Ranking the Modern Lands
Modern forum
Posted on Nov. 15, 2014, 8:16 p.m. by KB2187
I was curious about what people thought the pecking order of nonbasic Modern lands would be. Example:
Shock
Fetch
Pain
Filter
Check
I'm trying to build my card pool in modern and was advised to start at the lands. Any advice would be great.
JexInfinite says... #4
Fetches and Shocks accompany each other and belong on the same rank. If anything, fetches are better because they can get basics as well. They do deserve to be on the same rank.
After that, it would go Fast, Filter, Check and Pain.
Check lands and pain lands can both be better than each other, but more people play singleton check lands in something like a control deck.
November 15, 2014 8:22 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #6
I read that as "fetches top" thank you poor eyesight but yeah i agree fetches are the master land fixing
November 15, 2014 8:27 p.m.
The order should be:
Fetch
Shock
Man-Lands, Utility-Lands, Filter-Lands
Ally
Pain
Basic
Fetches fix your mana and thin your deck, almost every deck plays them. For example in a Jund-Deck you play ~8-9 fetchies but only 3-4 shocks.
November 15, 2014 8:28 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #9
We're missing the fastlands, which are most commonly seen in Melira Pod and Jund but sometimes elsewhere.
My list would be like:
Fetchlands (ally and enemy)
Shocklands (ally and enemy)
man-lands, utility lands (varying)
Fastlands (ally only)
Filter lands (ally and enemy)
There are other cycles (e.g. Karoos), but I don't think they are worth considering for this sort of list.
November 15, 2014 8:38 p.m.
Fetches aren't fantastic without shocks. Shocks are fantastic without fetches. Shocks beat fetches.
Shock
Fetch
Filter
Check
Pain
Basic
Unsure where manlands go. Depends on the manland really.
November 15, 2014 8:38 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #11
Ah, I forgot checks and painlands. I suppose those go below filter lands in my book.
November 15, 2014 8:39 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #12
Guys, guys, I think you're missing the obvious choice here: Guildgates are at the top.
November 15, 2014 8:39 p.m.
Shocklands are much better in a vacuum than fetch lands
November 15, 2014 8:42 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #15
@xlaleclx That's hardly a fair statement. Just because fetches rely on other lands doesn't mean they're worse.
November 15, 2014 9:06 p.m.
Well it does sort of. Object A can't be better than object B if it depends on B for most of its functionality.
An easy way to resolve it is to ask yourself: 'would I rather be limited to only fetches or only shocks?'. For me that's a dead easy question.
November 15, 2014 9:09 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #17
That's not a similar question at all, though. The fact that fetches don't produce mana themselves doesn't mean they are worse, which is the basis of that argument. I feel that their versatility (potentially being used to fetch all five colors of lands) in addition to the fact that they can give you untapped mana at a smaller life cost makes them considerably more powerful.
November 15, 2014 9:14 p.m.
You misunderstand me. The question is - say that you could have a deck with every type of land as normal but only fetches OR shocks, not both. Which do you choose? I'm not saying - you may ONLY run fetches or shocks as your mana base. I'm saying you may run any modern legal land but you have to choose between fetches OR shocks.
Fetches can fetch any colour you're right - but only if you're fetching shocklands. The entire basis for their power is dependent on the existence of shocklands. No shocklands - very lowered power.
This is such an intimate relationship that to me it makes them either on par, OR I say that shocks are better because if I'm limited to make the choice I'd rather only have shocks.
November 15, 2014 9:19 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #19
I suppose it's difficult to make a decision between two groups that make each other a whole lot better. Having only shocks makes your deck super weak to aggro, while having only fetches decreases mana consistency. Let's stop arguing about this, m'kay?
November 15, 2014 9:21 p.m.
Yeh, I really dont care much at all. They do both exist. They are both very good.
November 15, 2014 9:22 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #21
I'd say...
Fetches, Shocks, Manlands, Utility, Filters, Checks, Pain
If I was going to buy them I'd start with shocks and the KTK fetches. I'd pick up some manlands but wouldn't go out of my way for them until I had a deck to run them in. Same thing with the filter lands. Often 1 is all you'll ever need buy certain circumstances can call for more. (Running 4x Treetop Village and 4x Phyrexian Obliterator in the same deck can made far more achievable with 4x Twilight Mire) Most of the utility lands have fairly cheap printings. Tectonic Edge Ghost Quarter Cavern of Souls are good ones to start with...
Checks and Pains are only really ran as budget options until u can get fetches and shocks...
November 15, 2014 10:45 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #22
Ok, you've convinced me.
Shocks are equal to fetches, and vice versa.
November 15, 2014 10:54 p.m.
Probably worth adding in that scry lands are much better than pain lands
November 15, 2014 10:58 p.m.
JexInfinite says... #25
I forgot all about manlands and utility lands (like Tectonic Edge, Ghost Quarter, Windbrisk Heights).
The best order:
Shocks/Fetches (Open to debate)
Manlands/Utility lands
Fast lands
Filter lands
Check lands
Pain lands
Basics
Anything else, because they're all crap
November 15, 2014 11:18 p.m.
mymanpotsandpans says... #27
But, but guys, Urza land master race number one. It is 4% of the meta right now, don't forget.
November 15, 2014 11:51 p.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #30
My order:
Fetches
Shocks
Manlands/Utility Lands
Fastlands
Filterlands
Painlands
Checklands
November 16, 2014 1:33 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #32
Jonathannoob What makes you rate checklands so highly?
November 16, 2014 2 a.m.
JonathanSamurai says... #33
Because they are more affordable than fetches. And the fact that shocks and basics allow them to come in untapped. Fetches can indeed collect basics and shocks, but I feel the steeper price makes them less ascessble. I'm also in the minority that thinks the "filter" effect of fetches is largely insignificant and that man lands are overrated. Scry lands and fast lands are worse than basics unless you are control, so that's just me. I build aggro decks and one burn deck, so I haven't really considered using anything but shocks, checks and basics cause so far they have done exactly what I've wanted as far as mana fixing.
November 16, 2014 2:11 a.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #35
Shock/FetchUtility/manlandFilterCheckFastPainBasic
VampireArmy says... #2
Filter above pain i think
November 15, 2014 8:18 p.m.