Mystical Tutor | What is an MTG Cube?

Let’s say you walk into a game store and someone says, “We’re drafting my cube tonight.” You nod politely, but inside you’re wondering if they’re talking about Rubik’s Cubes, Minecraft, or some kind of Magic-themed puzzle box. Spoiler: it’s none of those.

A Magic: The Gathering Cube is one of the coolest ways to play the game, and once you get it, you’ll never look at booster packs the same way again.

Okay, So What Is a Cube?

An MTG cube is your custom, homemade draft model. Instead of cracking sealed booster packs from a single set, you draft from a pool of cards that someone handpicked. It’s like building your own mini-format. You choose the cards, the synergies, the power level, and the overall vibe.

Want to draft Lightning Bolt next to a squirrel commander and a random enchantment that makes goats? You can. It’s your cube. You’re the curator, the architect, the chaos gremlin.

How Does Cube Drafting Work?

Cube drafting works just like regular booster draft. You shuffle up the cube, make “packs” of 15 cards, and pass them around the table. Everyone drafts cards, builds a 40-card deck, and then plays. The difference is, instead of relying on whatever Wizards printed in a set, you’re drafting from a pool that someone built with love, spite, or a deep obsession with Kithkins.

Keep all your packs ready to go!

There are also ways to draft cubes with fewer people. Grid draft, Winston draft, and other formats let you play with just two or three players. It’s like speed dating, but with spells and combat damage.

Why Do People Love Cubes?

Because MTG cubes are personal. They reflect the creator’s taste and playstyle. Some cubes are high-powered and competitive, full of mythics and broken cards. Others are themed with tribal cats, enchantments, “cards that cost exactly five mana and do weird stuff.”

Cubes let you play with cards from across Magic’s history without worrying about legality. You want to draft a deck with Lightning Helix, Mulldrifter, and some obscure card from Kamigawa that nobody remembers? Go for it.

Flavors of MTG Cubes

• Powered Cube: Includes the most broken cards in Magic. Expect turn-one kills and emotional damage.

• Unpowered Cube: Still strong, but less traumatic.

• Pauper Cube: Only commons. Surprisingly deep and budget-friendly.

• Peasant Cube: Commons and uncommons. A nice middle ground.

• Theme Cube: Built around a concept like graveyard loops, multicolor madness, or card art that contains a hat.

  
  

You can also build cubes for Commander, multiplayer chaos, or just to show off your favorite jank. The only rule is: there are no rules. Except the ones you make.

How Do You Build One?

Start with a goal. Do you want high-powered gameplay, nostalgia, or just a place to play your favorite nonsense?

Then:

1. Pick a size: Most cubes are 360 cards (for 8 players) or 540 cards (for variety).

2. Choose your archetypes: Control, aggro, ramp, reanimator. Whatever makes you happy.

3. Balance your colors and mana fixing: Nobody wants a cube where red has 40 cards and green has 12.

4. Test and tweak: Play it, get feedback, swap cards, repeat.

   
   

Sleeving your cube is a labor of love. Prepare for sore thumbs and a new appreciation for the guys at Dragonshield.

Final Thoughts

A cube is like your own personal Magic format. It’s a sandbox, a museum, and a battleground all rolled into one. When you’re curating a cube of your favorite draft commons or building a shrine to broken mythics, it’s one of the most rewarding ways to play.

Remember, you don't have to go at an MTG cube alone. Get some friends together, grab your collections, and get building. You will end up with a format that is repeatable, never stale, and always good for laughs at the table.