The Cube
The Cube is a Magic: The Gathering
draft format where the packs are formed from a large pre-prepared pool of cards.
The format originated in Toronto, Canada and spread from there. The pool of cards
("The Cube") consists of all of the best cards in Magic, so when you open your pack,
it looks something like this:
What would you pick out of such a bomb-tastic group of cards?
People discuss normal draft picks all the time...
Merfolk Looter vs.
Doom Blade, etc.,
but when else would you have to decide between
Balance,
Sword of Fire and Ice, or
Morphling?
In the Cube,
every pack will contain limited bombs, constructed powerhouses, some
old school classics, and some new school brokenness.
The packs only have twelve cards; since there isn't the chaff of a usual pack,
you will get enough playables by the end of the draft. In fact, because
of the power
level, the decks end up like more like constructed decks than limited decks.
To read more about how this works out, see Noah Weil's StarCity article,
the coverage of the "Cube Pro Tour"
(part 2,
part 3,
part 4,
finale),
Sam Gomersal's StarCity article,
Tom LaPille's Cube FAQ, or
Evan Erwin's Cube Site.
Some variations include making a Cube of all bad cards, making a Cube of all gold
cards, and of course
Ben Bleiweiss's Big Draft Box.
Some advice to potential Cube-builders: Although you don't want too
have too many boring cards in there, you need to make some concessions to
allowing a decent mana curve and having a sufficient number of creatures.
You'll want to give the beatdown deck a chance against the more powerful control
cards. You'll also need some basic utility cards such as artifact
removal.
Also, when I started the Cube I had a lot of proxies -- a necessity for
those who don't own or want to risk their Power or other good cards.
In fact, I considered at one point making every card a proxy just to be
consistent. Unfortunately, I started down the slippery slope of trying to
pimp out the Cube with the coolest versions of every card. This is a
deadly trap that will lead to financial ruin. To soften the blow, I've
got a Collector's Edition set to stand in for the pricier Beta items.
A well-built Cube will provide many, many entertaining drafts with
great card interactions. In case you need some suggestions for cards to
include, here's the latest version of my Cube:
| Name | Set | Notes |
| Academy Rector |  | foil |
| Adarkar Valkyrie |  | foil |
| Ajani Goldmane |  | foil |
| Akorma, Angel of Wrath |  | foil |
| Akroma's Vengeance |  | foil |
| Armageddon |  | judge promo foil |
| Aura of Silence | | FNM promo foil |
| Balance |  | judge promo foil |
| Battlegrace Angel |  | foil |
| Blinding Angel |  | foil |
| Calciderm | | JSS promo foil |
| Cataclysm |  | |
| Catastrophe |  | |
| Condemn |  | foil |
| Decree of Justice | | Judge promo foil |
| Disenchant | | promo foil |
| Eight-and-a-Half Tails |  | foil |
| Elspeth, Knight-Errant | | foil |
| Elite Vanguard |  | |
| Empyrial Armor |  | Arena League promo foil |
| Enlightened Tutor |  | Arena League promo foil |
| Eternal Dragon | | Pro Tour promo foil |
| Exalted Angel | | Judge promo foil, signed, altered art |
| Faith's Fetters |  | foil |
| False Prophet | | Prerelease promo foil |
| Glory | | foil |
| Griffin Guide | | foil |
| Hand of Honor |  | foil |
| Harm's Way | | foil |
| Hokori, Dust Drinker | | foil |
| Honor of the Pure | | promo foil |
| Icatian Javelineers | | Gateway promo foil |
| Isamaru, Hound of Konda | | foil |
