Locations
Welcome to Part 2 of the Avacyn Restored Cube review! You'll find (Part 1 over here.) This is one of the deeper blocks for Cube design that we’ve seen in a while. Although many of the cards don’t stand out as must-includes, there are quite a few subtle cards that I am sure will eventually find their way into our lists.
Grading System
Pass – This rating is given to a card that might be fringe-playable or very archetype-specific. If you’re among the few who push the less supported archetypes or if it’s an effect you want an additional copy of in your list, by all means run it, but these probably aren’t good enough for most Cubes.
Play – I try to avoid using the word “staple,” as I am consistently surprised at how different Cubes look with each passing block. Cards I never believed would be cut from my list sit gathering dust in my on deck binder. That being said, this rating means you absolutely should test these cards out. They’re either best in class at what they do or testing has proven them to be more powerful than expected.
Test – Somewhere between Pass and Play is Test. Cards with this rating will greatly vary in value depending on the list. My list, for example, runs a lot of blue-based aggro/tempo cards as opposed to having blue play the role of the traditional control color. While some of the new flyers would be rated as Play in my list, your mileage may vary. Regardless, these cards are very powerful at what they do, so if you have an opportunity to test them in your list, you should!
There are quite a few cards that interact positively with tribal strategies. While I don’t specifically review these cards, most of the named-creature-type cards are more than good enough for tribal lists that push those creature types! Any unlisted cards were ignored for not being good enough for mainstream Cube lists or so specific to special Cubes (Zombie, Tribal, Flavor, etc.) that they weren’t worth mentioning. I also frequently reference cards in the context of being tested in my Cube, which can be found here.
Red
Verdict: Pass
Bonfire of the Damned – Red has always been a great support color for big-mana strategies. If you run a Cube that supports Wildfire and/or Burning of Xinye, you will love Bonfire of the Damned. Bonfire is another example of a miracle card that is perfectly reasonable for its normal mana cost. Remember that you’re playing big artifacts like Thran Dynamo or a slew of Signets in order to ramp to big spells. You should have no problem getting this to deal 3 or 4 to everything. Being that red often pairs with blue, you should be more likely to get to cast this for its miracle cost, which further lends to its usefulness. Even in more aggressive decks, this can help clear the way for your own creatures in the late game and is always a welcome top-deck.
Verdict: Play
Verdict: Pass
Dangerous Wager – I was really amped to test this card as soon as it was spoiled, but I am becoming increasingly disillusioned the more I get to play it. This card may as well have the Serra Avenger reminder text that you can’t play it before turn three. It’s a pretty good top-deck, but it’s awful to have in your hand if you’re in any sort of favorable position. I love that red is getting more discard, but this doesn’t play well at all with other discard strategies such as reanimation. This is really only good in aggressive decks, and I think in many cases, I would just rather it be another targeted burn spell. Wager hasn’t been without its good moments, so it stays in for now, but I wouldn’t fault anyone for not including it.
Verdict: Test
Verdict: Pass
Falkenrath Exterminator – Red has been given a lot of creatures with the Slith Firewalker ability in the Innistrad block. At the cost of haste, we get splashability and a really good secondary ability. With just a couple +1/+1 counters on this creature, you can shoot down most of your opponent’s early blockers. None of the stats on Exterminator are exciting on their own, but together, they make for a very useful creature. I could see many Cubes replacing cards like Blood Knight, Slith Firewalker, or Stigma Lasher with this creature. Being splashable is becoming more important as players start realizing how good red is. You don’t want to be stuck with all the 
guys when you only have five or six other playable red spells. This is one you should definitely try out if you’re looking for a new 2-drop.
Verdict: Test
Verdict: Test
Kruin Striker – I initially dismissed Kruin Striker until I was able to play with it in Limited. It is incredibly easy to trigger this one or two times in the turns you need it to, and it’s no slouch on its own. The trample means that holding Equipment such as Sword of Fire and Ice is going to stop your opponents from chump-blocking. In tokens decks, he becomes exponentially better, playing out very similarly to Kiln Fiend. For Cubes that still play double-mana red creatures, I recommend giving this guy some testing.
