May 8, 2026 · Updated April 8, 2026

What Is an MTG Cube?

Learn what an MTG Cube is, how Cube Draft works, why players love it, and the most common types of Magic: The Gathering Cubes.

Magic: The Gathering Cube cards arranged for drafting

If you've spent any time around Magic: The Gathering players, you've probably heard people talk about "Cube Draft" or mention their own "Cube." But what exactly is a Cube, and why is it one of the most beloved ways to play Magic?

In short, a Cube is a custom collection of Magic cards designed to be drafted over and over again. Instead of opening official booster packs from a specific set, players draft from packs generated from the Cube itself.

Cube drafting combines the excitement of Limited play with the creativity of deckbuilding and game design, making it one of the most customizable ways to enjoy Magic.

What Is a Cube in Magic: The Gathering?

A Cube is a curated pool of cards assembled by a player or group of players.

Unlike a normal draft format, where the card pool is determined by a specific set such as Bloomburrow or Modern Horizons 3, a Cube can contain cards from any point in Magic's history, or even custom cards.

The creator of the Cube decides exactly which cards are included and what kind of gameplay experience they want to create.

Some Cubes focus on powerful cards and explosive gameplay, while others are designed around specific themes, mechanics, tribes, or budget restrictions.

Because every card is chosen intentionally, every Cube has its own unique identity, which can evolve over time with player feedback.

How Does Cube Drafting Work?

One of the unique aspects of Cube is that there is no single way to draft it.

While the traditional "pick one, pass the rest" booster draft is by far the most common Cube experience, Cube designers are free to use whatever draft method best suits their group and goals.

Popular Cube draft formats include:

Traditional Booster Draft
Winston Draft
Winchester Draft
Grid Draft
Rochester Draft
Solomon Draft

Some of these formats are specifically designed for two players, while others work best with larger groups.

In a traditional Cube draft, players sit down with packs of cards, select one card from each pack, and pass the remaining cards around the table until all cards have been drafted. Players then build decks from the cards they selected and play matches just like any other Limited format.

Why Do Players Love Cubes?

Cube drafting offers several advantages over traditional Limited formats.

Endless Replayability

A well-designed Cube can be drafted dozens or even hundreds of times without becoming stale.

Simply re-shuffle the cube, create new packs, and draft again!

Complete Customization

Cube designers have total control over the environment.

They can choose the power level, supported archetypes, mechanics, color balance, and overall feel of the format.

Play With Your Favorite Cards

Cube allows players to combine cards that were never printed in the same set.

Want to draft cards from Final Fantasy, Bloomburrow, and Modern Horizons together? Cube makes it possible.

A Format That Evolves

Many Cube owners regularly update their lists by adding new cards, testing archetypes, and refining the draft experience.

A Cube is never truly finished.

Common Types of Cubes

There is no single way to build a Cube. Over the years, several popular Cube styles have emerged.

Vintage Cube

Vintage Cubes contain some of the most powerful cards ever printed, including iconic cards from Magic's early history.

These Cubes often feature fast mana, powerful build-arounds, and extremely high-powered gameplay.

Legacy Cube

Legacy Cubes are similar to Vintage Cubes but typically exclude some of the most extreme cards and interactions.

They still offer powerful gameplay while being slightly more accessible.

Pauper Cube

A Pauper Cube only contains cards that have been printed at common rarity.

Despite the lower rarity restrictions, Pauper Cubes often provide deep and highly skill-testing gameplay.

Peasant Cube

Peasant Cubes use commons and uncommons but exclude rares and mythics.

They are popular among players looking for a balanced and affordable Cube experience.

Set Cube

A Set Cube recreates the draft environment of a specific Magic set.

Popular examples include:

Set Cubes are a great way to revisit favorite draft formats long after a set leaves circulation.

Themed Cubes

Some Cubes focus on a particular mechanic, tribe, plane, or gameplay concept.

Examples include:

Tribal Cubes
Artifact Cubes
Graveyard Cubes
Multiplayer Cubes

The possibilities are nearly endless.

How Big Should a Cube Be?

While Cubes can be built at any size, many Cube designers start with 360 cards.

A 360-card Cube contains exactly enough cards to support an eight-player draft using three fifteen-card packs per player.

Larger Cubes are also common:

360 cards: Maximum consistency
540 cards: More variety between drafts
720 cards: Huge card pool and greater replayability

There is no universally correct size. The best Cube size depends on the goals of the designer and the number of players involved.

Cube Draft vs Booster Draft

Both formats use the same drafting process, but they offer very different experiences.

Cube Draft	Booster Draft
Uses a custom card pool	Uses official booster packs
Can include cards from any set	Limited to cards in the chosen set
Reusable indefinitely	Requires new booster packs
Fully customizable	Defined by Wizards of the Coast
Can evolve over time	Fixed environment

Neither format is inherently better.

Many Magic players enjoy both traditional Limited formats and Cube drafting for different reasons.

Do Cubes Have to Be Singleton?

No.

Many Cubes use a singleton structure, meaning only one copy of each card appears in the Cube.

However, this is simply a popular convention rather than a requirement.

Some Cubes intentionally include multiple copies of certain cards to support specific themes or gameplay goals.

Ultimately, the Cube creator decides the rules.

Can You Draft Cubes Online?

Absolutely.

Online draft simulators have made Cube drafting more accessible than ever.

You can:

Draft community-created Cubes
Explore different Cube archetypes
Recreate classic Limited formats through Set Cubes
Build and test your own Cube designs

Whether you're interested in high-powered Vintage Cubes or recreating your favorite draft format from years ago, Cube drafting is one of the most flexible and rewarding ways to experience Magic.