K.16 - Land Type


Return to Rules Index

K.16.1- All lands have a land type (also called a "subtype") that is the same as the land card's name. In addition, lands may "count as" (see Rule G.9) other types. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 212.2c]

Top

K.16.2- Basic land types are: Forest, Island, Mountain, Plains, and Swamp. All other land types are not considered basic lands. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

Top

K.16.3- Any land which is not a basic land is a nonbasic land. Even if its rules text or an effect state that it "counts as" a basic land type, it is still nonbasic. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

Top

K.16.4- Changing a land to a basic land type erases the card name and all abilities of the old land type and puts in the abilities and card name of the new land type. It also erases any Legendary (see Rule K.17) status. [CompRules 1999/04/23] It does not change any other characteristics, such as whether or not the land is a creature. [WotC Rules Team 2000/06/06] For example, if a land is turned into a Swamp, its card name is now Swamp, its land type is Swamp, and its card text is "{Tap}: Add {B} to your mana pool." See Rule K.15.4.

Top

K.16.5- Changing a land to another land type does not change other characteristics of the card, such as color, and so on. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

Top

K.16.6- Changing a permanent's land type to a basic land removes all other land types of the permanent unless the effect specifies one or more land types will remain. It does not remove any other types the permanent has, such as creature or artifact. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 214.4/4a]

Top

K.16.7- Changing a land to a non-land permanent type removes the land's land type. [WotC Rules Team 2000/04/04]

Top

K.16.8- Adding a land type to a land does not remove any of the land's other types and does not change the land's name. It simply adds the land type and a new ability to generate mana (as appropriate for the land type). [WotC Rules Team 2001/06/07]

Top

K.16.Ruling.1- If a land is animated into a creature by an effect with a duration (such as Mishra's Factory or Thelonite Druid), and its land type is changed, it will still stay animated until the animation effect ends. [WotC Rules Team 1995/11/10]

Top

K.16.Ruling.2- "basic land" and "nonbasic land" are not land types. They are categories of lands. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 212.2c]

Top

Note- See "Snow-Covered Lands", Rule K.21, for more information on them.

Top


Acknowledgments and Disclaimers