Commander mana base guide
The Squadron Sinister
Mana Base
Optimal land base for The Squadron Sinister — 36–38 lands, red / blue color requirements, and budget builds from $50 to $500+.
red / blueA starting mana base for The Squadron Sinister is a 36–38-land build tuned to its red / blue color identity and its graveyard / spellslinger / combo game plan. The Squadron Sinister is a graveyard-centric deck that recurs resources from the bin, 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
red sources
14
blue sources
Choose your tier
The Squadron Sinister manabase by budget
How to build a The Squadron Sinister 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: Graveyard.
- ◆Secondary themes: Spellslinger, Combo.
Method
How to build a mana base for The Squadron Sinister
- 01Set land count to 36–38. The Squadron Sinister is a graveyard-centric deck that recurs resources from the bin and needs that count as a starting point for playtesting.
- 02Cover color requirements. For a 37-land red / blue build, 14 red, 14 blue potential sources. Check the full deck and the desired casting turn.
- 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 The Squadron Sinister deck run?
A starting point for The Squadron Sinister is 36–38 lands. As a graveyard-centric deck that recurs resources from the bin, 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 The Squadron Sinister?
The best mana base for The Squadron Sinister is built around untapped dual lands that support the red / blue color identity, plus a few utility lands that reinforce a graveyard game plan. At every budget, prioritize color fixing over cute utility.
What is the best land base for The Squadron Sinister on a budget?
A budget The Squadron Sinister 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 The Squadron Sinister 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 The Squadron Sinister need fetch lands?
The Squadron Sinister 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 The Squadron Sinister have?
The Squadron Sinister 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, The Squadron Sinister 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.