Are you ready to cast some spells and summon powerful creatures in your Magic: The Gathering deck? Before you can do that, you need to make sure you have enough lands to support your gameplay. Lands are the backbone of your deck, providing you with mana to cast spells and summon creatures. But how do you calculate how many lands you need? In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Magic: The Gathering and explore the factors that affect land count, and provide you with tips and tricks to help you calculate the perfect land count for your deck. So grab your deck box and get ready to unleash your inner planeswalker!
Determining the Minimum Number of Lands
Factors Affecting Land Count
When calculating the minimum number of lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck, it is important to consider several factors that can affect the overall land count. These factors include the deck size, number of spells, mana base, and mana curve.
Deck Size
The deck size is one of the most important factors to consider when determining the minimum number of lands needed for your deck. Generally, it is recommended to have at least 40-45 lands in a 60-card deck, 45-50 lands in a 75-card deck, and 50-55 lands in a 90-card deck. However, this is just a general guideline, and the actual number of lands needed may vary depending on the specific deck’s composition.
Number of Spells
The number of spells in your deck can also affect the land count. If your deck has a large number of spells that require specific land types, such as basic lands or nonbasic lands, you may need to adjust the land count accordingly. For example, if your deck has a lot of spells that require basic land, you may want to include more basic lands in your deck to ensure that you can cast your spells consistently.
Mana Base
The mana base of your deck refers to the combination of land types that you have in your deck. For example, if your deck has a lot of red spells, you may want to include more red sources of mana in your deck to ensure that you can play your red spells consistently. The mana base can also affect the land count, as you may need to include more lands of a certain type to support your mana base.
Mana Curve
The mana curve refers to the distribution of mana costs among the spells in your deck. A good mana curve is important for ensuring that you can play your spells consistently and that you have a good balance of spells at different mana costs. If your deck has a lot of spells with high mana costs, you may need to include more lands in your deck to support those spells. On the other hand, if your deck has a lot of spells with low mana costs, you may not need as many lands in your deck.
Overall, determining the minimum number of lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck requires careful consideration of several factors, including deck size, number of spells, mana base, and mana curve. By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that you have a well-balanced deck that is capable of consistently casting your spells.
Basic Land Ratio
When calculating the minimum number of lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck, it’s important to consider the basic land ratio. This ratio is based on the number of spells in your deck and typically ranges from 2 to 3 land per spell. However, this ratio can be adjusted based on the specific needs of your deck.
To determine the basic land ratio for your deck, you should start by counting the number of spells in your deck. This includes all sorceries, instants, and enchantments. Once you have the total number of spells, divide that number by 2 or 3 to determine the minimum number of lands you need in your deck.
For example, if you have a deck with 40 spells, you would need at least 20 lands to meet the basic land ratio. However, if your deck has a high number of creatures or other permanents that produce mana, you may need to adjust the ratio to ensure you have enough mana to cast your spells.
It’s important to note that the basic land ratio is just a starting point for calculating the minimum number of lands needed in your deck. You should also consider other factors such as the color of your spells, any land-producing mana abilities in your deck, and any cards that require additional land to be played. By taking all of these factors into account, you can determine the optimal number of lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck.
Example: Aggro Deck
When building an aggro deck in Magic: The Gathering, it’s important to prioritize lands that provide efficient mana early in the game. Typically, an aggro deck will have a smaller number of cards in its deck compared to other deck archetypes, so the lands chosen should provide mana as quickly as possible.
For example, in a 60-card aggro deck, the minimum number of lands required would be 37. This is because a Magic: The Gathering deck must have at least 60 cards in it, and the remaining 23 cards would be made up of creatures, spells, and other cards that fit the aggro strategy.
When choosing lands for an aggro deck, it’s important to prioritize low-cost, efficient lands. These can include basic lands, such as Forest and Plains, as well as non-basic lands with low mana costs, such as Shock Lands or other similarly costed lands. The goal is to get to the crucial early-game creatures and spells as quickly as possible, so efficient mana is key.
It’s also important to consider the color(s) of mana that the deck requires. For example, if the deck is mono-red, then red sources of mana should be prioritized over other colors. Additionally, if the deck is heavy on artifacts or enchantments, it may be beneficial to include lands that produce colorless mana, such as Command Tower or Black Market.
Overall, when building an aggro deck, it’s important to carefully consider the lands included in the deck to ensure that the deck can generate the necessary mana to fuel its strategy as quickly as possible.
Determining the Optimal Number of Lands
Importance of Lands in a Deck
- Managing mana: Lands are essential for producing mana, which is the primary resource in Magic: The Gathering. The correct number of lands in a deck ensures that a player can cast their spells without running out of mana, thus allowing them to maintain a stable game state.