| Jotun Grunt | | foil, signed |
| Kami of Ancient Law | | foil, signed |
| Karmic Guide |  | foil |
| Knight of Meadowgrain | | |
| Land Tax |  | signed |
| Leonin Skyhunter |  | foil |
| Longbow Archers | | FNM promo foil |
| Mageta the Lion |  | foil |
| Mana Tithe |  | foil |
| Mirror Entity | | foil, signed |
| Moat | | |
| Mother of Runes | | FNM promo foil |
| Oblivion Ring | | foil |
| Order of Lietbur |  | signed |
| Pacifism | | foil |
| Path to Exile |  | |
| Pristine Angel |  | foil |
| Radiant's Dragoons | | foil, signed |
| Ravages of War |  | |
| Reveillark |  | foil |
| Sacred Mesa | | foil |
| Samurai of the Pale Curtain | | foil |
| Savannah Lions |  | foil |
| Seal of Cleansing | | FNM promo foil |
| Serra Angel | | promo foil |
| Serra Avenger | | Champs promo foil |
| Silver Knight | | FNM promo foil |
| Soltari Monk |  | |
| Soltari Priest | | FNM promo foil |
| Spectral Lynx |  | foil |
| Story Circle | | foil, signed |
| Swords to Plowshares | | FNM promo foil |
| Tithe |  | |
| Warrior en-Kor |  | |
| Weathered Wayfarer | | foil, altered |
| Whipcorder | | FNM promo foil |
| White Knight | | FNM promo foil |
| White Shield Crusader | | foil |
| Wing Shards | | FNM promo foil |
| Wrath of God | | foil |
| Yosei, the Morning Star | | foil |
| Aeon Chronicler | | foil |
| Ancestral Recall |  | |
| Boomerang | | promo foil |
| Braingeyser |  | signed |
| Brainstorm | | FNM promo foil |
| Bribery |  | foil, signed |
| Capsize | | FNM promo foil |
| Compulsive Research | | foil |
| Condescend | | foil |
| Confiscate | | foil |
| Control Magic |  | |
| Counterspell | | judge promo foil |
| Cryptic Command | | foil |
| Deep Analysis | | FNM promo foil |
| Dismiss | | Arena League promo foil |
| Dissipate | | FNM promo foil |
| Dominate |  | foil |
| Exclude |  | foil |
| Fact or Fiction | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Forbid | | FNM promo foil |
| Force of Will |  | signed |
| Fowl Play |  | signed |
| Frantic Search | | foil |
| Future Sight | | foil |
| Gifts Given | | foil holiday promo |
| Greater Morphling |  | foil |
| Gush | | foil |
| Impulse | | FNM promo foil |
| Intuition | | judge promo foil |
| Jace Beleren |  | Duel Decks foil promo |
| Keiga, the Tide Star | | |
| Legacy's Allure | | |
| Lu Xun, Scholar General | | |
| Mana Drain | | signed, altered art |
| Mana Leak | | Arena League promo foil, signed |
| Man-o'-War | | Arena League promo foil |
| Meloku the Clouded Mirror | | foil |
| Memory Lapse | | judge promo foil, signed |
| Mind Control | | promo foil |
| Miscalculation | | foil |
| Misdirection | | |
| Morphling | | signed, altered art |
| Mulldrifter | | foil |
| Ninja of the Deep Hours |  | foil |
| Old Man of the Sea |  | extended art |
| Ophidian | | FNM promo foil |
| Opposition | | signed, altered art |
| Palinchron | | foil |
| Ponder | | foil, signed, altered art |
| Psionic Blast | | foil |
| Raven Familiar | | foil |
| Serendib Efreet |  | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Sower of Temptation | | foil |
| Stroke of Genius | | judge promo foil |
| Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir | | foil |
| Thieving Magpie |  | foil |
| Thirst for Knowledge | | foil, signed, altered art |
| Time Spiral | | signed |
| Time Walk | | |
| Time Warp | | judge promo foil, signed |
| Timetwister | | |
| Tinker | | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Tradewind Rider | | judge promo foil |
