If you're into limited Magic and haven't yet dipped your toes into the thriving world of grassroots Cube events, you're missing one of the most fun, social, and creatively rewarding experiences in the game right now. The community-run format known as "Cube" has been bubbling under the surface for years -- but today it's coming into its own, with events all over the world, run by people who love the game and want to share it.

Here's the thing: the formal tournament circuit definitely has its place, but the time of Limited Grand Prix's is behind us. If you're looking for something that can scratch the competitive itch for spikes and the community focused vibes of a prerelease, Cube Tournaments are the place to be.

Why Cube events are the best

1. Community first

Community clubs, independent hosts and local game stores are running Cube events where the vibe is friendly, welcoming and flexible. Lucky Paper notes, "The Cube Community is felt most strongly through various grassroots events happening all over the world," and that couldn't be more true.

When an event is run by passionate players with a specific vision, you get eas­ier access to fun, creative formats and the chance to meet people who are there because they love the format. If you're looking for the kind of Magic where you'll walk away having had a blast more than the chase for the top 8, this is it.

2. Creative freedom

Unlike the more rigid, widely broadcast competitive Magic tournaments, Cube events give participants the freedom to explore unique draft experiences in one location. Whether you are sitting down at your standard vintage cube, Jane McKinney's cube "The Ball Pit" where every card is an MDFC with the back side being a Chromatic Sphere or Dorsalfin's predominately Red cube "The Red Terror", you are sure to have a good time. Each draft feels distinct, fresh and full of surprises. The act of constructing decks from a dynamically curated Cube is inherently exciting, and you're not just playing with a familiar metagame, you're exploring what the Cube designer built.

3. Accessibility, Size, & Scope.

Whether you are interested in a tight knit experience like the 48 person Pack One Pick One event happening this January in LA or the more ambitiously sized 512 person Shoebox event happening in St. Paul MN in March there is an event that meets your needs. Beyond the varying sizes of the event there is an equal number of scopes to explore. The flagship CubeCon offers a more traditional tournament structure with an eventual cut to the top 64 and top 8. Whereas the upcoming Cube for a Cause in February of 2026 is focused on providing an inclusive community space and weekend of fun while raising money for Charity.

4. Networking, friendship & longevity

When you attend a grassroots Cube event, you're not just drafting one Cube and leaving. You're joining a community. There are Discord servers, follow-ups, Cube designers, hobbyists and fans who cross paths, share lists, swap card ideas, and continue engaging. Over time, you build friendships, you contribute to the format, you become known. That kind of continuation simply isn't present in big single-day tournaments.

5. Fun beats expected value

Sure, some big tournaments offer prize-pools and pro-level content, but they also demand high competitive commitment, preparation, fine margins, and often carry the pressure of travel, meta research, and expectation. Grassroots Cube events flip the balance: they center fun, variety, emergent gameplay, social gathering. The card pulling, the draft reads, the surprise moments of synergy, the ways you talk through picks with your table, those, in my view, bring equal if not greater satisfaction than a top 8 finish in a rigid competitive event. Not to mention many cube events do acknowledge drafters who win their pod, with highly sought after pins that you get to wear as a badge of honor to your next event.

So: how do you get the most out of a Cube event?

• Sign up early: These events often have caps (e.g., 48, 64, 128 players) so getting in early means you won't miss out.
• Bring your Cube-knowledge: Even if you don't know every card, come ready to draft, ready to discuss picks, ready to explore. Or go in blind like me. (Your results may vary)
• Bring your Cube: Whether you applied to have your cube drafted as part of the main event or you're just hoping to jam an after hours lobby game, you'll find folks excited by your ideas.
• Be social: Sit with new people, talk about your picks, your deck, your Cube-preferences. Many great connections form by Table Chat alone.
• Respect the community tone: Since these are community-built events, respect the hosts, respect other players, bring a good attitude. The best moments happen when everyone's enthusiastic and inclusive.

Why right now is the perfect time to dive in

The timing just feels right. The list of upcoming events from Lucky Paper is packed, varied in size, and global in scope. The Cube community is vibrant, and for players who want something beyond the standard constructed formats (Standard, Modern, etc.), Cube offers creative freedom, renewed excitement, and a social dimension that is sometimes missing in high-stakes mass-tournaments.

Because the events are still "grassroots," you get to experience the format before it becomes overly standardized or commercialized. You're part of the scene while it's still evolving, still organic, and you'll feel like you helped shape it. In 2022 the world saw 3 public facing cube events, in 2025 we've had over 30.

Lastly, if you can't find a group or event you want to participate in, start your own! I'm running Lunch Box, a 48 person charity event in Baltimore on January 31, 2026. I wanted to raise money for the local foodbank and made it happen! It's just that easy.

If you're nervous about getting one started, there are dozens of resources and thousands of friends online who would be happy to help make your vision a reality. A list of these upcoming events and resources can all be found on the Community Page at Lucky Paper.

Final Thoughts

If you're thinking, "I love Magic, I love drafting, and I want more social, creative, fun experiences," then going to a grassroots Cube event is probably the best thing you could be doing right now. The combination of community vibe, creative freedom, accessibility, variety of locations and sizes, and the simple joy of drafting strange / powerful cards with friends makes it unmatched.

So pick one of the upcoming events, bring a curious mind, and enjoy some of the most fun you can have in Magic today. The Cube community is alive, thriving, and waiting for you.