Introduction
Building a successful draft deck is all about finding the optimum balance between creatures, spells, and, of course, lands. Inevitably, the question arises: how many lands should you include in your deck? This article will explore the ins and outs of determining the appropriate land count for a draft deck. It will discuss the impact of land count on gameplay, offer general guidelines for determining the right land count, and provide tips on how to manage your resources and adjust your land count during a draft.
The Importance of Land Count in a Draft Deck
Having the correct number of lands is crucial when it comes to building a successful draft deck. Too few lands in your deck will result in being unable to cast more powerful spells, being mana screwed, and unable to play any cards at all, whereas too many can result in playing too slowly, not having enough action to win the game, or becoming vulnerable to discard. When building a draft deck, it’s important to understand the concept of land ratios in the deck to construct an ideal mana base that will allow you to cast all your spells and maximize your gameplay.
How to Determine the Optimal Number of Lands in Your Draft Deck
There are many factors that should be taken into account when trying to determine how many lands you need in a draft deck. General guidelines suggest that a player should include 17-18 lands in a forty-card deck, this can be adjusted slightly if the player prefers to play aggressively or defensively, or when building decks with higher casting costs. Nevertheless, the ratio of creatures to spells and terms of mana curve is crucial to deciding this number. Game formats, card abilities, and game speeds are also essential factors to consider when deciding how many lands to play.
The Consequences of Too Few or Too Many Lands in Your Draft Deck
Having too few lands in your deck can quickly lead to losing the game. Without the proper mana, you will not be able to play the spells that you need to win, and with too many lands, the draft deck will become slow and clunky. Thus, playing the right number of lands is very important. This section discusses the consequences of having too few lands and too many lands in your draft deck.
Having Too Few Lands
If your draft deck has too few lands, then you’ll be hurting for mana throughout the game. Your spells will take longer to cast and the more dominant spells in your deck may become unplayable, leading to losing the game.
Having Too Many Lands
On the other hand, if you have too many lands in your draft deck, your deck will become slow and clunky. You will not have enough spells to play and will be vulnerable to discard decks.
Strategies for Adjusting Your Land Count During a Draft
It’s important to be flexible during a draft and adjust your land count accordingly by making adjustments based on the cards you draft so that your deck remains consistent and synergistic. To do this, consider the strengths and weaknesses of your draft deck and evaluate the usefulness of the cards you drafted. At this point, you can add or reduce the number of lands to suit your desired power-level, drawing the right balance between creatures and spells.
Factors to Consider when Adjusting Your Land Count
Card-draw spells, ramp spells, and the desired power-level of your deck are essential factors to consider when adjusting your land count. If you drafted a lot of spells that allow you to draw cards or gain additional mana, you may need fewer lands. If your deck is focused on building a lot of momentum, then you will need to add more lands to increase the chances of getting another spell to play.
Tips for Managing Your Resources while Keeping Your Land Count Consistent Throughout a Draft Deck
Throughout a draft, you need to keep the amount of resources you have while maintaining the right number of lands in your deck. It is crucial to utilize your spells and maximize value from cards in your hand. There are several tips that can be incorporated to manage your resources, including not overcommitting to the board, avoiding tapping out unless necessary, and using spells at the right time.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid when Managing Your Resources
Although managing resources is a crucial part of a draft, some pitfalls can occur. The most common mistakes to avoid include tapping out when unnecessary, overcommitting to the board, and playing into removal spells by presenting your most potent aspects of the deck first.
Conclusion
The correct number of lands to be included in a draft deck can mean the difference between winning and losing. Determining the right land count in a draft deck will always rely on essential factors such as card type, mana curve, game format, and card abilities playing an essential role in this process. To help build a strong and consistent draft deck, it is essential to follow the guidelines and tips discussed in this article and understand the benefits of tweaking your land count during a draft.