How many Basic Lands do you run in Standard?

[golconda2]

Back in the game after a long hiatus and was curious as to what players thought the minimum number of Basic Lands in a deck should be given the existence of cards like Evolving Wilds. The current deck I'm running has 3 of each Basic Land between the Main Deck and Sideboard, is that considered too little nowadays even with the Standard legal dual-lands out there?

[Mninblk7]

I have been advised to play 24 or 25 lands in Standard.

[golconda2]

That's what I've heard for the total number of lands, but what I mean is how many Basic Lands (Swamps, Islands, Mountains, Forests, Plains) as compared to non-Basics (Frontier Bivouacs, Rugged Highlands, etc.) is considered the optimum number.

[Warden of Silence]

Hello.

So the number of basic lands and the special lands (everything else) really depends on the deck you are running. It would be hard to say what the best amount would be without knowing the deck.

For example, if you are running a really fast burn deck, I doubt you would need any land other than basic.

If you post the deck, or go into details about it, maybe we can help you further.

[Kazuaro]

I have been advised to play 24 or 25 lands in Standard.

The number of basic lands depends on the type of deck you run. So, for example, aggro decks is all about tempo, so it needs few basic lands. As a general guideline this is what it should be like:

Mono-Coloured Aggro Decks
19-21 Basic Lands

Other Mono-Coloured Decks
23-24 Basics

Dual-Coloured Decks
2-3 Fetch Lands
12-14 Basics
3-4 Pain Lands/ Shock Lands (no standard ones currently I think)

Tri-Coloured Decks
4 Fetch Lands
2-4 Pain/ Shock Lands
6-8 Basics
3-4 Scry Lands
4 of a any-colour land (Mana Confluence)

That's just a general guideline someone told me once. Of course, every deck is different, so it might not help you to dogmatically run 20 Lands for every aggro deck you play. Honestly, tweaking is always needed, and if you're stuck, count the mana symbols of each colour you're playing and work out ratios that way.

[Bobtheblade]

fetch lands also populate your graveyard for delve cards like dig through time and treasure cruise.

[flashback]

I`m pretty new to the game, so shoot me if I`m wrong.
I heard some place to count how many land`s your creatures need in total, then divide by two, and round up.

I`n my deck I need:
total 23 swamps, 23/2=11.5 = 12.
total 24 Islands 24/2=12
I don't count the colorless cards.

So I end up with 12 Swamps and 12 Islands.

[Alais]

I`m pretty new to the game, so shoot me if I`m wrong.
I heard some place to count how many land`s your creatures need in total, then divide by two, and round up.

I`n my deck I need:
total 23 swamps, 23/2=11.5 = 12.
total 24 Islands 24/2=12
I don't count the colorless cards.

So I end up with 12 Swamps and 12 Islands.

You're almost there

First, you have to count the mana symbols of the cards in your deck (don't confuse "mana symbols" with lands).
Now you know the percentage of every color in your deck. That equates to the mana sources you need (again: Don't confuse "mana source" with lands).
In your case: You need 50% blue sources ans 50% black sources.

Next, you decide how many lands in total you want to run. That depends on your mana curve (e.g. if you run a deck with a maximum of CMC 3 you might want to have 20-22 lands - if you run a deck with a maximum of CMC 6 you might want to have 23-25 lands).

The last step is to dicide witch lands you want to include into your deck.

In your case, the landbase might look like this:
4 Polluted Delta
4 Temple of Deceit
2 Mana Confluence
7 Swamp
7 Island

Or like this:
2 Polluted Delta
4 Temple of Deceit
9 Swamp
9 Island