Commander mana base guide
Bard, King of Dale
Mana Base
Optimal land base for Bard, King of Dale — 36–38 lands, blue / white color requirements, and budget builds from $50 to $500+.
blue / whiteA starting mana base for Bard, King of Dale is a 36–38-land build tuned to its blue / white color identity and its control / ramp / voltron game plan. Bard, King of Dale is a control deck that trades early tempo for late-game inevitability, so its manabase leans toward a balanced mix of untapped fixing plus tapped lands that earn their slot with late-game upside. Choose a $50, $100, $250, or $500 budget below to generate a land list. This guide covers priority land picks, color-source math, and a free builder that generates the full list with TCGplayer checkout.
Source allocation
Color requirements
Starting source allocation by color; actual spell costs and timing can require different counts.
14
blue sources
14
white sources
Choose your tier
Bard, King of Dale manabase by budget
How to build a Bard, King of Dale land base at each popular price point. Click a tier to open the builder pre-loaded with the commander and budget.
- $5036–38 lands
Start with affordable color sources and basics; reserve utility slots for the commander’s plan.
Build at $50 → - $10036–38 lands
Prioritize dependable color access. Compare the suggested upgrades with the $50 build.
Build at $100 → - $25036–38 lands
Compare stronger fixing and useful land interactions. Availability and prices determine what fits.
Build at $250 → - $50036–38 lands
Explore functional upgrades first. Expensive printings are optional, and a larger budget does not guarantee a stronger deck.
Build at $500 →
Solver reasoning
Why these lands
- ◆Detected primary archetype: Control.
- ◆Secondary themes: Ramp, Voltron.
Method
How to build a mana base for Bard, King of Dale
- 01Set land count to 36–38. Bard, King of Dale is a control deck that trades early tempo for late-game inevitability and needs that count as a starting point for playtesting.
- 02Cover color requirements. For a 37-land blue / white build, 14 blue, 14 white potential sources. Check the full deck and the desired casting turn.
- 03Slot priority lands first — untapped duals for blue / white + a few utility slots. These earn their spot regardless of budget.
- 04Fill by budget: $50 = check + pain lands, $100 = add selective shocks, $250 = fetches, $500+ = original duals.
- 05Verify by running landfiller — the solver returns the exact list at your budget with a one-click TCGplayer cart.
Questions & Answers
FAQ
How many lands should a Bard, King of Dale deck run?
A starting point for Bard, King of Dale is 36–38 lands. As a control deck that trades early tempo for late-game inevitability, it leans toward a balanced mix of tapped and untapped lands, with tapped lands earning their slot through late-game upside. Adjust the count for your actual curve, ramp, draw, and playtesting. The builder supports 30–42 lands.
What is the best mana base for Bard, King of Dale?
The best mana base for Bard, King of Dale is built around untapped dual lands that support the blue / white color identity, plus a few utility lands that reinforce a control game plan. At every budget, prioritize color fixing over cute utility.
What is the best land base for Bard, King of Dale on a budget?
A budget Bard, King of Dale land base can start with basic lands and affordable fixing that fits the blue / white identity. Evaluate utility lands against the colors your deck needs. Use the $50 budget preset to see which cards fit current prices. Casting consistency depends on your full deck; no fixed percentage is guaranteed.
How much does a Bard, King of Dale manabase cost?
Choose a land budget from $20 upward. The builder recommends specific lands using available card prices and reports the total. Start with $50 or $100, then compare the land changes before spending more.
Does Bard, King of Dale need fetch lands?
Bard, King of Dale works fine without fetch lands. Compare fetches with affordable fixing and consider whether your deck has suitable fetch targets or land-entry synergies. Their value depends on the complete list, not a fixed budget threshold.
What color identity does Bard, King of Dale have?
Bard, King of Dale is a blue / white Commander (color identity: U, W). This determines the entire land base — every non-basic must fit inside this identity. For a 37-land deck, Bard, King of Dale needs 14 blue sources, 14 white sources as starting source-count targets. Paste your decklist into the builder to account for its colored mana requirements.