| Trinket Mage | | foil |
| Treachery | | foil |
| Upheaval |  | foil |
| Vendillion Clique | | foil |
| Venser, Shaper Savant |  | foil |
| Vesuvan Doppelganger | | |
| Vesuvan Shapeshifter | | foil |
| Voidmage Prodigy | | MPR promo |
| Waterfront Bouncer | | foil |
| Willbender | | FNM promo foil |
| Wonder | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Animate Dead | | signed |
| Avatar of Woe | | foil, signed, altered art |
| Bane of the Living |  | foil |
| Bitterblossom | | foil |
| Black Knight | | FNM promo foil |
| Bone Shredder | | foil |
| Carnophage | | FNM promo foil |
| Chainer's Edict |  | FNM promo foil |
| Coffin Queen | | signed |
| Damnation | | foil |
| Dark Confidant | | foil |
| Dark Ritual | | judge promo foil |
| Dauthi Slayer | | Arena League promo foil |
| Demonic Tutor | | |
| Diabolic Edict | | FNM promo foi |
| Doom Blade | | foil |
| Drain Life | | FNM promo foil |
| Duress | | FNM promo foil |
| Faceless Butcher | | foil |
| Graveborn Muse | | foil |
| Grave Pact | | foil |
| Hand of Cruelty | | |
| Hollow Specter | | foil, signed |
| Hymn to Tourach | | signed |
| Hypnotic Specter | | MPR promo foil |
| Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni | | Prerelease promo foil |
| Juzam Djinn | | signed |
| Kagemaro, First to Suffer | | foil |
| Kokusho, the Evening Star |  | From the Vault foil |
| Krovikan Horror | | |
| Liliana Vess | | foil |
| Living Death | | judge promo foil |
| Makeshift Mannequin | | |
| Mesmeric Fiend | | foil |
| Mind Twist | | |
| Mortivore | | signed |
| Mutilate | | foil |
| Nantuko Shade | | signed |
| Necromancy | | |
| Necropotence |  | Deckmaster foil, signed, altered art |
| Nekrataal | | foil |
| Nezumi Graverobber | | foil |
| Night's Whisper | | foil |
| Order of the Ebon Hand | | signed |
| Phyrexian Arena | | foil |
| Phyrexian Negator | | judge promo foil |
| Phyrexian Plaguelord | | foil |
| Phyrexian Scuta |  | |
| Plague Sliver | | foil |
| Predatory Nightstalker |  | |
| Profane Command | | foil |
| Ravenous Rats | | foil |
| Reanimate | | FNM promo foil |
| Recurring Nightmare | | |
| Royal Assassin | | JSS promo foil |
| Sarcomancy | | |
| Sengir Nosferatu | | foil |
| Sengir Vampire |  | Beatdown box set foil |
| Shriekmaw | | release promo foil |
| Silent Specter | | prerelease promo foil |
| Sinkhole | | |
| Skittering Skirge | | Arena League promo foil, signed |
| Slaughter Pact | | foil |
| Smother | | FNM promo foil |
| Stromgald Crusader | | foil |
| Terror | | FNM promo foil |
| The Abyss | | |
| Thoughtseize | | foil |
| Tombstalker | | foil |
| Vampiric Tutor | | judge promo foil |
| Visara the Dreadful | | foil |
| Withered Wretch | | FNM promo foil |
| Yawgmoth's Bargain | | foil |
| Yawgmoth's Will | | foil |
| Akroma, Angel of Fury | | foil |
| Ancient Hydra | | foil |
| Arc Slogger | | foil |
| Avalanche Riders | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Ball Lightning | | judge promo foil |
| Blast from the Past | | foil |
| Blistering Firecat | | foil |
| Blood Knight | | Champs promo |
| Bogardan Hellkite | | From the Vault foil |
| Chain Lightning | | |
| Chandra Nalar | | Duel Decks foil promo |
| Char | | 15th Anniversary promo foil |
| Countryside Crusher | | foil |
| Crater Hellion | | |
| Demonfire | | foil |
| Empty the Warrens | | |
| Fiery Temper | | Gateway promo foil |
| Fire Imp |  | |
| Fireball | | MPR textless promo, signed, altered art |
| Fireblast | | FNM promo foil |
| Firebolt | | FNM promo foil |
