Commander mana base guide
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
Mana Base
Optimal land base for Lazav, Dimir Mastermind — 36–38 lands, black / blue color requirements, and budget builds from $50 to $500+.
black / blueA starting mana base for Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is a 36–38-land build tuned to its black / blue color identity and its reanimator / control / combo game plan. Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is a reanimator deck that cheats threats out of the graveyard, 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.
Karsten math
Color requirements
Frank Karsten's source counts for a 37-land deck, by color.
16
black sources
16
blue sources
Choose your tier
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind manabase by budget
How to build a Lazav, Dimir Mastermind 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: Reanimator.
- ◆Secondary themes: Control, Combo.
Method
How to build a mana base for Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
- 01Set land count to 36–38. Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is a reanimator deck that cheats threats out of the graveyard and needs that count to reliably hit drops.
- 02Cover color requirements. For a 37-land black / blue build, 16 black, 16 blue sources — Frank Karsten's manabase math for a 100-card singleton.
- 03Slot priority lands first — untapped duals for black / blue + 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 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind deck run?
A starting point for Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is 36–38 lands. As a reanimator deck that cheats threats out of the graveyard, 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 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind?
The best mana base for Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is built around untapped dual lands that support the black / blue color identity, plus a few utility lands that reinforce a reanimator game plan. At every budget, prioritize color fixing over cute utility.
What is the best land base for Lazav, Dimir Mastermind on a budget?
A budget Lazav, Dimir Mastermind land base can start with basic lands and affordable fixing that fits the black / blue 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 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind 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 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind need fetch lands?
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind 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 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind have?
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is a black / blue Commander (color identity: B, U). This determines the entire land base — every non-basic must fit inside this identity. For a 37-land deck, Lazav, Dimir Mastermind needs 16 black sources, 16 blue sources as starting source-count targets. Paste your decklist into the builder to account for its colored mana requirements.