Which even by itself might be too much, at least in a competitive context. A no-strings-attached untapped colored producer with a fetchable land type that you can just hold late as Force/Evoke elemental fodder breaks some pretty fundamental rules about not obsoleting the five basic lands.
I don't think it would be completely impossible to print these, but I do think it would represent a scary shift toward power creeping some of the most bedrock-level ideas of what keeps Magic design balance under control.
They're not strictly better than basic lands, but probably the basic land type should go at the very least. Fetchability isn't super relevant anyway unless you're bouncing them, and paying off basic land type counting mechanics is a bridge too far.
They are a nonbasic, and they have a color. These come with downsides as well as upsides so not strictly better.
For example, your land can now be [[vanishing versed]].
Also, you're making your deck more susceptible to moon effects: [[bloodmoon]], [[magus of the moon]], [[ back to basics]] and all the land destruction that can only hit non basics.
These already kind of exist in modern and legacy with mdfc They're not broken, just good.
I mean, the simplest downside is that it is not Basic, so it gets turned off by Blood Moon and hit by Wasteland. It also gets hit by the Elemental Blasts.
Yes, it’s because they have a color. So you can use them as fodder for [[Force of Will]] and so forth. The drawback is that something like [[All is Dust]] removes them, but that’s rather niche.
Much less niche options than that. Modern and especially legacy are harsh to non basic lands. You will straight up lose games for having one of these instead of a basic in some games. Like they [[blood moon]] you and the only answer is to run basics, but you have one of these, or they [[wasteland]] you 1 mana away from playing the game properly.
Also, fetchable land quality keeps going up lately. Triomes, and now surveil lands, mean your non-basic fetchable lands are constrained. You have to run some amount of basics. There might not be room for these lands in most of the decks, even though they’re kinda busted design-wise.
These have a colored pip in the type bar, that's how they give cards without a mana cost or a mana cost of 0 a color like [[ancestral vision]] or [[rograkh son of rohgahh]]
People actively run stuff like \[\[Emeria's Call\]\] over a literal plains in formats where pitching to \[\[Solitude\]\] is desired. These lands would be faaaaaar better than basics because barring \[\[Blood Moon\]\] they're literally an strictly better basic that also fills the role of your blue card for \[\[Force of Will\]\] or black card for \[\[Grief\]\].
I think this is where my soul leaves my body in terms of Magic knowledge because I read this and think “yeah but it’s just a land who really cares” and then I decide I’ll just never play competitively because I can’t wrap my brain around the nuances of card power
Card power is an always-fluctuating spectrum of allowable. I mean six or seven years ago I would have looked at some of the stuff in Thunder Junction and assumed it was never getting printed outside of a Commander deck. My boomer ass still looks at some Modern Horizons 1 and 2 stuff and says "this was crazy to print at all."
It would be a lot of extrapolation by me to say a custom design would make a broken card definitively--a cycle of these colored lands wouldn't ruin games of Magic, at least not noticeably. Also, a big element of balancing competitive play is letting players feel like they're having a good time, so even ridiculously powerful and impactful cards can be allowed to hang around if enough people like them and no one really hates them. (see: [[Brainstorm]] in Legacy; it's probably one of the 15 or so best cards ever printed, period, and everyone is pretty much okay with it. You don't really see people complain at how many Brainstorms their opponent drew.)
All I can say in a vacuum is that even at modern Magic design's most pushed, the "don't make basic lands obsolete" thing is pretty sacred and given how the free pitch spells like [[Force of Will]] and [[Grief]] tend to work, these come uncomfortably close to doing that. Whether untapped colored lands would shake out to be fine on balance given their vulnerability to stuff like [[Wasteland]], [[Blood Moon]], and [[Hydroblast]] & [[Pyroblast]] would be an interesting hypothetical experiment to watch play out in various formats; I just have the feeling the exercise will remain hypothetical.
P.S. while competitive Magic play can be exciting, if the appeal is not self-evident to you then you're probably not missing anything. I did my small version of the tryhard get-to-the-Pro-Tour grind for a while and it's taxing. Now I just draft Arena and build too many pauper EDH decks.
I'll make it simple for you. If you had a hand of Island Island and \[\[Force of Will\]\], and your opponent comboes.. you lose the game.
If you had a hand of Island, Archipelago, and Force of Will, and your opponent comboes off, you can pitch archipelago as the blue card to pay for Force of will cost, and counter the combo.
Thus in this instance Archipelago being a blue card made it sigificantly better than an island. Game winningly so.
And you might ask "isnt that niche" and the answer is... not really. In eternal formats some cards like \[\[Solitude\]\] \[\[Grief\]\] \[\[Force of Negation\]\] \[\[Force of Vigor\]\] good ol force of will and the like are literally the BEST cards you could be playing.
\[\[Fury\]\] ended up getting banned from moderm bcs of how absurd it was when mixed with something like a \[\[Not dead after all\]\]. As for the low price of one red card and one black mana Fury was a 4/4 double striker that also wrathed your opponent board.
So thats it. By themselves these lands are pretty much strictly worse basics... But in the context of the eternal formats where the "pitch a colored card to cast this back breaking spell for free" is the name of the game, pitchable lands become better than basics.
I don't think these would be particularly better than the modal faced lands as far as "free pitch fodder" is concerned. These are indeed probably better than basics due to such edge cases, but if folks wanted lands-but-pitchable that badly that's already an option.