| Fireslinger | | FNM promo foil |
| Firestorm |  | |
| Flame Javelin |  | |
| Flameblast Dragon | | foil |
| Flametongue Kavu | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Fork | | |
| Form of the Dragon | | From the Vault foil |
| Genju of the Spires | | Arena League promo foil |
| Ghitu Slinger | | foil |
| Goblin Bombardment | | FNM promo foil |
| Goblin Patrol | | |
| Gorilla Shaman | | signed |
| Goblin Welder | | |
| Greater Gargadon | | |
| Grim Lavamancer | | judge promo foil |
| Hammer of Bogardan | | judge promo foil |
| Hellspark Elemental | | promo foil |
| Imperial Recruiter | | |
| Incinerate | | Deckmaster foil |
| Jackal Pup | | FNM promo foil |
| Jaya Ballard, Task Mage | | foil |
| Kamahl, Pit Fighter |  | promo foil |
| Kird Ape | | FNM promo foil |
| Kumano, Master Yamabushi | | foil |
| Lightning Bolt | | judge promo foil, signed |
| Magus of the Scroll | | foil |
| Magma Jet | | FNM promo foil |
| Mogg Fanatic | | FNM promo foil |
| Molten Hydra | | foil |
| Obliterate | | foil |
| Orcish Artillery | | signed |
| Orcish Settlers | | signed |
| Pillage | | Arena League promo foil |
| Rolling Earthquake | | |
| Rorix Bladewing | | foil |
| Rukh Egg | | Release promo foil |
| Shard Pheonix | | JSS promo foil |
| Seething Song | | foil |
| Siege-Gang Commander | | Duel Decks promo |
| Skirk Marauder | | Arena League promo foil, signed |
| Skizzik | | worlds '01 |
| Slice and Dice | | FNM promo foil |
| Slith Firewalker | | JSS promo foil |
| Sneak Attack | | |
| Squee, Goblin Nabob | | foil |
| Sudden Shock | | Release promo foil |
| Tarfire | | foil |
| Tin Street Hooligan |  | foil |
| Two-Header Dragon | | JSS promo foil |
| Urza's Rage | | foil |
| Violent Eruption | | foil |
| Volcanic Hammer |  | JSS promo foil, signed |
| Wheel of Fortune | | Garfield signed |
| Acidic Slime | | foil |
| Albino Troll | | FNM promo foil |
| Ant Queen | | release promo foil |
| Berserk | | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Birds of Paradise | | foil |
| Blastoderm | | FNM promo foil |
| Blurred Mongoose | | foil |
| Call of the Herd | | GP promo foil |
| Chameleon Colossus | | foil |
| Channel | | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Creeping Mold | | Arena League promo foil |
| Deranged Hermit | | judge promo foil |
| Elves of Deep Shadow | | FNM promo foil |
| Elvish Lyrist | | JSS promo foil |
| Erhnam Djinn | | Beatdown box set foil |
| Eternal Witness | | FNM promo foil |
| Fastbond | | signed |
| Forgotten Ancient |  | foil, signed |
| Fyndhorn Elves |  | |
| Garruk Wildspeaker |  | Xbox promo |
| Genesis | | foil |
| Harmonize | | foil, signed |
| Harrow | | foil |
| Hedge Troll | | Release promo foil |
| Imperious Perfect | | Champs promo |
| Jungle Lion | | |
| Kavu Titan | | foil |
| Krosan Tusker | | FNM promo foil |
| Lhurgoyf | | Deckmasters foil, signed |
| Life from the Loam | | foil |
| Llanowar Elves | | FNM promo foil, signed, altered art |
| Master of the Wild Hunt | | foil |
| Molder Slug | | foil, signed |
| Natural Order | | signed, altered art |
| Naturalize | | foil |
| Nimble Mongoose | | signed |
| Noble Hierarch | | foil |
| Ohran Viper | | foil |
| Overrun | | foil |
| Phantom Centaur | | foil |
| Plow Under | | foil |
| Pouncing Jaguar | | Arena League promo foil, signed |
| Quirion Ranger | | promo foil |
| Rancor | | FNM promo foil |
| Ravenous Baloth | | judge promo foil |
| Regrowth | | judge promo foil |
| River Boa | | FNM promo foil |
