Let's start with the simple rule for constructing a cubelet. Just like cube, you get to pick what you want to play. Play 100 of your favorite cards. There are of course recommendations to help ensure you are making the most of your cubelet experience. Nothing is banned. If you do not want to play a particular card, do not put it in the cubelet.
Recommendations, not rules:
Do you want to add any design restrictions to your Cubelet construction? Restrictions do come with some drawbacks that you will have to consider. For example, a Pauper Cubelet (commons only) means there are no board wipe effects unless you play with creatures with only 3 toughness or less. A Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable Cubelet means that games are going to take longer because of some of the goofy mechanics. Building a cubelet with cards from only a specific Set/Block can create a whole new experience with the cards, but the bombs that took over that limited environment could also take over in your cubelet.
Recommendations, not rules:
- It should be more creatures than spells. We are looking to end up with ~60% creatures, ~40% spells. If you have more spells than creatures, either you run out of creatures and no one dies, or you continually shuffle the graveyard into the library and the game takes forever.
- For every major threat that you want to introduce, have at least 2 ways (not necessarily cards) to answer the threat. If you want to explore more planeswalkers, you need many ways to answer those planeswalkers. If you want to explore artifacts, then shatter effects will need to be in the deck as well.
- A good rule of thumb is each card should offer something to the cubelet. It feels real bad when one player draws all the amazing additions while the other player(s) are drawing support cards.
- You do not have to color balance. While it is a decent starting place (Suggested 14 of each mono color and 3 from each guild), Cubelet is about gameplay experience, not necessarily about making sure each color is equally represented.
- Have at least 2-3 wrath effects. Board stalls can occur, so having outlets to just empty the board are very important.
- Curve and average mana value is important to consider. Too low of a curve, and you play very quickly and too high, games can take a while to develop.
Do you want to add any design restrictions to your Cubelet construction? Restrictions do come with some drawbacks that you will have to consider. For example, a Pauper Cubelet (commons only) means there are no board wipe effects unless you play with creatures with only 3 toughness or less. A Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable Cubelet means that games are going to take longer because of some of the goofy mechanics. Building a cubelet with cards from only a specific Set/Block can create a whole new experience with the cards, but the bombs that took over that limited environment could also take over in your cubelet.