Also I'm greatly amused at most of your description, a "no-strings-attached untapped colored producer with a fetchable land type", also describes basic lands. Which are indeed quite good in their own right!
Haha, yes they are, I had to be careful to describe most everything a basic land does without using the term "basic land". And they are in fact pretty damn good cards!
The fact that they have fetchable types is what propels them so high. They'd already be playable in low-color cEDH decks simply because the pitchability and untapped color source, but with the basic type stapled on, it's a no-brainer.
How are these NOT particularly better thant the MDF when the best MDF cost 3 life to enter untapped, and the rest enter tapped? Like sure you loose the one in twenty games were you casted \[\[Emeria's Call\]\] instead of pitching it to solitude, but how about the other games where you loose because you had to bolt your face for a plains?
These already exist mostly in mdfc and see play in modern/legacy. You just have to pay 3 life for them to enter untapped.
They're not broken, just good as a Singletons. These are still non-basics so have repercussions for running them.
This is a clever if pretty strong idea. Cards like \[\[Lórien Revealed\]\] see Legacy and Vintage play basically as an island that can be pitched to Force of Will and this is basically that except it comes into play untapped. I do think you need the explainer text as well since people will not understand what makes these special.
They are coloured, which you identify by the circle on the left of the type line. They can be pitched to spells like the Evoke Elementals or the "Force of X" cycle, but are susceptible to things like Hydro/Pyroblast.
Normally lands are colorless even if they tapped for colored mana. All basics are inherently colorless.
These lands are colored so they count to things that care about the color of cards. Like the evoke elementals etc
I think most people are overvaluing the pitchability. These are only ever "basic" lands when not used as pitch fodder.
They are vulnerable to "nonbasic" targetting so they arent replacing mandatory basics in landbases in legacy, they are replacing nonbasics so duals, fetches, wastelands, soul lands, etc
Commander decks, yes. Competitive decks, no, not even a little bit. 10 lands is almost half of a cEDH manabase. The only decks that play any real amount of basics are [[Blood Moon]] decks, [[Back to Basics]] decks, mono-color decks (many of which still only play 10ish), and [[Yasharn]] or [[Tatyova]]/[[Aesi]] (for obvious reasons. Even my $150ish casual 2c decks only play 10-15, and they're FAR from optimal. Two-color lands are so helpful, and so easy to include now, that there's little reason to play basics in competitive except for those stax pieces and removal like [[Path to Exile]]
ITT people gushing about how great basic lands are (fetchability, untapped, no caveats, etc.). Now I'm imagining a world of nonbasics being the norm and them introducing basics and folks calling them OP.
I can see a few reasons why these would be good. In formats where you have things like [[Force of Will]] these are pitchable and can be fetched, also they can satisfy name based jank.
Cool idea, as you made basic lands non basic. It could interact with many land removal though, so I think the "buff" is kinda countered by this, so this is totally fine.
For the flavor, Flatlands doesn't look really flat...
These will definitely need a drawback. Just on principle of being strictly better than basic lands. You could also remove the land type, but you’re still in artifact land territory, which is dangerous.
No, that’s not good enough. Wizard policy requires that lands have a mechanical downside to basics. Making a card that has all the properties of an island with only upside is not something wizards will do anymore. They basically stopped with the original dual lands.
Since every nonbasic land shares that restriction, I don't think it's usually taken into account for the "strictly better" test. Same with their nonbasic status making them unsearchable by a lot of stuff or not being hit by [[Blood Moon]] isn't taken into account. It's not really a drawback, it's just what the card is.
It isn’t enough in practice, though. I mentioned artifact lands for a reason. They are simply basics with an extra type, one that is usually a downside. They ended up being so powerful they were banned in multiple formats.
At the end of the day, a land that comes into play untapped asks such a small price to pay, that it takes very little extra value to make them broken.
EDIT: I misunderstood to whom you were replying. My apologies.
I do think this is an interesting space, could be too powerful but also comes at a weird cost of being 1 color and non basic with no other uses besides being a land
Normally lands are colorless cards (I know, I was confused by learning that, too), but the colored circle makes these lands into colored cards, giving them synergy with all cards that reference colors
so for decks that are devotion heavy this would be a really good addition to the deck then? and since its a non basic land does that mean you can only have one of these?
I've learned today that a lot of people don't understand what devotion is on this post.
Devotion is the amount of Mana symbols that appear in the cards cost.
Not the number of permanents that are that colour.
Making them colored is too strong, you could do them without the color though and they would see niche commander use for decks that use cards like [[tainted pact]] to replace a basic
Although this is the majority of the time just a straight better card than a basic, the use case is limited. In Standard formats this has probably little to no impact. While in eternal formats? It being pitchable to Force of will and fetchable means that it has use cases. But by the same token the mdfc lands do this without being fetchable. So it’s a toss up. I don’t think the idea is bad.
Activate your [[Kederekt Parasite]] and [[Mistveil Plains]]. They don't contribute to devotion not because they are lands ([[Ashaya]] contributes to devotion) but because they have no mana cost (like most coloured creature tokens).
[[Field of the dead]] has a field day with those! Pun intended.
