Don't Sleep On This AWESOME Budget MTG Format

[@Tw0shedz08]

This has got me sifting through my jank looking for the cards that deserve love.

[@casualrob]

That makes me so happy to hear!

[@Horrorcubus]

Artog Artog!

[@ry7hym]

Colossal Dreadmaw too OP in your format wow

[@iankargel6590]

You really can used any theme for a battle box. My wife and I built a "horse art tribal" box (yes, every card, including the lands, has a horse in the art), and it's the most fun we've had with Magic in ages!

[@henninglindqvist9005]

Would you perchance happen to have a list of this online somewhere? My fiance and I would greatly appreciate it! :)

[@iankargel6590]

@@henninglindqvist9005 it's on cube cobra. It's called HORSEBOX 2.0

[@johnpots4181]

That's the type of deck building the Timmy in me appreciates

[@johnpots4181]

I've got like two dozen pets because I got carried away when I worked at the pet store. I might build a box that features all cards that look like my different animals.

[@banjoemily3852]

We used to play Wizard's Tower, which is another shared deck format. Instead of having 10 land i the command zone, you can play any card face down as a 5 color land. It probably plays out very similar, but with the added trick that bouncing a land late game gives you access to a spell you had previously played as land

[@snackplaylove]

Yeah - I have a box labelled wizards tower too! Playing like a less fussy cube that doesn’t penalise people for not knowing the list is great. You can also play draw 2 keep 1 for more control over your direction of play

[@Crushanator1]

I've been building a Magic "Party Box" which is a format that uses 300-400 cards for multiplayer but the same face down solution for lands. I like the idea of having a ~200 card 2 person variant that can be built a bit more thematically and tightly around a similar idea

[@borospandrake]

I already have a Dan-Dan deck, this seems like a welcome addition. I'm sure the guaranteed land drops will please some players!

[@Drvoljub]

I used to play something very similar with my brother and cousins. Basically, we'd take a random card pile from our bulk commons/uncommons, shuffle it and use that as a communal library. The format was free-for-all multiplayer and, unlike your version, we didn't have lands. Instead each of us could play one creature and one non-creature per turn. If a permanent had an activated ability it could only be used once per turn. This obviously led to some hilariously imbalanced games and we had to ban some cards like Leonin Bola and Flamewave Invoker, but I still remember these games being some of the most fun I've ever had playing Magic.

[@christopherhenley8808]

Arena had a format with similar mechanics… it was called omnipotence I think. I think you started with a hand of 3, you could cast anything in your hand for free, and once per turn you could add WUBRG to your mana pool if you need to pay for activated abilities. I think your format may be a little slower and more fair.

[@astral_ghxst]

perhaps a more balanced version of this you should try is Windfall(?) Cubelet (i think that's the name). Same deal with stacking up whatever cards you want and doing away with lands, but it adds the homebrew rule that any card can be placed facedown as a 5-colour land. If you have someone willing, it can be incredibly fun to throw together a deck and start playing, changing up the list as you get to know the meta and getting to squeeze some more joy out of your jank cards

[@sleepycandle2642]

This sounds awesome

[@Artem-oy4xn]

We call it "pile" random shared libtary,shared graveyard,no lands.you may play any card face down as a land,that gives any color

[@Lornext]

I have had a "Tome" deck since 2014. 200 cards for 4 players, shared library and grave.

[@rob_the_plug]

It makes me so happy when people discover this format. I discovered it through Lucky Paper Radio as well. I made a fairytale themed battlebox including lots of cards from Lorwyn and Eldraine (the box is about to get a HUGE update from a recent set) My girlfriend and I play it once or twice a week, it's wonderful. Such an amazing casual format, and an incredible way to teach someone to play Magic.

[@guyinthecorner0]

link me a list? I'm getting my partner into it and she's also loving Eldraine haha

[@rob_the_plug]

@@guyinthecorner0 Sorry! I didn't record a list as we don't really make changes to the box. We just went on a singles website and looked at the fairytaleish sets (Eldraine 1 + 2, Lorwyn and Lord of the Rings) We can't wait for Bloomburrow which should have some more cards for it!

