Help Me Reduce My Decks to 60 Cards
Deck Help forum
Posted on March 9, 2020, 9:55 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
I have ten “normal” decks (i.e., decks that are not EDH decks), one for each two-color combination, but, most of those decks, I built when I was new to this game (occasionally modifying them as newer cards were released), so some of them have more than 60 cards, the number that has been accepted as the ideal number of cards for a deck.
Therefore, I am seeking advice for how I can reduce my decks to 60 cards, so that they are ideal for this game.
The first deck is Scourge of Pestilence, a black/green deck whose primary theme is using the graveyard as a resource, but also with a token subtheme. I already removed two copies of Nature's Claim (rendered unnecessary by four copies of Assassin's Trophy) and two copies of Skullbriar, the Walking Grave which did not contribute to the overall theme of the deck, which has reduced the deck to 66 cards, so I still need to remove six more cards. I will definitely remove two lands, since I feel that 28 lands will be sufficient for a 60-card deck, but that shall still leave four more cards that need to be removed. I am currently contemplating removing two copies each of Deathrite Shaman and Vulturous Zombie, since the deck currently has four of each of those cards.
The next deck is Devouring Darkness, a black/blue deck with the theme of destroying an opponent’s library before they have a chance to cast their spells. I have already removed four copies of Agony Warp, which is a great card, but does not fit the theme of the deck, so the deck currently has 66 cards. I have noticed that some cards in this deck put cards into the opponents’ graveyard, while other cards exile cards, two strategies that work against each other. However, Consuming Aberration and Oona, Queen of the Fae are both too awesome to remove, despite their abilities working against each other. Circu, Dimir Lobotomist is nice, but is rather expensive for a 2/3 creature, plus, there is no guarantee that a player shall have multiple copies of a card in their deck, reducing his usefulness. The creature that contributes least to this deck’s theme is actually Baleful Strix, but that card is so amazing that I would prefer to not remove it, unless there is no other option. As with my previous deck, I shall remove two lands from this deck, to reduce it to 28 lands, which shall leave four more cards that need to be removed.
I do have several more decks with more than 60 cards, but I would like to work on these decks, first, before I work on any other decks.
What does everyone else say about this? What cards should I remove from my decks to reduce them to 60 cards each? I will greatly appreciate any feedback that anyone here has to offer.
Scourge Deck:
28 lands is way too many, especially since you are not running a land-based deck with numerous utility lands. 24 is generally a good number for a starting point in a 60-card deck.
I'd also cut Leyline of Vitality. Even though you have decent token generation to ensure you get lifegain, I don't think they add very much other than staving off death for a little while. With just 2 of them, you're not likely to have one in your opening hand, meaning you would be hard-casting them, and you have better things to do with four mana.
Darkness Deck:
Cut the lands down to 24 and that would take care of your six extra cards.
SMASHER101 - even in kitchen table 60-card constructed, you do not want to go over 60 (barring oddities like Battle of Wits). It's not just about efficiency--going over 60 cards reduces the enjoyment of many decks, since you don't draw into your combo or fun pieces as often.
March 10, 2020 9:59 a.m. Edited.
DemonDragonJ says... #4
Caerwyn, that is very wise advice, so I shall remove the two leylines, two copies of Vulturous Zombie, because of its high mana cost, and two lands, which shall bring that deck to an optimal 60 cards.
However, I dare not risk reducing my black/blue deck to a mere 24 lands, since doing that may leave me mana-screwed too often, and I would rather have too many lands than have too few lands.
March 10, 2020 10:10 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
I second Caerwyn in that 28 lands is entirely too many in 60 card. The most lands I have ever ran in a 60 card deck was 26, and that was in a deck that was using Summer Bloom and Azusa, Lost but Seeking. 20-24 is the normal land range for 60 card.
March 11, 2020 6:42 a.m.
SMASHER101 says... #6
28 lands is too many unless your playing lands in legacy with Exploration and Manabond and winning with Dark Depths.
March 11, 2020 11:11 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #7
The next deck that I wish to discuss is named Fire and Ice. As with the previous decks, I shall remove two lands from it, which leaves me with eight more cards that I need to remove. I likely shall remove two copies each of Dominus of Fealty and Hypersonic Dragon, due to their high mana costs; Mindwrack Liege is more expensive than are they, but it is too good to not have four copies of it in this deck.
I am contemplating if I should remove either Jhoira of the Ghitu or Keranos, God of Storms from that deck, as they are both awesome creatures, but I do need to reduce the number of cards in this deck. Lightning Bolt is also an awesome card, but it is the least essential card in this deck, unfortunately, so I likely shall not keep it. However, if I do remove it, will there be a sufficient number of non-land spells to trigger the prowess ability of Stormchaser Mage? If not, I shall replace that card with Lightning Stormkin.
I also have a blue/green deck named Artificial Evolution, from which I also plan to remove two lands, leaving eight non-land cards that need to be removed. I likely shall remove two copies of Trygon Predator, because, as great as that card is, it is unlikely that my opponents shall have a sufficient number of artifacts or enchantment for it to be necessary for me to have four copies in this deck, as well as two copies of Horizon Chimera, because the lifegain from that card is largely negligible, but flash, flying, and trample are all excellent abilities, so two copies may remain. As good as Winged Coatl is, I still need to remove cards from this deck, so I shall likely remove two copies of it, as well.
Edric, Spymaster of Trest, Maraleaf Pixie, Murkfiend Liege, and Prophet of Kruphix are all too amazing to remove, but Overbeing of Myth is disposable, as tragic as that may be, so I likely shall remove it, as well.
What does everyone else say about these two decks? What cards should I remove from them to reduce them each to 60 cards?
March 11, 2020 9:06 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #9
SMASHER101, yes, that card is very awesome, but I need to reduce the deck to 60 cards, before I can contemplate adding more cards to it.
March 12, 2020 8:16 p.m.
SMASHER101 says... #10
It is literally the best card in that deck. A lot of the cards in there cost a lot and the only way you’ll ever live till the late game is if you add stuff like bolt and Chain Lightning cut the top end entirely and add in 4 Thing in the Ice Flip as a finisher. Make the deck’s curve stop at 3, or four if you want cryptic command but I don’t think that you’d want it it’s like $20.
March 12, 2020 9:35 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #11
SMASHER101, that would involve essentially rebuilding the entire deck from the beginning, and I am not seeking to do that.
March 12, 2020 10:49 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
I have removed the four copies of Baleful Strix from my black/blue deck, despite their power, because they were the least essential cards in that deck.
March 16, 2020 8:01 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #13
I have reduced my red/blue deck to 62 cards, so I now need to remove only two more cards from it, and I would like to have advice on which cards to remove.
I plan to remove either Jhoira of the Ghitu or Keranos, God of Storms, but I am not certain which is less important to the deck; Jhoira has a lower mana cost and her ability is very useful, but Keranos is indestructible and also has a useful ability.
What does everyone else say? What cards should I remove to reduce my red/blue deck to 60 cards?
SMASHER101 says... #2
What format? If it’s just casual then don’t worry about 60 cards because your not trying to build the most optimal deck anyway are you?
March 10, 2020 9:30 a.m.