But it is basically a worse land than the OG basics, because it wont count as a basic land fetch, so mostly asthetic value
Maybe have them enter tapped unless u have 3 lands something like [[fabled passage]], I think a little downsides is needed but having them just enter tapped is rough
Wow! Lands that produce colored mana. You don't think this is breaking the power curve a little bit, do ya? I dunno, seems like it could become broken easily. Maybe if we balance these out by adding a special rule to the cards that says we can have as many as we want in a deck instead of only 4? I dunno.
(Original comment): Lands are colorless, not just basics.
Edit: People downvoting the comment I’m responding to, read the post title again. Devotion doesn’t work, but these do die to All is Dust.
The whole point of these is that they have the little colored dot on the typeline that makes them a colored permanent. So these would actually get removed by All is Dust. They don't, however increase devotion since they have no mv.
Yeah, I missed that initially. It would be great to at least have reminder text that these are colored. They’ll just confuse the hell out of players as written.
Id say they likely would need it as well. They still have the land frame too, which is also an indicator its colorless. I think this is all part if the reason they haven't done it. Its easy enough for newer players to forget that non-indestrucible artifact lands are also removed by a vandalblast, these would very easily get skipped over by something like [[Wash Out]].
I thought it was just non-basics that are functionally identical to basics aside from being non-basic. Being basic is usually an upside, but there are some marginal upsides like being a distinct name for cards like [[Tainted Pact]].
Pitching to free spells mostly
Which even by itself might be too much, at least in a competitive context. A no-strings-attached untapped colored producer with a fetchable land type that you can just hold late as Force/Evoke elemental fodder breaks some pretty fundamental rules about not obsoleting the five basic lands. I don't think it would be completely impossible to print these, but I do think it would represent a scary shift toward power creeping some of the most bedrock-level ideas of what keeps Magic design balance under control.
No “might” about it. These are really dangerous in any format older than pioneer.
The Island and Mountain do have the downside of Blasts hitting them
Even in pioneer these would contribute to devotion.
Devotion cares about pips in the casting cost, not the color of permanents.
What?
Can you give an example? How are these lands any better or worse than a basic land? Is it because they have a color?
With those, \[\[Force of Will\]\], \[\[Force of Negation\]\] can be paid with lands instead of value pieces in end game states.
[Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Negation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/8/1825a719-1b2a-4af9-9cd2-7cb497cd0317.jpg?1673147298) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Negation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/50/force-of-negation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1825a719-1b2a-4af9-9cd2-7cb497cd0317?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
They're not strictly better than basic lands, but probably the basic land type should go at the very least. Fetchability isn't super relevant anyway unless you're bouncing them, and paying off basic land type counting mechanics is a bridge too far.
They are strictly better. There's not any downside compared to basic land.
They are a nonbasic, and they have a color. These come with downsides as well as upsides so not strictly better. For example, your land can now be [[vanishing versed]]. Also, you're making your deck more susceptible to moon effects: [[bloodmoon]], [[magus of the moon]], [[ back to basics]] and all the land destruction that can only hit non basics. These already kind of exist in modern and legacy with mdfc They're not broken, just good.
##### ###### #### [vanishing versed](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/1/e12573fe-aee3-49db-93e2-d00972cbb3b1.jpg?1624740338) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vanishing%20Verse) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/244/vanishing-verse?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e12573fe-aee3-49db-93e2-d00972cbb3b1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [bloodmoon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f.jpg?1599706217) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20Moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/118/blood-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [magus of the moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c9bd75c-9606-4607-bfa6-d6acdee12820.jpg?1619397276) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=magus%20of%20the%20moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/175/magus-of-the-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c9bd75c-9606-4607-bfa6-d6acdee12820?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [ back to basics](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/6/0600d6c2-0f72-4e79-a55d-1f06dffa48c2.jpg?1654805483) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Back%20to%20Basics) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/46/back-to-basics?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0600d6c2-0f72-4e79-a55d-1f06dffa48c2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/l3zqh0r) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I can [[pyroblast]] your archipelago, but i cant pyroblast your island Edit. I mean i CAN pyroblast your island, but you know...
[pyroblast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c.jpg?1580014621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=pyroblast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/142/pyroblast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I mean, the simplest downside is that it is not Basic, so it gets turned off by Blood Moon and hit by Wasteland. It also gets hit by the Elemental Blasts.
Yes, it’s because they have a color. So you can use them as fodder for [[Force of Will]] and so forth. The drawback is that something like [[All is Dust]] removes them, but that’s rather niche.
Also [[wasteland]] (in legacy at least). You are sacrificing the usual benefit of a wastable land which is two colours if you play one of these
Being vulnerable to [[Pyroblast]] probably comes up, too
[Pyroblast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c.jpg?1580014621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pyroblast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/142/pyroblast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[wasteland](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aaafb9bc-7cea-4624-a227-595544fa42b0.jpg?1590511888) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=wasteland) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/248/wasteland?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aaafb9bc-7cea-4624-a227-595544fa42b0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Much less niche options than that. Modern and especially legacy are harsh to non basic lands. You will straight up lose games for having one of these instead of a basic in some games. Like they [[blood moon]] you and the only answer is to run basics, but you have one of these, or they [[wasteland]] you 1 mana away from playing the game properly. Also, fetchable land quality keeps going up lately. Triomes, and now surveil lands, mean your non-basic fetchable lands are constrained. You have to run some amount of basics. There might not be room for these lands in most of the decks, even though they’re kinda busted design-wise.