[@VioletMage]

Neat idea I think I will def make one of these. Reminds me of Dandan which I am a huge fan of

[@casualrob]

Been meaning to try that one too, looks like fun

[@VioletMage]

@@casualrob The original mono-blue dandan is interesting because there is alot of top-deck manipulation that goes on. Its alot of fun and I try to get anyone I meet that is into magic to play atleast a game

[@friesen_m]

the land rule in the command zone made me think about changing all the lands there to Gond Gate and all the Ravnica Guildgates. Great vid

[@whalesequence]

Super creative and cool, lower barrier to entry than even a set cube for newer players

[@rivuletscug]

I ADORE BATTLEBOX THESE ARE AWESOME I have a pauper battlebox myself its very fun

[@l4rgo911]

This reminds me of when I first began playing in High School. I only had a Starter Deck (the izzet one from Zendikar) so when I played with my brother I just split the cards in half to play. Some of the most fun games were from then. I remember one time that I ended up with most of the creatures, so I spent 4-5 turns building an already lethal board for bragging rights. All that only to die to a Lightning Bolt that he top decked. Good times...

[@greenkribs]

thank you for blessing me with this amazing format. Im excited to put my box of commons n uncommons who dont get the love they deserve and gonna make a nice battle box, excited to show my friends

[@casualrob]

Awesome, I hope they enjoy it!

[@jonathanfagerlund976]

I have a 300 card singleton deck I've been working on for over a decade. I totally rebuilt and rebalanced it a few months ago. It's full of Un-cards and other entertaining things, and it works quite well. It even has its own wooden case.

[@EnforcerX]

For my Battle Box, I use a separate land deck. 5 of each Basic, plus 10 non basic dual lands. You start the game with 4 non land cards and 3 land cards, then you can choose to mulligan as many land cards as you want 1 time. Helps you cast the cards in your hand early on. Then, whenever you draw a card, you can choose to draw a land or a non land. Do you try to draw action with the colors you already have? Or do you try to spike a land to cast the spells in your hand? It adds another little game into it.

[@latinoh3at84]

I gonna try build one wh40k themed

[@shima6917]

Wow, this is cool. Finally a place where the jank draft chaff can shine.

[@modtyrant1784]

oh my freaking lord, here i thought i was being original. I made some thing like this (minus commander lands rule).

[@ngbrother]

When I was introduced to this format, the lands rule was use a basics box at the LGS. Whenever you would draw, you may get basic from the box instead.

[@jiffyb333]

Ohhoho! Now THIS is a wonderful use of my bulk cards!

[@minispiel19]

I have a cube that I have never used. Now I will turn it into this so my husband and I will actually play it. Thank you!

[@snackplaylove]

It works great as travel magic too - and forces you to only use cards that you can play in a cafe or pub without worrying about them too much

[@torymiddlebrooks]

This could be an incredible teaching tool. Build a Beginners Battle Box, focusing on easy to play and direct cards with just a hint and tease of the more complex ideas.

[@DeathByPixelsVisuals]

Did you end up trying this? I'm about to build something like this myself.

[@torymiddlebrooks]

@@DeathByPixelsVisuals It's still a work in progress because it turns out Magic is hard! I have about 600 cards that I am whittling down to create obvious lines of play but in the middle of my own brewing though Archidekt, the deck building and collection management site that I use, just announced their monthly contest: A commander legal beginners deck. So I am going to pause and see what the community comes up with and "steal liberally".

[@MattWyndham]

Mono color battle box with big green dinosaurs sounds fun

[@casualrob]

That sounds like a blast! Got a bunch more coming in Ixalan soon too

[@z33pys5]

Now THIS is exactly what I need. I absolutely love draft/limited. It is by far my favorite part of magic. This not only allows me to clear bulk, but also brings back fun cards i might not have plaued in a while! Quick questions. Have you consideered using cards from just certain blocks to do themed boxes? I.e. theroes and born of the gods for greek stuff. Inistrad and modnight hunt for vampires etc? I love the idea of including some bulk rares. Any plan on making a box with some in it? Lastly, what do you think about the idea of inlcuing uncommon legendaries as commanders? Maybe you draw a random one or two (if you deside to do partner) and have them be an option throighout the game? Thanks for the video! Cheers 🙌

[@casualrob]

I made two others that only used cards from a specific year of draft sets, one for sets that released in 2021 and one for 2022. I was planning on donating a bunch of bulk cards, so it was the perfect use for them before I shipped them off. I could see some bulk rares in these boxes, you just want to make sure they aren't too powerful. If only one player draws the rares, it could lead to some feel-bads. I haven't personally toyed around with a "commander box", but it seems like it could be a cool idea if you build around them well. Thanks for the comment, glad you liked the video!

