Bolt Cube

Cube ID
Art by Dominik MayerArt by Dominik Mayer

264 Card Cube

214 followers
Designed by TheOinkinatorRSSQR Code

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$1,223
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BOLT CUBE




Welcome to Bolt Cube, a cube with one important change... YOU START AT 3 LIFE! Bolt Cube is a four color cube without green, it has fascinating interactions, intricate games, and deep replayability. It was originally designed for 2-player drafts, however, it can be drafted up to a full pod of 8. There are a few rule changes to note and custom draft formats for the various player counts detailed below.

THE RULES


  • Player's starting life total is 3.
  • The minimum deck size is 25.
  • Players must reveal hidden agenda conspiracies and announce the chosen card at the start of the draft.

DRAFTING FOR 2 PLAYERS


The Bolt Cube has a distinct 2-player draft experience with special drafting rules. Players each receive 8 packs of 8 cards. Each pack is drafted as such:

  • Pick 1 card
  • Burn 1 card
  • Pass the pack to your opponent
  • Pick 2 cards
  • Burn 2 card
  • Pass the pack to your opponent
  • Pick 1 final card
  • Burn the remaining card

Players then build decks with a minimum of 25 cards and play a best of 5 match.

DRAFTING FOR 4-8 PLAYERS


For 4-8 player pass drafts the draft follows these rules:

  • Players draft with 3 packs of 11 cards.
  • The first pack is a 10 card pack with a seeded Cogwork Librarian for each player to bring the pack size to 11. Players may not use the Cogwork in their deckbuilding.

Players then build decks with a minimum of 25 cards and play best of 5 matches.


DECK BUILDING


The minimum deck size is 25. As deck building is a little unusual here are some helpful tips:

  • For 25 card decks 7-9 lands are recommended.
  • For single-pipped cards you want at least 3 sources of that color
  • For double-pipped cards you want at least 5 sources of that color
  • Milling out is a concern! Make sure you have a game plan. All interaction and no win conditions is risky business.

Design Notes


As many cards in this cube are unusual I am attempting to keep notes on the reasoning for card inclusion on the card notes page. Here are some general concepts to be aware of in this cube:


Creature Stats:

For balancing purposes creature's stat-line to power and toughness ratio must fall into one of these categories:

  • 0 Power - The bread and butter threats in this cube are cheap creatures that need a second card to add power to them and create a threat.
  • 1 Power Minimum cost for a 1 power creature is 2 mana and either two color pips or a significant downside.
  • Defender - A creature can have any stat line if it has defender.
  • Build Around - Essentially any creature that has power and can attack requires a steep build around cost or heavy downside.
  • Mana Value Restricted - Creatures 5 MV and over can have whatever stat-line although I try to keep these to a minimum
  • Token - Tokens can have any stat line they are regulated by the cost of the cards that produces them.

Any creature that falls outside of these categories is automatically a power outlier. They can be included but need good reason and are on the ban watchlist by default.


Interaction:

Interaction has a lot of texture in this cube. There are no restrictions on what is included outside of direct burn. I have listed general thought processes below and will detail further explanation in the individual card notes.

  • Efficient & Flexible - Generally speaking interaction should be efficient and flexible as possible. The only time interaction can be "too good" is when it provides some other bonus or is free counter magic that can protect combos.
  • Counter Magic - Counter magic in blue is obviously an important part of the format. In addition I try to fit as much stack interaction in Red, White, and Black.
  • Permanent Based Interaction - To facilitate the feeling of stack interaction whenever possible I like to put interactive effects on permanents. This allows Red and White's disenchants to play like counter magic.
  • Disenchants - In this format disenchants play very similar to Doom Blades in traditional formats as both threats and answers (as mentioned above) are commonly artifacts and enchantments.
  • Burn - Any burn that targets face in a remotely efficient way is banned as it creates for swingy game states. The only way spells can directly deal damage is through redirection effects like Deflecting Palm and Harm's Way.



Enjoy!