What Are MTG Proxy Cubes?
Table of Contents
TLDR
- MTG proxy cubes are regular Magic cubes, but the card pool is made from printed proxy play pieces instead of sourced originals.
- You still shuffle, make packs, draft, and build 40-card decks like any other cube.
- The big wins are cost control, consistency, and easy updates as you tune your environment.
- If you want the “always ready for draft night” experience, 540 cards is a popular sweet spot for variety.
Cube is the most “make it your own” way to play Magic
Cube is addictive because you get to be the set designer. You pick the archetypes, the power band, the draft format, and the vibe. That’s also why cube questions get messy fast, because “What should I build?” usually hides three other questions right behind it.
MTG proxy cubes make the logistics easy, so you can spend your energy on the part that matters: making your cube draft well.
What a cube is (quick refresher)
A cube is a curated pool of Magic cards you draft from. Instead of opening sealed boosters, you shuffle the cube, build “packs,” draft, then build decks. Think of it as your personal custom Limited set that you can draft again and again.
Most cube nights use the standard booster-draft structure (packs of 15), but you can also run small-group draft formats if that’s how your group usually shows up.
So what makes it a “proxy” cube?
A proxy is simply a card that represents another card during gameplay.
Put the two together:
An MTG proxy cube is a cube where some or all of the cards are printed proxies.
It’s still cube. The “proxy” part is just how you chose to build the physical card pool.
Proxy cube vs traditional cube (what you’ll actually notice)
Here’s the practical difference that shows up at the table:
| What you care about | Traditional cube (all originals) | MTG proxy cube (printed pool) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Often high and unpredictable | Predictable and controlled |
| Consistency (look + feel) | Mixed printings, mixed wear | Uniform on purpose |
| Updating the list | Slower, can be expensive | Swap cards whenever you want |
| “Night-of” reliability | Depends on condition + matching | Built for repeated drafts |
My opinion: consistency is the secret sauce. A cube that shuffles cleanly and reads well across the table feels better than a cube that’s “technically more official” but visually messy.
How MTG proxy cubes get played
Exactly like cube.
The classic math is worth memorizing because it keeps your decisions honest:
8 players × 3 packs × 15 cards = 360 cards drafted
That math is why cube sizes tend to cluster around a few standards:
- 360 cards: supports a full 8-player draft with no leftovers (tight and consistent)
- 450 cards: more variety, still pretty tight
- 540 cards: the classic “replayable draft night” size
- 720+ cards: maximum variety, higher variance, more upkeep
Why people build MTG proxy cubes (the real reasons)
Let’s keep it cube-first. Proxy printing matters because it changes the experience.
1) You get the environment you actually want
Want a Modern-feeling cube? A Vintage-style “everything is a weapon” cube? A theme cube that only your playgroup would love? Proxy cubes make “yes” the default.
2) You can tune faster
Cube is iterative. You draft, you notice problems, you tweak.
- The aggro decks are always short on 2-drops, add density.
- The graveyard deck never gets there, add redundancy.
- Three-color decks are miserable, add fixing or lower color intensity.
Proxy cubes make that loop painless, which usually means your cube gets good faster.
3) The table experience gets cleaner
This is the underrated win. Great proxy cubes tend to be:
- more readable across the table
- more consistent in sizing and alignment
- more uniform in shuffle feel once sleeved
That consistency is what turns “we tried cube once” into “cube night is our thing.”
The 4 decisions that define a great MTG proxy cube
If you’re building or buying a proxy cube, focus here first.
1) Pick a size based on your group
Rules of thumb that actually hold up:
- Mostly 2–4 players: smaller pools and small-group draft formats keep decks coherent
- Regularly 6–8 players: 540 is a great “variety without chaos” size
- You crave novelty: go bigger, but accept more variance and more maintenance
2) Choose a power band in plain English
You don’t need fancy labels, just be honest:
- Beginner-friendly: fewer traps, cleaner curves, reliable fixing
- Mid-power: strong threats, real synergy, less “oops I win”
- High power: faster starts, swingier games, sharper draft signals
My opinion: most playgroups have the most fun at mid-power. You get synergy stories, but games still feel like you got to play Magic.
3) Decide what kind of draft nights you actually have
If your group is often short-handed, design for it. Nothing kills momentum like a cube that only works when exactly eight people show up.
A simple approach:
- Build your cube for classic booster draft
- Also keep a plan for “we only have 4 tonight” formats
4) Make the proxies feel good to draft with
Printing details only matter here, where they affect play:
- Readability beats everything. If the table can’t read it, it plays worse.
- Consistency beats perfection. A uniform cube drafts better.
- Design for sleeves. Most cubes live sleeved, so optimize the shuffle.
If you’re buying a printed MTG proxy cube, this is the difference between “cool idea” and “we draft this constantly.”
A simple “Good / Better / Best” way to start
Good: Draft this weekend
- Size: 360–450
- Power: beginner-friendly to mid-power
- Structure: clear archetypes, fewer narrow build-arounds
- Goal: smooth drafts, low confusion, fast setup
Better: The regular playgroup cube
- Size: 540
- Power: mid-power
- Structure: deeper packages, better overlap between archetypes
- Goal: replayability without losing coherence
Best: Your signature environment
- Size: 540–720+
- Power: whatever you love, but intentional
- Structure: flexible archetypes, layered overlaps, fewer traps
- Goal: it feels like a real custom set with a point of view
Draft-night checklist (copy/paste)
- Sleeves: same style across the whole cube
- Basics station: sorted and easy to grab
- Tokens and reminders: reduce table friction
- Draft plan: pack count and pack size decided before you shuffle
- Timeboxes: draft time + deckbuild time (your future self will thank you)
Where PrintACube fits
If you like the idea of MTG proxy cubes because it makes cube night easier, that’s the whole point. PrintACube focuses on consistent, sleeve-friendly cubes that read cleanly and shuffle smoothly, with quick turnaround and simple pricing (like $100 for a 540-card cube).
FAQs
Are MTG proxy cubes different from “normal” cubes?
Design-wise, no. It’s still cube drafting. The difference is the physical card pool is printed proxies instead of sourced originals.
How many cards do I need for a full cube draft?
The classic baseline is 360 cards to support an 8-player draft with three 15-card packs each.
Is 540 a good size for an MTG proxy cube?
Yes. 540 is popular because it supports full drafts while adding variety so repeat sessions don’t feel samey. The tradeoff is more variance and a bit more work to keep archetype density high.
Do I need to sleeve a proxy cube?
Strongly recommended. Sleeves improve shuffle feel, protect the cube, and keep the experience consistent.
Can I update a proxy cube over time?
That’s one of the best parts. Draft, take notes, swap cards, and reprint only what changed.
What about double-faced cards?
Pick a consistent approach your group likes (and stick to it). Consistency keeps drafts moving and reduces table confusion.