In Magic: The Gathering, deck building is an essential component of the game. A well-built deck can make the difference between victory and defeat. However, with so many cards available, it can be challenging to determine the optimal deck ratio.
The deck ratio refers to the number of cards of each type that should be included in a deck.
In this article, I will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the best MTG deck ratio.
Understanding the Basics of MTG Deck Building is the first step to building a successful deck. The deck ratio is one of the most critical elements of deck building. It determines how many creatures, spells, and lands you should include in your deck.
The optimal deck ratio depends on the format, the archetype, and the strategy you are using.
In this article, I will provide you with the tools you need to determine the best deck ratio for your deck.
Determining the Optimal Deck Ratio involves several factors, including the number of lands, creatures, and spells. The optimal deck ratio depends on the format, the archetype, and the strategy you are using.
In general, most decks should have around 24 lands, 8-12 creatures, and 20-28 spells. However, the optimal deck ratio can vary depending on the format and the archetype.
In the following sections, I will provide you with the tools you need to determine the optimal deck ratio for your deck.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the Basics of MTG Deck Building is crucial to building a successful deck.
- Determining the Optimal Deck Ratio involves several factors, including the format, archetype, and strategy.
- The optimal deck ratio can vary depending on the format and the archetype.
Understanding the Basics of MTG Deck Building
As a Magic: The Gathering player, understanding the basics of deck building is essential to create a strong and effective deck. A well-constructed deck can help you win more games and make the most out of your collection.
In this section, I will cover the basics of MTG deck building, including card types and their roles, and the importance of mana base.
Card Types and Their Roles
MTG decks are made up of three main card types: creatures, spells, and lands. Each card type plays a unique role in the deck’s strategy.
Creatures: Creatures are the backbone of many decks. They can attack your opponent, block their creatures, and provide utility abilities. When building a deck, it is important to consider the creature’s power and toughness, as well as any abilities they may have.
Spells: Spells are non-creature cards that can provide a wide range of effects, from dealing damage to drawing cards. Spells can be further divided into categories such as instants and sorceries.
It is important to consider the mana cost and effect of each spell when building your deck.
Lands: Lands are the backbone of your mana base. They provide the resources needed to cast spells and play creatures.
When building a deck, it is important to consider the number and types of lands you include. Different decks require different amounts and types of lands to function properly.
The Importance of Mana Base
The mana base is the foundation of any MTG deck. It is the collection of lands that provide the resources needed to cast spells and play creatures.
A well-constructed mana base can help ensure that you have the resources needed to cast your spells and play your creatures.
When building your mana base, it is important to consider the number and types of lands you include. Different decks require different amounts and types of lands to function properly.
Determining the Optimal Deck Ratio
As an experienced Magic: The Gathering player, I have found that determining the optimal deck ratio is crucial for success. The ideal deck ratio will vary depending on your deck building strategy and the type of game you are playing.
In this section, I will discuss two key factors that should be considered when determining the optimal deck ratio: balancing creatures and spells, and lands proportion and mana curve.
Balancing Creatures and Spells
The first step in determining the optimal deck ratio is to balance the number of creatures and spells in your deck.
Creatures are the backbone of any deck, and they are essential for dealing damage to your opponent. However, spells are also important because they can provide additional support for your creatures, such as removing your opponent’s creatures or drawing additional cards.
To achieve a balanced deck, I recommend having at least 20-25 creatures and 10-15 spells. This will provide you with enough creatures to deal damage and enough spells to provide additional support.
However, the exact number of creatures and spells will depend on your deck’s strategy and the type of game you are playing.
Lands Proportion and Mana Curve
The second factor to consider when determining the optimal deck ratio is the lands proportion and mana curve.
Lands are essential for playing spells and creatures, and having too few or too many lands can greatly impact your gameplay.
A typical deck should have 24 lands, but the exact number will depend on your deck’s mana curve.
The mana curve refers to the distribution of mana costs in your deck, and it is important to have a balanced mana curve to ensure consistent gameplay.