- Ensuring card advantage: Lands are also a significant source of card advantage in a deck. Players typically want to have more cards in their hand than their opponent to gain an advantage in the game. By including the optimal number of lands, players can draw the cards they need to maintain or gain card advantage.
- Setting up game-winning plays: The number of lands in a deck also affects the player’s ability to set up game-winning plays. For example, some decks rely on specific land cards with unique abilities to gain an advantage or win the game. Including the correct number of lands allows players to find these cards when they need them most.
By considering these factors, players can determine the optimal number of lands needed in their Magic: The Gathering deck to maximize their chances of winning.
Mana Base and Curve
One of the most crucial aspects of building a successful Magic: The Gathering deck is ensuring that you have the right number of lands to support your mana base. This involves understanding the concept of mana curve and how it affects your deck’s performance.
Smoothing out the mana curve
The mana curve refers to the distribution of land types in your deck. Ideally, you want to have a smooth curve that provides you with the right amount of mana at any given moment during the game. This means having a mix of basic lands and non-basic lands, such as Shocklands, Command Tower, or Cryptolands. The number of basic lands you include in your deck depends on the number of non-basic lands you have. Generally, it is recommended to have around 2/3 of your deck consist of basic lands and 1/3 non-basic lands.
Avoiding flooding or mana screw
Flooding occurs when you have too many lands in your deck, which leads to you drawing too many land cards and not enough creatures or spells. This can be detrimental to your game because you will struggle to cast your spells, and your opponent will have more time to set up their board. Mana screw, on the other hand, is when you don’t have enough land in your deck to cast your spells. This can be equally problematic because you won’t be able to play your cards, and your opponent will have an easier time winning the game.
Efficiently using all available mana sources
When determining the number of lands you need in your deck, it’s essential to consider all the mana sources available to you. For example, if you have two colors in your deck, you will need to include two of each basic land for each color. It’s also crucial to consider the number of dual-colored lands you have and how they can help you fix your mana base.
Overall, determining the optimal number of lands for your Magic: The Gathering deck requires careful consideration of your mana curve, the distribution of land types, and the mana sources available to you. By understanding these concepts, you can build a deck that has a smooth mana curve, avoids flooding or mana screw, and efficiently uses all available mana sources.
Example: Midrange Deck
When it comes to determining the optimal number of lands for a midrange deck in Magic: The Gathering, it’s important to consider the balance between drawing the right cards and maintaining efficiency in your gameplay. A well-rounded midrange deck typically consists of 40-45 lands in a 60-card deck, which provides enough space for the necessary land drops while not overwhelming the player with excessive land cards.
One of the key factors to consider when calculating the optimal number of lands for a midrange deck is the deck’s overall strategy. For instance, if the deck relies heavily on fetchlands or other mana fixing cards, it may be possible to include fewer basic lands and more lands that can help generate multiple colors of mana.
Another crucial aspect to consider is the balance between drawing the right cards and maintaining efficiency in your gameplay. While it may be tempting to include a larger number of lands in order to increase the chances of drawing the right cards, this can also slow down the gameplay and make it more difficult to manage your resources effectively. Therefore, it’s important to strike a balance between having enough lands to support your gameplay strategy while not overwhelming yourself with excessive land cards.
In conclusion, when it comes to determining the optimal number of lands for a midrange deck in Magic: The Gathering, it’s important to consider the balance between drawing the right cards and maintaining efficiency in your gameplay. A well-rounded midrange deck typically consists of 40-45 lands in a 60-card deck, which provides enough space for the necessary land drops while not overwhelming the player with excessive land cards.
Land Choices and Variations
Land Subtypes
Basic lands
Basic lands are the foundation of every Magic: The Gathering deck. They include plains, islands, swamps, mountains, and forests. These lands are essential for casting spells and mana production. The mana value of each basic land is fixed, and they are usually included in the deck’s initial configuration.
Nonbasic lands
Nonbasic lands are lands that are not basic lands. They can be divided into two categories:
- Dual lands: Dual lands have two different land types on the same card. They provide more versatility in land choice and can help mana fixing. Examples include City of Brass, Tarmogoyf, and Command Tower.
- Fetchlands: Fetchlands allow players to search for basic lands and put them onto the battlefield tapped. They can help with mana fixing and deck consistency. Examples include the original fetchlands (Wasteland, Tundra, etc.) and the more recent ones like Command Tower, Misty Rainforest, and Sacred Foundry.
Shocklands
Shocklands are a special type of nonbasic land that can be used as basic lands or tapped to untap them to produce mana. They are especially useful in decks that rely heavily on lands for mana production. Examples include Bloodstained Mire, Polluted Delta, and Evolving Wilds.
Scattered Canopy
Scattered Canopy is a land that can become a different land type of your choice when it enters the battlefield. It is usually used to provide flexibility in land choice and can help in situations where the player needs a specific land type.
