Build a Big Deck
Curation over optimization. Fun over power level.
The Four NOs
These are the hard rules. Everything else is preference.
1. No Duplicates
Singleton only. One of each card. A second copy of the same card stays out.
2. No Search
No tutors, fetches, or search-your-library effects. A tutor searches your library for another card. A fetch land searches your library for a land. Demonic Tutor and fetch lands stay out. So does transmute, an ability that searches for a card with the same mana cost.
3. No X
Avoid cards with X in the cost or the text. Fireball is the usual example. Too strong when mana is free.
4. No Infinity
No infinite loops. That includes cards that can raise power, toughness, life, or card draw without a real stop, such as the Invokers.
Keep it easy for a new player
- • Stick to creatures, artifacts, enchantments, sorceries, and instants.
- • If the rules text runs longer than about five lines, leave the card out.
- • Skip keyword soup. Flying is fine. A keyword with no reminder text is a bad surprise.
- • Leave haste out. A creature that can attack the turn it comes into play is too strong in this format.
Recommended Size
Target: 150–250 cards (most land around 200).
- • Creatures: 25–50%
- • Instants: 20–40%
- • Sorceries: 10–25%
- • Artifacts & Enchantments: 5–20%
Start near the middle of each range. The bands overlap, so a deck cannot sit at the top of every one.
Where's the deck list?
We do not have an official Big Deck list. We highly encourage players to consider the deck-building rules above (the Four NOs) and build their own personal Big Deck. We may (in the future) recommend specific cards which our (unprofessional) studies have shown to be excellent for this format. You can refer to some existing Type 4 deck lists for ideas.
Don't have time to build one? Get one.
Type 4 roots
The pile is waiting. Make it yours.