Does a Land Count as a Blue Card in Magic: The Gathering?
The short, definitive answer is: No, a land does not inherently count as a blue card in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). While a land might produce blue mana, which is often associated with blue cards, the land itself remains colorless unless specifically stated otherwise. Understanding this distinction is crucial for playing the game correctly and maximizing your strategies. Lands are a fundamental component of MTG, providing the resources (mana) needed to cast spells, but they operate under different rules than colored spells. This article will break down why lands are colorless, when exceptions arise, and explore related topics to give you a comprehensive understanding.
Understanding Color in Magic: The Gathering
Before diving deeper into the land color issue, it’s essential to understand how color is determined in MTG. In general, a card’s color is primarily determined by its mana cost printed in the upper right corner of the card. A card with a blue mana symbol in its casting cost is considered a blue card. However, there is another determining factor: a color indicator. A color indicator is a colored dot on the card’s type line. Cards like Dryad Arbor are exceptions to the rule because, even though they have no mana cost, they do have a green color indicator making them both a land and a green creature card.
Lands and Colorless Status
Most lands, including basic lands like Islands, Plains, Swamps, Mountains, and Forests, have no mana cost and no color indicator. This means that by default, they are considered colorless cards. While an Island can produce blue mana, it’s important to understand the mana is blue, and the source of it, the Island, is not. A common misconception is that a land’s color is directly tied to the mana it produces. This is not the case, and understanding this is critical for strategic gameplay. Because they are colorless, most lands are not subject to card effects that impact colored cards unless specifically stated otherwise.
Exceptions to the Colorless Rule
There are, of course, exceptions to this general rule, and these exceptions create some interesting and strategic complexities within MTG:
- Dryad Arbor: This is the most notable example of a land card with a color. It has a green color indicator, making it a green land creature. Due to its color indicator it is affected by effects that deal with green permanents or cards even if it has no mana cost.
- Cards that Change Land Colors: Some spells or abilities can temporarily or permanently change the color of a land. For instance, a card like Painter’s Servant can make all cards in play become a specified color, including lands. Cards like Deathlace can make lands the color of the mana they produce.
- Land with Color Identity: Although lands are often colorless in regards to their own color, they still have a color identity that restricts what decks they can be placed in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between lands and color in MTG:
1. Are basic lands considered colored?
No. Basic lands like Islands, Plains, Swamps, Mountains, and Forests are colorless cards because they lack a mana cost and color indicator. Even if they produce colored mana, the cards themselves remain colorless.
2. Does a Swamp count as a black permanent?
No. A Swamp is a colorless land. It only becomes a black permanent if an effect specifically makes it so, such as the use of a card like Deathlace.
3. Does an Island count as a blue card for Force of Will?
No. An Island is not a blue card. Force of Will requires that you exile a blue card to cast the spell, or pay its alternative cost. Because the Island is colorless, not blue, it cannot be exiled as a blue card for Force of Will.
4. Are lands considered colored permanents?
Generally, no. Lands are colorless permanents unless they specifically state otherwise (like Dryad Arbor) or are affected by something that changes their color.
5. What is a color indicator in MTG?
A color indicator is a colored circle that appears on the type line of a card, and determines a card’s color despite not having a mana cost. For example, Dryad Arbor’s green color indicator makes it a green card.
6. What happens if a card changes the color of a land?
Cards that change colors, like Painter’s Servant, can make lands a specific color. In such cases, the land will be considered the specified color for as long as that effect lasts.
7. Can Ancient Stirrings fetch a land?
Yes, Ancient Stirrings can fetch any land except for Dryad Arbor because it’s the only land that has a color indicator that makes it not colorless. Because all lands are colorless by default, they are able to be fetched by Ancient Stirrings.
8. Does colorless count as monocolored?
No. Monocolored means an object has only one color. Colorless objects, such as lands, are not considered to have any color, and are therefore not considered monocolored.
9. Do lands count as spells?
No. Playing a land is a special action and not considered a spell. It doesn’t use the stack, and players can’t respond to it with instants or activated abilities.
10. Are lands permanents?
Yes. Lands are permanents. They enter the battlefield and remain there unless removed by some effect.
11. What is the land color effect?
The “Land effect” is not related to MTG in any way. Instead, the effect refers to the ability to see full color images from the red and gray wavelengths only; the effect was discovered by Edwin H. Land.
12. Do land cards have a color in MTG?
Lands are generally colorless, even though they produce mana. The exception is Dryad Arbor which has a green color indicator.
13. Why is blue considered the strongest color in MTG?
Blue is often considered a strong color because of its ability to manipulate and draw cards more efficiently than other colors. This provides tactical advantages in competitive play. It is often the chosen color for control-based decks.
14. What is a “basic land type”?
A basic land type refers to Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. These terms are significant because they are used in card text to reference these specific land types.
15. How does color identity affect lands in Commander?
While most lands are colorless, their mana symbols in their text box contribute to their color identity. For example, a non-basic land that contains blue mana symbols such as a Blue dual land in its rules text makes it illegal to be included in a deck that does not have blue as one of its colors in its commander’s color identity. This is different from their inherent color, but still very important for deck-building in Commander.
Conclusion
Understanding the colorless nature of most lands in Magic: The Gathering is essential for both new and experienced players. While they are crucial for producing mana and enabling spellcasting, they do not inherently count as cards of any specific color. Exceptions, such as Dryad Arbor, or temporary effects that alter colors, should be carefully considered. Hopefully this guide, along with its FAQs, have clarified why most lands, including the iconic Island, are not blue cards, despite their production of blue mana.