| Roar of the Wurm | | FNM promo foil |
| Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary | | |
| Rude Awakening | | foil |
| Sakura-Tribe Elder | | JSS promo foil |
| Saproling Burst | | foil, signed |
| Seedborn Muse | | foil |
| Silvos, Rogue Elemental | | foil |
| Spectral Force | | foil |
| Spike Feeder | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Spike Weaver | | signed |
| Survival of the Fittest | | signed |
| Sylvan Library | | |
| Sylvan Safekeeper | | foil, signed |
| Tarmogoyf | | |
| Thelonite Hermit | | foil |
| Tooth and Nail | | foil |
| Troll Ascetic | | foil, signed |
| Uktabi Orangutan | | Arena League promo foil |
| Verdant Force | | foil |
| Viridian Shaman | | foil |
| Wall of Blossoms | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Wall of Roots | | FNM promo foil |
| Werebear | | foil |
| Wild Dogs | | |
| Wild Mongrel | | FNM promo foil |
| Yavimaya Elder | | foil, signed |
| Yavimaya Granger | | foil |
| Aether Vial |  | |
| Black Lotus | | |
| Black Vise | | |
| Bottle Gnomes | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Chaos Orb | | |
| Chimeric Idol | | foil, signed |
| Chromatic Sphere | | foil |
| Chrome Mox | | foil |
| Coalition Relic | | foil |
| Crystal Shard | | foil |
| Cursed Scroll | | |
| Darksteel Colossus | | |
| Duplicant | | foil |
| Engineered Explosives | | foil |
| Ensnaring Bridge | | foil |
| Gauntlet of Might | | |
| Grim Monolith | | foil |
| Icy Manipulator | | FNM promo foil |
| Isochron Scepter | | FNM promo foil |
| Ivory Tower |  | |
| Juggernaut | | FNM promo foil |
| Karn, Silver Golem | | Arena League promo foil |
| Loxodon Warhammer | | foil |
| Mana Crypt |  | signed, altered art |
| Mana Vault | | |
| Masticore | | foil |
| Memory Jar | | foil |
| Millstone | | foil |
| Mindslaver | | foil |
| Mind Stone | | promo foil |
| Mirari | | foil |
| Mox Diamond | | double signed |
| Mox Emerald | | |
| Mox Jet | | |
| Mox Pearl | | |
| Mox Ruby | | |
| Mox Sapphire | | |
| Nevinyrral's Disk | | signed |
| Obelisk of Alara | | release promo foil |
| Oblivion Stone | | foil |
| Panoptic Mirror | | foil |
| Pentavus | | foil |
| Phyrexian Processor | | signed, stamped |
| Platinum Angel | | foil |
| Powder Keg | | MPR promo foil, crimped |
| Predator, Flagship | | foil |
| Razormane Masticore | | foil |
| Scroll Rack | | artist proof, signed |
| Sensei's Divining Top | | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Serrated Arrows | | FNM promo foil |
| Skullclamp | | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Solemn Simulacrum | | foil |
| Sol Ring | | judge promo foil, signed, altered art |
| Sword of Fire and Ice | | foil |
| Sword of Light and Shadow | | foil |
| Tangle Wire | | foil |
| Temporal Aperture | | signed |
| Triskelion | | foil |
| Umezawa's Jitte | | foil |
| Vedalken Shackles | | foil |
| Wayfarer's Bauble | | foil |
| Winter Orb | | signed |
| Zuran Orb | | |
| Ajani Vengeant | | Prerelease promo foil |
| Anurid Brushhopper | | foil, signed |
| Armadillo Cloak | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Azorius Guildmage | | Release promo foil, signed |
| Burning-Tree Shaman | | foil |
| Cruel Ultimatum | | foil |
| Death Grasp | | foil |
| Debtor's Knell | | foil |
| Dimir Guildmage | | Release promo foil |
| Doran, the Siege Tower | | foil Champs promo |
| Eladamri's Call | | foil |
| Electrolyze | | Champs promo, signed |
| Figure of Destiny |  | Release promo foil |
| Fires of Yavimaya | | foil |
