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The Magic Online Vintage Cube Update

Posted on May 24, 2024

By Chris Wolf & Ryan Spain

 

Hello, Vintage Cube fanatics!

The Magic Online Vintage Cube—currently running on MTGO with the list announced earlier this month—will conclude a two-week run (plus bonus time) this Monday, May 27th. You won’t miss it for long, though, as it’s coming right back a couple days later with some small updates for another two-week run starting Wednesday, May 29th!

Per this article, the previous update was a “return to center” for the Magic Online Vintage Cube—an effort that produced a large changelist. This update is the opposite, representing a new kind of update we will likely be deploying more often in the future: a small “polish pass” on a major update that comes shortly if not immediately after the initial run. This allows us to refine the archetypes in the major update while supporting a longer overall run by injecting some freshness and variety in into the experience halfway through. The size of these updates will depend on how much polishing we feel the experience needs, and in this case, we are happy with the results. We still have a few underperformers and failed experiments to address, but mostly archetypes are playing out how we hoped and don’t feel the need to change much. Storm remains the fun gamble it has always been, but our efforts to improve its odds with additional support cards took up slots without helping, so many of the changes represent pulling back on that support. The card-card-by-card design comments below speak for themselves, so check out the changes and the reasons below, and let us know how they work out for you in the queues starting next week!


CHANGE LIST

Color In Design Comment Color Out Design Comment
Blue Simulacrum Synthesizer Without the affinity support cards around it, Simulacrum Synthesizer might not see the success in Vintage Cube that it has seen in Constructed, but with some freed-up space, we want to give it a shot. Blue Portent The increased number of cantrips definitely didn't hurt, but they haven't provided the impact we had hoped. So we're dropping the least user-friendly one to make room for the Synthesizer.
Blue Smirking Spelljacker This narrowly missed the cut last time, so we're giving it a tryout with some extra space this time. Five is an investment in Vintage Cube, but "free" is a fine payoff! Blue Phantom Interference 2-mana counterspells are always solid in Cube, but this one definitely feels replaceable, so we're adding some other, sightly bigger control cards instead.
Blue Stoic Sphinx A powerful control finisher that threatens to one-shot most Planeswalkers and end games quickly while creating interesting decisions points for both players. Blue Snap With both Bubbling Muck and Lotus Field not doing so well and leaving the Cube again, we decided that Snap could go as well, making space for some fun new cards with Vintage Cube potential.
Black Dark Petition Dark Petition is coming in to replace Bubbling Muck for a more versatile card that still supports the Storm archetype. Black Bubbling Muck This was an experiment to give the Storm archetype another mana-doubling option, but it didn't quite work out, so we'll give Black another tutor instead.
Red Simian Spirit Guide Fast mana is an integral feature of Vintage Cube, so we're adding the Spirit Guides over some replacement-level cards. Red Pyrite Spellbomb Pyrite Spellbomb can be an all-star with Lurrus, but was underwhelming otherwise, so it can take a seat.
Green Elvish Spirit Guide Fast mana is an integral feature of Vintage Cube, so we're adding the Spirit Guides over some replacement-level cards. Green Courser of Kruphix The Courser supports Fastbond and Exploration, but not well enough to make this a Vintage Cube requirement. We are going with a different kind of fast mana in this slot.
Green Force of Vigor With heavier artifact support, we're bringing back the Force to double up on artifact (and enchantment) destruction. Green Nature's Claim Swapping for a 2-for1 Naturalize effect.
Green Garruk Relentless Garruk Relentless hasn't been in for a while, and he looks particularly well-positioned given that creatures with two power are some of the stars of Vintage Cube. His ability to take one out and live to transform should help him pull his weight in this environment. Green Invigorate Invigorate is a fine performer for green when it sees a main deck, but that hasn't been often. We'll see if there is more love for Garruk Relentless.
Azorius No More Lies Assimilation Aegis has proved narrow and underwhelming, so we're bringing back No More Lies, which will go in any Azorius deck. Azorius Assimilation Aegis An interesting try, but Azorius can use the any-deck flexibility of No More Lies.
Boros Winota, Joiner of Forces Winota has made strong appearances in Constructed, and there are enough interesting Humans around to be worth giving her a shot in Vintage Cube. Boros Showdown of the Skalds Showdown is a solid performer for Boros, but isn't so essential that we can't give some other options a shot!
Golgari Glissa Sunslayer The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride has been a fun addition to the Vintage Cube, and we thought this Golgari slot was better spent on another beater over generic removal. Golgari Abrupt Decay Cutting generic removal to lean into the Golgari beats that The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride is throwing down.
Gruul Halana and Alena, Partners Orcish Lumberjack Gruul Beats has been a strong archetype in Vintage Cube for a while now, and with more +1/+1 counter synergies around, we felt that it would be a good time to give the Partners another spin. Gruul Escape to the Wilds Escape to the Wilds is still a good way to refuel, but it has fewer land synergies with which to shine, so we'll bench it for now.
Simic Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath The new Oko has largely underperformed, so we're bringing Uro back. Simic Oko, the Ringleader Oko has largely underperformed, so we're bringing Uro back.
Multicolor Fabled Passage A slightly worse Prismatic Vista is never going to be your go-to fixing, but when it's your comes-around fixing when you desperately need some, you'll find the Passage more than passable. Multicolor Lotus Field While the Balance screen shots were delightful, Lotus Field was in to support a cluster of storm cards, mana-doublers and untappers that didn't quite work out, so we're letting go of it again.

