Commander mana base guide
Rakdos, the Muscle
Mana Base
Optimal land base for Rakdos, the Muscle — 36–38 lands, black / red color requirements, and budget builds from $50 to $500+.
black / redA starting mana base for Rakdos, the Muscle is a 36–38-land build tuned to its black / red color identity and its aristocrats / aggro / value game plan. Rakdos, the Muscle 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.
Karsten math
Color requirements
Frank Karsten's source counts for a 37-land deck, by color.
16
black sources
14
red sources
Choose your tier
Rakdos, the Muscle manabase by budget
How to build a Rakdos, the Muscle 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: Aggro, Value/Midrange.
Method
How to build a mana base for Rakdos, the Muscle
- 01Set land count to 36–38. Rakdos, the Muscle is an aristocrats deck that profits from creatures dying and needs that count to reliably hit drops.
- 02Cover color requirements. For a 37-land black / red build, 16 black, 14 red sources — Frank Karsten's manabase math for a 100-card singleton.
- 03Slot priority lands first — untapped duals for black / red + 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 Rakdos, the Muscle deck run?
A starting point for Rakdos, the Muscle 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 Rakdos, the Muscle?
The best mana base for Rakdos, the Muscle is built around untapped dual lands that support the black / red 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 Rakdos, the Muscle on a budget?
A budget Rakdos, the Muscle land base can start with basic lands and affordable fixing that fits the black / red 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 Rakdos, the Muscle 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 Rakdos, the Muscle need fetch lands?
Rakdos, the Muscle 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 Rakdos, the Muscle have?
Rakdos, the Muscle is a black / red Commander (color identity: B, R). This determines the entire land base — every non-basic must fit inside this identity. For a 37-land deck, Rakdos, the Muscle needs 16 black sources, 14 red sources as starting source-count targets. Paste your decklist into the builder to account for its colored mana requirements.