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The Cube Design Paradox
May 05, 2025 · 73 min

View all cards mentioned in this episode

Andy and Anthony talk about a paradox they occasionally face in Cube design. Sometimes a particular card to strategy over performs and as curators we want to add cards that offer counter play. Often those cards end up being just as potent played alongside the problematic cards as they are against them, only making the problem worse. Our hosts talk about specific times they’ve faced this paradox in their own cubes, and different strategies to break out of the paradox.

But first, they go on a long digression on Anthony’s latest fermentation project, growing koji.

Discussed in this episode:

Flavorama, by Arielle JohnsonThe Noma Guide to FermentationThe Art of FermentationAnthony’s First Koji Test100 OrnithoptersDegenerate Micro CubeRegular CubeEvergreen Ability Tier List Episode of Lucky Paper RadioMono Black CubeThe Turbo CubeTurbo Cube Changes with Julien Episode of Lucky Paper RadioLucky Paper Events Page

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” Cube

You can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co or our p.o. box:

Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro0:57 - Pickle Corner8:48 - The Nature of the Cube Design Paradox12:52 - Disenchants in 100 Ornithopters17:03 - Ensnaring Bridge in the Degenerate Micro Cube24:52 - Red in the Regular Cube27:23 - The Defunct Mono Black Cube29:59 - Combo Decks in the Turbo Cube37:17 - Constructed Magic Precedent for the Cube Design Paradox43:21 - Andy’s barely baked theory of power distribution’s impact on decks most likely to be drafted53:57 - Tools to Navigate the Cube Design Paradox