FULL LIST

Card Name Color
Adanto Vanguard White
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar White
Aven Interrupter White
Balance White
Benevolent Bodyguard White
Blade Splicer White
Cathar Commando White
Collector's Cage White
Containment Priest White
Council's Judgment White
Damn White
Elite Spellbinder White
Elspeth, Knight-Errant White
Enlightened Tutor White
Ephemerate White
Esper Sentinel White
Flickerwisp White
Giver of Runes White
Glimmer Lens White
Guardian Scalelord White
Hero of Bladehold White
Intrepid Adversary White
Karakas White
Leonin Relic-Warder White
Leyline Binding White
Lion Sash White
Loran of the Third Path White
Luminarch Aspirant White
Mana Tithe White
Monastery Mentor White
Mother of Runes White
Mox Pearl White
Oust White
Palace Jailer White
Parallax Wave White
Path to Exile White
Portable Hole White
Prismatic Ending White
Reprieve White
Samwise the Stouthearted White
Sanguine Evangelist White
Selfless Spirit White
Serra Paragon White
Sevinne's Reclamation White
Skyclave Apparition White
Solitude White
Staff of the Storyteller White
Steel Seraph White
Stoneforge Mystic White
Student of Warfare White
Sunfall White
Swords to Plowshares White
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben White
The Wandering Emperor White
Thraben Inspector White
Timeless Dragon White
Touch the Spirit Realm White
Unexpectedly Absent White
Usher of the Fallen White
Virtue of Loyalty White
Winds of Abandon White
Wrath of God White
Aether Spellbomb Blue
Akal Pakal, First Among Equals Blue
Ancestral Recall Blue
Brain Freeze Blue
Brainstorm Blue
Brazen Borrower Blue
Chart a Course Blue
Chrome Host Seedshark Blue
Consider Blue
Counterspell Blue
Cryptic Coat Blue
Cryptic Command Blue
Daze Blue
Dig Through Time Blue
Displacer Kitten Blue
Dream Halls Blue
Duelist of the Mind Blue
Echo of Eons Blue
Faerie Mastermind Blue
Flash Blue
Force of Negation Blue
Force of Will Blue
Forensic Gadgeteer Blue
Frantic Search Blue
Gitaxian Probe Blue
Hard Evidence Blue
High Tide Blue
Hullbreacher Blue
Jace Reawakened Blue
Jace, the Mind Sculptor Blue
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Blue
Kappa Cannoneer Blue
Kitesail Larcenist Blue
Ledger Shredder Blue
Lórien Revealed Blue
Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel Blue
Mana Drain Blue
Mana Leak Blue
Memory Lapse Blue
Mind's Desire Blue
Miscalculation Blue
Mox Sapphire Blue
Mystic Confluence Blue
Mystical Tutor Blue
Narset, Parter of Veils Blue
Otawara, Soaring City Blue
Phantasmal Image Blue
Ponder Blue
Preordain Blue
Proft's Eidetic Memory Blue
Remand Blue
Serum Visions Blue
Shelldock Isle Blue
Show and Tell Blue
Simulacrum Synthesizer Blue
Smirking Spelljacker Blue
Snapcaster Mage Blue
Spell Pierce Blue
Spellseeker Blue
Stern Scolding Blue
Stoic Sphinx Blue
Subtlety Blue
Thieving Skydiver Blue
Thought Scour Blue
Three Steps Ahead Blue
Time Spiral Blue
Time Walk Blue
Time Warp Blue
Timetwister Blue
Tinker Blue
Tishana's Tidebinder Blue
Tolarian Academy Blue
Treachery Blue
Treasure Cruise Blue
Trinket Mage Blue
True-Name Nemesis Blue
Turnabout Blue
Upheaval Blue
Urza, Lord High Artificer Blue
Animate Dead Black
Archon of Cruelty Black
Baleful Mastery Black
Beseech the Mirror Black
Bitter Triumph Black
Bolas's Citadel Black
