Magic The Gathering Basic Deck-Building Rules

  1. Deck Size:
  2. Mana Base:
  3. Card Types:
  4. Stick to 1–2 Colors:

Steps to Build Your Deck

1. Choose a Theme or Strategy

Decide how your deck will win. Common archetypes include:

  • Aggro: Overwhelm your opponent with fast, aggressive creatures (e.g., mono-red burn).
  • Control: Slow the game down by countering spells and removing threats, then win with a few powerful cards (e.g., blue control).
  • Midrange: Use a mix of creatures and spells for a balanced playstyle (e.g., green-black grindy decks).
  • Combo: Assemble specific cards that work together to win in one move (e.g., Heliod, Sun-Crowned + Walking Ballista).

2. Select Key Cards

  • Identify 4–8 “core” cards that define your deck’s strategy. Examples:

3. Build a Mana Curve

  • A mana curve ensures you can play cards on every turn efficiently. Balance your spells:
  • Example curve for a 60-card deck:

4. Build a Mana Base

  • Count the colored mana symbols in your deck and adjust your lands accordingly.
  • Use basic lands, dual lands, or mana rocks that match your deck’s colors.

5. Add Interaction

  • Include cards to deal with your opponent’s threats:

6. Test and Refine

  • Playtest your deck to see how it performs.
  • Adjust based on weak spots (e.g., add more lands if mana-starved, include removal if struggling with opponents’ creatures).

Beginner Strategy Tips

  1. Understand Your Role:
  2. Use Resources Wisely:
  3. Maximize Mana Usage:
  4. Know Your Opponent’s Strategy:
  5. Focus on Synergy:

Sample Decks

Mono-Green Stompy

  • Lands: 24 Forests.
  • Creatures:
  • Spells:

Mono-Red Burn

  • Lands: 20 Mountains.
  • Spells:
  • Creatures:

Tools to Enhance Deck-Building

  • MTG Arena or MTG Online: Digital platforms to test decks.
  • Deck-Building Websites: Tools like TappedOut, Moxfield, or MTGGoldfish provide deck suggestions and calculators for mana ratios.
  • Preconstructed Decks: Excellent for beginners to learn game mechanics and strategies.

Final Thoughts

Start simple, focus on synergies, and refine as you gain experience. Deck-building is a creative process, so experiment with ideas and adapt your strategies based on what works best for you!