Recross the Paths

Let's take it again from the top! This week, Wally walks us through Alpha Reimagined, his take on Magic's original set from a modern design sensibility. We also touch on his Unplayables Cube, a chance for forgotten cards to shine even though they couldn't in their own environments. We discuss pursuing nostalgia through play patterns over specific cards, the relationship between goals and implementation, letting your players feel like they've broken the game, and much more.

Alpha Reimagined on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/alpha-reimagined?view=primer

Unplayables Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/unplayables?view=primer

Wally on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/machineschooling.bsky.social

Wally is MachineSchooling on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/MachineSchooling/

Wally is @machineschooling on DiscordEmail the show at [email protected]

Save the date: Garden State Cube - January 9-10, 2027 in Edison, NJ

https://sites.google.com/view/garden-state-cube/home

This week, Mike walks us through the inspiration and execution of BARTIFACT, a Green-less, artifact-themed bar cube with the most adorable mascot. We explore Mike's journey with this project from it's beginnings as a small head-to-head environment to it being one of the featured cubes at Boston Cube Party. We discuss the strengths and challenges of breaking singleton, whimsy in cube play and design, embracing heroes and villains in a cube, and much more.

BARTIFACT on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/87f695d4-ca23-4827-b4d2-b3db65c7fe35?view=primer

Mike on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/6019d60f832cdf1039899376

Mike on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/djmikeysaxx.bsky.social

Email the show at [email protected]

In cube, not everything is black and white... except in Dichotomy Cube. This week, Chris guides us through his stellar project about embracing conflict and creating stories - with the help of appropriately colored sleeves of course. We discuss the joy in so many aspects of Magic, cube's strengths as a casual format, a thoughtful exercise for designing cubes, and much more.

Dichotomy Cube on CubeCobra (be sure to check out the visual spoiler sorted by tags!): https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/dichotomycube?view=mainboard&s1=Tags&display=spoiler

Omen Machine on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/ecb0c43e-bfdf-4ab3-8724-b014cee0f265?view=primer

Chris on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5f303c917649e8102a6c806b

Chris is @_mendicant on Discord

If you're inspired to try starting a design from a random set of 360 cards, https://coglib.sosk.watch/ has you covered! There's lots under the hood of this amazing tool. Thanks Jawn.snow!

Email the show at [email protected]

This week, Patrick takes us behind the velvet rope to explore the Million Dollar Cube. This high-octane environment aims to emulate constructed vintage and push the limits of what a powered cube can be. Patrick shares from his experience as a champion of Washington Cube Champs, California Cube Champs, and a multi-time Pro Tour competitor. We discuss setting (and breaking) rules for yourself, tips for promoting 2-color mana bases, making sure cards have multiple homes in your cube, and much more.

Million Dollar Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/Million%20Dollar%20Cube?view=primer

See more of Patrick's cubes on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5e2b53393e1bce2f442e3953

Patrick is Soreiha on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Soreiha

Email the show at [email protected]

Class is in session! This week, Mark gives us the overview for Strixhaven Study Abroad, an alternate take on the Strixhaven limited environment where students explore ally-pair archetypes from planes across the multiverse. We discuss building on Lesson and Learn, finding and following guiding stars in design, taking risks on your main themes, and much more.

Strixhaven Study Abroad on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/stx-study-abroad?view=primer

Mark on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5f9c4f3e9b11040fd151a093

Mark is on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/fourdeltavictor.bsky.social

Mark is @mark.restrepo on DiscordEmail the show at [email protected]

Can you have too much of a good thing? This week, Spence says the answer is probably "no" if you're talking about the most powerful flower ever printed. Spence guides us through 100 Black Lotuses, a wildly powerful, unique spin on cubes with an abundance of one card. We discuss breaking singleton to provide more accessible answers, finding balance in an incredibly powerful environment, how many Lotuses you should have in your deck, and much more.

100 Black Lotuses on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/100Lotus?view=primer

Spence on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/user/view/636af803a4cfe00f6bea44c4

Spence on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/poisoneddonut.bsky.social

Email the show at [email protected]

This week, the legendary Nick Floyd teaches us how to Fish! Nick is the designer of Forgetful Fish (Dandân), Rock Paper Scissors, and a wealth of other rule-bending Magic variants. There's a lot to explore, so make sure to check out the design doc (linked below) for more ways to play. We discuss building toward what's interesting, balancing discovery and refinement, how Nick has made his mark on Magic: the Gathering, and much more.

Nick's complete list of Variants and rules: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mazINq5xarND70aq3nB3CabDcHr_pM_KjokM6CaF5WY/edit?tab=t.0

Check out Nick's Magic and Dandân-related stories (Danecdotes) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJaAxbrIqymnT7sSEqHRsw

Nick's Variant-focused Discord channel: https://discord.gg/TMVcweYpEmail the show at [email protected]

This week, Brandon graciously connects with me all the way from Scotland. Brandon is a writer, cube designer, event organizer, Old School and Premodern aficionado, and an avid enjoyer of old-bordered cube across the globe. We discuss cube being a "net-zero" environment, the value of loving insistence when building community, why you should take your cube on vacation, and much more.

Brandon is u/HD114 on Reddit

Check out more old-bordered cube on Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/Oldbordercube/

Rocky Mountain Yeti Dominaria Cantos Cube on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/36gu8?view=primer

Faith Before Evidence: Navigating The Layers of Fun in Cube - https://rockymountainyeti.online/2026/05/09/faith-before-evidence-navigating-the-layers-of-fun-in-cube/

Read more of Brandon's articles at the Rocky Mountain Yetis page: https://rockymountainyeti.online/

Email the show at [email protected]

YOU FIGHT FOR HONOR, SOLDIER; FOR THE EMPIRE'S AND YOUR OWN! This week, Gabe guides us through Trenchfight, a white-leaning, de-desert-ed version of Weenies in the Desert where every card is 2 mana value or less. We discuss lessons learned from a cube that was doing a lot, the journey of totally transforming a cube, leaning into the community around you, and much more.

Trenchfight on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/Trenchfight

Gabe on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/user/view/e7f2b867-924a-4fe9-9837-829156d4e71a

Gabe is @softmaurice on Discord

Check out Gabe's band, Darling on Spotify - their new album Return on Investment is out now!: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ard6pWMOVsXr0R7MSWeOg?si=7WCtcyp9SEKjXhg54woxWw

Email the show at [email protected]

This week Ryan Overturf and I wax poetic about all facets of cube design and enjoyment, ranging from Twoberts to Mundanity (a new project about everything not exciting in fantasy) to art philosophy. We discuss the joys and challenges of sharing your work, cube as a form of expression, how rest is part of the creative process, and much more.

Listen to more of Ryan on 180 MtG: https://open.spotify.com/show/0E9q00OVjvnOo4V26bOwom?si=270abd0592c4437b

Ryan on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5e88d0f7df3ffb7493f5655c

Ryan on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/ryanoverdrive.bsky.social

Email the show at [email protected]