Bone Shards Black
Cabal Ritual Black
Caustic Bronco Black
Collective Brutality Black
Concealing Curtains Black
Corpse Dance Black
Cut Down Black
Dark Confidant Black
Dark Petition Black
Dark Ritual Black
Dauthi Voidwalker Black
Deep-Cavern Bat Black
Demonic Tutor Black
Duress Black
Entomb Black
Evolved Sleeper Black
Exhume Black
Fatal Push Black
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor Black
Goryo's Vengeance Black
Grave Titan Black
Graveyard Trespasser Black
Grief Black
Griselbrand Black
Harvester of Misery Black
Hostile Investigator Black
Hymn to Tourach Black
Imperial Seal Black
Infernal Grasp Black
Inquisition of Kozilek Black
Kaervek, the Punisher Black
Life/Death Black
Liliana of the Veil Black
Long Goodbye Black
Mind Twist Black
Mox Jet Black
Necromancy Black
Night's Whisper Black
Orcish Bowmasters Black
Phyrexian Fleshgorger Black
Preacher of the Schism Black
Rain of Filth Black
Reanimate Black
Recurring Nightmare Black
Shallow Grave Black
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse Black
Sheoldred's Edict Black
Snuff Out Black
Tenacious Underdog Black
Tendrils of Agony Black
Thoughtseize Black
Tourach, Dread Cantor Black
Toxic Deluge Black
Troll of Khazad-dûm Black
Unearth Black
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth Black
Vampiric Tutor Black
Virtue of Persistence Black
Wishclaw Talisman Black
Yawgmoth's Will Black
"Name Sticker" Goblin Red
Abrade Red
Arc Trail Red
Birgi, God of Storytelling Red
Bonecrusher Giant Red
Bonehoard Dracosaur Red
Broadside Bombardiers Red
Burst Lightning Red
Chain Lightning Red
Chandra, Torch of Defiance Red
Death-Greeter's Champion Red
Delayed Blast Fireball Red
Dragon's Rage Channeler Red
Dreadhorde Arcanist Red
Elemental Eruption Red
Embereth Shieldbreaker Red
Etali, Primal Conqueror Red
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker Red
Faithless Looting Red
Fiery Confluence Red
Fireblast Red
Firebolt Red
Flame Slash Red
Flametongue Kavu Red
Fury Red
Generous Plunderer Red
Goblin Rabblemaster Red
Goldspan Dragon Red
Grim Lavamancer Red
Gut, True Soul Zealot Red
Headliner Scarlett Red
Highway Robbery Red
Inti, Seneschal of the Sun Red
Laelia, the Blade Reforged Red
Lava Dart Red
Legion Extruder Red
Lightning Bolt Red
Magda, Brazen Outlaw Red
Magda, the Hoardmaster Red
Mine Collapse Red
Mizzix's Mastery Red
Monastery Swiftspear Red
Mox Ruby Red
Oliphaunt Red
Pyrokinesis Red
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Red
Rampaging Raptor Red
Rite of Flame Red
Robber of the Rich Red
Runaway Steam-Kin Red
Scrapwork Mutt Red
Seasoned Pyromancer Red
Seething Song Red
Simian Spirit Guide Red
Slickshot Show-Off Red
Sneak Attack Red
Soul-Scar Mage Red
Through the Breach Red
Thundermaw Hellkite Red
Trumpeting Carnosaur Red
Underworld Breach Red
Unholy Heat Red
Voldaren Epicure Red
Wheel of Fortune Red
Arbor Elf Green
Augur of Autumn Green
Avacyn's Pilgrim Green
Birds of Paradise Green
Boseiju, Who Endures Green
Bristly Bill, Spine Sower Green
Channel Green
Craterhoof Behemoth Green
Delighted Halfling Green
Elvish Mystic Green
Elvish Spirit Guide Green
Endurance Green
Esika's Chariot Green
Eternal Witness Green
Eureka Green
Exploration Green
Fastbond Green
Force of Vigor Green
Gaea's Cradle Green
Garruk Relentless Green
