So I'm building my first Cube as a fun thing for my cousin and a few of our friends to do when he's up or just for my friends and I to do when we hangout and I understand the basics. For a small one 360 cards, equal amount of each color, and some other things. What I need help with is finding a good amount per color, colorless, and multicolored as well as just general tips for how to work with making a it a working and successful Cube. Any sort of video/vido series and website that give information are also very helpful.
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-Ertai, wizard adept
First and foremost, welcome to the forum and congrats on your interest in THE BEST magic format (by a long shot)! Cubers are the most passionate magic players there are and for good reaso ...the cube is simply the most fun you can having playing this card game.
Building a cube a fun and very-worthwhile journey if you're up to it :). I'll not lie, it's an undertaking, and some significant effort to get going...but again, more than worth it! I'm just being honest about the efforts it takes to make one
Do you know what kind of cube you're interested in making?
Modern/eternal? Will affect cardpool, cost, and to a degree which archetypes you'll support (ie re animator, storm, etc)
Proxy vs real cards? There are a few of us on here who choose to proxy their cube (I'm one who does). It allows you to play the most powerful cards without budget concern, or more importantly no theft concern. Ours consists only of digital alters, and it's pimp in its own right, but required a lot of time/effort to find/print/cut/sleeve. The con is many consider real cards to be preferable. Many people sleeve their cube anyways...especially pricier cubes where card value is a worry and protection is important.
If real, some start with a pauper or common/uncommon cube first, for budgetary reasons...unless you're an avid legacy player who has many cube staples already.
Powered or not? Mox/lotus/sol ring/library/jitte/skull lamp. Affects the "fairness" or decks. Some prefer to play the most powerful cards ever, lower speeds up the game. And there's a cost consideration (CE cards can help).
Having listened to and read a number of cube resources, err on the side of more dual lands. The pain lands are a nice budget option. Duals and fetches are the best thing possible for your cube, but also pricey. Man lands are also very important. M10 duals, khans tap lands, and pain lands are affordable starts. Some folks are down on bounce/Karoo lands, but they are another affordable option. Regardless, prioritize getting good multi-color producing lands for your cube, they will make a biiiiig difference.
There are a couple of threads around here on budget cube staple cards to get started. I'll find them for you.
Based on the answer to these questions, we could also direct you to a couple well-made cubes on this forum who meet your design criteria that you could use for inspiration/influence.
Again, welcome! enjoy the great journey that is cubing!
When I first built my cube, it was basically for the same reasons. My cousin and some of our friends would gather at his house on Saturday nights to play Magic and have fun. We thought we had invented a wacky format where we drafted random piles of mixed up cards until we realized that someone else had already invented something similar and so much better. Our first cube was modeled after Evan Erwin's cube, but kept very budget with mostly commons, uncommons, and just stuff we had on hand that we thought would be good. This is what I would recommend to most cubers who want to get started. Today there's an abundance of information on cube available compared to what I had in 2007. This forum along with CubeTutor are both great resources. I would check some cube lists here that are about the size that you're looking for as well as the average cubes on CubeTutor. Get an idea of what kind of games you're looking to play and what archetypes you want to push and go from there with the cards you have available to you. Get an initial list together and draft it. It may not be exactly every single card you want to play with, but it'll be a start and I guarantee it will still be an absolute blast to draft and play. Not only that but acquiring cards, especially pimp versions, as well as organization and documentation of my cube are all some of my favorite things about being a cube owner.
Here are a few bullets to make the most of building your cube (in terms of spending)
1) Most important - make you goal clear - make sure you target a specific cube (360, powered, theme, foiled, etc). That way you have specific cards that you will acquire. Decide if you will proxy. No point in acquiring cards that will quickly be replaced (you can use your exising/borrowed/proxied cards for these). To help you with this, check out existing cubes so you can decide your theme.
2) Buy the cards that are currently easy to acquire. Namely - cards about to rotate, cards in FTV, Duel decks etc. If you have target cards in the reserved list, you may want to buy them already because they will not get any cheaper.
3) Do not buy cards that are in standard because they are still expensive. Plus you may give time for it to be tested by more experienced cubers for it to deserve a spot in your cube. Watch out though, for underrated cards like Goblin Rabblemaster and Hangarback Walker. Acquire them during release before they get expensive.
4) If you are building a 450 cube, prioritize 360 staples as they are more likely to be retained if new cubable cards come in. So do not buy the cards that are on the brink of being outclassed.
5) Do not scrimp on the manabase. They are expensive but worth it.
Duals - of you decide to get them, acquire them ASAP as they will just be more expensive as time goes on.
Shocks/Fetches - If you are patient, wait for them to rotate or be reprinted to get minimal price. It will happen once in a while.
Good luck on your journey and hope you enjoy! Many mambers can attest how fun this format is so you can look forward to a good time as well as support from the community.
