When Can You Play a Land in MTG? A Comprehensive Guide
In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), understanding the timing of playing lands is fundamental to success. While seemingly straightforward, the nuances surrounding when you can play a land often trip up newer players, and even some veterans on occasion. So, the direct answer to the question, “When can you play a land in MTG?” is: You can play one land per turn during one of your main phases, when you have priority, and when the stack is empty. Let’s delve into the specifics of this rule.
Understanding the Core Timing
The core rule for playing lands is that you may play one land during your turn, during either your pre-combat main phase or your post-combat main phase. This action is considered a special action and does not use the stack, meaning your opponent cannot respond to it. Crucially, the stack must be empty before you can play a land, and you must have priority (the right to take actions) to do so.
The Main Phases: Your Land-Playing Zones
In MTG, a turn is divided into several phases. The phases where you are typically able to play a land are your main phases, which happen both before and after combat. These are the opportunities to make strategic decisions, cast spells, and, of course, play your single land for the turn. During a main phase you can:
- Cast spells: Including sorceries, creatures, enchantments, and more.
- Activate abilities: This refers to abilities on cards you control that have an activation cost.
- Play your land for the turn: As previously explained.
It’s important to remember that playing a land is a strategic decision. You can play your land before casting other spells, or after you have cast spells – the order is up to you, so long as the land is played during one of your main phases, you have priority, and the stack is empty.
Key Constraints: Priority and Empty Stack
Two essential conditions must always be met to legally play a land:
- You must have priority: Priority is the right to take actions. You gain priority at the beginning of each phase, and after the resolution of a spell or ability. Passing priority to your opponent means you are not taking any actions at that time.
- The stack must be empty: The stack is where spells and abilities “wait” to resolve. If a spell is being cast or an ability is activated, you must allow the stack to resolve before you can play a land.
These constraints prevent you from playing a land in response to another action or during a phase other than a main phase.
Exceptions to the One Land Rule
While the general rule dictates one land per turn, several cards and effects can allow you to play additional lands. These exceptions, usually found on sorceries or creatures, can significantly accelerate your game plan and are often powerful strategies in MTG. Examples include Exploration which allows you to play an additional land each turn, or Oracle of Mul Daya, that lets you play an extra land on your turn and allows you to see the top card of your library.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify when you can play lands, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. Can I play a land during my opponent’s turn?
No, you can only play a land on your own turn, during one of your main phases.
2. Can I play a land before my draw step?
No, the draw step is a different phase. You can play a land only during a main phase.
3. Can I play a land during my upkeep step?
No, playing a land during the upkeep is not allowed. It can only be done in your main phases.
4. Can I play a land after my draw step?
Yes, you can play a land in either main phase. If you haven’t played a land during your pre-combat main phase, you can play one during your post-combat main phase.
5. Can I play a land in my second main phase?
Absolutely. If you did not play a land in your first main phase, you are allowed to do so in your second main phase, subject to the usual rules.
6. Can I play a land during my end step?
No. You are only allowed to play a land during your main phases.
7. Does playing a land use the stack?
No. Playing a land is a special action that doesn’t use the stack. Therefore, your opponent can’t respond to you playing a land.
8. Can I respond to my opponent playing a land?
No. Because playing a land does not use the stack, you cannot respond to it.
9. Can I play a basic land and a non-basic land on the same turn?
Yes, you can play any combination of land types, as long as you only play one land per turn, unless you are under the effect of an ability that allows you to play multiple lands per turn.
10. Can I tap a land for mana the same turn I play it?
Yes, you can tap a land for mana the same turn you play it as long as you have priority.
11. Do lands have summoning sickness?
Lands do have summoning sickness, but only if they are also creatures. Summoning sickness applies to creatures, so a land that is not a creature is not affected by summoning sickness.
12. Do lands enter the battlefield tapped?
No. Lands enter the battlefield untapped unless a card effect specifically states otherwise.
13. Can I play more than one land per turn in Commander?
Normally, you can play only one land per turn in Commander. Some cards and effects can allow you to play more.
14. Can I play a land after casting spells?
Yes. You can play your land for the turn at any point in either of your main phases, before or after casting other spells, so long as the stack is empty and you have priority.
15. Can I play any lands in Commander?
In Commander, your deck (including lands) must adhere to your commander’s color identity. This means the lands you include must match colors in the color identity of your commander. For example, a commander that is only red and green can only have red and/or green land in their deck.
Final Thoughts
Understanding when to play a land in MTG is a critical skill that will improve your gameplay. Remember that the core rule is to play one land during your main phase when you have priority, and the stack is empty, and that while that’s the most common scenario, some cards can alter that. Mastering this fundamental will make sure you are on the road to success.