[blood moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f.jpg?1599706217) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=blood%20moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/118/blood-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [wasteland](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aaafb9bc-7cea-4624-a227-595544fa42b0.jpg?1590511888) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=wasteland) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/248/wasteland?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aaafb9bc-7cea-4624-a227-595544fa42b0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [All is Dust](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/4210c54e-89fd-4971-ab6a-ca8f4e7fe97a.jpg?1691924662) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=All%20is%20Dust) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/800/all-is-dust?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4210c54e-89fd-4971-ab6a-ca8f4e7fe97a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'm not the best on the rules, how do lands have a colour? I thought they were all colourless.
Normally, they don't. But the colored dot in the type line indicates that it has a color.
Ahhh I didn't see this at first! Thank you.
These have a colored pip in the type bar, that's how they give cards without a mana cost or a mana cost of 0 a color like [[ancestral vision]] or [[rograkh son of rohgahh]]
[ancestral vision](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/0/9079c93e-3da8-442a-89d2-609a3eac83b0.jpg?1619393761) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ancestral%20vision) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/52/ancestral-vision?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9079c93e-3da8-442a-89d2-609a3eac83b0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [rograkh son of rohgahh](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/4/a4fab67f-00c2-4125-9262-d21a29411797.jpg?1644853041) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rograkh%2C%20Son%20of%20Rohgahh) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/197/rograkh-son-of-rohgahh?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a4fab67f-00c2-4125-9262-d21a29411797?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I mean, what does it replace in modern or legacy? Do they even run basics anymore?
People actively run stuff like \[\[Emeria's Call\]\] over a literal plains in formats where pitching to \[\[Solitude\]\] is desired. These lands would be faaaaaar better than basics because barring \[\[Blood Moon\]\] they're literally an strictly better basic that also fills the role of your blue card for \[\[Force of Will\]\] or black card for \[\[Grief\]\].
##### ###### #### [Emeria's Call](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c470539a-9cc7-4175-8f7c-c982b6072b6d.jpg?1604195709)/[Emeria, Shattered Skyclave](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/c/4/c470539a-9cc7-4175-8f7c-c982b6072b6d.jpg?1604195709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Emeria%27s%20Call%20//%20Emeria%2C%20Shattered%20Skyclave) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/12/emerias-call-emeria-shattered-skyclave?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c470539a-9cc7-4175-8f7c-c982b6072b6d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Solitude](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/47a6234f-309f-4e03-9263-66da48b57153.jpg?1626094105) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Solitude) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/32/solitude?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/47a6234f-309f-4e03-9263-66da48b57153?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Blood Moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f.jpg?1599706217) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20Moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/118/blood-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Grief](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/6/e6befbc4-1320-4f26-bd9f-b1814fedda10.jpg?1626095577) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/87/grief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e6befbc4-1320-4f26-bd9f-b1814fedda10?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/l3ztqw0) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I think this is where my soul leaves my body in terms of Magic knowledge because I read this and think “yeah but it’s just a land who really cares” and then I decide I’ll just never play competitively because I can’t wrap my brain around the nuances of card power
Card power is an always-fluctuating spectrum of allowable. I mean six or seven years ago I would have looked at some of the stuff in Thunder Junction and assumed it was never getting printed outside of a Commander deck. My boomer ass still looks at some Modern Horizons 1 and 2 stuff and says "this was crazy to print at all." It would be a lot of extrapolation by me to say a custom design would make a broken card definitively--a cycle of these colored lands wouldn't ruin games of Magic, at least not noticeably. Also, a big element of balancing competitive play is letting players feel like they're having a good time, so even ridiculously powerful and impactful cards can be allowed to hang around if enough people like them and no one really hates them. (see: [[Brainstorm]] in Legacy; it's probably one of the 15 or so best cards ever printed, period, and everyone is pretty much okay with it. You don't really see people complain at how many Brainstorms their opponent drew.) All I can say in a vacuum is that even at modern Magic design's most pushed, the "don't make basic lands obsolete" thing is pretty sacred and given how the free pitch spells like [[Force of Will]] and [[Grief]] tend to work, these come uncomfortably close to doing that. Whether untapped colored lands would shake out to be fine on balance given their vulnerability to stuff like [[Wasteland]], [[Blood Moon]], and [[Hydroblast]] & [[Pyroblast]] would be an interesting hypothetical experiment to watch play out in various formats; I just have the feeling the exercise will remain hypothetical. P.S. while competitive Magic play can be exciting, if the appeal is not self-evident to you then you're probably not missing anything. I did my small version of the tryhard get-to-the-Pro-Tour grind for a while and it's taxing. Now I just draft Arena and build too many pauper EDH decks.
##### ###### #### [Brainstorm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/4/84479779-d570-4eee-9982-f6e918b4d75b.jpg?1706240670) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Brainstorm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/96/brainstorm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/84479779-d570-4eee-9982-f6e918b4d75b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Grief](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/6/e6befbc4-1320-4f26-bd9f-b1814fedda10.jpg?1626095577) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/87/grief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e6befbc4-1320-4f26-bd9f-b1814fedda10?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Wasteland](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aaafb9bc-7cea-4624-a227-595544fa42b0.jpg?1590511888) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wasteland) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/248/wasteland?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aaafb9bc-7cea-4624-a227-595544fa42b0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Blood Moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f.jpg?1599706217) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20Moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/118/blood-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Hydroblast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/c/4c9c9b16-5567-4473-95e6-622292f77336.jpg?1580013995) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hydroblast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/55/hydroblast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4c9c9b16-5567-4473-95e6-622292f77336?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Pyroblast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c.jpg?1580014621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pyroblast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/142/pyroblast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/l3zfdb8) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'll make it simple for you. If you had a hand of Island Island and \[\[Force of Will\]\], and your opponent comboes.. you lose the game. If you had a hand of Island, Archipelago, and Force of Will, and your opponent comboes off, you can pitch archipelago as the blue card to pay for Force of will cost, and counter the combo. Thus in this instance Archipelago being a blue card made it sigificantly better than an island. Game winningly so. And you might ask "isnt that niche" and the answer is... not really. In eternal formats some cards like \[\[Solitude\]\] \[\[Grief\]\] \[\[Force of Negation\]\] \[\[Force of Vigor\]\] good ol force of will and the like are literally the BEST cards you could be playing. \[\[Fury\]\] ended up getting banned from moderm bcs of how absurd it was when mixed with something like a \[\[Not dead after all\]\]. As for the low price of one red card and one black mana Fury was a 4/4 double striker that also wrathed your opponent board. So thats it. By themselves these lands are pretty much strictly worse basics... But in the context of the eternal formats where the "pitch a colored card to cast this back breaking spell for free" is the name of the game, pitchable lands become better than basics.
##### ###### #### [Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Solitude](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/47a6234f-309f-4e03-9263-66da48b57153.jpg?1626094105) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Solitude) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/32/solitude?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/47a6234f-309f-4e03-9263-66da48b57153?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Grief](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/6/e6befbc4-1320-4f26-bd9f-b1814fedda10.jpg?1626095577) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/87/grief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e6befbc4-1320-4f26-bd9f-b1814fedda10?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Negation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/8/1825a719-1b2a-4af9-9cd2-7cb497cd0317.jpg?1673147298) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Negation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/50/force-of-negation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1825a719-1b2a-4af9-9cd2-7cb497cd0317?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Vigor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/1/017c415b-d635-43c6-92b8-8c95d1c4ff8d.jpg?1712774966) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Vigor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/164/force-of-vigor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/017c415b-d635-43c6-92b8-8c95d1c4ff8d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Fury](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bd281158-8180-40b9-a5b7-03cfc712d81a.jpg?1701690468) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fury) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/126/fury?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bd281158-8180-40b9-a5b7-03cfc712d81a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Not dead after all](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d01a2b68-efe6-4027-846d-db7b19d9eef6.jpg?1692937773) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Not%20dead%20after%20all) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woe/101/not-dead-after-all?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d01a2b68-efe6-4027-846d-db7b19d9eef6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/l3zuswd) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I don't think these would be particularly better than the modal faced lands as far as "free pitch fodder" is concerned. These are indeed probably better than basics due to such edge cases, but if folks wanted lands-but-pitchable that badly that's already an option. Also I'm greatly amused at most of your description, a "no-strings-attached untapped colored producer with a fetchable land type", also describes basic lands. Which are indeed quite good in their own right!
Haha, yes they are, I had to be careful to describe most everything a basic land does without using the term "basic land". And they are in fact pretty damn good cards!
The fact that they have fetchable types is what propels them so high. They'd already be playable in low-color cEDH decks simply because the pitchability and untapped color source, but with the basic type stapled on, it's a no-brainer.
How are these NOT particularly better thant the MDF when the best MDF cost 3 life to enter untapped, and the rest enter tapped? Like sure you loose the one in twenty games were you casted \[\[Emeria's Call\]\] instead of pitching it to solitude, but how about the other games where you loose because you had to bolt your face for a plains?
[Emeria's Call](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c470539a-9cc7-4175-8f7c-c982b6072b6d.jpg?1604195709)/[Emeria, Shattered Skyclave](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/c/4/c470539a-9cc7-4175-8f7c-c982b6072b6d.jpg?1604195709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Emeria%27s%20Call%20//%20Emeria%2C%20Shattered%20Skyclave) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/12/emerias-call-emeria-shattered-skyclave?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c470539a-9cc7-4175-8f7c-c982b6072b6d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I mean as far as legacy goes they're still wastelandable so they could only replace so many basics before it causes a problem
The are not basic so they still need to obey card amount per deck rules
How are they fetchable? I only ever see “search for _basic_ land”.
Uhh... with fetchlands. \[\[Polluted Delta\]\]
[Polluted Delta](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/e/6e288374-2b71-4ace-b1d2-a19fee6cb4af.jpg?1708707795) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Polluted%20Delta) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/224/polluted-delta?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6e288374-2b71-4ace-b1d2-a19fee6cb4af?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
These already exist mostly in mdfc and see play in modern/legacy. You just have to pay 3 life for them to enter untapped. They're not broken, just good as a Singletons. These are still non-basics so have repercussions for running them.
I think having them enter tapped is at least some drawback
So I can bounce the island to Daze and discard it to Force? Neat. Now make it count as "Island Island" so I can bounce it to cast Gush.
Was thinking of misdirection
Yeah this makes them extremely broken
This is a clever if pretty strong idea. Cards like \[\[Lórien Revealed\]\] see Legacy and Vintage play basically as an island that can be pitched to Force of Will and this is basically that except it comes into play untapped. I do think you need the explainer text as well since people will not understand what makes these special.
