Months. I don’t know how many, but it has been many. Many months ago, we talked as a group about Limited Magic, and how we missed the days of cracking packs, taking the card we wanted and passing to the left (then right, then left). We wanted that experience again, but Premodern era cards only. Ideas were floated about buying booster packs and possibly even a booster box, but we were quickly scared off by the price of sealed products. But we still wanted Premodern Limited.

At this same time, I had decided one Sunday to join my good friend Andy at his apartment, along with 6 other locals for an afternoon cube draft of Andy’s cube, which at the time was a legacy cube. It was probably the most intimidating experience of my life. I knew maybe 2 cards in each pack, as I barely know any cards printed from 2004-current day. I found myself reading each card and asking what the hell Menace was, and many other mechanics that I had never heard of before. While I built a garbage UW control deck, that proceeded to go 1-X, I was hooked on the idea of a cube.

Mixing these two feelings together, I returned home that Sunday night and began going through my collection pulling out 1 copy of each premodern card I had, throwing them into a pile. After hours of sorting and inputting each card into Cube Cobra, procuring a copy of many different cards here and there, including enemy fetch lands from Modern Horizons 2 (retro frame only, get that new shit out of here), because why not, I finally had a Premodern Cube. The only thing left to do was draft it, which finding time was harder than expected.

Fast forward to Monday, May 25th, 2026, Memorial Day. A few of us were finally able to sit down and draft. We only had 6 drafters, but still, that’s better than nothing. I grab my three packs and open the first, only to open possibly the worst pack I could have. The best card in the pack by far and away was [[Fact or Fiction]]. Alright, we are in blue+. I proceeded to draft UW midrange (apparently this is my thing), with beaters like [[Voice of All]], [[Crimson Acolyte]], [[Waterfront Bouncer]], [[Galina’s Knight]] and [[Tempest Drake]], with backup from [[Arcane Denial]], [[Prohibit]], and [[Absorb]]. [[Treachery]] proved to be worth the windmill slam when it somehow made its way to me, as it resulted in MANY 2-for-1’s.

Match 1: Andy – BW Smokestack

I love ya Andy, but you drafted the most oppressive Black/White list I have seen in a while. [[Smokestack]], [[Armageddon]], [[Weathered Wayfarer]]. A brutal little trio that ensured I had zero land on board after my upkeep. It got to the point where I had zero islands left in the deck, and the only cards in my hand required blue mana. My favorite sequence in this match was him playing [[Gerrard’s Verdict]], forcing me to pitch the only two cards in my hand, which were 2 lands, to then use the life he gained to get a free [[Snuff Out]] on my only threat left. The scoop was soon after that. Oh well, quick 0-2 smackdown.

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Match 2: Connor – UBr Oops No Wincon

So, for some context, Connor was to my right and happened to steal every blue card that I wanted, or so it seemed. His deck was centered around bouncing things like his own [[Ravenous Rats]], causing me to dump my hand, using [[Arctic Merfolk]] and [[Man-o’-War]], but I am sure that he was hoping the [[Waterfront Bouncer]] that I had would wheel back to him. Luckily, I was able to stay above the Rack that he had and was able to squeeze this one out in game 3. Definitely a grind-fest, as is typical every time I play Connor. Somehow, I have a ridiculous lifetime record against him, despite him being a much better player than I am. The tides will turn one day, and I will never beat him again.

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Match 3: Griffin – Rb “How am I the only one on Red?”

Somehow, Griffin ended up getting passed every single good red card in the draft. And might I say, it was rude to play [[Jackal Pup]] against me :(. The only thing that kept me alive in these games were the Pro-Red creatures and [[Voice of All]] that I could make either Pro-Red or Pro-Black. There for like 7 or 8 turns it felt like, I had to bounce his [[Nantuko Shade]] repeatedly, as I could block his red creatures, just not his black creatures. He ended up getting me in game 3 after he was finally able to [[Smother]] my [[Waterfront Bouncer]], leaving me completely vulnerable in the next turn.

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Initial reactions from everyone that drafted were positive, which is what I cared about the most. My first thoughts include making the tapped Invasion dual lands ([[Coastal Tower]], [[Salt Marsh]], [[Urborg Volcano]], [[Shivan Oasis]], and [[Elfhame Palace]]) count as the land types they can tap for, to make them fetchable. I am also leaning towards making the Lair Lands fetchable as well but let’s take baby steps. We have plenty of room to grow and experiment in the future. All in all, just the draft itself was an amazing feeling. The three games were the cherry on top. This was the first of many Retromancer Cube drafts, and I am excited to see where this goes and how the cube continues to evolve.