What Are Considered Basic Lands in Magic: The Gathering?
In the expansive world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), understanding the fundamentals of land types is crucial for both new and experienced players. Among these, basic lands hold a special place as the most fundamental mana source in the game. Simply put, basic lands are the cornerstone of nearly every deck, providing the colors of mana necessary to cast spells and activate abilities. They are identifiable by having the supertype “basic”. This supertype dictates several aspects of their use in the game. In the comprehensive list, we can say that the basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, Forest, and Wastes. Additionally, the snow-covered versions of the first five also fall under this classification. These are Snow-Covered Plains, Snow-Covered Island, Snow-Covered Swamp, Snow-Covered Mountain, and Snow-Covered Forest.
Defining Basic Lands
The Core Five
At the heart of MTG’s mana system are the five core basic land types:
- Plains: Produces white mana.
- Island: Produces blue mana.
- Swamp: Produces black mana.
- Mountain: Produces red mana.
- Forest: Produces green mana.
These five are the building blocks of most mana bases in Magic, enabling players to cast spells of their desired colors. They are included with most Magic the Gathering packs and are easy to obtain, even from the beginning of your Magic: The Gathering journey.
Snow-Covered Basics
Adding to the core five, we also have the snow-covered versions of these basic lands. These function identically to their regular counterparts, but with the added snow supertype. This designation has significance with cards that interact with permanents with the snow supertype.
- Snow-Covered Plains: Produces white mana and is snow.
- Snow-Covered Island: Produces blue mana and is snow.
- Snow-Covered Swamp: Produces black mana and is snow.
- Snow-Covered Mountain: Produces red mana and is snow.
- Snow-Covered Forest: Produces green mana and is snow.
Wastes: The Colorless Basic Land
Finally, we have Wastes, a basic land that produces colorless mana. Introduced to cater to cards that specifically require this type of mana, Wastes rounds out the full list of basic lands. It is important to note that Wastes functions differently from other basic lands. For instance, a player can add other basic lands to their draft or sealed pool as long as they are available in the packs. However, Wastes must be part of the available card pool to be included in the deck.
Why Are Basic Lands Important?
Basic lands are crucial for several reasons:
- Mana Production: They provide the essential mana needed to cast spells.
- Deck Building: They form the backbone of most deck mana bases.
- Accessibility: Players are able to acquire them through booster packs, starter decks, and other MTG products.
- Unlimited in Decks: Unlike other cards, you are not restricted to four copies per deck.
- No Cost to Play: When playing a land, you don’t need to pay any mana.
Basic vs. Nonbasic Lands
It is important to understand the difference between basic and nonbasic lands. Any land that does not have the “basic” supertype is a nonbasic land. This includes dual lands, tri-lands, shock lands, gates, and artifact lands, regardless of if these lands possess the basic land subtype. While a nonbasic land might have the subtype ‘Mountain’ for example, it cannot be considered basic unless it has the basic supertype.
FAQs: Diving Deeper into Basic Lands
1. Do dual lands count as basic lands?
No, dual lands do not count as basic lands. While they may produce mana of two different colors and have subtypes that match basic lands, they lack the “basic” supertype. They are classified as nonbasic lands.
2. Do nonbasic lands count as land types?
Yes, nonbasic lands also have land types. The key is that these types do not appear on a basic land. Some nonbasic lands can have basic land types such as Mountain or Plains, or they can have nonbasic land types like ‘Gate’ or ‘Desert’.
3. Do snow lands count as basic lands?
Yes, snow basic lands are basic lands. They are any basic land with the snow supertype. Cards that affect “basic lands” will affect snow basic lands, and cards that affect “snow permanents” will also affect them.
4. Is a snow-covered forest a basic land?
Yes, a Snow-Covered Forest is a basic land along with other snow covered versions. The Oracle text explicitly states that Forest, Island, Mountain, Plains, Swamp, Snow-Covered Forest, Snow-Covered Island, Snow-Covered Mountain, Snow-Covered Plains, and Snow-Covered Swamp are basic lands.
5. Do gates count as basic lands?
No, gates are nonbasic lands. They are defined by the “Gate” subtype and not the basic supertype.
6. Do shock lands count as basic lands?
No, shock lands are not basic lands. They have the basic land types such as Island, Plains, or Mountain, but they do not have the supertype “basic.” Instead they are nonbasic lands.
7. Are all basic lands legal?
Not necessarily. Basic lands are only legal in a format if they were printed in a set that is legal in that format. The format rules define deck legality and not the Comprehensive Rules.
8. Are artifact lands basic lands?
No, artifact lands are not basic lands. They are both artifacts and lands, but they do not have the supertype “basic” so are classified as nonbasic lands.
9. Can you play a basic land and a land on the same turn?
No, you are only allowed to play one land per turn and only during your main phase. This rule applies to all lands, basic or otherwise.
10. Is Wastes a basic land type?
Yes, Wastes is a basic land. It produces colorless mana and allows players to have a basic land that is not tied to one of the five colors of mana.
11. Are basic lands free?
Basic lands are usually considered “free” because they are commonly included with starter decks, booster packs, and other MTG products. They are available and plentiful, especially to new players. You are never restricted to the number you have in a deck, although that would affect your overall mana curve.
12. Does playing a land pass priority?
No, playing a land does not use the stack and is not considered a spell. The player simply puts the land onto the battlefield, and they retain the priority to do more things if they wish.
13. Can you play a land during your end step?
No, you are not allowed to play a land on your end step. Lands must be played during your main phase and only once per turn.
14. Are basic lands permanent?
Yes, lands are a type of permanent that enters the battlefield. However, lands do not get destroyed as a result of damage, and they do not get returned to your hand as a result of an effect that destroys all creatures.
15. Do you draft basic lands?
Technically, the basic land cards are not meant to be removed from the draft packs. However, in most situations, it has become standard practice to remove them from the draft pool. They are typically not a component of the drafted cards, unless otherwise stated.
Conclusion
Basic lands are the foundation of the MTG mana system. Understanding their unique properties and how they differ from nonbasic lands is essential for any player. Whether you’re building a new deck or refining your strategy, these humble cards are your key to unlocking the powerful spells and abilities in your arsenal. With a solid grasp of the basic land rules and types, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the complex and fascinating world of Magic: The Gathering.