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How Big Should Your Magic: The Gathering (MTG) Deck Be?

In most Magic: The Gathering (MTG) formats, the ideal deck size is 60 cards. This is the minimum allowed for Constructed formats like Standard, Modern, and Pioneer, and experienced players agree that sticking to this minimum is crucial for consistency and maximizing your chances of drawing your most powerful cards. While the rules technically allow for larger decks, exceeding 60 cards weakens your deck’s strategic focus and reduces the likelihood of drawing the specific cards you need at critical moments. However, Commander format, known for its multiplayer focus and larger card pools, requires a 100-card deck.

Understanding Deck Size and Consistency

The core principle behind the 60-card rule is consistency. Imagine you have four copies of a powerful card in your deck. The fewer cards in your deck, the greater the chance of drawing one of those copies. If you increase your deck size to 70 or 80 cards, you dilute your chances of drawing that key card when you need it most.

Think of it like this: each card you include in your deck has a statistical impact on every other card. More cards mean a lower probability of drawing any single card in the deck. In competitive MTG, where every decision and every draw counts, minimizing your deck size is paramount for optimizing your strategy.

The Importance of Playsets

One of the core strategies in deck building is including playsets (four copies) of your most important cards. This maximizes the chance of drawing them during a game. A 60-card deck allows for a higher density of these key cards, making your deck more reliable and predictable. By increasing the deck size, the power and consistency is lost by lowering the odds.

Limited Formats: A Different Story

In Limited formats like Draft and Sealed, the rules are slightly different. Here, the minimum deck size is 40 cards. This is because you’re building your deck from a limited pool of cards opened from booster packs. The lower minimum size compensates for the smaller card pool and allows you to build a functional deck with a reasonable mana base. Just like Constructed, 40 cards is usually considered optimal for the same consistency-related reasons.

Building a Balanced Deck

While keeping your deck at the minimum size is vital, building a balanced deck is just as important. This involves a carefully considered ratio of lands, creatures, and spells. There is no perfect formula, but a good starting point for a 60-card deck is around 22-24 lands, with the remaining cards split between creatures and spells, and adjusted based on your strategy.

Lands: The Foundation of Your Mana Base

Lands are essential for generating the mana needed to cast spells. The number of lands you include depends on your deck’s mana curve. A deck with many high-cost spells will require more lands than a deck with primarily low-cost spells. A general guideline is to aim for around 36 lands in a Commander deck, which is significantly higher due to the format’s larger card pool and often higher mana costs.

Creatures and Spells: The Tools of Your Strategy

Creatures provide a board presence and attack your opponent, while spells offer a variety of effects, from removal and card draw to direct damage and enchantments. The balance between creatures and spells will depend on your chosen strategy. An aggressive “aggro” deck might favor more creatures, while a control deck will likely include more spells to disrupt your opponent’s plan.

When to Break the Mold

While sticking to 60 cards is generally optimal, there are a few rare exceptions. Some decks may intentionally include more cards to leverage specific strategies or cards, although these are usually niche cases.

Commander Decks

The most notable exception is Commander, which has a fixed deck size of 100 cards. This format’s unique rules, including the presence of a commander card that can be cast repeatedly, necessitate a larger deck size to ensure variety and prevent the deck from becoming too predictable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the importance of deck size in MTG:

Why is 60 cards the ideal deck size for most MTG formats?

Because it maximizes the chance of drawing your most powerful cards and ensures consistency in your gameplay. Fewer cards mean a higher probability of drawing the specific cards you need.
What happens if I have more than 60 cards in my deck?

You dilute your deck, decreasing the likelihood of drawing your key cards when you need them. This reduces your overall consistency and strategic effectiveness.
Is there a maximum deck size in MTG?

While there is no strict maximum deck size in Constructed formats, you must be able to shuffle your deck unassisted. In practice, exceeding 60 cards is rarely beneficial.
How many lands should I include in a 60-card deck?

A good starting point is around 22-24 lands, but this can be adjusted based on your deck’s mana curve and overall strategy.
What is the ideal ratio of creatures to spells in a 60-card deck?

A balanced deck might have around 18-22 creatures and 18-20 spells, but this depends on your deck’s strategy.
Are there any situations where I should have more than 60 cards in my deck?

Very rarely. Certain niche strategies might benefit from a larger deck, but these are exceptions to the rule.
What is a “playset” in MTG deck building?

A playset is four copies of the same card. Including playsets of your most important cards increases your chance of drawing them.
How many cards should be in a Limited (Draft/Sealed) deck?

The minimum deck size in Limited formats is 40 cards, and this is generally considered the optimal size for consistency.
How many lands should I include in a 40-card Limited deck?

A general guideline is to include around 17-18 lands in a 40-card Limited deck.
What is a mana curve, and why is it important?

A mana curve is the distribution of mana costs in your deck. A well-balanced mana curve ensures you have cards to play at different stages of the game.
How many cards are in a Commander deck?

A Commander deck must contain exactly 100 cards, including your commander.
How many lands should be in a Commander deck?

A common recommendation is around 36 lands, but this can vary depending on your commander and overall strategy.
What is the sideboard, and how many cards can it contain?

The sideboard is a collection of up to 15 cards that you can swap into your deck between games in a match.
Are there any restrictions on the number of copies of a card in a deck?

In Constructed formats, you are generally limited to four copies of any card (excluding basic lands) in your main deck and sideboard combined.
Where can I learn more about MTG deck building strategies?

There are numerous resources available online, including articles, videos, and forums. Additionally, you might explore resources related to games and learning from organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sticking to the 60-card minimum in Constructed formats and 40-card minimum in Limited formats is generally the best strategy for maximizing consistency and increasing your chances of winning in Magic: The Gathering. While there are exceptions, these are rare and require a deep understanding of deck building principles. Remember, a well-built, consistent deck is the foundation for success in MTG.

How big should a MTG deck be?