[@z33pys5]

@@casualrob Thank you for the reply! Do you plan on releasing deck lists for your 2021 and 2022 sets? If so that would be great!

[@casualrob]

I’ll reply when I get around to uploading the lists! I haven’t had a chance to play test them yet. I followed the same philosophy as this box though, generally cheap cards, about 2/3 creatures, tons of combat tricks and cheap removal

[@douwereitsma4202]

We have 2 battle boxes, one with just Oldschool cards Alpha-Ice Age and one Premodern, 4th - Scourge. So much fun. And biggest advantage that you don't have to spend time drafting and deckbuilding.

[@Tang526]

Can this be played with 3-4 players as well? Just add extradecks of lands?

[@Crushanator1]

Yeah, at ~200 cards you can easily fit 3-5 players, and basic and tap lands are cheap enough you could throw some extras into the deck box

[@JJMickeyMedia]

I've been trying to come up with a thing to do with my cards I want to play but don't fit in any of my decks. This is it. Thanks for the idea!

[@johnpots4181]

I love convoluted , lowpowered magic , so this is like the perfect format.

[@benkindel9311]

I have two kinds of friends, the ones who are tired of hearing the words "battle box" and the ones who say "don't forget to bring the battle box". Mine plays with different rules. Seven card hands, any card can be played face down as a land. It's themed around graveyard value and modality (I have almost every compatible charm and command in it). Lots of self mill, Flashback etc.

[@HighlightHouse07]

Please make a gameplay of your box

[@SFTortoise]

i am a huge fan of cube, hhhhmmmmm this could be neat

[@willjackson5885]

Looks fun. I’ve done something like this before, but instead of getting a free land each turn you had to choose like “Abundance”

[@Beesechurger_73]

Cool idea!

[@Aigis31]

Huh. I thought Battle Box referred to a box full of preconstructed decks meant to face against each other?

[@Aigis31]

Also, I'm not one for drafting, so I decided to make my own Battle Box. A much weaker and more entry level experience so I can try playing with some people who haven't played Magic in a while. It was a lot of fun to build and play test! I haven't played it in a game against someone else yet, but it was an enjoyable experience to create. Thank you for making this video showcasing the format.

[@RobertHMayfire]

This gives me an idea for a Commander Battle Box. Have a bunch of fun but not op Legendaries for each player to pick from or randomly and GO!

[@zackadams81]

I’ve been addicted to this format since seeing this. Now I’m starving for more content. This video and 1 episode of a podcast is all I have. Love this please make this format more popular.

[@casualrob]

It really is a blast, I'm glad I could introduce you to it! What have you built so far?

[@zackadams81]

So far I’ve only thrown together some old commons and uncommons but pulled inspiration from your video. Combat focused, no ramp, interaction heavy, with simple mechanics for newer players.

[@BLUblaze-zd1lb]

I came up with an idea super similar in my playgroup it's a little bigger but plays super similar and has a bit less cultivation to the deck since I started drafting the shared deck about 5 years ago now and came up with the concept in either late 2016 or early 2017

[@casualrob]

Definitely feels a bit like the janky rare piles my friends and I used to jam in middle school

[@benjaminloyd6056]

Awesome format, thanks for the Video!

[@codenamexelda]

The format I'm making has no mana flood, no mana screw, a guarantee spell each turn, AND the type of deck construction in other mtg formats with a few unique things here and there to keep it interesting.

[@asvaee]

What you're doing, when shaping the game to fit you needs - seems like a much better idea than go with [insert random format]. (which was my predominant approach)

[@nullpointerworks4036]

This is nice! I love Cube, but I dont always have enough people to draft with, but Battle Box solves the problem. I'll get started right away!

