Frank Karsten
6 articles · 2018–2022
How Many Lands Do You Need in Your Deck?
An Updated Analysis (2022)
Frank Karsten · TCGPlayer Infinite · 2022Karsten's 2022 refresh of the definitive answer to 'how many lands should my deck have?' with updated hypergeometric tables adjusted for the London mulligan era. The mathematical foundation of ManaTuner.
This is the article that makes ManaTuner possible. Karsten works out the math so every deckbuilder can stop guessing. If you read only one piece about manabase construction, make it this one — and read it with ManaTuner open in another tab.
How Many Sources Do You Need to Consistently Cast Your Spells? (2022 Update)
Frank Karsten · TCGPlayer Infinite · 2022The 2022 update of Karsten's canonical manabase tables. Adjusts for the London mulligan rule and modern format speeds. The working reference used by ManaTuner's engine.
Land count is half the story — colored sources are the other half. This is the table ManaTuner's engine implements. Bring your decklist, open the Analyzer, and check every pip. Required before any multi-color RCQ list goes to print.
An Introduction to the Hypergeometric Distribution for Magic Players
Frank Karsten · ChannelFireball · 2018Karsten explains the hypergeometric distribution applied to Magic decks — the math foundation behind land counts, colored sources, and probability tools like ManaTuner.
If the Karsten tables are the GPS, this article is the cartography course. Hypergeometric without unnecessary jargon — exactly ManaTuner's contract. Read it before you argue with a percentage on the Analyzer.
How Many Colored Mana Sources Do You Need to Consistently Cast Your Spells?
Guilds of Ravnica Update (2018)
Frank Karsten · ChannelFireball · 2018The 2018 pre-London-mulligan version, preserved for historical and cross-reference value. Still cited when a deck hasn't migrated to the modern tables.
What's an Optimal Mana Curve and Land/Ramp Count for Commander?
Frank Karsten · ChannelFireball · 2019Karsten's adaptation of his manabase math to 100-card singleton Commander. Optimal curve, land count, and ramp targets — different formulas, same rigor as his Constructed work.
The anchor of the Commander track. Karsten proves that 60-card intuition breaks in singleton — you need different land counts, different ramp curves, different hypergeometric inputs. Read this first, then open ManaTuner with a Commander preset.
What Are the New London Mulligan Odds?
Frank Karsten · ChannelFireball · 2019Karsten computing the mulligan-adjusted probabilities under the London rule. The math behind every "do I keep this?" you face at turn zero.
Lost to link rot — no archive.org snapshot exists at any URL variant. The 2022 update (above) incorporates London mulligan math, so the substance is preserved. If you have a copy of the original 2019 article, please reach out on GitHub.
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