Do Non-Basic Lands Count Towards Devotion in Magic: The Gathering?
No, non-basic lands do not count towards devotion in Magic: The Gathering. Devotion specifically considers the colored mana symbols found in the mana costs of permanents you control. Lands, whether basic or non-basic, generally lack mana costs, and therefore do not contribute to your devotion to any color. Devotion only tallies the colored mana symbols present in the upper right corner of permanent cards. Now, let’s dive deeper with some frequently asked questions!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Devotion and Lands
Here are 15 common questions players have regarding devotion and lands, clarified for your understanding.
1. What exactly is devotion in Magic: The Gathering?
Devotion, defined in the comprehensive rules, is a mechanic that counts the number of mana symbols of a particular color among the mana costs of permanents you control. A permanent is a card on the battlefield, such as creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalkers. This count is often crucial for determining the effects of certain cards, like the God cards from the Theros block.
2. Why don’t lands count towards devotion?
The primary reason lands don’t contribute to devotion is that they don’t have a mana cost. A card’s mana cost is displayed in the upper right-hand corner and specifies what you need to pay to cast it. Lands are played, not cast, and therefore have no associated mana cost. Therefore, even non-basic lands like Watery Grave (which produces blue or black mana) don’t inherently add to your devotion to either blue or black.
3. Do basic lands, like Plains or Forests, count toward devotion?
Similar to non-basic lands, basic lands do not count towards devotion. Although basic lands feature a colored mana symbol within their text box (allowing you to tap them for mana), this symbol is not part of a mana cost. It’s an activated ability, not a cost associated with the card itself. Remember, devotion only considers the colored mana symbols in the permanent’s mana cost.
4. What about lands that produce colored mana?
The ability of a land to produce colored mana (e.g., a Swamp producing black mana, or a Hallowed Fountain producing white or blue mana) does not influence devotion. Devotion focuses exclusively on the mana cost of the permanent, not its mana-producing abilities. The mana produced is irrelevant for devotion calculations.
5. If a land transforms into a creature, does it then count towards devotion?
This is where things get interesting! If a land card transforms into a creature and has colored mana symbols in its mana cost (usually on its original, land side), then it will contribute to your devotion. Consider a card like Dryad Arbor, which is both a land and a green creature with no mana cost but has a green color indicator. This card does not have a mana cost so it does not impact your devotion. However, if a land transforms into a creature with a mana cost, the colored symbols in that cost will count.
6. Do double-faced cards (DFC) that are lands on one side affect devotion?
Double-faced cards (DFCs) can be lands on one side, and another type of permanent on the other. The devotion effect depends on which face is currently active on the battlefield. If the land side is up, it doesn’t affect devotion (as explained before). If the other side is up, and it has a mana cost with colored symbols, then it will contribute to your devotion accordingly. Note that MDFCs (Modal Double-Faced Cards) that you can “play” as a land enter the battlefield as the land, and their other side is only relevant in the graveyard, in exile or in your hand.
7. How does hybrid mana in a permanent’s mana cost interact with devotion?
Hybrid mana symbols (like {B/G} or {U/R}) count towards devotion to both of the colors they represent, but only count once for each color. So, a permanent with a mana cost including {B/G} would add one to your devotion to black and one to your devotion to green. Even if there are multiple hybrid mana symbols of the same combination (e.g., {B/G}{B/G}), each still only counts once towards each color.
8. What if a permanent has multiple colors in its mana cost?
If a permanent has multiple colored mana symbols in its mana cost (e.g., {W}{U}{B}), each symbol contributes to your devotion to that color. So, a card with this mana cost would add one to your devotion to white, one to your devotion to blue, and one to your devotion to black.
9. Do colorless mana symbols in a mana cost affect devotion?
No, colorless mana symbols (represented by a number inside a diamond, like {1}, {2}, etc. or {C}) do not affect devotion. Devotion is solely concerned with colored mana symbols (white, blue, black, red, and green). Colorless mana symbols simply represent generic mana that can be paid with any type of mana.
10. How do I calculate my total devotion to a color?
To calculate your devotion to a specific color, simply count the number of mana symbols of that color in the mana costs of all the permanents you control on the battlefield. Remember to include hybrid mana symbols once for each of their colors and ignore colorless mana symbols.
11. Do cards in my graveyard or in exile contribute to devotion?
No, only permanents on the battlefield contribute to devotion. Cards in your graveyard, in exile, in your hand, or in your library have no bearing on your devotion calculation. Devotion is a battlefield state mechanic.
12. If a card has a color indicator but no mana cost, does the color indicator contribute to devotion?
Color indicators themselves do not directly add to devotion unless the card also has a mana cost. However, a color indicator indicates the permanent’s color, which can be important for other effects that care about a permanent’s color, regardless of devotion. The color is still important for other effects, but it doesn’t boost your devotion.
13. Do Aura Curses count towards devotion?
Yes, Aura Curses do count toward devotion, assuming you control them. They are permanents with mana costs (with coloured pips) attached to an opponent, which you still control. As long as you control the curse and it’s on the battlefield, the coloured mana symbols on it will count towards your devotion.
14. What about Mutated cards?
Mutating a creature into another is merely melding the two into one Permanent. Only the top card counts for Devotion, the other card(s) only add their abilities to the top card. Auras are separate permanents that are attached to other permanents. Only the top card of the mutated creature will count toward devotion.
15. How can I use devotion strategies effectively in my MTG deck?
To leverage devotion strategies effectively, focus on building a deck with a high density of permanents that have multiple mana symbols of your chosen color(s) in their mana costs. Prioritize efficient creatures, enchantments, and artifacts that contribute significantly to your devotion while also advancing your overall game plan. Cards like the Theros gods (e.g., Thassa, God of the Sea) reward high devotion with powerful abilities, making them ideal centerpieces for devotion-based decks.
Remember, understanding how devotion works is crucial for playing and building effective decks in Magic: The Gathering. While lands themselves won’t boost your devotion, they enable you to cast the spells that will. To deepen your understanding of game mechanics and explore the educational aspects of gaming, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Happy brewing!