Double sleeve your cards. They'll be played a lot and a single sleeve isn't enough protection. (inside sleeve is a tight-fit, upside down on the card, outer sleeve is a regular sleeve, right-side-up)
Proxy cards you don't have or can't afford or your cube won't play right.
Keep track of what you have, what you need, what version of each card you want.
If you don't get why a specific card is included in a list, think about it.
A cube is a personal project. If you like some cards and don't like others, feel free to adjust accordingly. You don't have to play what everyone else is playing, but make sure you are keeping things balanced and that things make sense (playing Angel's Mercy in a powered 360 cube because you like to gain life doesn't make sense)
-Ertai, wizard adept
As for a basic "skeleton" for a 360, I'd look to include:
50 cards of each color, 50 colorless cards and 60 "guild" cards (3 multicolor cards and 3 mana fixing lands per guild).
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 49th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from MKM!
Building a cube a fun and very-worthwhile journey if you're up to it :). I'll not lie, it's an undertaking, and some significant effort to get going...but again, more than worth it! I'm just being honest about the efforts it takes to make one
Do you know what kind of cube you're interested in making?
Modern/eternal? Will affect cardpool, cost, and to a degree which archetypes you'll support (ie re animator, storm, etc)
Proxy vs real cards? There are a few of us on here who choose to proxy their cube (I'm one who does). It allows you to play the most powerful cards without budget concern, or more importantly no theft concern. Ours consists only of digital alters, and it's pimp in its own right, but required a lot of time/effort to find/print/cut/sleeve. The con is many consider real cards to be preferable. Many people sleeve their cube anyways...especially pricier cubes where card value is a worry and protection is important.
If real, some start with a pauper or common/uncommon cube first, for budgetary reasons...unless you're an avid legacy player who has many cube staples already.
Powered or not? Mox/lotus/sol ring/library/jitte/skull lamp. Affects the "fairness" or decks. Some prefer to play the most powerful cards ever, lower speeds up the game. And there's a cost consideration (CE cards can help).
Having listened to and read a number of cube resources, err on the side of more dual lands. The pain lands are a nice budget option. Duals and fetches are the best thing possible for your cube, but also pricey. Man lands are also very important. M10 duals, khans tap lands, and pain lands are affordable starts. Some folks are down on bounce/Karoo lands, but they are another affordable option. Regardless, prioritize getting good multi-color producing lands for your cube, they will make a biiiiig difference.
There are a couple of threads around here on budget cube staple cards to get started. I'll find them for you.
Based on the answer to these questions, we could also direct you to a couple well-made cubes on this forum who meet your design criteria that you could use for inspiration/influence.
Again, welcome! enjoy the great journey that is cubing!
Old school group, sometimes more beer than cards. Revised thru Tempest block (and a little of Urza), sorry if I don't know all the new cards
Ye' Olde Schoole Casual Decks: BUReanimate -- GRAggro -- BWPestilence -- G10-land Stompy -- GRElfball -- GWEnchantress -- RAnkh Sligh -- BDiscard -- MUC "Draw-go" -- BRSuicide -- UWSkies -- UHigh Tide Mill -- WWeenie -- UMutated Bombers -- URThe great land-toss -- UB Molasass
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
Follow me. I tweet.
1) Most important - make you goal clear - make sure you target a specific cube (360, powered, theme, foiled, etc). That way you have specific cards that you will acquire. Decide if you will proxy. No point in acquiring cards that will quickly be replaced (you can use your exising/borrowed/proxied cards for these). To help you with this, check out existing cubes so you can decide your theme.
2) Buy the cards that are currently easy to acquire. Namely - cards about to rotate, cards in FTV, Duel decks etc. If you have target cards in the reserved list, you may want to buy them already because they will not get any cheaper.
3) Do not buy cards that are in standard because they are still expensive. Plus you may give time for it to be tested by more experienced cubers for it to deserve a spot in your cube. Watch out though, for underrated cards like Goblin Rabblemaster and Hangarback Walker. Acquire them during release before they get expensive.
4) If you are building a 450 cube, prioritize 360 staples as they are more likely to be retained if new cubable cards come in. So do not buy the cards that are on the brink of being outclassed.
5) Do not scrimp on the manabase. They are expensive but worth it.
Duals - of you decide to get them, acquire them ASAP as they will just be more expensive as time goes on.
Shocks/Fetches - If you are patient, wait for them to rotate or be reprinted to get minimal price. It will happen once in a while.
Good luck on your journey and hope you enjoy! Many mambers can attest how fun this format is so you can look forward to a good time as well as support from the community.
Proxy cards you don't have or can't afford or your cube won't play right.
Keep track of what you have, what you need, what version of each card you want.
If you don't get why a specific card is included in a list, think about it.
A cube is a personal project. If you like some cards and don't like others, feel free to adjust accordingly. You don't have to play what everyone else is playing, but make sure you are keeping things balanced and that things make sense (playing Angel's Mercy in a powered 360 cube because you like to gain life doesn't make sense)
Treat it like a labor of love.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG