What’s the Difference Between Land and Basic Land in Magic: The Gathering?
The world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) can seem complex at first, especially when dealing with the nuances of different card types. One of the most fundamental distinctions players need to grasp is the difference between land and basic land. While all basic lands are lands, not all lands are basic. Understanding this distinction is crucial for deck building, gameplay strategy, and overall comprehension of the game’s mechanics.
Land vs. Basic Land: The Core Difference
At its heart, the difference between a land and a basic land lies in the presence of the supertype “Basic” on the card. A basic land card will always have the word “Basic” printed prominently in its type line. For example, a card might read “Basic Land — Island”. This supertype is what defines a card as a basic land and dictates its unique rules within the game.
Lands, on the other hand, are a permanent type, and they do not always possess the “Basic” supertype. A land that doesn’t have the “Basic” supertype is known as a nonbasic land. Nonbasic lands often have unique abilities, produce multiple colors of mana, or have other specialized effects. This difference in classification leads to significant implications for deck building and gameplay.
What are Basic Lands?
The five basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. Each of these basic lands can be tapped for one mana of a specific color. Plains produce white mana, Islands blue, Swamps black, Mountains red, and Forests green. These are the fundamental mana sources in Magic, providing the backbone for almost every deck. The key feature of basic lands is that you can include an unlimited number of them in your deck, making them reliable and plentiful mana sources.
What are Nonbasic Lands?
Nonbasic lands are all other lands that do not have the “Basic” supertype. They can include cards like dual lands (which produce two colors of mana), fetch lands (which allow you to search your deck for a basic land), and lands with special activated or triggered abilities. Unlike basic lands, there’s a limit on how many of each nonbasic land you can have in your deck – specifically, four copies of any given nonbasic land (unless otherwise stated by a card or format rule).
Implications of the Basic/Nonbasic Distinction
The distinction between basic and nonbasic has several important implications for gameplay:
- Deckbuilding: The ability to include any number of basic lands is crucial for ensuring consistent mana availability in your deck. In contrast, the four-copy limit on nonbasic lands requires careful planning and prioritization.
- Card Effects: Many cards specifically target, interact with, or are affected by basic lands. These cards often treat basic lands differently than nonbasic lands. For example, some cards can search for basic lands, while others might be more effective if you have a high number of them.
- Restrictions: Some effects can prevent players from playing certain types of lands or entering the battlefield tapped. Cards that use a ‘basic land type’ will affect the five basic land sub-types – Plains, Islands, Swamps, Mountains and Forests.
- Snow Lands: While technically a subtype, snow basic lands are still affected by anything that affects basic lands as well as anything that affects snow permanents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to delve deeper into the nuances of lands and basic lands:
1. Can you play a basic land and a nonbasic land on the same turn?
No, you can only play one land per turn, regardless of whether it is a basic land or a nonbasic land. This is a fundamental rule of the game.
2. What are the five basic land types?
The five basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest.
3. Are all basic lands legal?
Not necessarily. The legality of a basic land depends on the format you are playing in. Only basic lands printed in sets legal for that format are permitted.
4. Does a basic land count as a spell?
No, playing a land, including a basic land, is a special action, not a spell. Lands are put directly onto the battlefield without using the stack, meaning they cannot be responded to.
5. Do basic lands cost anything to play?
No, lands, including basic lands, cost no mana to play. They are played without paying any mana cost.
6. Can you play a land during your end step?
No, you can only play a land during one of your main phases, when the stack is empty.
7. Are basic lands considered colored cards?
No, lands, including basic lands, are generally considered colorless. They do not have a casting cost or a color indicator.
8. How many basic lands should you have in a deck?
The number of basic lands needed in your deck depends on your deck’s mana requirements and strategy, but a starting point for a deck with a typical mana curve should have 33 to 40 lands (combined).
9. What is the limit of nonbasic lands in a deck?
You are limited to four copies of any specific nonbasic land in your deck, except for decks in formats with a “singleton” restriction.
10. Are dual lands considered basic lands?
No, dual lands (lands that produce two colors of mana) are nonbasic lands.
11. What about Tri-Lands?
Tri-lands (lands that produce three colors of mana) are also considered nonbasic lands.
12. Are Snow lands Basic lands?
Yes, snow lands that have the supertype “Basic” are basic lands.
13. Are Basic lands considered permanent?
Yes, lands are one of the six permanent types in Magic: The Gathering.
14. Is a Wastes a basic land?
Yes, a Wastes is a basic land. It produces colorless mana.
15. Are any basic lands worth money?
Some basic lands, particularly those from special printings like Secret Lairs, can be quite valuable and sought after by collectors.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between lands and basic lands is fundamental to playing Magic: The Gathering effectively. Basic lands are the consistent foundation of your mana base, while nonbasic lands add strategic flexibility and power. By mastering this core concept, you’ll be better equipped to build stronger decks and navigate the game with confidence.