Commander mana base guide
Gideon the Oathless
Mana Base
Optimal land base for Gideon the Oathless — 36–38 lands, black color requirements, and budget builds from $50 to $500+.
blackA starting mana base for Gideon the Oathless is a 36–38-land build tuned to its black color identity and its aristocrats / reanimator / aggro game plan. Gideon the Oathless is an aristocrats deck that profits from creatures dying, 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.
38
black sources
Choose your tier
Gideon the Oathless manabase by budget
How to build a Gideon the Oathless 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: Aristocrats.
- ◆Secondary themes: Reanimator, Aggro.
Method
How to build a mana base for Gideon the Oathless
- 01Set land count to 36–38. Gideon the Oathless is an aristocrats deck that profits from creatures dying and needs that count as a starting point for playtesting.
- 02Cover color requirements. For a 37-land black build, 38 black potential sources. Check the full deck and the desired casting turn.
- 03Slot priority lands first — untapped duals for black + 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 Gideon the Oathless deck run?
A starting point for Gideon the Oathless is 36–38 lands. As an aristocrats deck that profits from creatures dying, 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 Gideon the Oathless?
The best mana base for Gideon the Oathless is built around untapped dual lands that support the black color identity, plus a few utility lands that reinforce a aristocrats game plan. At every budget, prioritize color fixing over cute utility.
What is the best land base for Gideon the Oathless on a budget?
A budget Gideon the Oathless land base can start with basic lands and affordable fixing that fits the black 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 Gideon the Oathless 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 Gideon the Oathless need fetch lands?
Gideon the Oathless 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 Gideon the Oathless have?
Gideon the Oathless is a black Commander (color identity: B). This determines the entire land base — every non-basic must fit inside this identity. For a 37-land deck, Gideon the Oathless needs 38 black sources as starting source-count targets. Paste your decklist into the builder to account for its colored mana requirements.