Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to techniques for selecting a base graph to be used for wireless communications. Selection can be based on a variety of factors. Abase graph can be used to derive a low-density parity-check (LDPC) code used for encoding a retransmission of an original transmission. An exemplary method generally includes selecting, based on a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a resource allocation (RA) for transmitting a codeword, a base graph (BG), from which to derive a low density parity check (LDPC) code for use in encoding data bits in the codeword (e.g., encoding data bits of a bitstream such that some redundant bits are included in the codeword), encoding the data bits to generate the codeword using the LDPC code derived from the selected BG, and transmitting the codeword using the MCS via resources of the RA.