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To build a successful Magic: The Gathering deck, you must first choose your format, establish a clear game plan, and balance your ratios of lands, creatures, and spells.

1. Pick Your Format

Your format sets the rules for deck size and allowed cards:

Constructed (Standard, Modern, Pioneer): Minimum 60 cards in the main deck, up to a 15-card sideboard. You can run a maximum of 4 copies of any non-basic card. Limited (Draft, Sealed): 40-card minimum deck size using cards from a restricted pool. Commander (EDH): Exactly 100 cards total—1 legendary creature as your commander and 99 unique cards in the library. Only 1 copy of any non-basic card is allowed (singleton format).

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2. Define a Mission Statement

Every good deck needs a goal before you add cards:

Know how you plan to win (e.g., fast aggressive creature damage, controlling the board with counterspells, or looping graveyard triggers). Pick one to two colors for beginners to keep your mana base stable and consistent.

3. Follow the Numbers (Basics by Format)

60-Card Constructed Decks: Start with roughly 24 lands and 36 non-lands. Beginners can use the "Rule of 9" —pick 9 distinct strategy cards and include 4 copies of each, then add your lands. 40-Card Limited Decks (Draft/Sealed): Aim for 17 lands and 23 non-lands. Make sure at least 13 to 14 of those non-land cards are creatures. 100-Card Commander Decks: A reliable baseline ratio includes 1 commander, 36–38 lands, 10–12 ramp spells (mana rocks/acceleration), 8–10 card draw spells, and 8–10 targeted removal/interaction pieces.

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4. Balance Your Mana Curve

Your mana curve is the distribution of your cards by their mana cost:

You want proactive plays starting on turn two, meaning a high density of cheap 2-mana and 3-mana spells. Do not load your hand with expensive late-game spells, or you will lose before you can cast them.

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Watch this video for a breakdown of how to choose your colors and manage your mana curve: 1m Magic Academy: Deck Building | #MTGFoundations 104K views · 1 year ago YouTube · Magic: The Gathering

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If you want tailored advice, tell me:What format are you building for (Standard, Commander, Draft)? What colors or playstyle do you want to use?