To achieve a balanced mana curve, I recommend having a mix of low-cost and high-cost spells and creatures. This will ensure that you have enough mana to play your low-cost spells and creatures early in the game, while also having enough mana to play your high-cost spells and creatures later in the game.
Strategic Elements of Deck Construction
As an experienced MTG player, I know that constructing a deck is a crucial element of the game. It is important to consider the strategic elements of deck construction to ensure that your deck is effective and competitive.
In this section, I will discuss the role of synergy and interaction in deck construction, as well as the different types of deck archetypes and their ratios.
The Role of Synergy and Interaction
Synergy and interaction are essential elements to consider when building a deck.
Synergy refers to the way that cards in your deck work together to create a greater effect than they would individually. Interaction refers to the way that your cards interact with your opponent’s cards, either by disrupting their game plan or by exploiting their weaknesses.
When building a deck, it is important to consider how your cards will interact with each other and with your opponent’s cards.
This can be achieved by combining cards that have similar effects or by creating a deck that focuses on a specific strategy.
For example, a combo deck relies on specific card interactions to achieve a powerful effect, while a control deck focuses on disrupting the opponent’s game plan.
Deck Archetypes and Their Ratios
Deck archetypes are a way of categorizing different types of decks based on their game plan. Each archetype has a different ratio of card types, depending on its strategy.
The four primary archetypes in MTG are aggro, control, midrange, and combo.
Aggro decks focus on dealing damage quickly and efficiently, often using low-cost creatures and spells. Control decks focus on disrupting the opponent’s game plan and winning in the late game. Midrange decks focus on a balance between aggression and control, using a variety of creatures and spells to maintain board presence. Combo decks rely on specific card interactions to achieve a powerful effect.
Each archetype has a different ratio of card types, depending on its strategy.
Aggro decks typically have a higher ratio of creatures to spells, while control decks have a higher ratio of spells to creatures. Midrange decks have a more balanced ratio, and combo decks have a higher ratio of combo pieces to other cards.
Advanced Deck Building Techniques
When it comes to building a successful MTG deck, there are several advanced techniques that can help you gain an edge over your opponents.
In this section, I will discuss two of the most important techniques: utilizing card advantage and incorporating removal and board wipes.
Utilizing Card Advantage
One of the key concepts in MTG is card advantage.
Card advantage refers to the ability to have more cards in hand or on the board than your opponent. This can be achieved through various means, such as card draw, planeswalkers, and enchantments.
To maximize your card advantage, it’s important to include cards in your deck that allow you to draw additional cards or gain additional resources.
For example, a card like [[Opt]] allows you to draw a card and scry 1, giving you both card advantage and selection. Similarly, a card like [[Teferi, Master of Time]] allows you to draw cards and untap lands, giving you even more resources to work with.
Incorporating Removal and Board Wipes
Another important aspect of advanced deck building is incorporating removal spells and board wipes.
Removal spells are cards that allow you to remove your opponent’s creatures or other permanents from the board, while board wipes are cards that allow you to clear the board of all creatures or other permanents.
Including removal spells and board wipes in your deck can help you deal with your opponent’s threats and gain control of the board.
For example, a card like [[Fatal Push]] allows you to destroy a creature with a converted mana cost of 2 or less, while a card like [[Wrath of God]] allows you to destroy all creatures on the board.
When building your deck, it’s important to strike a balance between card advantage and removal/board wipes.
You don’t want to include too many removal spells or board wipes at the expense of card advantage, but you also don’t want to neglect removal entirely.
Sideboard Strategies
As I mentioned earlier, the sideboard is a crucial tool in adapting your deck to the current meta.
In this section, I will discuss some sideboard strategies that can help you gain an edge over your opponents.
Adapting to the Meta
One of the most effective sideboarding strategies is to adapt your deck to the current meta.
By analyzing the most popular decks and cards in the format, you can adjust your sideboard to counter those strategies.
