Create your own variant

Express your creativity. Following the building rules you can create variations of the format, different decks with the same feeling of play.

Format building rules:

• 10 of a 4 power creature,
• 8 of a spell,
• 4 of another,
• 2 of 13 other spells,
• 32 lands.

Strict Basic

Strict + Original feel:

• 10 of a 4 power creature,
• 8 of a soft counter spell,
• 4 of a spell,
• 2 of 13 other spells
  (Totals of around 10 soft counter spells, 8 removals, 10 draws and 10 of other efffects)
• 32 lands :
  18 Basic,
  2 Sac Lands,
  2 Cycling Lands (Onslaught), 2 Cycling Lands (Urza’s saga),
  2 Scry Lands, 2 Bounce Lands (to allow you to splash),
  2 of another land and 2 of yet another (non basic lands, either coloured according to your variant, and/or with interesting effects).

Creative:

Choose a colour. You may splash another but just a splash.

Choose a central creature. It should be 4 power to allow a victory after 5 hits. BUT it could be any other power and you don’t start at 20 life, or completely ignoring life, still making 5 hits to win.
Have 10 of it.

A soft counterspell (to top of the library or to hand for example). Obviously not all colours have counter spells, let alone variants of counter spells.
If it’s not possible or not to the flavour of your game, pick another spell, one mechanically important to it.
Have 8 of it.

4 of an important spell. A draw could be nice, or a removal if your creature is persistant. With some testing you’ll figure which spell from the next list is a bit more needed.

13 different spells, 2 of each. Try to have some draw, some removal and some other flavourful effects or effects related to your creature. This is the body of your deck, test it often, change them often.

32 lands will get you to the 80 cards of the format. You could follow the list below (also present in Strict + Original feel) or adjust to your liking. Said list has
18 Basic,
2 Sac Lands (granted more useful for a deck with LandHome creatures, their mana boost can always help),
2 Cycling Lands (Onslaught), 2 Cycling Lands (Urza’s saga),
2 Scry Lands, 2 Bounce Lands (to allow you to splash and the Bounce can make another Scry effect),
2 of another land and 2 of yet another (could be non basic lands, either coloured according to your variant, and/or with interesting effects).

From constraint comes creativity.