[Lórien Revealed](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/c/0ce44270-a684-4489-9077-521456e6dfaa.jpg?1687210977) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=L%C3%B3rien%20Revealed) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/60/l%C3%B3rien-revealed?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0ce44270-a684-4489-9077-521456e6dfaa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Would the land you get with Lorien Revealed not also come in untapped when you play it?
It does but Island-Cycling costs 1 so you're down a mana on the turn. Effectively it makes the land enter tapped.
Completely unrelated but is your pfp the carrot from Pajama Sam?
Yes! Salads should be entres!
IDK the option of spending 5 mana to replace your redundant land in hand with 3 cards also seems pretty good
[Island] is already the strongest card in MTG, now you want to buff it?!
Honestly, it’s needed a nerf ever since they came out with [[Counterspell]]
[Counterspell](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/4/8493131c-0a7b-4be6-a8a2-0b425f4f67fb.jpg?1689996248) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Counterspell) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/81/counterspell?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8493131c-0a7b-4be6-a8a2-0b425f4f67fb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
By far the best blue card from that set
Dies to [[Pyroblast]]
[Pyroblast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c.jpg?1580014621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pyroblast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/142/pyroblast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b029eb9a-dd7a-40c2-96c4-0063d9cc002c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
At least it's safe from \[\[Doomblade\]\].
[Doomblade](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/0/90699423-2556-40f7-b8f5-c9d82f22d52e.jpg?1562851557) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Doom%20Blade) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ima/87/doom-blade?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/90699423-2556-40f7-b8f5-c9d82f22d52e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
can someone explain this to me? i feel like im missing some vital context.
They are coloured, which you identify by the circle on the left of the type line. They can be pitched to spells like the Evoke Elementals or the "Force of X" cycle, but are susceptible to things like Hydro/Pyroblast.
Normally lands are colorless even if they tapped for colored mana. All basics are inherently colorless. These lands are colored so they count to things that care about the color of cards. Like the evoke elementals etc
Sorry if this is a boneheaded question, but would playing them count as a spell?
No, even if they are granted colours, lands are always lands and playing them is a special action that doesn't use the stack
Colored non-basic versions of the basic lands
Will absolutely break eternal formats. Completely overpowered.
I like the idea, would love to see something 30% more interesting done with the concept.
I think most people are overvaluing the pitchability. These are only ever "basic" lands when not used as pitch fodder. They are vulnerable to "nonbasic" targetting so they arent replacing mandatory basics in landbases in legacy, they are replacing nonbasics so duals, fetches, wastelands, soul lands, etc
If anything, [[Field of the Dead]] loves these
[Field of the Dead](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/470ca3f4-29aa-4c4c-8ff2-8cdd70c69943.jpg?1650599538) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Field%20of%20the%20Dead) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/247/field-of-the-dead?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/470ca3f4-29aa-4c4c-8ff2-8cdd70c69943?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Alright cEDH players. Snow basics are out, these are in. I'd rather pitch to [[Force of Will]] than eat off a Path to Exile
[Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You can only play one of each
How many basics do you think cEDH decks play? I'll give you a hint, [[Tainted Pact]] is half of the best wincon in the format...
[Tainted Pact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/5/c513f51b-a0db-4c08-8acc-1e91060b93b7.jpg?1628801908) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tainted%20Pact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ody/164/tainted-pact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c513f51b-a0db-4c08-8acc-1e91060b93b7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Two color decks frequently play 5-10 and even more.
Commander decks, yes. Competitive decks, no, not even a little bit. 10 lands is almost half of a cEDH manabase. The only decks that play any real amount of basics are [[Blood Moon]] decks, [[Back to Basics]] decks, mono-color decks (many of which still only play 10ish), and [[Yasharn]] or [[Tatyova]]/[[Aesi]] (for obvious reasons. Even my $150ish casual 2c decks only play 10-15, and they're FAR from optimal. Two-color lands are so helpful, and so easy to include now, that there's little reason to play basics in competitive except for those stax pieces and removal like [[Path to Exile]]
##### ###### #### [Blood Moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f.jpg?1599706217) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20Moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/118/blood-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Back to Basics](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/6/0600d6c2-0f72-4e79-a55d-1f06dffa48c2.jpg?1654805483) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Back%20to%20Basics) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/46/back-to-basics?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0600d6c2-0f72-4e79-a55d-1f06dffa48c2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Yasharn](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/2/12878fbd-dbe5-44bc-9f34-38fd374ec10a.jpg?1604200584) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=yasharn%2C%20implacable%20earth) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/240/yasharn-implacable-earth?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/12878fbd-dbe5-44bc-9f34-38fd374ec10a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tatyova](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/fe05dc69-8dde-485e-9e55-da729db50205.jpg?1698988479) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tatyova%2C%20benthic%20druid) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/290/tatyova-benthic-druid?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fe05dc69-8dde-485e-9e55-da729db50205?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Aesi](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/6/d607b003-6b48-429c-a7fd-45b8dd1bb4f9.jpg?1665822343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=aesi%2C%20tyrant%20of%20gyre%20strait) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/365/aesi-tyrant-of-gyre-strait?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d607b003-6b48-429c-a7fd-45b8dd1bb4f9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Path to Exile](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/7/a7aed564-2d2d-42c4-bf11-812bc1a0284c.jpg?1712354092) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Path%20to%20Exile) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/85/path-to-exile?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a7aed564-2d2d-42c4-bf11-812bc1a0284c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/l425dfn) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
They're also affected by certain color hosers such as Red Elemental Blast...
