How Many Lands Should an MTG Deck Have?
Choose an MTG land count from deck size, average mana value, ramp, card selection, and the need to hit early land drops.
Related Calculators
Start with a baseline, not a commandment
A common starting point is about 17 lands in a 40-card Limited deck, 24 in a 60-card Constructed deck, and roughly 36–38 in many 100-card Commander decks. These are playtesting baselines rather than official rules.
Use the MTG Land Calculator to keep each adjustment visible.
Mana curve
A deck with expensive spells and repeated high-cost plays generally needs more mana sources. A very low curve can operate on fewer lands, but only when the deck can still cast its spells consistently.
Ramp is not a perfect land replacement
Mana rocks, dorks, land-search spells, rituals, and treasures have different reliability. Many require an opening land, can be removed, enter late, or fail to produce the needed color. Credit early reliable ramp conservatively.
Card selection helps, but timing matters
A one-mana cantrip can help find a second or third land. A four-mana draw spell cannot solve a two-land opening hand. Count only cheap effects that are live before the land drop being evaluated.
Colored sources are a separate problem
After selecting the total number of lands, verify the number of sources for each colored pip. A deck can have enough total lands and still fail to cast a double-colored spell on time.
Sources
- Wizards of the Coast, deck construction guidance: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/deckbuilding-101-five-tips-better-deckbuilding-2006-06-05
- Wizards of the Coast, 60-card deck and sideboard overview: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/sideboard-2015-08-10
Related Guides
- MTG Land Draw Probability ExplainedUnderstand expected lands, at-least probabilities, hypergeometric sampling, and why one bad opening hand does not prove a mana base is wrong.
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- How to Use the Uma Musume Skill Point CalculatorLearn how Uma Musume skill points work — SP generation, skill costs, skill tiers, and how to use the Skill Point Calculator to budget your SP for the most impactful race skills.
- How to Use the Uma Musume Stat CalculatorLearn how Uma Musume's five stats (Speed, Stamina, Power, Guts, Wisdom) interact with race performance and how to use the Stat Calculator to set efficient training targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is 24 lands always correct for a 60-card deck?
- No. It is a neutral starting point. Curve, ramp, cantrips, land utility, and strategy can justify more or fewer.
- Should one mana rock replace one land?
- Usually not automatically. The rock may require mana first, be removed, or fail to provide a needed color.
- Do modal double-faced cards count as lands?
- They contribute to mana availability but have opportunity costs and game-specific constraints, so model them separately during playtesting.
Last updated 7/20/2026