In Magic: The Gathering, understanding how land types work is key to building an effective deck. While basic lands like Plains provide the backbone of mana production, there are many powerful nonbasic lands that also count as Plains. These lands offer increased versatility by contributing to color identity, enabling specific fetches, and unlocking unique synergies. Knowing which nonbasic lands are Plains and how they affect gameplay can dramatically improve how a white or multicolor deck functions, especially in formats where speed, consistency, and interaction matter most.
Understanding the Basics of Land Typing
What Makes a Land a Plains?
In the Magic rules, a land with the subtype Plains can tap to add white mana to your mana pool. This includes both basic Plains and nonbasic lands that have the Plains subtype. The crucial detail is that if a land has Plains in its type line, it has the intrinsic ability to tap for white mana even if that ability isn’t printed on the card itself.
This characteristic is essential for synergy with cards that search for or interact with specific land types, such as:
- Farseek
- Nature’s Lore
- Kodama’s Reach
- Land Tax
Why Nonbasic Plains Matter
Nonbasic lands that count as Plains give players the flexibility of white mana access without sacrificing other land functions. These lands may also produce multiple colors, enter untapped under certain conditions, or even provide additional effects all while still being valid Plains for deck-building purposes.
Examples of Nonbasic Lands That Are Plains
Shock Lands
One of the most prominent cycles of nonbasic lands are the shock lands. For white-based decks, the relevant options include:
- Hallowed Fountain(Plains and Island)
- Godless Shrine(Plains and Swamp)
- Temple Garden(Plains and Forest)
- Sacred Foundry(Plains and Mountain)
These lands can be fetched with cards likeFabled PassageorFlooded Strandbecause they are technically Plains. They enter the battlefield tapped unless you pay 2 life, offering both tempo and flexibility.
Triomes and Other Multicolor Lands
With the rise of multicolor decks, the introduction of triomes brought a powerful cycle of lands that count as three different basic land types. Two notable examples for white decks are:
- Raugrin Triome(Plains, Island, Mountain)
- Indatha Triome(Plains, Swamp, Forest)
These triomes are searchable with fetch lands, tap for three different mana colors, and can even be cycled when they’re no longer needed. Despite entering tapped, their typing makes them incredibly valuable in control or ramp strategies.
Dual-Type Lands with the Plains Subtype
Beyond shock lands, there are other dual lands that share the Plains subtype:
- Savannah One of the original dual lands (Plains and Forest)
- Plateau Plains and Mountain
- Scrubland Plains and Swamp
These are highly sought-after in Legacy and Commander formats due to their efficiency. They enter untapped, count as Plains, and offer perfect synergy for white-inclusive decks.
Synergy and Strategy with Plains-Typed Nonbasic Lands
Fetch Land Compatibility
One of the biggest advantages of nonbasic lands that are Plains is their interaction with fetch lands. Cards like:
- Marsh Flats
- Flooded Strand
- Arid Mesa
can all search for these nonbasic Plains, which increases consistency in multicolor decks. It allows a flexible mana base that adapts to early- and late-game demands.
Cards That Care About Plains
Many spells and creatures reward you for controlling Plains. Nonbasic Plains contribute to these counts, enhancing card power without relying solely on basic lands. Examples include:
- Emeria, the Sky Ruin Activates when you control seven Plains
- CrusadeorHonor of the Pure Benefit white creatures
- Valiant Knight Gives bonuses based on controlling Plains
Including nonbasic Plains increases the likelihood of triggering these effects, while keeping your mana base versatile.
Commander Deckbuilding Benefits
In Commander, players often run multiple colors, and deckbuilding can become tricky when balancing colored sources. Using nonbasic lands that are Plains allows Commander players to include synergy while also meeting mana requirements for splash colors. Cards like:
- Land Tax
- Tithe
- Knight of the White Orchid
work flawlessly when these lands are in play, making them prime inclusions in any white-heavy Commander deck.
Budget Options for Plains-Like Nonbasic Lands
Pathways and Filter Lands
While not technically Plains, many players consider budget lands that produce white mana or mimic Plains in function. Some budget-conscious choices include:
- Brightclimb Pathway/Grimclimb Pathway
- Furycalm Snarl
- Clifftop Retreat
Although they don’t count as Plains for searching, they can still be critical to maintaining a strong mana curve at lower cost.
Snow Plains and Other Basic Alternatives
For decks with specific requirements,Snow-Covered Plainscan serve the same functional purpose as a basic Plains while enabling cards likeExtraplanar LensorOn Thin Ice. However, they don’t contribute to nonbasic land counts and should be used in conjunction with nonbasic options, not instead of them.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
Vulnerability to Land Hate
Using too many nonbasic lands can leave you exposed to cards like:
- Blood Moon Turns nonbasic lands into Mountains
- Back to Basics Keeps nonbasic lands tapped
- Field of Ruin/Ghost Quarter Target nonbasic lands directly
In formats where land disruption is common, always balance your mana base with a mix of basic and nonbasic sources, even if your deck includes Plains synergies.
Color Identity in Deck Construction
In formats like Commander, lands with multiple basic types affect color identity. For example,Temple Gardencounts as both white and green. This is fine in a green-white deck but illegal in a mono-white Commander build. Always ensure that any nonbasic Plains you include match your Commander’s color identity.
Nonbasic lands that are Plains offer a remarkable combination of versatility, power, and synergy for white-centric Magic: The Gathering decks. Whether you’re tuning a Commander mana base, refining a Modern control deck, or building a multicolor brew, these lands help you keep options open without sacrificing consistency. They allow for enhanced fetch land compatibility, trigger synergy-based effects, and support smoother early plays in fast-paced environments. Just remember to balance your land choices wisely to avoid vulnerability to nonbasic hate, and you’ll find that these functional Plains provide a strategic edge that’s hard to beat.