I think there are a lot of cards I run that are boring and unexciting . There ' s certainly room for opinions on this , but I would define an exciting card as one that enables a player to experience something they find fun or enjoyable . Think about Timmy , Johnny , and S p i k emagictimmyjohnnyandspike 20131203 each of them has a thing they really like . Spike might really like Isamaru , for efficiency , or Hornet Queen , for power . Johnny isn ' t going to like either of those cards though . This is key it is a rare card that is universally exciting . Maybe a good example of an exciting card would be Sneak Attack . Timmy loves this card because it can create huge , powerful moments . Johnny loves the way it can create interesting interactions . Spike loves this card because it has the potential to win if you are smart . So relatively speaking , Sneak Attack might be more exciting to more players than something like Lightning Bolt , a very Spike card , or Wrath of God , which appeals more to Timmys and Spikes . From what I gather , most cube designers are in the JohnnySpike spectrum . Some lean more Johnny , and may not like cards like Wurmcoil Engine , which rumbles right into Timmy ' s heart , and who Spike loves riding to victory . Johnny just sees it as a super efficient threat that comes in and wrecks the finely tuned Swiss watch of interactions they are trying to set up . Some cube designers lean more Spike , who like having the Power 9 , or the most powerful cards ever , and are trying to squeeze every ounce of efficiency out of each card slot that have . As a design philosophy , I think you want a lot of cards that are generically good , the Lightning Bolts , Counterspells , and Llanowar Elves . These cards aren ' t that exciting , but they help the exciting cards shine . They are that pinch of salt that brings out the flavor . However , I also think you want some cards that are really exciting for someone , even if they are not exciting for other players . If you don ' t have cards that make players feel strongly , then I think the cube feels too flat . Spike doesn ' t mind this , but it can feel a bit grindy and soulless for Johnny and Timmy . I think the attitude you ' ve seen uChirdaki is coming from designers more on the Johnny side , making a cube for other Johnnys . Johnny loves it when a plan comes together , and so something like getting Ishkanah to trigger is a fun challenge for them . I tend to try to make my cube appeal to a wide range of players , with a wide range of experience playing Magic . My group is not fixed , and I tend to cube with a different set of people each time . If I had a fixed group who I always cubed with , I might cater more to that audience . Maybe I ' m also a bit of each Timmy , Johnny , and Spike , and so I get excited by a wide range of cards .