Garruk Wildspeaker Green
Generous Ent Green
Goldvein Hydra Green
Green Sun's Zenith Green
Gruff Triplets Green
Haywire Mite Green
Hexdrinker Green
Ignoble Hierarch Green
Legolas's Quick Reflexes Green
Llanowar Elves Green
Lotus Cobra Green
Mox Emerald Green
Natural Order Green
Nishoba Brawler Green
Nissa, Ascended Animist Green
Nissa, Who Shakes the World Green
Noble Hierarch Green
Oath of Druids Green
Once Upon a Time Green
Ornery Tumblewagg Green
Outland Liberator Green
Paradise Druid Green
Pest Infestation Green
Pick Your Poison Green
Questing Beast Green
Railway Brawler Green
Ramunap Excavator Green
Ranger Class Green
Regrowth Green
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary Green
Sandstorm Salvager Green
Scavenging Ooze Green
Sentinel of the Nameless City Green
Smuggler's Surprise Green
Sylvan Caryatid Green
Sylvan Library Green
Sylvan Safekeeper Green
Tarmogoyf Green
Tireless Tracker Green
Titania, Protector of Argoth Green
Tough Cookie Green
Ulvenwald Oddity Green
Utopia Sprawl Green
Vaultborn Tyrant Green
Woodfall Primus Green
Worldspine Wurm Green
Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth Green
Celestial Colonnade Azorius
Flooded Strand Azorius
Fractured Identity Azorius
Hallowed Fountain Azorius
Meticulous Archive Azorius
No More Lies Azorius
Seachrome Coast Azorius
Shorikai, Genesis Engine Azorius
Talisman of Progress Azorius
Teferi, Hero of Dominaria Azorius
Teferi, Time Raveler Azorius
Tundra Azorius
Arid Mesa Boros
Elegant Parlor Boros
Figure of Destiny Boros
Forth Eorlingas! Boros
Inspiring Vantage Boros
Otharri, Suns' Glory Boros
Plateau Boros
Sacred Foundry Boros
Sunbaked Canyon Boros
Talisman of Conviction Boros
Winota, Joiner of Forces Boros
Zirda, the Dawnwaker Boros
Baleful Strix Dimir
Creeping Tar Pit Dimir
Darkslick Shores Dimir
Fallen Shinobi Dimir
Kaito Shizuki Dimir
Lazav, Wearer of Faces Dimir
Lim-Dul's Vault Dimir
Polluted Delta Dimir
Talisman of Dominance Dimir
Undercity Sewers Dimir
Underground Sea Dimir
Watery Grave Dimir
Bayou Golgari
Blooming Marsh Golgari
Glissa Sunslayer Golgari
Grist, the Hunger Tide Golgari
Nurturing Peatland Golgari
Overgrown Tomb Golgari
Pillage the Bog Golgari
Tear Asunder Golgari
The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride Golgari
Underground Mortuary Golgari
Verdant Catacombs Golgari
Commercial District Gruul
Copperline Gorge Gruul
Halana and Alena, Partners Gruul
Manamorphose Gruul
Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes Gruul
Orcish Lumberjack Gruul
Raging Ravine Gruul
Stomping Ground Gruul
Taiga Gruul
Territorial Kavu Gruul
Wooded Foothills Gruul
Wrenn and Six Gruul
Dack Fayden Izzet
Expressive Iteration Izzet
Fiery Islet Izzet
Magma Opus Izzet
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer Izzet
Scalding Tarn Izzet
Spirebluff Canal Izzet
Steam Vents Izzet
Talisman of Creativity Izzet
Third Path Iconoclast Izzet
Thundering Falls Izzet
Volcanic Island Izzet
Ashen Rider Orzhov
Concealed Courtyard Orzhov
Godless Shrine Orzhov
Lingering Souls Orzhov
Lurrus of the Dream-Den Orzhov
Marsh Flats Orzhov
Scrubland Orzhov
Shadowy Backstreet Orzhov
Silent Clearing Orzhov
Tidehollow Sculler Orzhov
Vindicate Orzhov
Badlands Rakdos
Blackcleave Cliffs Rakdos
Blood Crypt Rakdos
Bloodstained Mire Rakdos
