In order to develop high performance basic dam block for tundish vessel in steel-making binders and additives on hydration and thermal characteristics of magnesiz castable refractories were studied. Crack initiation and propagation in cement bonded magnesia castables due to slaking of magnesia clinker at drying process were suppressed by using spinel clinker instead of magnesia powder. In case of Na2O$.$2CaO$.$P2O5(NC2P) bonded castable crack initiation due to slaking of magnesia clinker did not occur but bending strength at high temperature was low. Mechanical properties of NC2P bonded castable refractories at high temperature were improved by using magnesia clinker that contains low SiO2 contents.