For example, if the meta is dominated by aggressive decks, you may want to include more creature removal spells in your sideboard.
On the other hand, if control decks are prevalent, counterspells may be a better choice.
Tech Cards for Specific Matchups
Another useful sideboarding strategy is to include tech cards in your sideboard that are specifically designed to counter certain matchups.
These cards may be less useful in general, but can be extremely powerful in the right situation.
For example, if you are facing a deck that relies heavily on artifacts, you may want to include cards like [[Stony Silence]] or [[Shattering Spree]] in your sideboard.
Tuning and Refining Your Deck
As you start building your MTG deck, you need to consider the right deck ratio to ensure success. However, finding the best deck ratio can be a daunting task, and you may need to make adjustments to your deck as you playtest.
Here are some tips on how to tune and refine your deck to achieve the best deck ratio.
Playtesting and Adjustments
One of the most critical aspects of refining your deck is playtesting.
Playtesting allows you to evaluate how your deck performs in various situations, and you can make adjustments accordingly.
During playtesting, you should keep track of the cards that work well and the ones that don’t.
You can then adjust your deck ratio to include more of the cards that work well and remove the ones that don’t.
It’s also essential to consider the current meta when playtesting.
The meta refers to the most popular decks and strategies used by players.
By understanding the meta, you can make adjustments to your deck to counter the most popular strategies and increase your chances of winning.
When to Refine Your Mana Base
Your mana base refers to the lands and other cards that provide mana for your spells. A well-refined mana base is critical for the success of your deck.
When refining your mana base, you should consider the following:
- Consistency: Your mana base should be consistent, providing the right colors of mana when you need them.
- Speed: Your mana base should allow you to play your spells as quickly as possible.
- Flexibility: Your mana base should be flexible, allowing you to play spells with different mana requirements.
If you find that your mana base is not consistent, too slow, or inflexible, it’s time to refine it.
You can do this by adjusting the number of lands in your deck or adding cards that provide more mana fixing.
Deck Building for Different Formats
Constructed vs. Limited Formats
When it comes to building a Magic: The Gathering deck, one of the first considerations is the format you will be playing.
The two main formats are constructed and limited. Constructed formats allow players to build decks using any cards they own, while limited formats require players to build decks using a limited pool of cards.
Constructed formats are typically more competitive and require more planning and strategy.
In constructed formats, players have access to their entire collection of cards, allowing them to build decks that are finely tuned to their playstyle.
Limited formats, on the other hand, require more on-the-fly decision making and adaptability.
In limited formats, players must build decks using a smaller pool of cards, which can sometimes lead to unexpected and exciting gameplay.
Adapting Deck Ratios for Each Format
Once you have decided on the format you will be playing, it’s important to consider the optimal deck ratio for that format.
In constructed formats, decks typically consist of 60 cards, while limited formats require decks to have a minimum of 40 cards.
When building a constructed deck, it’s important to consider the edition of the cards you will be using.
Some editions may have more powerful cards than others, and it’s important to take this into account when building your deck.
Additionally, constructed decks should be finely tuned to your playstyle and should include a mix of creatures, spells, and lands.
In limited formats, deck ratios can vary depending on the specific format you are playing.
For example, in a draft format, it’s important to have a good mix of creatures and spells, as well as a few key pieces of removal.
In a sealed format, where players are given a set number of booster packs to build their deck, it’s important to carefully consider each card you include in your deck.
Closing Strategies to Win the Game
As I mentioned earlier, MTG decks need to have a clear game plan that they can execute to win the game. In this section, I will discuss some closing strategies that can help you end the game on your terms.
Identifying Win Conditions
Before you can execute your game plan and close the game, you need to identify your win conditions.
Win conditions are specific cards or combinations of cards that can help you win the game.
Some common win conditions include dealing lethal damage to your opponent, milling your opponent’s deck, or forcing your opponent to run out of cards.
To identify your win conditions, you need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of your deck.
For example, if you have a control deck, your win conditions might involve countering your opponent’s spells and slowly chipping away at their life total with creatures or planeswalkers.
