Art by Amy WeberA 2-player mini cube made from all of the digital-only cards ever created. The cube will be designed for Winston Draft between 2 players.
Working with Cards Designed for Digital MagicAs a result of the abilities that are on digital-only cards, we need to get creative to produce the same effects. For example, many of the cards require a random effect to be selected. For these, a dice throw and a table of possible effects are used.
Note: Some cards are not yet available on Cube Cobra. For the full cube list, see here: https://www.moxfield.com/decks/_WIhym6W50izNtYpHdPTIg
Additional RulesThe following additional rules allow the various digital-only keywords and effects to work:
Random Number SelectionVarious cards require a random number for various reasons. The following table lists cards that require this mechanic and the dice required to produce the desired random number.
| Random Value | Die Roll | Card |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | D4 | Arden Angel |
| 0-2 | D4 - 1, Re-roll if die roll results in 4 | Ashuza's Breath |
| 0-6 | D8 - 1, Re-roll if die roll results in 8 | Hapato's Might |
| 3-7 | D6 + 2, Re-roll if die roll results in 6 | Lydari Elephant |
| 2-6 | D6 + 1, Re-roll if die roll results in 6 | Murgish Cemetery |
| 0-5 | D6 - 1 | Saji's Torrent, Velican Dragon |
| 1-3 | D4, Re-roll if die roll results in 4 | Tornellan Protector |
Whenever a card refers to a random color or random basic land, roll a six-sided die (D6) and consult the following table:
| Die Roll | Color |
|---|---|
| 1 | White  , Plains |
| 2 | Blue  , Island |
| 3 | Black  , Swamp |
| 4 | Red  , Mountain |
| 5 | Green  , Forest |
| 6 | Re-roll the die. |
Cards that use this effect are: Gem Bazaar, Prismatic Dragon and Rainbow Knights.
Random Permanent SelectionTo select a random permanent of a given type, count all matching permanents, then assign a number to each. Roll a die that has at least the number of sides equal to the number of permanents. The result is the selected permanent, or if the number rolled is larger than the nuber of permanents, re-roll the die.
Cards affected by this rule are Call for the Grave, Goblin Polka Band, Orcish Catapult, Power Struggle, Whimsy.
Random Effect SelectionSelection is generally made by rolling a die, and looking up the number in a given table of effects.
Pool of Vigorous GrowthThis is probably the hardest random effect to replicate in paper Magic. It's activated ability creates a random creature card that you can play for free.
To get a random creature, use the following Scryfall link:
Then, use a drywipe token to create the card.
Davriel, Soul BrokerFor Davriel's second ability, roll an 8-side die (D8) three times, re-rolling any duplicate throws. Consult the following table for the three offers to choose from:
| Roll | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Draw three cards. |
| 2 | Conjure a Manor Guardian card into your hand. |
| 3 | Return two random creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. They perpetually gain +1/+1. |
| 4 | Return a random creature card with the highest mana value from among cards in your graveyard to the battlefield. |
| 5 | You get an emblem with “Creatures you control get +2/+0.” |
| 6 | You get an emblem with “Spells you cast cost oB less to cast.” |
| 7 | You get an emblem with “Davriel planeswalkers you control have “+2: Draw a card.” |
| 8 | You get an emblem with “Whenever you draw a card, you gain two life.” |
Then, roll a D8 three times, re-rolling any duplicate results, and choose from the three matching conditions in the following table:
| Roll | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | You lose six life. |
| 2 | Exile two cards from your hand. If fewer than two cards were exiled this way, each opponent draws cards equal to the difference. |
| 3 | Sacrifice two permanents. |
| 4 | Each creature you don’t control perpetually gains +1/+1. |
| 5 | You get an emblem with “Creatures you control get -1/-0.” |
| 6 | You get an emblem with “Spells you cast cost oB more to cast.” |
| 7 | You get an emblem with “Whenever you draw a card, exile the top two cards of your library.” |
| 8 | You get an emblem with “At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life for each creature you control.” |
When the Tome's ability is activated, roll a 10-sided die (D10) and consult the following table. Add the resulting card to your hand:
| Die Roll | Card Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Light of Hope |
| 2 | Swords to Plowshares |
| 3 | Force Spike |
| 4 | Ponder |
| 5 | Dark Ritual |
| 6 | Duress |
| 7 | Assault Strobe |
| 8 | Lightning Bolt |
| 9 | Fog |
| 10 | Giant Growth |
When cast, Whimsy generates X random effects. Roll a 20-sided die (D20) X times. Whimsy produces all of the rolled effects as one effect on the stack.