Bloodtithe Harvester Rakdos
Carnage Interpreter Rakdos
Fire Covenant Rakdos
Kolaghan's Command Rakdos
Raucous Theater Rakdos
Restless Vents Rakdos
Talisman of Indulgence Rakdos
Valki, God of Lies Rakdos
Arwen, Mortal Queen Selesnya
Horizon Canopy Selesnya
Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar Selesnya
Lush Portico Selesnya
Qasali Pridemage Selesnya
Razorverge Thicket Selesnya
Savannah Selesnya
Temple Garden Selesnya
Torsten, Founder of Benalia Selesnya
Windswept Heath Selesnya
Botanical Sanctum Simic
Breeding Pool Simic
Hedge Maze Simic
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy Simic
Misty Rainforest Simic
Oko, Thief of Crowns Simic
Sail into the West Simic
Talisman of Curiosity Simic
Tamiyo, Collector of Tales Simic
Tropical Island Simic
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath Simic
Waterlogged Grove Simic
Atraxa, Grand Unifier Multicolor
Bring to Light Multicolor
Cruel Ultimatum Multicolor
Fabled Passage Multicolor
Huatli, Poet of Unity Multicolor
Indatha Triome Multicolor
Jetmir's Garden Multicolor
Ketria Triome Multicolor
Leovold, Emissary of Trest Multicolor
Mana Confluence Multicolor
Omnath, Locus of Creation Multicolor
Prismatic Vista Multicolor
Raffine's Tower Multicolor
Raugrin Triome Multicolor
Relic of Sauron Multicolor
Savai Triome Multicolor
Spara's Headquarters Multicolor
Thopter Foundry Multicolor
Xander's Lounge Multicolor
Zagoth Triome Multicolor
Ziatora's Proving Ground Multicolor
Aetherflux Reservoir Colorless
Agatha's Soul Cauldron Colorless
Ancient Tomb Colorless
Basalt Monolith Colorless
Batterskull Colorless
Black Lotus Colorless
Blightsteel Colossus Colorless
Candelabra of Tawnos Colorless
Chromatic Star Colorless
Chrome Mox Colorless
City of Traitors Colorless
Coalition Relic Colorless
Coveted Jewel Colorless
Crucible of Worlds Colorless
Currency Converter Colorless
Dismember Colorless
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn Colorless
Everflowing Chalice Colorless
Grim Monolith Colorless
Helm of Awakening Colorless
Kaldra Compleat Colorless
Karn, Scion of Urza Colorless
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth Colorless
Library of Alexandria Colorless
Lion's Eye Diamond Colorless
Lotus Petal Colorless
Mana Crypt Colorless
Mana Vault Colorless
Manifold Key Colorless
Memory Jar Colorless
Mind Stone Colorless
Mishra's Bauble Colorless
Mishra's Research Desk Colorless
Mishra's Workshop Colorless
Mox Diamond Colorless
Mox Opal Colorless
Mutagenic Growth Colorless
Myr Battlesphere Colorless
Mystic Forge Colorless
Nettlecyst Colorless
Nexus of Becoming Colorless
Palantír of Orthanc Colorless
Pentad Prism Colorless
Phyrexian Metamorph Colorless
Phyrexian Revoker Colorless
Portal to Phyrexia Colorless
Relic of Progenitus Colorless
Retrofitter Foundry Colorless
Sensei's Divining Top Colorless
Shadowspear Colorless
Skullclamp Colorless
Smuggler's Copter Colorless
Sol Ring Colorless
Soul-Guide Lantern Colorless
Strip Mine Colorless
Sword of the Meek Colorless
The Mightstone and Weakstone Colorless
The One Ring Colorless
Triplicate Titan Colorless
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre Colorless
Umezawa's Jitte Colorless
Urza's Saga Colorless
Walking Ballista Colorless
Wasteland Colorless
Zuran Orb Colorless