Mox Diamond and Land Count

[(nameless one)]

Hello guys,

I am a noob when it comes to Mox Diamond.

If I am planning to run a control deck that utilizes Mox Diamond, what is the ideal amount of lands that I should run (given that I am not running Crucible of Worlds)?

Thanks.

[Cthuloo]

It's hard to answer if you don't specify a bit. Generally the correct number is between 22 and 26, but depends heavily on the deck, the mana curve, the number of colors it plays, the amount of colorless mana producing lands, etc.

[(nameless one)]

I am currently running 18 lands (3 Horizon Canopy, 15 Plains). Its a mono-colored deck and I have ways to grab lands (Weathered Wayfarer and Tithe). The deck has a low mana curve (highest at 4CC)

[Felidae]

If you run a low mana curve and only 18 lands Chrome Mox might be a better call.

[(nameless one)]

Just to let y'all know, this thread has something to do with this thread:

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?16810-Parfait-(Tax-Rack-Mono-White-Control)

[Rico Suave]

There are two things you must consider:

1) How will my deck operate without Land Tax?

2) Even with Land Tax, how will my deck operate?

While you can get away with an abyssmally low land count if you manage to get Land Tax on the board, you will still likely miss land drops if you're on the play and missing a land drop will always stunt your growth. Your opponent will be up cards and you will be behind in tempo. This is not a good position to be in, especially for a control deck. Then again this is a problem inherent to Land Tax so your deck will have to deal with it.

The other thing to factor is how the deck performs without Land Tax on the board, either because it was countered, discarded, or you just didn't draw it in your opener. 18 lands is very low. 18 lands and Mox Diamond? Now you're just asking for the deck to collapse on itself over and over.

There is no correct land count for Mox Diamond. It depends largely on how many lands you want in play in order to cast your spells, what mana count you are accelerating into, and why you need to accelerate.

[Koby]

There is no absolute minimum for playing Mox Diamonds. I've played Mox Diamond in the following decks:

Legacy ANT (14 lands, namesake to draw ridiculous number of cards)
Extended GAT (18 lands, Gush)
Classic GAT (16 land, Gush)
Geddon Stax (26 lands, Crucible)
BWG Pox (3 Diamonds, 23 lands, and LFTL)
Aggro Loam (25-27 land, LFTL)
Death n Taxes (22 lands, Tithe)

Generally, I'd say that you want around 24+ land to take advantage of Mox Diamond unassisted. With Tithe, LFTL, Gush, or other methods of putting lands into your hand, that minimum can be brought down significantly. It still makes a horrible topdeck late game.