Deck Building

Deck Building Fundamentals

A well-built deck is the foundation of competitive play. Follow these guidelines to create consistent, powerful decks.

Deck Requirements

Rule	Requirement
Minimum cards	40 cards
Maximum cards	60 cards
Copy limit	Max 3 copies of any card
Legendary limit	Max 1 copy of Legendary cards

Tip

Stick to 40 cards for maximum consistency. More cards = less chance to draw your key cards.

The Mana Curve

Your mana curve shows how many cards you have at each cost. A good curve ensures you can play cards every turn.

Ideal Distribution (40-card deck)

Cost	Count	Purpose
0-1	4-6	Early game, traps
2	8-10	Core creatures, spells
3	10-12	Mid-game power
4	6-8	Strong effects
5+	4-6	Finishers

Caution

Avoid too many 5+ cost cards. You only have 5 mana per turn!

Card Type Ratio

Balance your card types for a well-rounded deck:

Aggro

Fast, creature-focused decks:

• Creatures: 24-28
• Spells: 8-12
• Traps: 4-6

Control

Defensive, spell-heavy decks:

• Creatures: 16-20
• Spells: 12-16
• Traps: 8-10

Midrange

Balanced, flexible decks:

• Creatures: 20-24
• Spells: 10-12
• Traps: 6-8

Building Your First Deck

1. Choose your element(s)

   Start with 1-2 elements for consistency. Popular choices:

   • Mono-Ember (aggressive)
   • Frost/Arcane (control)
   • Nature/Neutral (sustain)

2. Pick your win condition

   How will you win? Examples:

   • Rush down with cheap creatures
   • Control the board then dominate late
   • Combo specific cards together

3. Add your core cards

   Include 3 copies of your most important cards. These should support your win condition.

4. Fill the curve

   Add cards to smooth out your mana curve. Ensure you can play something every turn.

5. Add removal and utility

   Include answers to common threats:

   • Creature removal (4-6 cards)
   • Spell negation (2-4 cards)
   • Card draw (4-6 cards)

6. Test and refine

   Play games and adjust. Replace underperforming cards.

Common Mistakes

Avoid These

1. Too many high-cost cards - You’ll be stuck unable to play
2. No card draw - You’ll run out of options
3. No removal - You can’t answer threats
4. Too many elements - Inconsistent synergies
5. Going over 40 cards - Reduces consistency

Synergy vs Power

When choosing cards, consider:

Factor	Description
Raw Power	How strong is the card on its own?
Synergy	Does it work well with other cards?
Consistency	How often can you use it effectively?
Meta Relevance	Does it counter popular strategies?

Tip

A mediocre card with great synergy often beats a powerful card that doesn’t fit your strategy.

---

Sample Starter Deck: Ember Aggro

Strategy: Rush the opponent with cheap creatures and burn spells.

Creatures (26):
3x Flame Imp (1 cost)
3x Fire Sprite (1 cost)
3x Ember Hound (2 cost)
3x Burning Knight (2 cost)
3x Fire Drake (3 cost)
3x Inferno Mage (3 cost)
3x Blazing Phoenix (4 cost)
3x Volcanic Titan (5 cost)
2x Inferno Lord (5 cost, Legendary - only 1 allowed)

Spells (10):
3x Fireball (2 cost)
3x Flame Burst (3 cost)
2x Inferno Wave (4 cost)
2x Phoenix Rebirth (3 cost)

Traps (4):
2x Ember Trap (0 cost)
2x Counter Blaze (0 cost)

Total: 40 cards

---

What’s Next?

Beginner Tips Essential tips for new players

Advanced Tactics Level up your gameplay