Verdict: Test
Verdict: Play
Rite of Ruin – I have long been a fan of Wildfire decks and have been pushing them in some form since the first version of my Cube. As a result, I have tried every big-mana red card under the sun. Wildfire has always been a fantastic card alongside Rampant Growth and Signets. Rite of Ruin feels very similar. It is probable that the main mode will be to sac lands first, then creatures, then artifacts, making it just slightly over-costed for its effect compared to Burning of Xinye or Wildfire. On the other hand, it can kill any creatures of any size, and it can take out whichever card type is most beneficial for you. If you support big-mana strategies, this is one you’ll need to test to see if it’ll work for you list. I have been pleased with it in my list so far, but I have felt nearly any other of the Wildfire effects would have done the job just as well.
Verdict: Test
My biggest problem with Tibalt is that in most cases, I would just rather have a card that does something. A burn spell, an Earthquake effect, a dude, or anything that actually affects the board. There are very few situations in which I want to draw Tibalt. Sure, on turn two against a deck that can’t interact until he goes ultimate, he’s a fine insurance policy, but beyond that, he takes up a valuable spell slot that could otherwise be used playing actual good spells. For me, Tibalt is just a draft or two away from going in the on-deck binder.
Verdict: Test
Verdict: Pass
Zealous Conscripts – Ladies and gentlemen, red has finally been given the 5-drop it has been waiting to have for years. Zealous Conscripts is the best red card in the set and definitely in the top three cards in the set for Cube. This card steals everything. Need to sneak some extra damage in? Why not take your opponents best attacker or a piece of Equipment? Upset at that Jace getting ready to go ultimate? Why not ultimate that bad boy for yourself, and, oh, while you’re at it, have your opponent take 3. This is easily the best red 5-drop and can be played in quite literally any deck that plays red. Given that it’s an enters-the-battlefield ability means you can run some serious shenanigans with cards like Makeshift Mannequin or Recurring Nightmare. Get this guy in your list.
Verdict: Play
Green
Verdict: Pass
Somberwald Sage – Dear Wizards, I would like to resolve 7-drops on turn four using only one card.
Sincerely, Kranny.
Verdict: Play
Verdict: Pass
Ulvenwald Tracker – Another effect green doesn’t often have is removal. Being that green typically outclasses other creatures early on, Tracker presents a very serious threat to other aggro decks. Sure, Tracker has a giant target on its head, but since you only had to invest 1 mana, you’re not going to feel awful if your opponent Doom Blades it. This should make the cut in most Cubes regardless of size or make. You may want to pass if you’re solely focused on big-mana strategies, but even then, it’s a great midgame spell to take down cards such as Hero of Bladehold and other big, value creatures that give green decks a hard time.
Verdict: Play
Verdict: Test
Wolfir Silverheart – There is a long-standing question as to how much power you could make a vanilla 5-mana creature before most Cubers would Cube with it. The answer is 12. This card has single-handedly won more games than any other Avacyn Restored addition so far. In most cases, I’ve seen it bond with a mana bug early on and seal the deal with just a few swings. Like other soulbond cards, it becomes better when paired with bounce and reanimation. This is a great 5-drop for green and definitely worth running over other options. If you still have Kodama of the North Tree or even something like Ghoultree, I urge you to make the swap.
Verdict: Play
Multicolored
Verdict: Test
Sigarda, Host of Herons – It’s pretty simple: Resolve a Sigarda, and your opponent has four turns to find a Wrath or he dies. Pair her with any Equipment, and she’s nearly unstoppable. She should find a home in most Cubes, as she’s better than most of the G/W options out there. Be sure not to hastily cut a G/W card with few replacements. I’ve seen a few people cut Mirari's Wake, for example, to make room for Sigarda. I would much rather see something like Gaddock Teeg or Wilt-Leaf Liege take a seat on the bench. Either way, most Cubes should find room for Sigarda, as she is very flexible and easily worth splashing.
Verdict: Play
Land
Verdict: Test
Desolate Lighthouse – This is exactly the kind of card the U/R decks want. Most of my reanimator and U/B/x decks end up being Grixis, and Lighthouse just oozes usefulness. As long as you’ve drafted a reasonable mana base, there is virtually no cost to running this in your deck. Need to draw an out to an opponent’s threat or turn those extra lands into good cards? Lighthouse is a fantastic answer. I love the synergy is has with graveyard strategies. Pair this with Life from the Loam or Crucible of Worlds, and you can build a really good card-advantage engine. Draft something like Living Death, and you can set up a huge combo turn. The possibilities are endless, and the cost to enable it is very low. This should beat out virtually all other options in most U/R sections. One hundred percent play.
Verdict: Play
Verdict: Pass
Thanks for tuning in for Part 2 of the Avacyn Restored cube review! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below and I will be happy to answer them. Happy cubing!