| Gerrard's Verdict | | FNM promo foil |
| Goblin Legionnaire | | FNM promo foil |
| Hellkite Overlord | | From the Vault foil |
| Hull Breach | | foil |
| Kitchen Finks | | FNM promo foil |
| Lightning Helix | | foil |
| Loxodon Hierarch | | foil |
| Mirari's Wake | | Pro Tour promo foil |
| Murderous Redcap | | FNM promo foil |
| Mystic Enforcer | | foil |
| Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker | | |
| Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | | Champs promo foil |
| Oona, Queen of the Fae | | foil |
| Pernicious Deed | | judge promo foil |
| Phelddagrif | | Garfield signed, altered |
| Psychatog | | promo foil, signed |
| Putrefy | | foil |
| Putrid Leech |  | foil |
| Rakdos Guildmage | | Champs promo |
| Recoil | | foil, signed |
| Rith, the Awakener | | foil |
| Selesnya Guildmage | | foil |
| Shadowmage Infiltrator |  | foil |
| Simic Sky Swallower | | foil, signed |
| Spiritmonger | | Grand Prix promo foil |
| Stormbind | | foil |
| Terminate | | FNM promo foil |
| Vindicate | | judge promo foil |
| Void | | foil |
| Voidslime | | Champs promo foil |
| Watchwolf | | foil |
| Wooly Thoctar | | Arena foil |
| Azorius Chancery | | foil |
| Badlands | | |
| Barbarian Ring | | foil |
| Barren Moor | | foil |
| Bayou |  | painted |
| Bazaar of Baghdad | | |
| Blood Crypt | | foil, signed |
| Bloodstained Mire | | foil, signed |
| Boros Garrison | | foil |
| Breeding Pool | | foil, signed |
| City of Brass | | JSS promo foil, signed |
| Desert | | FNM promo foil |
| Diamond Valley | | signed |
| Dimir Aqueduct | | foil |
| Dust Bowl | | foil, signed |
| Faerie Conclave | | promo foil |
| Forbidding Watchtower | | foil |
| Forgotten Cave | | foil |
| Flooded Strand | | foil, signed |
| Gaea's Cradle | | judge promo foil |
| Gemstone Mine | | judge promo foil |
| Ghitu Encampment | | foil |
| Godless Shrine | | foil, signed |
| Golgari Rot Farm | | foil |
| Gruul Turf | | foil |
| Hallowed Fountain | | foil, signed |
| Izzet Boilerworks | | foil |
| Kjeldoran Outpost | | signed |
| Krosan Verge | | foil |
| Library of Alexandria | | |
| Lonely Sandbar | | foil |
| Maze of Ith |  | signed |
| Mirrodin's Core | | foil |
| Mishra's Factory | | judge promo foil |
| Orzhov Bascilica | | foil |
| Overgrown Tomb | | foil, signed |
| Plateau | | |
| Polluted Delta | | foil, signed |
| Quicksand | | foil |
| Rakdos Carnarium | | foil |
| Rishadan Port | | foil |
| Sacred Foundry | | foil, signed |
| Savannah | | |
| Scrubland | | |
| Secluded Steppe | | foil |
| Selesnya Sanctuary | | foil |
| Simic Growth Chamber | | foil |
| Spawning Pool | | foil, signed |
| Steam Vents | | foil, signed |
| Stomping Ground | | foil, signed |
| Strip Mine | | From the Vault: Exiled |
| Taiga | | |
| Temple Garden | | foil, signed |
| Tendo Ice Bridge | | foil, signed |
| Thawing Glaciers | | |
| Tranquil Thicket | | foil |
| Treetop Village | | FNM promo foil |
| Tropical Island | | |
| Tundra | | |
| Underground Sea | | |
| Undiscovered Paradise | | |
| Urza's Factory | | Champs promo, signed |
| Volcanic Island | | |
| Volrath's Stronghold | | |
| Wasteland | | MPR promo foil |
| Watery Grave | | foil, signed |
| Windswept Heath | | foil, signed |
| Wooded Foothills | | foil, signed |
| Fire/Ice | | FNM promo foil, signed |
| Spite/Malice | | foil |
| Who/What/When/Where/Why | | foil |
Back to Brett's Magic: The Gathering pages...
Last modified: Friday, September 18, 2009
Brett Allen (brett@snazzorama.com)