Blood Crypt vs Dragonskull Summit?
Economics forum
Posted on Oct. 19, 2013, 2:23 p.m. by nimzoin
Hey,This is a question about value of cards. Why are lands that come into play tapped unless you pay life (ie Blood Crypt ) more expensive to buy than the ones that come in tapped unless you control another land (ie Dragonskull Summit ) ? It seems like the latter are better, since there are reasonable conditions in which they can be used right away.
Yeah it comes down to the fact that while a Dragonskull Summit is USUALLY going to come in untapped, it isn't ALWAYS, and the fact that Blood Crypt can ALWAYS be untapped if you really need it to be.
October 19, 2013 2:27 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
The Q&A is for rules-related questions. Moved to Economics.
- Check lands (Dragonskull Summit ) have been reprinted several times in the recent core sets (M10-M13).
- Check lands are not Standard-legal.
- Shock lands can always come in untapped. Life is a resource, and 2 life is a small price to pay for instant access to two colors. You have only indirect control over whether check lands come in untapped.
- Shock lands have basic land types, which means you can fetch them with cards like Misty Rainforest .
October 19, 2013 2:35 p.m.
Epochalyptik I have a question, if Sulfur Falls is used to fetch a Blood Crypt , would it come into play tapped?
Using this thread to avoid creating a new one!
October 19, 2013 2:38 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
Sulfur Falls doesn't fetch anything. It's a check land. I assume you mean Scalding Tarn .
Fetch lands simply say that you put the land onto the battlefield. This means the land enters in its default state. Because shocks have a replacement effect that allows them to enter untapped, you may pay the 2 life to have your fetched shock come in untapped.
This, coupled with the ability to fetch nonbasics, is what makes fetches so good.
If you find a shock with an effect like Farseek , which specifies the land enters the battlefield tapped, then you still have the option of paying 2 life, but the shock will enter tapped regardless.
October 19, 2013 2:42 p.m.
I'm confused about the Standard-legal? I thought if something was from a recent core set it was legal in Standard?
Fizzz says... #2
It all comes to the speed the land can give to your deck. Take for example, if you have a Rakdos Cackler in your hand and a Blood Crypt , you could play the land, take 2 and have a 2/2 on the field. Where as with Dragonskull Summit you would need to first play the land tapped, then turn 2 for the cackler.
Speed is a very defining aspect of the value of a land card. Plus the dual lands that enter tapped unless X, were reprinted on several expansions :)
October 19, 2013 2:26 p.m.