7 Tips for Upgrading your First MTG Cube

On this episode 2 of Season 5 of Solely Singleton podcast, Brad and Eric break down the best areas to spend money on to improve your fledgling cube. The guys explain the base improvements you should try to touch on while explaining the traps you can fall into while doing an update on a tight budget.
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Topics:
00:00 Intro
01:35 Upgrading the Mana Base
04:40 Don’t Blow your budget on one card
06:28 Choosing Core Archetype Cards
11:15 Classic Cards
16:00 Planeswalkers
18:10 Price Differences
20:42 Colorless Cards
23:09 Don’t get Decision Paralysis
Solely Singleton Website: www.solelysingleton.com/
The Starter Cube (2021): www.cubecobra.com/cube/list/t...
Brad’s Twitter: / drruler
Eric’s Twitter: / onekuosora
Show Email: [e-mail]
Mana Fixing Land Rankings (outdated a bit): docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Licensed Music & Images Used By This Program:
“There It Is” by Kevin MacLeod, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY
“Thursday & Snow (Reprise)” by Blank & Kytt, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY
“Chiaroscuro” by Andrew Codeman, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY
“Groovy Baby” by Jason Shaw, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY
Magic Cards are a © Wizards of the Coast

[@Treglar_Shadowleaf_XJ9]

After a few years of 'Updating' my cube and placing the removed cards in a specific box so I can put them back(?) at a later time that box has been looking like a second Cube. : ) ?!?!

[@Myagic]

Great episode! It has a lot of points that I had to figure out the hard way. I just keep a separate binder for my cubes that I have for emergency swaps or cards that got taken out for x or y reasons. Note for new cubers: Player feedback is one of the most important parts of having a healthy cube. If your players don't have fun drafting certain cards or have feel bads then consider making changes. It's ok for bomby cards to exist in your environment to act as archetype signposts. If your players miss some of those archetypes when you cut them consider putting it back in with some changes. If your players absolutely hate an archetype then it's time to kick it to the curb. Sometimes it's fine to keep in pet cards people like because it makes your players happy even if it collectively doesn't add anything to the draft. Sorry for kind of rambling about this, but my point is, if you want to improve your cube, talk to your players. You don't have to make every change they want, but your pod will be much happier to play your cube multiple times.

[@seanedgar164]

I finally finished my commander cube and it's first run went well! Thankfully I binge you guys so I'm pretty clear on my updates. Too many wincon cards, some being unbalanced and not enough flexible rocks. I'm adding more removal and graveyard hate to keep things safe.

[@Kaybee3104]

13:50 Exactly this. I fell in love with drafting online because of the amount of magic I was able to play compared to irl. It gave me access to play every single color combo and learn the archtypes I like and don't like. Funny enough, I always draft aggro but my constructed decks are always grinders. 17:02 Also agree. Even in peasant cube, adding a few planeswalkers makes the cube more aesthetic (think ashiok, nahiri, and samut from WAR). I also think it creates combos that become iconic to that specific archtype. Elspeth in both weenies and the +1/+1 lists give the decks very recognizable gameplay. You are excited to throw her down when you draft that deck. Final thought: really appreciated all the related graphics during this podcast. I enjoy when people have meta conversation about magic and show specific examples without rambling. They way you show the cards for a few seconds and then move on is perfect. Very informative.

[@diresam1240]

First time I've catched one of your new episode on KZbin, you both choose perfect avatar to each of you xD

[@SolelySingleton]

[Brad] Mine is just what I look like IRL, Eric thought it was a pick your favorite card question.

[@pablopandolfo8446]

i dont get why limit yourself on budget, just proxy stuff. i have a legacy cube that's 100% proxy. they play just as good as normal cards and have the advantage of not wasting money on speculative cardboard.