Draft Guide

Draft Guide #

Essential Strategy for Pauper Cube Success #

Draft Format: 3 packs of 15 cards each • Pick 1, pass remaining • 45 cards total • Build a 40-card deck

Deck Building Formula #

Component Count Notes
Lands 17 (16-18 range) Base for 2-color deck
Creatures 14-17 Core of most decks
Removal 3-6 Premium picks!
Other Spells 3-5 Card draw, tricks, etc.
Total Cards 40 exactly Never more!

Mana Curve Goals #

  • 1-mana: 0-2 cards
  • 2-mana: 5-8 cards (critical!)
  • 3-mana: 4-6 cards
  • 4-mana: 3-5 cards
  • 5+ mana: 2-4 cards
Critical Rule: 2-mana creatures are the backbone of Pauper Cube. Prioritize them highly!

Draft Priorities #

P1P1 (First Picks) #

Premium Removal:

  • Lightning Bolt
  • Cast Down
  • Journey to Nowhere
  • Terminate
  • Swords to Plowshares

Bombs:

  • Mulldrifter
  • Guardian of the Guildpact
  • Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • Pestilence
  • Rolling Thunder

Efficient Creatures:

  • Savannah Lions
  • Kor Skyfisher
  • Delver of Secrets
  • Wild Mongrel

Always Prioritize #

**High Priority:** - 2-mana creatures (format backbone) - Removal spells (always scarce) - Card advantage (draw, 2-for-1s) - Fixing lands (enables splashes) **Medium Priority:** - Evasive creatures - Combat tricks - Cheap aggressive creatures - Mana dorks

Avoid Trap Cards #

  • Expensive cards without immediate impact
  • Situational counters/combat tricks
  • Auras (unless hexproof/protection)
  • Cards that require specific synergies

Draft Strategy by Archetype #

Aggressive Strategies (RW, WB, BR) #

Key Cards:

  • 1-2 mana creatures
  • Burn spells
  • Combat tricks
  • Token generators

Strategy:

  • Take cheap creatures early
  • Value damage over card advantage
  • 16 lands often correct
  • Finish games by turn 6-7

Control Strategies (UB, UW) #

Key Cards:

  • Removal and counterspells
  • Card draw
  • Large finishers
  • Board control

Strategy:

  • Take removal very highly
  • 18 lands often correct
  • Win with 1-2 big threats
  • Value 2-for-1s above all

Midrange Strategies (GW, BG, WB) #

Key Cards:

  • Efficient creatures
  • Value engines
  • Versatile removal
  • Incremental advantage

Strategy:

  • Balance curve carefully
  • Take best card available
  • 17 lands standard
  • Adapt to what’s open

Advanced Draft Tips #

Reading Signals #

Pack 1:

  • Premium removal wheeling = color open
  • Aggressive creatures late = aggressive decks overdrafted
  • Fixing lands late = greedy mana bases rewarded

Pack 2:

  • Confirm your archetype
  • Hate-draft opposing strategies
  • Pick up sideboard cards

Pack 3:

  • Fill curve gaps
  • Take lands if needed
  • Grab late role-players

Common Mistakes #

  • Forcing archetypes - Stay flexible early
  • Ignoring curve - Even control needs 2-drops
  • Overdrafting colors - Watch for signals
  • Neglecting removal - Take it highly always
  • Playing 41+ cards - Stick to 40 exactly
Pro Tip: In Pauper Cube, games are grindy and incremental advantage matters. A 2-for-1 is often better than a "bomb."

Next: Check out the detailed Archetype Guide to learn specific strategies for each color pair.

Archetypes Next