Commander mana base guide
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Mana Base
Optimal land base for Melek, Izzet Paragon — 36–38 lands, red / blue color requirements, and budget builds from $50 to $500+.
red / blueA starting mana base for Melek, Izzet Paragon is a 36–38-land build tuned to its red / blue color identity and its spellslinger / combo / ramp game plan. Melek, Izzet Paragon is a spellslinger deck built around cheap instants and sorceries, so its manabase leans toward untapped lands — every tapped enter costs a real turn of tempo. 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.
14
red sources
14
blue sources
Choose your tier
Melek, Izzet Paragon manabase by budget
How to build a Melek, Izzet Paragon 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: Spellslinger.
- ◆Secondary themes: Combo, Ramp.
Method
How to build a mana base for Melek, Izzet Paragon
- 01Set land count to 36–38. Melek, Izzet Paragon is a spellslinger deck built around cheap instants and sorceries and needs that count to reliably hit drops.
- 02Cover color requirements. For a 37-land red / blue build, 14 red, 14 blue sources — Frank Karsten's manabase math for a 100-card singleton.
- 03Slot priority lands first — untapped duals for red / 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 Melek, Izzet Paragon deck run?
A starting point for Melek, Izzet Paragon is 36–38 lands. As a spellslinger deck built around cheap instants and sorceries, it leans toward mostly untapped lands — enters-tapped duals cost too much tempo when the game plan is racing. Adjust the count for your actual curve, ramp, draw, and playtesting. The builder supports 30–42 lands.
What is the best mana base for Melek, Izzet Paragon?
The best mana base for Melek, Izzet Paragon is built around untapped dual lands that support the red / blue color identity, plus a few utility lands that reinforce a spellslinger game plan. At every budget, prioritize color fixing over cute utility.
What is the best land base for Melek, Izzet Paragon on a budget?
A budget Melek, Izzet Paragon land base can start with basic lands and affordable fixing that fits the red / 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 Melek, Izzet Paragon 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 Melek, Izzet Paragon need fetch lands?
Fetch lands can help Melek, Izzet Paragon access its colors when paired with suitable land types. Compare their cost and targets with other fixing; they are not mandatory for every build.
What color identity does Melek, Izzet Paragon have?
Melek, Izzet Paragon is a red / blue Commander (color identity: R, U). This determines the entire land base — every non-basic must fit inside this identity. For a 37-land deck, Melek, Izzet Paragon needs 14 red sources, 14 blue sources as starting source-count targets. Paste your decklist into the builder to account for its colored mana requirements.