Theory - Articles on Lucky Paper

Articles in our “Theory” series

Thought technologies for aiding Cube design.

Cube Synergy: A Users' Guide

August 25th, 2025 — Parker LaMascus

The risk-reward tradeoff of synergy contributes to a cube's replayability, strategic depth, and elegance – but it can be tricky to balance. This guide discusses tools to tune any synergy toward your design goals.

Intellect and Emotion in Game Design: A Personal Cube Journey

October 16th, 2023 — Anthony Mattox

Exploring the fundamental nature of games from the very different perspectives of player and designer, through my own, personal, Cube design journey.

How Many Lands Should You Include in Your Cube?

July 25th, 2022 — Andy Mangold

An examination of precedent from limited and constructed is paired with analysis of over 75,000 Cube draft decks to help answer one of the most universal questions in Cube design.

Cube Power Level: A User’s Guide

March 14th, 2022 — Parker LaMascus

An in depth exploration of one of a Cube designer’s most important tools — power level.

The First Four Questions Cube Designers Should Ask

October 25th, 2020 — Parker LaMascus

We propose four basic questions that can help you communicate your Cube design goals to yourself and others.

An Ode to Scalable Threats

February 19th, 2020 — Andy Mangold

If you’re interested in making your cube faster, more powerful, and more skill testing you ought to consider an often overlooked category of cards: scalable threats.

The Vindicate Test

October 8th, 2019 — Andy Mangold

Our primer on the Vindicate Test — one of the most ubiquitous card-evaluation heuristics. What does it mean? How can you apply it to your game? Does your opponent have that removal spell? We’ll tell you once and for all.

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