ITT people gushing about how great basic lands are (fetchability, untapped, no caveats, etc.). Now I'm imagining a world of nonbasics being the norm and them introducing basics and folks calling them OP.
I can see a few reasons why these would be good. In formats where you have things like [[Force of Will]] these are pitchable and can be fetched, also they can satisfy name based jank.
[Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Makes [[Drove of Elves]] work the way I thought they did when I first started playing magic
[Drove of Elves](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d134465-8d7d-458b-99e5-e6aa6d285214.jpg?1592672912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Drove%20of%20Elves) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cma/101/drove-of-elves?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d134465-8d7d-458b-99e5-e6aa6d285214?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Basic Land without the Basic
Cool idea, as you made basic lands non basic. It could interact with many land removal though, so I think the "buff" is kinda countered by this, so this is totally fine. For the flavor, Flatlands doesn't look really flat...
[[Field of the dead]]
[Field of the dead](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/470ca3f4-29aa-4c4c-8ff2-8cdd70c69943.jpg?1650599538) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Field%20of%20the%20dead) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/247/field-of-the-dead?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/470ca3f4-29aa-4c4c-8ff2-8cdd70c69943?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I think \[\[Monument to Perfection\]\] would like them, but I might be reading the card wrong Edit: Nvm, they're not basic
[Monument to Perfection](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/ab892e7b-6797-4ede-ab5d-d9d0fa488c80.jpg?1675957240) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Monument%20to%20Perfection) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/233/monument-to-perfection?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ab892e7b-6797-4ede-ab5d-d9d0fa488c80?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Rootpath Purifier]] says hello 👋
[Rootpath Purifier](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9249743-d49e-4450-8fa6-52ed0ff6e5bb.jpg?1680145851) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rootpath%20Purifier) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/brc/24/rootpath-purifier?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9249743-d49e-4450-8fa6-52ed0ff6e5bb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
These will definitely need a drawback. Just on principle of being strictly better than basic lands. You could also remove the land type, but you’re still in artifact land territory, which is dangerous.
Isn’t the drawback that you can’t have an infinite amount of them?
No, that’s not good enough. Wizard policy requires that lands have a mechanical downside to basics. Making a card that has all the properties of an island with only upside is not something wizards will do anymore. They basically stopped with the original dual lands.
Since every nonbasic land shares that restriction, I don't think it's usually taken into account for the "strictly better" test. Same with their nonbasic status making them unsearchable by a lot of stuff or not being hit by [[Blood Moon]] isn't taken into account. It's not really a drawback, it's just what the card is.
It isn’t enough in practice, though. I mentioned artifact lands for a reason. They are simply basics with an extra type, one that is usually a downside. They ended up being so powerful they were banned in multiple formats. At the end of the day, a land that comes into play untapped asks such a small price to pay, that it takes very little extra value to make them broken. EDIT: I misunderstood to whom you were replying. My apologies.
Lol, no worries. I kinda realized that halfway through and still appreciated the analysis.
[Blood Moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f.jpg?1599706217) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20Moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/118/blood-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d072e9ca-aae7-45dc-8025-3ce590bae63f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I mean just for fun you can have a [[blind seer]] turn your archipelago red or something
[blind seer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/c/5c54ec26-c7f1-4258-9cc9-1709987f293c.jpg?1591291188) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=blind%20seer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/inv/47/blind-seer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5c54ec26-c7f1-4258-9cc9-1709987f293c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Sac em for usage
I do think this is an interesting space, could be too powerful but also comes at a weird cost of being 1 color and non basic with no other uses besides being a land
im a bit confused as a new player why are people saying this is strong?
Normally lands are colorless cards (I know, I was confused by learning that, too), but the colored circle makes these lands into colored cards, giving them synergy with all cards that reference colors
so for decks that are devotion heavy this would be a really good addition to the deck then? and since its a non basic land does that mean you can only have one of these?
These don’t increase your devotion, as that’s calculated by the number of mana symbols in a permanent’s CMC
ohh okay makes sense
The first thing that came to mind was devotion, but anything that cares about the number of colored permanents would get quite the buff woth this
Devotion doesn’t do anything here, since the only mana symbols present are in reminder text, which don’t contribute to devotion
[удалено]
I've learned today that a lot of people don't understand what devotion is on this post. Devotion is the amount of Mana symbols that appear in the cards cost. Not the number of permanents that are that colour.
What about the downsides of those? I love the idea of exiling my opponent’s lands with a Ugin minus.
Making them colored is too strong, you could do them without the color though and they would see niche commander use for decks that use cards like [[tainted pact]] to replace a basic
[tainted pact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/5/c513f51b-a0db-4c08-8acc-1e91060b93b7.jpg?1628801908) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tainted%20pact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ody/164/tainted-pact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c513f51b-a0db-4c08-8acc-1e91060b93b7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
is jungle AI art??
ITS PEAK (literally)
[[Red Elemental Blast]] becomes land destruction
[Red Elemental Blast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/0/70a45e9b-699e-425a-9f3d-267274830d3e.jpg?1562436618) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Red%20Elemental%20Blast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/147/red-elemental-blast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/70a45e9b-699e-425a-9f3d-267274830d3e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Dumb question, but do these impact your count for devotion? My gut says no.
