How to Build a Good Magic the Gathering Deck
How to Build a Good Magic the Gathering Deck
One of the best things about the Magic the Gathering is the many numbers of cards that are available. It is interesting to note that these cards can be combined to create a winning deck. With such a massive number of cards to choose from, players are often faced with the daunting task of building their Magic decks. If you are one such player today is your lucky day, as this guide will make it easy for you to create your deck.
How Do You Build A Good Magic The Gathering Deck
Here is how you do it
- Have your cards ready
You need to have the cards you want to be part of your deck ready. If you are new to the game, find cards that have a single color or at most two colors. Magic the gathering has five colored cards. Each color has its personality, advantages, and disadvantages. The color white represents protection and armies. Blue is for manipulation and trickery. Black represents power and death while red is for fire and emotions. Focus on a color that represents your strategy. The fewer colors you have, the better, as your strategy will be consistent.
- Work on your mana
You now have the rights cards with the right color. You will need the right mana to survive the game. Having the right mana type is essential. If you have single colored cards, grab 24 of that land type. If you have two colored card types, take 12-land type from one kind and another 12 of another kind. You can also choose to have 10 of one land type and another 10 of the other and 4 or 5 cards of land that will give you both. Ensure you have 24 to 26 total lands.
When you play two colors, you will have to divide the land among the colors. You should also ensure the land ratio for each color match the cost you need for your cards. Avoid cards that have 3 or more repeated mana symbols. Keep your cards to 1 or 2 specific mana symbols in their cost. It will make your deck reliable and consistent
Additionally, ensure that each of the colors happens at each cost level. If all your black cards are at 4, 5 and six cost levels while the white cards are at 1, 2 and three cost levels, you are unlikely to draw spells of a single color with the land of the other. Go through your selected cards and count the cards mana symbols on the casting cost of your cards.
- Remember the cost curve
The average cost of 3 is usually the best, but you need to consider how you get to 3. You should have a structure to ensure your cost falls along a regular curve. You can separate your cards according to their mana cost and put the most expensive ones at the top in a pyramid format while the least expensive ones are at the bottom. You will have to take the most expensive ones that are not as good and replace them with the less expensive cards. However, remember not to get too worried about the mana cost that you replace the excellent cards with cheaper ones.
- Creatures are essential
In Magic, you win when you reduce your opponent’s life’s from 20 to 0. There are many ways to win, but the most reliable, tested way that is ideal for beginners is the use of creatures. You can attack with fast little swarming creatures or a monster that commands the field. No matter your strategy, you will need to have a good number of your non-land cards to be creatures.
If your creatures are weak or cost too much mana, you won’t survive in the game. Making sure your creatures are productive is essential. Find a way for them to get past the enemy. For instance, choose animals that have special effects such as being unblockable or those that can fly. The primary disadvantage of creatures is that your opponent might see them coming and that’s why you need a flexibility and surprise edge to interrupt the enemy defense. Having evasion or power for your creatures, the ability to surprise your enemy with instant speed or controlling the fields with creature removal effects can enable you to get ahead of the game.
Ensure that most of your non-creature cards are instants that are cards that you can use at a moment’s notice to turn things to your favor.
- More creatures or spells
Most beginners will be comfortable with 24 lands, 20 creatures, and 16 spells. However, this depends on your deck choice. Some decks will have one or the other. At the start of the game, you will want to have more land but as the game continues, you will find drawing land is not as useful. Consider having cards that let you spend mana you are not using to cast spells. Further, playtesting your deck will allow you to know whether you need more creatures or spells.
MTG Lion is the best place to start if you want to build your deck of magic cards. We have many card albums for you to choose. If you have already decided on a deck, you can order the whole deck from us, and we will deliver.
