Magic: The Gathering Deck Cost Calculator
Created by: Olivia Harper
Last updated:
Calculate Magic: The Gathering deck building costs across all formats including Commander, Modern, Standard, Legacy, and more. Plan your MTG budget, compare deck prices, and make informed decisions about deck construction and upgrades.
What is MTG Deck Cost Planning?
Magic: The Gathering deck cost planning involves calculating the total investment required to build competitive decks across different formats like Standard, Modern, Legacy, and Commander. Deck costs vary significantly based on format requirements, card rarity, and current market prices for key cards and staples.
Understanding deck building costs helps players budget effectively, choose appropriate formats, and make informed decisions about card purchases, trades, and deck upgrades. This is especially important for competitive players who need to maintain multiple decks or adapt to changing metas.
MTG Deck Cost Calculation
Total Deck Cost
Total Cost = Main Deck + Sideboard + Lands + Accessories
Format Budget Ranges
Budget ($50-150) < Competitive ($150-500) < Premium ($500+)
How to Calculate MTG Deck Cost: Example
Let's calculate the cost for a competitive Modern deck:
- Format: Modern
- Deck archetype: Competitive
- Main deck value: $320
- Sideboard value: $80
- Manabase upgrade: 15%
- Accessories: $25
Calculation:
- Base deck cost = $320 + $80 = $400
- Manabase upgrade = $400 × 0.15 = $60
- Total deck cost = $400 + $60 + $25 = $485
Common Applications
- Budget Planning: Set realistic budgets for deck building projects
- Format Selection: Choose formats that match your budget constraints
- Deck Comparison: Compare costs between different deck archetypes
- Upgrade Planning: Plan incremental improvements to existing decks
- Tournament Preparation: Budget for competitive play expenses
- Collection Management: Track investment in Magic cards over time
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most budget-friendly MTG format?
Commander (EDH) offers excellent budget options with competitive decks possible for $50-150. Standard can also be budget-friendly but requires regular updates. Avoid Legacy and Vintage for budget play due to expensive reserved list cards.
How often do MTG deck costs change?
Deck costs fluctuate with new set releases, tournament results, and meta shifts. Standard rotates annually, Modern prices shift with bans/unbans, and Commander prices vary with reprints. Monitor prices during spoiler seasons and major tournaments.
Should I buy singles or booster packs for deck building?
Always buy singles for deck building. Booster packs are for drafting and fun but never cost-effective for constructing specific decks. Use reputable online retailers or local game stores for competitive pricing on singles.
How can I reduce MTG deck building costs?
Start with budget alternatives, proxy test before buying, buy during reprints, trade cards you don't use, consider online-only formats like Arena, and gradually upgrade key pieces over time rather than buying everything at once.
Sources and References
- MTGGoldfish, "MTG Deck Prices and Metagame Analysis", Comprehensive Price Tracking Database
- EDHRec, "Commander Deck Building Statistics", Community Deck Building Data
- TCGPlayer, "Magic: The Gathering Price Guide", Real-time Market Pricing Data