If you have an aggro deck, your win conditions might involve playing cheap, aggressive creatures and overwhelming your opponent before they can stabilize.
Executing Your Game Plan
Once you have identified your win conditions, you need to execute your game plan to close out the game.
This involves using a combination of ramp, instant and sorcery spells, and creatures to control the board and push your win conditions.
Ramp spells can help you accelerate your game plan, allowing you to play your win conditions earlier than your opponent can respond.
Instant and sorcery spells can help you remove your opponent’s threats, draw cards, or deal damage directly to your opponent.
Creatures are the backbone of most decks and can help you control the board and deal damage to your opponent.
It is important to keep track of the turn count and your opponent’s resources to ensure that you are executing your game plan efficiently.
If you are playing a casual game, you might have more time to execute your game plan and close out the game.
However, in a competitive setting, you need to be more efficient with your resources and close out the game before your opponent can stabilize.
Related Reading: Best MTG Deck Ratio for Competitive Play
What is the best deck ratio MTG? – Gaming Pedia – Delve into the essentials of deck composition in competitive MTG formats, highlighting a 60-card deck as a widely accepted standard.
Standard in MTG: The Ultimate Format Guide (2024) – Draftsim – A comprehensive guide to mastering the Standard format in Magic: The Gathering, offering insights into deck building and strategy.
Is there a “good” ratio of card types to have in an MTG deck? – Explore the nuances of deck building, emphasizing the flexibility in card type ratios to suit various competitive decks.
What Is The Best Deck Ratio MTG? – mtgacentral.com – Unpack the strategies for optimal deck construction, sideboarding, and mulligan decisions in Magic: The Gathering.
Must-Know Ratios for Key Standard MTG Cards – Dive into the critical ratios of key cards in Standard MTG, enhancing your competitive play.
How to Build a Competitive MTG Deck Part One: Aggro – Learn the fundamentals of constructing a competitive aggro deck in MTG, from basic principles to advanced strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lands should a 60-card Magic: The Gathering deck contain?
The minimum number of lands in a 60-card MTG deck is 20, but most decks run between 22-26 lands.
The exact number of lands will depend on the deck’s strategy, curve, and mana requirements. A good rule of thumb is to include enough lands to ensure that you can play your spells on time and consistently hit your land drops each turn.
What is the ideal creature to spell ratio in a MTG deck?
The ideal creature to spell ratio in an MTG deck will depend on the deck’s strategy and the current metagame. However, a general guideline is to include around 20-26 creatures in a 60-card deck.
The rest of the deck should be composed of spells that support the deck’s game plan.
In a Commander deck, what is the recommended ratio of lands to non-land cards?
In a Commander deck, the recommended ratio of lands to non-land cards is 40:60. This means that a 100-card Commander deck should contain around 40 lands and 60 non-land cards.
However, the exact number of lands will depend on the deck’s strategy, curve, and mana requirements.
For a 40-card limited deck, what is the optimal composition of card types?
For a 40-card limited deck, the optimal composition of card types will depend on the limited format and the deck’s strategy. However, a general guideline is to include around 17-18 creatures and 7-8 non-creature spells.
The rest of the deck should be composed of lands.
How does one balance the number of creatures versus other spells in a 100-card deck?
Balancing the number of creatures versus other spells in a 100-card deck will depend on the deck’s strategy and the current metagame. However, a general guideline is to include around 40-50 creatures in a 100-card deck.
The rest of the deck should be composed of spells that support the deck’s game plan.
What are the guidelines for adjusting a deck’s mana curve for consistent performance?
Adjusting a deck’s mana curve for consistent performance will depend on the deck’s strategy and the current metagame.
However, a general guideline is to include a balanced mix of low, mid, and high-cost spells in the deck. The exact distribution will depend on the deck’s game plan and mana requirements.
A good rule of thumb is to ensure that the deck has enough early-game plays to survive aggressive opponents and enough late-game plays to close out the game.