Evolving Wilds
Evolving Wilds is a land that can change its land type whenever a player taps it to produce mana. It can provide a flexible mana base and can be used to cast spells of any land type. It is particularly useful in decks that rely heavily on specific land types for mana production.
Land Search and Filter Effects
In a game of Magic: The Gathering, having access to the right lands at the right time can be crucial to success. Land search and filter effects are powerful tools that can help you find the specific land you need when you need it.
Some popular land search and filter effects include:
- Llanowar Elves: This creature can search for a basic land and put it onto the battlefield under your control.
- Thirsting Dead: This creature can search for a land and put it onto the battlefield tapped.
- Reliquary Tower: This artifact can search for a land and put it onto the battlefield tapped. It also has the ability to filter out any basic land that is not a Swamp.
- Ashnod’s Altar: This artifact can search for a land and put it onto the battlefield tapped. It also has the ability to filter out any basic land that is not a Forest.
These cards can be invaluable in helping you find the right land at the right time, especially in a pinch. They can also be used in conjunction with other land search and filter effects to maximize their effectiveness.
Mana Fixers and Curve Tools
- Goblin Chainwhirler
- A powerful artifact that allows players to double the number of land drops needed for spells, effectively “fixing” the mana requirements for certain cards in the deck.
- This can be especially useful for decks that rely heavily on instant and sorcery spells, as it allows for a more consistent mana base.
- Song of Freyalise
- A creature-land that provides a flexible mana base by producing different colors of mana depending on the number of lands a player controls.
- This card can be particularly useful in decks that require specific colors of mana but don’t have access to traditional fixing options.
- Explore
- A card that allows players to search their library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield.
- This can be helpful for ensuring a consistent mana base, especially in decks that rely heavily on fetchlands or other non-basic land cards.
- Chart a Course
- A spell that allows players to draw a card and put a basic land card from their hand onto the battlefield.
- This can be useful for ensuring a consistent mana base while also providing additional card advantage.
Building Around Your Lands
Archetype Considerations
When calculating the lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck, it’s important to consider the archetype of your deck. The four main archetypes in Magic: The Gathering are aggro, midrange, control, and combo. Each of these archetypes has different land requirements, and understanding these requirements can help you build a more effective deck.
Aggro
Aggro decks are focused on dealing fast and efficient damage to your opponent. These decks typically have a low land count and rely on a small number of high-impact cards to win the game quickly. For aggro decks, you’ll want to focus on lands that can generate mana quickly and efficiently, such as basic lands or dual lands that produce two colors of mana. You’ll also want to consider including a few cantrips, such as Opt or Ponder, to help you dig for the right cards and keep your hand consistent.
Midrange
Midrange decks are designed to win through a combination of board control and card advantage. These decks typically have a moderate land count and require a mix of lands that can generate different colors of mana, as well as lands that can help you ramp up your mana production and cast your spells more efficiently. Some good options for midrange decks include Shocklands, which can provide both colorless and basic mana, as well as fetchlands, which can fetch basic lands or dual lands to help you ramp up your mana production.
Control
Control decks are focused on disrupting your opponent’s game plan and winning through attrition. These decks typically have a high land count and require a mix of lands that can generate different colors of mana, as well as lands that can help you filter your deck and find the right cards to answer your opponent’s threats. Some good options for control decks include Sensei’s Throne, which can help you dig for the right answers, as well as fetchlands and shocklands, which can help you generate the right colors of mana to cast your spells.
Combo
Combo decks are focused on winning the game quickly through a series of synergistic interactions. These decks typically have a high land count and require a mix of lands that can generate different colors of mana, as well as lands that can help you filter your deck and find the right cards to assemble your combo. Some good options for combo decks include Command Tower, which can provide two colorless mana, as well as fetchlands and shocklands, which can help you generate the right colors of mana to cast your spells. Additionally, you may want to consider including some basic lands, such as Islands or Plains, to help you cast your spells more efficiently.
Color Considerations
When calculating the lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck, it’s important to consider the colors of the cards in your deck. Each card in Magic: The Gathering has a color and a mana cost, which is the amount of mana you need to pay to play the card.
- Dual lands: Dual lands are lands that produce two colors of mana. For example, a Forest land produces one green mana and one colorless mana. Dual lands can be a great way to save space in your deck and increase the number of cards you can play. However, they can also limit the number of cards you can play in a specific color.
- Alpha and Beta dual lands: Alpha and Beta dual lands are older versions of dual lands that were printed before the release of the eighth edition of the Magic: The Gathering rules. These lands are often more valuable than modern dual lands because they are rarer and harder to find. However, they can also be more difficult to use in a deck because they have different color combinations than modern dual lands.
- Shards of Alara: Shards of Alara is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set that was released in 2010. This set introduced a new type of land called Shard lands, which produce one color of mana and one colorless mana. Shard lands are a good option if you want to include a lot of different colors in your deck without using up too much space.
