Is a Triome a Basic Land? A Deep Dive into MTG Land Types

The question of whether a Triome is a basic land in Magic: The Gathering is a common one, especially for newer players, but also a point of confusion for seasoned veterans. Let’s get straight to the answer: No, a Triome is NOT a basic land. While they possess a unique characteristic that blurs the lines with basic lands, they are fundamentally nonbasic lands. This distinction is critical for deck construction and understanding how they interact with other cards.

Understanding Basic Lands

To grasp why Triomes aren’t basic lands, we must first define what a basic land is. In Magic, basic lands are the foundational mana sources. They have specific characteristics:

• They possess the “basic” supertype. This is explicitly stated on the card.
• They have one of the five basic land types: Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, or Forest.
• They include the snow-covered versions of the five basic land types and Wastes.
• There is no limit to the number of each individual basic land that can be included in your deck, except as restricted by the format.
• They typically depict more generic landscapes rather than specific locations.

The Nature of Triomes

Triomes, also known as triple lands, are lands that produce three different colors of mana. What makes them special is that they also possess basic land types, but they do not have the “basic” supertype. This is the key differentiator. Each Triome, such as Indatha Triome, has three of the basic land types (in Indatha Triome’s case, Plains, Swamp and Forest) on their type line.

This means they interact with cards that search for or are affected by lands with basic land types. For example, a fetch land like Fabled Passage can find a Triome because they have the subtypes Plains, Swamp and Forest. Yet, you can only have a maximum of four copies of any specific Triome in your deck because they do not have the “basic” supertype.

Why This Distinction Matters

The lack of the “basic” supertype has significant implications. Here’s why it’s so important:

• Deckbuilding Restriction: Unlike basic lands, you can only include a maximum of four copies of any specific Triome in your constructed deck (as it’s considered a nonbasic land), unless there are other effects that modify that rule.
• Interaction with Effects: Cards that specifically target basic lands, such as Blood Moon, will not affect Triomes. Conversely, cards that search for lands with specific basic land types can find Triomes as they possess basic land types.
• Fetch Land Synergy: Due to their multiple basic land types, Triomes have excellent synergy with fetch lands which can search for them.

Key Characteristics of Triomes

• Produce Three Colors of Mana: Each Triome can tap to produce one of three different colors of mana.
• Multiple Basic Land Types: They have three different basic land types on their type line
• Nonbasic Supertype: They lack the “basic” supertype, making them nonbasic lands.
• Cycling Ability: Triomes have the ability to be cycled which allows you to discard them and draw a card
• Rare Lands: They are usually printed at the rare or mythic rare rarity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Triomes and Basic Land Interactions

1. Can a fetch land search for a Triome?
   Yes, absolutely. Since Triomes have basic land types, fetch lands like Fabled Passage, Arid Mesa, or Verdant Catacombs can find them. For example, Ketria Triome, which has Island, Forest, Mountain, can be fetched by a land that is able to find those basic land types.

2. Does Blood Moon affect Triomes?
   No. Blood Moon changes nonbasic lands into Mountains. Because Triomes are already nonbasic, they won’t be affected by Blood Moon. They will still produce their three chosen mana types and retain all their basic land types.

3. Can I have more than four copies of a Triome in my deck?
   No, you cannot. Since Triomes are nonbasic lands, you are restricted to a maximum of four copies of each distinct Triome in your deck, unless there are other effects that allow you to go over the limit of 4 copies of a specific nonbasic card.

4. Are snow-covered lands basic?
   Yes, snow-covered versions of Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest are also basic lands. They share the same supertype and land type characteristics as their standard counterparts but also have the “snow” supertype. They are basic lands and can be used in any deck with no limitations.

5. Do effects that search for basic lands also search for snow-covered basic lands?
   Yes. If a card allows you to search for a basic land you can search for a snow-covered basic land. For example if a card says “search your library for a Plains”, you may choose either a basic Plains, or a snow-covered Plains.

Distinguishing Triomes from Other Lands

6. What is the difference between a Triome and a dual land?
   Dual lands (like Tundra or Underground Sea) are nonbasic lands that tap for two colors of mana, and have the corresponding basic land types. Triomes, on the other hand, tap for three colors of mana, and have three basic land types. Dual lands have only two basic land types. Both land types are nonbasic lands.

7. How do Triomes compare to shock lands?
   Shock lands, like Steam Vents or Overgrown Tomb, have two basic land types and are nonbasic lands, like Triomes. The key difference is that they enter the battlefield tapped unless you pay 2 life. Triomes enter tapped without a life cost. Shock lands also produce two different colors of mana compared to Triomes which produce three colors.

8. Are artifact lands basic lands?
   No. Artifact lands are nonbasic lands that also have the artifact type. They are affected by artifact and land cards but cannot be treated as basic lands.

9. What are locus lands?
   Locus lands like Cloudpost and Glimmerpost are colorless lands with the “locus” subtype. They are nonbasic and care about how many other locus lands you control.

10. Is Desert a basic land type?
    No, Desert is a nonbasic land type. It is a subtype of land but does not have a unique basic land type. Therefore, it can never be treated as a basic land type.

Triome Functionality and Strategy

11. Why are Triomes considered powerful in MTG?
    Triomes are powerful because they offer excellent mana fixing, produce three different colors of mana, have basic land types that allow them to be searched with fetch lands, and have the ability to be cycled for a new card. This versatility makes them ideal in multi-color decks.

12. Are Triomes good in Commander/EDH?
    Yes, Triomes are incredibly useful in Commander (EDH), especially in decks that use three or more colors. They fix your mana base and can be used as card draw. This is due to the cycling effect.

13. How many different Triomes are there?
    There are ten Triomes currently printed in Magic: The Gathering. They are: Indatha Triome, Ketria Triome, Raugrin Triome, Savai Triome, and Zagoth Triome. Each with a specific 3 basic land type combination, and a matching 3-color mana output.

14. When were Triomes first introduced?
    Triomes were first introduced in the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set. The first five Triomes introduced were Indatha Triome, Ketria Triome, Raugrin Triome, Savai Triome, and Zagoth Triome. There have been further prints of new triomes in later sets.

15. How can I effectively utilize Triomes in my deck?
    Utilize Triomes by pairing them with fetch lands to maximize mana efficiency. Prioritize them in multi-color decks where mana consistency is critical. The cycling effect means you are never stuck with a card that isn’t useful to you.

Final Thoughts

While Triomes possess basic land types, their lack of the “basic” supertype is what sets them apart from true basic lands. This single distinction significantly affects how they can be used in deckbuilding and their interaction with other cards. Understanding this difference is essential for mastering the complexities of Magic: The Gathering and building effective and consistent decks. They are invaluable tools but should not be mistaken for basic lands.