Are the new "Showlands" better than the Checklands?

Modern forum

Posted on March 22, 2016, 3:02 p.m. by Bovine073

The new 'Showlands', as I've heard them from SOI are quite interesting, but are they better than the checklands?

Example: Fortified Village> Sunpetal Grove?

I could see this going either way, but I am leaning towards the Showlands as you can now play a dual turn 1 if, say, you only have basic lands besides your showland. (ie. Opening Hand of 4x Storm Crow, 1x Welkin Tern and 1x Fortified Village and 1x Plains).

JWiley129 says... #2

I'm leaning more towards the Checklands. With the Handlands, shadowlands, whatever you want to call them, you need to have the land in hand. Wheras the Checklands need to have the land in play. Sure, the Handlands can ETB untapped on Turn 1. However I prefer my dual lands to enter untapped past turn 1 outside of dedicated aggro decks.

March 22, 2016 3:05 p.m.

TMBRLZ says... #3

If a land is going to enter tapped, you shouldn't be playing it turn 1 unless you don't have a turn 1 play. Then you want the most versatile tapped land to come down first. (i.e. Always play Mystic Monastery on turn 1 if you don't have a turn 1 play).

I think this question depends a lot on your deck and the speed you're looking for, but I feel like, in Modern, where this question matters, Checklands are going to stay in the lead simply because you can almost always guarantee your checkland will enter untapped. You'll have fetched for a shock or actually played a basic more than likely in the first three turns. If you're still holding a land in hand after turn 3, you kept a really bad hand.

March 22, 2016 3:17 p.m.

Servo_Token says... #4

I like the red ones because reasons. The others are pretty much as good as the fast lands of the same colors. I'd play the red handlands over checklands any day because that turn one untapped dual is so crucial.

March 22, 2016 3:20 p.m.

VampireArmy says... #5

Should be noted that currently, they also have to compete with fastlands.

March 22, 2016 3:27 p.m.

Bovine073 says... #6

Fastlands > Checklands > Showlands VampireArmy?

I would like to rank all the lands some time (Modern legal) including pain-lands, the BFG lands, and filter lands (oh no man-lands too). Sounds like a large job though.

March 22, 2016 3:39 p.m.

TMBRLZ says... #7

Would be a great idea for an........

ARTICLE!

-runs away from the bait laid for hungry predators-

March 22, 2016 3:44 p.m.

VampireArmy says... #8

The rank changes depending on deck style.

Shocks > fast > everything else though.

March 22, 2016 3:44 p.m.

Lame_Duck says... #9

Showlands seem way worse because of fetchlands. Windswept Heath searches up a Forest to let your Sunpetal Grove come into play untapped, but you can't reveal the Heath to do the same with Fortified Village.

March 22, 2016 3:50 p.m.

TMBRLZ says... #10

Solid point from Lame_Duck

March 22, 2016 4:42 p.m.

Egann says... #11

I think the checklands are significantly better, and that showlands will, after a brief flirtation, not see modern play.

Unless it's in your opening hand, a showland might as well be a Selesnya Guildgate. You put mana onto the battlefield, which means as early as turn 3 you might no longer be able to show ANY land, let alone one of two specific subtypes. The only advantage the showland has is a slight color-fixing effect on your first two turns.

It's helpful, but let me show you what needs to happen to get there:- You have to have the showland, a basic or shockland, and a spell in hand.- The basic or shock MUST be of the wrong color to cast that spell (otherwise, you could just play it instead and be out 2 life at worst.)- The showland must be of the right color to cast that spell.

That's an awful long list of ifs.

Besides, as Lame_Duck said, showlands have antisynergy with fetches. Not only are fetches neither basic type, but they thin your deck, making you less likely to draw the land you need to show. Why they printed shows now and not in a standard with shocks is beyond me.

March 22, 2016 5:12 p.m.

Bovine073 says... #12

TMBRLZ sorry, what?

Lame_Duck yes, very valid point about the fetches.

Egann I think showlands are better than guildgates, though. FOr hyper agressive decks they might be good (bogles later, anyone? :P)

March 22, 2016 11:01 p.m.

TMBRLZ says... #13

Bovine073 - Ranking Modern lands and their effectiveness overall.

Great article idea.

March 23, 2016 10:11 a.m.

Egann says... #14

Bovine073 Yes, they are objectively better than guildgates. There's pretty much no denying that because they do have a way to enter the battlefield untapped and guildgates do not.

Bogles is an interesting prospect, but I think the effect will be minimal. As I said, the showland must be of the right color and the land to be shown of the wrong color. Basically, the showland has a slight chance to save a hand you would have mulliganed. That's possible in a two color deck like bogles, but far more likely in a three color one.

March 23, 2016 10:18 a.m.

Atony1400 says... #15

I call "checklands" "buddy lands"

March 30, 2016 12:26 p.m.

TheGreatLiar says... #16

The real question is not about check lands, but about fast lands. That is what the shadow lands are comparable to, as they will come in untapped early, but be tapped later in the game.

The answer, is of course, no. But in certain decks, they may be pretty good as Blackcleave Cliffs 5+ or similar.

April 7, 2016 8:40 p.m.

This discussion has been closed