoming Sands |
Land |
Brushland |
Land |
Sunpetal Grove |
Land |
Caves of Koilos |
Land |
Scoured Barrens |
Land |
Temple of Silence |
Land |
Jungle Hollow |
Land |
Llanowar Wastes |
Land |
Temple of Malady |
Land |
Temple of Mystery |
Land |
Yavimaya Coast |
Land |
Shivan Reef |
Land |
Temple of Epiphany |
Land |
Battlefield Forge |
Land |
Temple of Triumph |
Land |
Wind-Scarred Crag |
Land |
Buried Ruin |
Land |
Cathedral of War |
Land |
City of Brass |
Land |
Evolving Wilds |
Land |
Fabled Passage |
Land |
Faerie Conclave |
Land |
Field of the Dead |
Land |
Foundry of the Consuls |
Land |
Gargoyle Castle |
Land |
Mutavault |
Land |
Mystifying Maze |
Land |
Quicksand |
Land |
Rupture Spire |
Land |
Terramorphic Expanse |
Land |
Treetop Village |
Land |
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth |
Land |