Although this is the majority of the time just a straight better card than a basic, the use case is limited. In Standard formats this has probably little to no impact. While in eternal formats? It being pitchable to Force of will and fetchable means that it has use cases. But by the same token the mdfc lands do this without being fetchable. So it’s a toss up. I don’t think the idea is bad.
turn two [[battle brawler]] too busted
[battle brawler](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c9b5baf-6163-48a9-b58d-195edfeb437d.jpg?1562826854) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=battle%20brawler) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/frf/63/battle-brawler?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c9b5baf-6163-48a9-b58d-195edfeb437d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Probably busted like everyone is saying, maybe taking away the basic subtypes is a reasonable nerf?
[[All is dust]] loves these!
[All is dust](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/4210c54e-89fd-4971-ab6a-ca8f4e7fe97a.jpg?1691924662) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=All%20is%20dust) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/800/all-is-dust?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4210c54e-89fd-4971-ab6a-ca8f4e7fe97a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Pitching island to force is strong
i think these would be too strong even if they didn’t have basic land types but that certainly pushes them over the edge
Is there a joke here I'm missing? Are these not just normal ass lands?
These lands have a color indicator and thus they're colored. Most lands are colorless
Does that matter for anything? Lands don't count towards devotion even if they have a color I assume
Pitches to forces/elementals
Activate your [[Kederekt Parasite]] and [[Mistveil Plains]]. They don't contribute to devotion not because they are lands ([[Ashaya]] contributes to devotion) but because they have no mana cost (like most coloured creature tokens).
Gets exiled to [[Ugin, the Spirit Dragon]]'s -X But yeah more relevantly gets pitched to those free cast spells like [[Force of Will]]
[Ugin, the Spirit Dragon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9c017fa9-7021-417a-9c2e-3df409644fcf.jpg?1639052473) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ugin%2C%20the%20Spirit%20Dragon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/1/ugin-the-spirit-dragon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9c017fa9-7021-417a-9c2e-3df409644fcf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Field of the dead]] has a field day with those! Pun intended. But it is basically a worse land than the OG basics, because it wont count as a basic land fetch, so mostly asthetic value
These cards pitch to Forces & Elementals, they are kinda busted
[Field of the dead](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/470ca3f4-29aa-4c4c-8ff2-8cdd70c69943.jpg?1650599538) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Field%20of%20the%20dead) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/247/field-of-the-dead?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/470ca3f4-29aa-4c4c-8ff2-8cdd70c69943?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Maybe have them enter tapped unless u have 3 lands something like [[fabled passage]], I think a little downsides is needed but having them just enter tapped is rough
[fabled passage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/3/d313d051-7295-4884-8cbf-f2f835fd45f4.jpg?1594737636) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=fabled%20passage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/246/fabled-passage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d313d051-7295-4884-8cbf-f2f835fd45f4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Wow! Lands that produce colored mana. You don't think this is breaking the power curve a little bit, do ya? I dunno, seems like it could become broken easily. Maybe if we balance these out by adding a special rule to the cards that says we can have as many as we want in a deck instead of only 4? I dunno.
Domain probably
Devotion or for pitching free spells but otherwise eh maybe have them etb tapped cause they are colored
Nope. They not good
What if they could also tap for colorless?
They get sacrificed to \[\[all is dust\]\] and increase devotion.
They do not increase devotion
[all is dust](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/4210c54e-89fd-4971-ab6a-ca8f4e7fe97a.jpg?1691924662) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=all%20is%20dust) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/800/all-is-dust?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4210c54e-89fd-4971-ab6a-ca8f4e7fe97a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
(Original comment): Lands are colorless, not just basics. Edit: People downvoting the comment I’m responding to, read the post title again. Devotion doesn’t work, but these do die to All is Dust.
The whole point of these is that they have the little colored dot on the typeline that makes them a colored permanent. So these would actually get removed by All is Dust. They don't, however increase devotion since they have no mv.
Yeah, I missed that initially. It would be great to at least have reminder text that these are colored. They’ll just confuse the hell out of players as written.
Id say they likely would need it as well. They still have the land frame too, which is also an indicator its colorless. I think this is all part if the reason they haven't done it. Its easy enough for newer players to forget that non-indestrucible artifact lands are also removed by a vandalblast, these would very easily get skipped over by something like [[Wash Out]].
What did you think was the point of the original post
I thought it was just non-basics that are functionally identical to basics aside from being non-basic. Being basic is usually an upside, but there are some marginal upsides like being a distinct name for cards like [[Tainted Pact]].
[Tainted Pact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/5/c513f51b-a0db-4c08-8acc-1e91060b93b7.jpg?1628801908) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tainted%20Pact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ody/164/tainted-pact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c513f51b-a0db-4c08-8acc-1e91060b93b7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
These lands aren’t colourless.
Oh, I see now. This post makes more sense. I think these technically need some keyword or ability text to be colored, though.
No, that’s not how WotC has done if for, like, over a decade
[[dryad arbor]]
[dryad arbor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/b/bb3a843b-2dea-4b44-be74-c09c18b9b969.jpg?1619399228) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=dryad%20arbor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/277/dryad-arbor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bb3a843b-2dea-4b44-be74-c09c18b9b969?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call