In the world of Magic: The Gathering, card interactions can often be complex, surprising, and even game-defining. One intriguing and sometimes confusing effect is the phrase All nonbasic lands are Swamps. This powerful line of text has appeared on specific cards and can drastically alter the flow of a match. For players who rely on multicolor decks or who build strategies around land utility, such an effect can be both a nightmare and a strategic weapon. Understanding what this effect means, how it works, and how to respond to it is key for any competitive or casual Magic player.
Understanding the Core Effect
When a card says All nonbasic lands are Swamps, it is essentially applying a continuous effect that changes the land types of all nonbasic lands on the battlefield. This type-changing rule modifies the intrinsic properties of those lands. Nonbasic lands lose their printed abilities and instead function solely as Swamps, meaning they can tap for black mana and are subject to interactions that care about Swamp land types.
Key Characteristics of the Effect
- Type Replacement: All nonbasic lands gain the Swamp subtype and lose all other land types.
- Mana Production: They can now tap to produce black mana, regardless of their original abilities.
- Ability Removal: Original printed abilities of nonbasic lands are lost unless specifically retained by another continuous effect.
- Layering Rule: This effect happens in layer 4 (type-changing effects) of the Magic layer system, meaning it applies before ability-adding or removal effects in most cases.
Common Cards That Cause This Effect
There are a few notable cards in Magic: The Gathering that include the ‘All nonbasic lands are Swamps’ ability or a similar land type replacement. These are typically used in control or land destruction decks to disrupt opponents’ strategies or mana bases.
Key Cards with the Effect
- Magus of the Moon (similar effect): Makes nonbasic lands Mountains instead of Swamps.
- Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth: A legendary land that makes all lands Swamps in addition to their other types (slightly different interaction).
- Conversion or Mystic Decree (for other land type changes): These show how land-changing effects can be applied in different ways.
- Blood Moon (closely related): Alters nonbasic lands into Mountains, much like the Swamp effect but red-based.
How It Affects Gameplay and Deck Building
When nonbasic lands are turned into Swamps, a wide range of game dynamics are affected. From shutting down enemy utility lands to breaking combo setups, the effect can be used to great advantage. However, it’s also important to consider how it might impact your own strategy.
Strategic Implications
- Shuts Down Utility Lands: Cards like Field of the Dead, Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle, or Urza’s Tower lose their unique effects.
- Disrupts Multicolor Mana Bases: If your opponent relies on lands like Hallowed Fountain or Stomping Ground for color fixing, they now only tap for black.
- Fuels Black Mana Strategies: If you’re playing mono-black or decks with cards like Cabal Coffers, more Swamps means more black mana generation.
- Enables Swamp-Based Synergy: Cards like Corrupt, Mutilate, and Tendrils of Corruption scale with the number of Swamps on the battlefield.
Considerations for Deck Builders
- Use basic Swamps to avoid being disrupted by your own effect.
- Include black mana payoff cards that benefit from a Swamp-heavy battlefield.
- Beware of your opponent using the effect against you with similar synergy cards.
Rules and Interactions
Due to Magic’s complex rules system, land type changes like All nonbasic lands are Swamps follow specific rules around layering and timestamps. This ensures that when multiple effects are in play, they are resolved in a consistent order.
Important Rules Concepts
- Layer 4: Land type changing occurs here. If a card adds or removes subtypes, it will usually happen in this layer.
- Losing Abilities: If a nonbasic land becomes a Swamp, it no longer retains its printed or granted abilities, unless another effect restores them.
- Copy Effects: If a land is copied after being changed into a Swamp, the copy effect applies afterward unless stated otherwise.
- Multiple Land Effects: When more than one land type change occurs, timestamps determine which applies last and thus takes precedence.
Combos and Synergies
Turning all nonbasic lands into Swamps can be an opportunity for clever combos and synergies. If you plan around it, you can extract a lot of value while keeping your opponents off balance.
Synergistic Cards
- Cabal Coffers: Taps for massive black mana when all lands are Swamps.
- Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth: Works with Coffers and supports black ramp strategies.
- Contamination: Can lock opponents out of colored mana if all lands only produce black.
- Liliana of the Dark Realms: Fetches Swamps and boosts black mana ramp.
- Corrupt/Mutilate: Scales based on Swamps on the battlefield, making them powerful finishers or board wipes.
How to Play Against This Effect
When facing an opponent using this kind of land-changing strategy, it’s important to be prepared. The sudden shift in mana access or land utility can be devastating if you’re not ready.
Sideboard and Counterplay Options
- Run Basic Lands: Basic lands are unaffected and keep their original types and abilities.
- Land Destruction or Removal: Cards like Ghost Quarter, Field of Ruin, or cleansing board wipes can eliminate problem permanents.
- Enchantments Removal: If the effect is from an enchantment or artifact, naturalize effects can help.
- Color Fixing with Mana Rocks: Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, or Chromatic Lantern can bypass land-based mana issues.
Formats Where This Is Relevant
The All nonbasic lands are Swamps effect shows up more in formats with larger card pools, where unique or powerful land combinations are more common. Its disruptive nature makes it attractive for certain control or mono-black decks.
Notable Formats
- Commander (EDH): Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and Cabal Coffers are staples in mono-black Commander decks.
- Legacy and Vintage: Niche interactions may appear with land-focused decks or lockout strategies.
- Casual Play: Players often explore land-type manipulation for fun or unusual decks.
The phrase All nonbasic lands are Swamps introduces a fascinating layer of control and strategy in Magic: The Gathering. While at first glance it may seem like a minor alteration, the sweeping impact on mana bases, land abilities, and overall deck performance can be game-changing. Whether you use it to strengthen your mono-black synergies or as a way to slow down opponents’ multicolor decks, understanding how this effect works will give you a strong edge in your next game. From deck construction to in-game decisions, mastery of land manipulation mechanics opens up new avenues for creativity and competitive success.