Home / Guides

Reading a Mana Curve

The single chart that tells you how a deck wants to play before you ever queue with it.

What the curve shows

The mana curve counts how many cards a deck has at each cost. It's a quick read of the deck's plan: a pile of one and two drops wants to start fast and end the game early, and a tall right side means the deck plans to survive and win with expensive threats.

Shapes worth recognising

• Front-loaded: most cards cost three or less. Aggressive decks live here and run out of steam if the game drags on.
• Bell-shaped: peaks at three or four mana. Typical of midrange decks that want to use their mana well every turn.
• Flat with a long tail: cheap answers, few early threats and several big cards. Classic control.

Using all your mana

A good curve isn't about matching an ideal shape. It's about having something useful to do with your mana on the turns that matter. If you often skip your turn-two play, add two drops. If you run out of cards by turn seven, add card draw or more value from expensive cards.

Keep in mind that the curve can mislead. Cards that cost less over the game, or cards that are only played alongside others, don't sit neatly in one column.