- Commander versions: Some lands have been printed with alternate artwork or special abilities as Commander versions. These lands are often more expensive than regular lands, but they can also be more powerful and provide unique strategic options for your deck.
Overall, it’s important to consider the colors of the cards in your deck when calculating the number of lands you need. You should aim to have enough lands to produce all the mana you need, while also leaving enough room in your deck for the cards you want to play.
Land-Heavy Strategies
Mono-Green Devotion
In a Mono-Green Devotion deck, players focus on using low-cost creatures and devotion to quickly ramp up their mana and swarm the board with powerful creatures.
- Creatures: Elves, Tokens, and other low-cost creatures with strong stats and abilities.
- Spells: Fetchlands, Overgrown Tomb, and other mana rocks to help ramp up the mana quickly.
- Enchantments: Definite Balance, Growing Rites of Itlimoc, and other enchantments that increase devotion.
Mono-Red Aggro
In a Mono-Red Aggro deck, players focus on using fast, aggressive creatures and burn spells to quickly eliminate their opponent’s life total.
- Creatures: Goblins, Minotaurs, and other fast, aggressive creatures with strong stats and abilities.
- Spells: Fetchlands, Mountain, and other mana rocks to help ramp up the mana quickly.
- Enchantments: None, as the focus is on aggression and eliminating the opponent’s life total.
Mono-Blue Control
In a Mono-Blue Control deck, players focus on using counterspells, bounce spells, and draw spells to control the board and win through attrition.
- Creatures: None, as the focus is on control and disruption.
- Spells: Fetchlands, Untapped Seas, and other mana rocks to help ramp up the mana quickly.
- Enchantments: Counterspells, such as Mana Denial, and card draw spells, such as Opt, to control the board and draw into the right cards.
Elves Tribal
In an Elves Tribal deck, players focus on using Elves and other forest-based creatures to swarm the board and overwhelm their opponent.
- Creatures: Elves, Druids, and other forest-based creatures with strong stats and abilities.
- Enchantments: None, as the focus is on using Elves and other forest-based creatures to swarm the board.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the process of calculating the lands needed for your Magic: The Gathering deck is an iterative one that requires flexibility and adaptability. It is important to continuously evaluate and adjust your land base as you progress through the construction of your deck.
One of the key factors to consider is the overall strategy of your deck. Different strategies require different land counts, and it is important to ensure that your land base supports your overall game plan. For example, a deck that focuses on ramping and developing a large army of creatures will require more lands to generate the necessary mana to support its strategy. On the other hand, a deck that focuses on spell-heavy strategies will require fewer lands, but will need to ensure that it has the right types of lands to support its spells.
Another important factor to consider is the curve of your deck. It is important to ensure that you have the right balance of lands that can generate the right amount of mana at the right time. This means that you should have a good mix of basic lands and fetchlands, as well as other lands that can provide additional benefits such as card advantage or utility.
Finally, it is important to remember that the process of calculating lands needed for your deck is an iterative one. As you add and remove cards from your deck, your land base may need to be adjusted accordingly. It is important to continuously evaluate your land base and make changes as needed to ensure that it supports your overall strategy and game plan.
FAQs
1. How do I calculate how many lands I need in my Magic: The Gathering deck?
To calculate how many lands you need in your Magic: The Gathering deck, you need to consider a few factors such as the number of spells and permanents in your deck, the color of your deck, and the land-based cards in your deck. A general rule of thumb is to aim for having at least 2.5 times the number of lands you need in your deck. For example, if you have 40 spells and permanents in your deck, you should aim to have at least 40/2.5 = 16 lands in your deck.
2. What is the minimum number of lands I need in my deck?
The minimum number of lands you need in your deck is 70. This is because some lands are considered basic lands, and in Magic: The Gathering, every deck must have at least 70 cards. Basic lands include Forest, Island, Plains, and Swamp. If you have fewer than 70 cards in your deck, you can still add more lands to reach the minimum requirement.
3. What are the different types of lands in Magic: The Gathering?
There are several types of lands in Magic: The Gathering, including basic lands, nonbasic lands, and fetchlands. Basic lands are the most common type of land and include Forest, Island, Plains, and Swamp. Nonbasic lands are all other types of lands, such as Mountain, Desert, and Tundra. Fetchlands are a type of nonbasic land that can search for other basic lands to put onto the battlefield.
4. Can I have too many lands in my deck?
While it is possible to have too many lands in your deck, it is generally not recommended. Having too many lands can slow down the game and make it harder for your opponent to interact with your deck. Additionally, having too many lands can make it harder to cast your spells and can clog up your hand. A general rule of thumb is to aim for having at least 2.5 times the number of lands you need in your deck. For example, if you have 40 spells and permanents in your deck, you should aim to have at least 40/2.5 = 16 lands in your deck.