| Die Roll | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | "Return target permanent that isn\u2019t enchanted chosen at random to its owner's hand." |
| 2 | "Choose one at random: tap target artifact, creature, or land chosen at random, or untap target artifact, creature, or land chosen at random." |
| 3 | "Flip a coin. If you win the flip, create a 5/5 colorless Djinn artifact creature token with flying. If you lose the flip, Whimsy deals 5 damage to you." |
| 4 | "Whimsy deals 4 damage to any target chosen at random." |
| 5 | "Target player chosen at random draws three cards." |
| 6 | "For each player, flip a coin. If the flip ends up heads, choose a creature card at random from that player's library and create a token that's a copy of that creature card under that player's control." |
| 7 | "Destroy target artifact chosen at random. That artifact`s controller gains life equal to its converted mana cost.", |
| 8 | "Destroy target artifact or enchantment chosen at random. It can't be regenerated." |
| 9 | "Target player chosen at random gains 3 life." |
| 10 | "Destroy target creature or land chosen at random. It can't be regenerated." |
| 11 | "Target player chosen at random discards a card." |
| 12 | "Target player chosen at random mills two cards." |
| 13 | "Target player chosen at random creates a 1/1 colorless Insect artifact creature token with flying named Wasp." |
| 14 | "Destroy all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments." |
| 15 | "Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn." |
| 16 | "Draw a card and reveal it. If it isn`t a land card, discard it." |
| 17-20 | Re-roll the die |
Note: There is also a handy button on Scryfall that does the same: https://scryfall.com/card/past/10/whimsy
Faerie DragonWhen Faerie Dragon's ability is activated, roll a 20-sided die (D20). Consult the following table. Put the associated affect onto the stack.
| Die Roll | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | "Target creature chosen at random gains trample and gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is its power. At the beginning of the next end step, destroy that creature if it attacked this turn." |
| 2 | "Target creature with power 2 or less chosen at random can't be blocked this turn." |
| 3 | "If target creature chosen at random has toughness 5 or greater, it gets +4/-4 until end of turn. Otherwise, it gets +4/-X until end of turn, where X is its toughness minus 1." |
| 4 | "Target spell or permanent chosen at random becomes white." |
| 5 | "Target spell or permanent chosen at random becomes blue." |
| 6 | "Target spell or permanent chosen at random becomes black." |
| 7 | "Target spell or permanent chosen at random becomes red." |
| 8 | "Target spell or permanent chosen at random becomes green." |
| 9 | "Faerie Dragon deals 3 damage to any target chosen at random." |
| 10 | "Target creature chosen at random gains flying until end of turn." |
| 11 | "Target creature chosen at random gets +3/+3 until end of turn." |
| 12 | "Target creature chosen at random gains banding until end of turn." |
| 13 | "Target creature chosen at random can\u2019t be regenerated this turn." |
| 14 | "Choose one at random: tap target artifact, creature, or land chosen at random, or untap target artifact, creature, or land chosen at random." |
| 15 | "Target creature chosen at random gets -2/-0 until end of turn." |
| 16 | "Return target creature chosen at random to its owner\u2019s hand." |
| 17 | "Faerie Dragon deals 1 damage to any target chosen at random." |
| 18 | "Target creature other than Faerie Dragon chosen at random has base power and toughness 0/2 until end of turn." |
| 19 | "Exile target creature chosen at random. Its controller gains life equal to its power." |
| 20 | "Put a -0/-1 counter on target creature chosen at random." |
Note: There is also a handy button on Scryfall that does the same: https://scryfall.com/card/past/3/faerie-dragon
ConjureConjure creates a new card in the player's hand. There is a second collection of cards that are not included in the draft. these can be added to the game as required by an ability.
The following cards are essentially a shared "sideboard" that can be moved into a player's hand when a conjure effect resolves:
| Card Name | Source of Conjure effect |
|---|---|
| Shivan Dragon | Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv |
| Stormfront Pegasus | Wingsteed Trainer |
| Light of Hope | Tome of the Infinite |
| Swords to Plowshares | Tome of the Infinite |
| Force Spike | Tome of the Infinite |
| Ponder | Tome of the Infinite |
| Dark Ritual | Tome of the Infinite |
| Duress | Tome of the Infinite |
| Assault Strobe | Tome of the Infinite |
| Lightning Bolt | Tome of the Infinite |
| Fog | Tome of the Infinite |
| Giant Growth | Tome of the Infinite |
| Kraken Hatchling | Kiora, the Tide's Fury |
| Tropical Island | Shoreline Scout |
| Manor Guardian | Davriel, Soul Broker |
Seek is a keyword effect added to Magic Arena, that allows a random card matching given constraints to be taken from the library and added the the player's hand, without disturbing the order of the library, and without the player seeing the order of cards in the library.
This is the hardest keyword to replicate in paper Magic.
The closest way to replicate this is to randomly select a card in the libray. If it matches the restriction, then put it in your hand. If it doesn't, place it back in the same position and repeat the process until you do choose a valid card.
This method ensures that the core "random tutor" effect is still in place, while reducing as much as possible, the additional knowledge gained due to the restrictions of the paper format.
PerpetualPerpetual is a keyword added to Magic Arena, that causes permanent changes to cards for the remainder of the game. To replicate this in paper, add a slip of paper with the additinal rule written on it inside the card sleeve.
The following Perpetual rules are possible:
- This creature's base power is 0. (Baffling Defences)
- This creature gets -3/-3. (Davriel, Soul Broker)
- This creature gets -1/-2. (Davriel's Withering)
- This creature doesn't untap during your untap step.
: Untap this creature. (Ethereal Grasp) - This spell costs
more to cast. (Lumbering Lightshield) - Deathtouch (Plaguecrafter's Rat)
- This spell costs less to cast. You may pay
rather than pay this spells mana cost, where X is its mana value. (Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv) - This creature gets +1/+0. (Scion to Shiv)
- You may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast this spell. (Tome of the Infinite)