One of the most powerful and "self-synergistic" archetypes is the Super Friends deck - a control-oriented strategy that seeks to dominate the board using the one card combos known as Planeswalkers. This archetype plays to a more powerful Cube's strengths: premium interaction, board wipes, flexible mana bases, and high-value, game-ending cards.

The name "Super Friends" is a playful reference to assembling a team of heroes - in this case, powerful planeswalkers - who together create an overwhelming advantage through board control, card draw, token generation, and inevitability.

Let's break down how this archetype works in the Legacy Cube, what cards to prioritize, how to support your planeswalkers, and what pitfalls to avoid.

The Core of the Deck: Planeswalkers

Planeswalkers are inherently strong in Cube due to their repeatable value and how few cards in the format can efficiently answer them once resolved. Super Friends aims to play several of them in the mid-to-late game, and protect them long enough to grind out value or win with ultimates.

Some of the top-tier planeswalkers for this deck include:

1. Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

   • Perhaps the best planeswalker for control decks in Cube.
   • Draws cards, controls threats, and its ultimate wins the game outright.
   • The untap clause allows you to play spells on your opponent's turn, reinforcing a classic control shell.

2. Jace, the Mind Sculptor

   • Iconic for a reason.
   • Brainstorm every turn, bounce creatures, or fateseal to control draws.
   • Very few cards can generate more value over time if protected.

3. Liliana of the Veil

   • Exceptional against aggressive and midrange decks.
   • Forces discard while removing creatures, though it doesn't protect itself well.

4. Elspeth, Sun's Champion

   • This is a top-end finisher in a Super Friends deck.
   • Destroys big creatures and floods the board with tokens to protect other planeswalkers.
   • Her ultimate is rarely needed to win.

5. Narset, Parter of Veils

   • While not game-ending alone, she shuts down opposing card draw and digs for your control spells or other walkers.
   • Synergizes well with Wheel effects if you're splashing Red.

6. Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

   • Expensive, but a reset button that can win on its own.
   • Often seen in more ramp-heavy or 3+ color Super Friends shells.

Other options include:

• Gideon Jura: Strong attacker and damage soak.
• Karn Liberated: Another powerful endgame walker that answers nearly anything.
• Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God: If you're in Grixis, this can be absurd.
• Oko, Thief of Crowns: When unbanned, a major issue - but in many Legacy Cubes, he's been removed due to power level.

Supporting the Super Friends Plan

1. Control Shell

Most Super Friends decks sit in the control quadrant. They run:

• Efficient removal (e.g., Swords to Plowshares, Fatal Push, Lightning Bolt)
• Board wipes (e.g., Supreme Verdict, Toxic Deluge, Damnation)
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• Countermagic (e.g., Counterspell, Mana Leak, Force of Will)

Your goal is to stabilize the board until you can safely land a walker and start generating value. This is also the area where you can most easily adjust the power level of the archetype. If you find that your favorite planeswalkers are dominating the games, consider limiting your board wipes and and strategically including spot removal that can also be used against planeswalkers like Hero's Downfall.

2. Mana Base

To support multiple colors for planeswalkers, a high-quality mana base is critical:

• Fetchlands (e.g., Polluted Delta, Flooded Strand)
• Dual lands and shocklands (e.g., Underground Sea, Hallowed Fountain)
• Mana rocks (e.g., Chromatic Lantern, Signets, Talisman of Dominance)

Multicolored fixing enables you to play 3-4 color Super Friends decks, often in Esper, Jeskai, or Sultai shells.

3. Protection and Token Production

Planeswalkers need protection to shine. Many generate their own tokens (Elspeth, Oko), but you can also include cards that help guard them:

• Baleful Strix - cheap blocker that draw cards
• Lingering Souls - excellent against aggro and flies to block
• Kitchen Finks - buys time and trades well

These cards stall the board, ensuring your walkers survive and take over the game.

Drafting Priorities

When drafting Legacy Cube with the intent of building Super Friends, keep these priorities in mind:

1. Take powerful planeswalkers early.

   • Don't hesitate to pick Jace, Teferi, or Elspeth highly. They're often irreplaceable.

2. Value fixing highly.

   • A Super Friends deck can't function without great mana. Cards like Watery Grave, Celestial Colonnade, or Arcane Signet are higher picks than usual.

3. Grab key control tools.

   • Premium removal, sweepers, and counterspells ensure you live long enough to start using walkers.

4. Don't overcommit to too many colors.

   • Three is often the sweet spot unless your fixing is excellent. Going four or five colors without enough fixing leads to clunky hands and losses to fast decks.

Strengths of Super Friends

• Resilience: Walkers often require multiple attacks or spells to remove, and even if killed, they've already provided time and value needed to find your next friend.
• Inevitability: Most planeswalker ultimates are game-ending.
• Board Control: With the right setup, you'll dominate combat, card advantage, and long games.
• Flexibility: Super Friends can be adjusted to fit Esper control, Jeskai tempo-control, or even Bant value.

Weaknesses and Counters

• Aggro Matchups: Fast Red or White decks can go under your plan and kill walkers as soon as they land.
• Mana Inconsistency: If you draft greedy mana without the right support, you risk awkward starts and dead cards in hand.
• Enchantments/Artifacts: Walkers don't typically answer these directly. Cards like Sneak Attack or Opposition can outpace you.

Conclusion

The Super Friends archetype in Legacy Cube is one of the most satisfying and strategic ways to win. It demands thoughtful drafting, solid mana fixing, and precise play. When executed properly, it overwhelms opponents through an ever-growing wall of value - one planeswalker activation at a time.

If you enjoy long games, intricate board states, and assembling your own Justice League of Magic's most iconic characters, Super Friends might be your perfect Legacy Cube deck.