[@julybee047]

I've created pretty much this game 13 years ago 😏 99% same 😏 i think its just a logical move because of the habitude to play a common deck in other games

[@milramas]

the dreadmaw one got me

[@pr0fet]

This sounds very similar to a format a buddy and I put together we called Communism. Large shared, randomized deck with separated land deck. You draw from the shared deck, or land deck your choice on draw, then just played regular. Everything is random

[@whisperingworms]

Your videos are great, buddy! Thank you.

[@casualrob]

Thank you!

[@chrisgallo2236]

I just bought a set of each common and uncommon from Guilds Of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance and threw those together. No rares of mythics so the power level stays relatively low but there’s also a lot of variety because each guild had there own identity with a special ability that they were given. Also it was easy to pick the tapped lands to use… Guildgates lol.

[@alanchristopherson2636]

With my 444 card multiplayer box we use 10 basic land, and the players vote to start with a free Exotic Orchard or Rainbow Vale in play. Gives players two mana turn one but all other players one mana turn zero. The orchards speed up the game and the vales add a lot to politics.

[@magusofthebargain]

Having each player start with 4 cards is not quite as fair as having the player who goes first begin with 3 cards, and draw a 4th card on their first turn, and the player who goes second begins with 4 cards plus a Lotus Petal. The mulligan rule can be that players can throw back any number of cards from their starting hands and draw that many before beginning. This speeds up mulligans and makes it so players can sculpt those starting 3 and 4 card starting hands (no you can't throw back the Lotus Petal, the second player gets that after they decide to keep their hand after their first and only partial mulligan. This is the starting hand rule in Hearthstone, and it works quite well.

[@Horrorcubus]

Mirrodin Block Battle Box: Timesifter + Shared Fate!

[@PrebenHollywoodTV]

Sounds like scrying might be a a fun mechanic to try out in a battle box?

[@magusofthebargain]

Your 4-year old is a great box designer and I'm sure people would pay $10 each for these hand-colored battle boxes.

[@magusofthebargain]

Memory Lapse might be waaaay too powerful for this format, but since it's a casual format, as long as both players are having a good time, powerful cards are fine.

[@SwedeRacerDC]

I like this. I've done things like this in the past, but this is a simple enough way to utilize stuff that doesn't get utilized, have fun and it even seems like a good way to learn the game, though you do have to make sure and stress the notable differences as you play if you're teaching with it. I think I'll build one.

[@PrereleasePrep]

Sounds like the cubelet I've played in the past. That's 100 cards and shared library. #lrr #alex

[@magusofthebargain]

Combat tricks are the most fun cards in MtG. Thank you for clarifying that.

[@Lavorre]

I kinda did this and made a low power cube! Its to teach my friends new to magic and no card has more then 2 lines of text! (The best creature is also colossal dreadmaw)

[@flurkoneko1671]

✅ get to use my draft chaff ✅ quicker to setup than a cube ✅ high variation in games Hello weekend plans

[@chrisgallo2236]

This is awesome! I’m going to build one with extra cards I have lying around.

[@Watch-0w1]

Thank for sharing. This format sound fun and affordable. It kind portable and quick. I dislike 30 min games in arena

[@PureSolace]

Interesting. My circle of friends and locals have always called a set of curated 'kitchen table' decks meant to be balanced against each other as a 'battlebox'.

[@pauvi0303]

I need to try this! Thank you for showing me the format

[@Sifeus]

I love shared deck formats and cheap formats so much.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

This popped into my recommended feed at just the right time. I as just looking at my battle box and realizing I didn't love it. I focused so much on cards with multiple modes that I kind of didn't put in enough cards that are actually just fun to play, and I think your list will give me a little push to make my own battle box more fun.

[@DuraheLL]

Your kid did a beautiful job on decorating the box

[@byrongehrig8429]

I use a JumpStart battlebox... Not exactly the se thing, but uses typical rules for lands to be super new player friendly.

[@stephenboerner251]

"I cut colossal dreadmaw for the same reason [power]' ez sub

[@Oscar-qs4nt]

I recently picked up memory lapse and had trouble of where to put it at. But now it will be perfect for battle box.

[@refundreplay]

Everybody hits their land drops until turn 11...

[@cloud13Wizard]

So its a Forgetful Fish variant with free lands?

[@MarcosAntonio-fl5ox]

Loved the idea, will surely build a low power one centered on bloom burrow!

