How many dual lands should I use?

How Many Dual Lands Should I Use?

When it comes to building a Magic: The Gathering deck, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll need to make is how many dual lands to include. Dual lands are a crucial part of any deck, providing a steady stream of mana to support your spells and creatures. But how many of these lands should you include, and when should you prioritize them over other lands?

Traditional Guidance

According to traditional knowledge, a deck should have around 40% of its cards be lands, including dual lands. This translates to approximately 17-18 lands for a 40-card deck and 24-25 lands for a 60-card deck. However, this is just a general guideline and doesn’t take into account the specific needs and strategy of your deck.

Commander Considerations

When building a Commander deck, the land count is slightly different. Many players recommend aiming for 36 lands in a Commander deck, with a rough breakdown of 17 (42.5%) for Limited play and 24-25 (60-62.5%) for Constructed play.

Limited Play Considerations

In Limited play, you typically have a smaller pool of cards to work with, and the land count needs to be adjusted accordingly. Boldly aim for around 17 lands in your Limited decks to ensure you have a steady supply of mana to support your spells and creatures.

Constructed Play Considerations

In Constructed play, you have more cards to work with, and the land count can be adjusted accordingly. Boldly aim for around 24-25 lands in your Constructed decks to ensure you have a strong foundation of mana to support your strategy.

When to Prioritize Dual Lands

Dual lands are particularly powerful because they allow you to play spells more quickly and consistently. Boldly prioritize dual lands in the following situations:

• When you have a high-cost spells: If you have a large number of high-cost spells in your deck, you’ll need more dual lands to support them.
• When you have a heavy red or blue presence: Dual lands like Misty Rainforest and Verdant Catacombs are particularly powerful in decks that focus on red or blue spells.
• When you’re playing a control-oriented strategy: Control decks often rely on maintaining a strong board presence and mana advantage. Dual lands can help you achieve this.

When to Prioritize Non-Dual Lands

While dual lands are powerful, they’re not always the best choice for every deck. Boldly prioritize non-dual lands in the following situations:

• When you’re playing a budget-friendly deck: Non-dual lands like Forest and Plains are often cheaper and more accessible than dual lands.
• When you’re playing a monocolor deck: If you’re only playing one color, you don’t need dual lands to support your mana base.
• When you’re building a aggro-oriented strategy: Aggro decks often focus on speed and pressure, and non-dual lands can provide the necessary mana to support this strategy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the answer to the question "How many dual lands should I use?" depends on your deck’s specific needs and strategy. Boldly consider the following factors when building your deck:

• Deck type (Limited or Constructed)
• Land count
• Dual land availability
• Card budget
• Strategy and playstyle

By considering these factors, you’ll be well on your way to building a powerful and efficient deck that makes the most of your dual lands.