[@chummer2060]

I made one of these a few years back. We've only played with it a few times, but it's a lot of fun. Great to give some less desirable cards a home, too. Putting plenty of answers in the stack was a must for me, too. I didn't want to get into situations where it's just a stalemate. Gotta have ACTION!

[@timmyg316]

I always thought this was a nice idea to play with our commander decks

[@BooneyianLogic]

I LOVE THIS. me my cousin a d a friend created a go-fish style mtg format. We created a balanced and more casual deck that we smear on the table it was a great game. The winner could use a sharpie to change 1 card. We had some hilarious follow up games where someone would play the winners card and laugh hysterically at the "target player puts on black sabboth"

[@DriffPL]

So... DanDan, but more freeform? :)

[@zeichen95]

This is an awesome take to to entice new players into the game. Also to have use of the bulk of cards here.

[@ArgentIcon]

Sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe you could do a little show match with a friend of yours?

[@Mr2hyper9]

Colossal Dreadmaw too gud! Plz nerf

[@magusofthebargain]

nice to see players tapping to the left again

[@darthstar18]

Get a draft booster box, mix the cards and make two battle boxes.

[@sytsmr]

Made a Battlebox as well. This looks fun

[@Scoooot]

This is a good idea!!! Going to make a giant mill deck with no labman lol

[@threevelayt5302]

sooooo, force of will but with magic cards?

[@LBerti96]

This is not what a battlebox generally is, like you claimed in the beginning, but this sounds like a nice idea non the less. A battlebox traditionally is a box of a variable amount of pre-built decks which are relatively balanced against each other. It could be the top 8 decks of a particular Pro-Tour, a good slice of the meta of your favourite format (generally pauper, because something like modern would often be too expensive for this) or all the drafted decks you build throughout a certain set or block

[@Sabaan]

You are right and the creator of this video is right, too. Both formats are called battle box. While the one in the video is sometimes also called danger room which was created by Brian DeMars (so usually his box gets called danger room). 😊

[@ReiTuG]

This is awesome! I just love it!

[@warp9988]

Turn Bulk into Magic Fun.

[@oblobear2093]

I am gonna try this with my play group.

[@gamerbear84]

Kinda wanna just use my mini mono-black cube for this format, but I dunno if the card advantage stuff in it would be too strong and maybe some synergies would be weak.

[@casualrob]

Yeah you might have to tweak some things, but that sounds cool

[@Lunamowon]

what i did for a "casual fun" format is proxy 4 legacy decks and put them into cheap ultrapro flip boxes. We just whip them out whenever we want and print new decks so rn i have like.. 6 legacy decks.

[@Lunamowon]

and then i built boros initiative in paper.. uh.. YOU HAVE A PROBLEM I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM

[@UltimateLoaf]

LET'S GO COLOSSAL DREADMAW! TOO GOOD FOR THE FORMAT!

[@CptManboobs]

This seems a lot more convenient than a Cube Draft imo.

[@Mattball82]

Love stuff like this!

[@carsonphipps9904]

Have you ever considered any of the uncommon planes walker cards for a battle box?

[@casualrob]

I could see that being interesting, just make sure you have a lot of answers to them. Only downside off the top of my head is that they would probably make games last a lot longer, which might not be what you're looking for.

[@wernerfaaij]

Sounds like a cool format which dual land do you sugest playing this format

[@casualrob]

The gates are the best I think, just plain old tap lands. The lands that have you gain 1 life draw the game out an extra turn or so, so I’m avoiding those now

[@chadjones1266]

Thanks

[@Julio1jpg]

Great idea!

[@FlorianSellckau]

Brilliant 🎉

[@derick8146]

Mill.

[@trinir2581]

This format can really suit that itch of certain mirror matches

[@casualrob]

One of the Lucky Paper podcast hosts has a box themed around the "Jeskai Control Mirror Match" that looks fun: cubecobra.com/cube/overview/jeskai-control-bb

[@thenicjman]

I wonder if you could make a commander battle box. 😮

[@casualrob]

It would definitely have some challenges, but I’m sure it’d be possible to put something fun together. You’d have to put a lot of thought into which commanders you’d build around so that every card in the box is good for every commander

[@pequenovitor]

THANK YOU! Great way to ease my wife and family into it! Been looking for something like this! Thanks!