Blue and black are powerful colors in Magic: The Gathering, often associated with control, manipulation, and powerful late-game strategies. A strong mana base is crucial for any deck utilizing these colors, and understanding the best lands for your blue-black deck is key to success. This guide will explore various options, from budget-friendly choices to high-end staples, considering both Commander and casual play.
What Makes a Good Blue-Black Land?
Before diving into specific cards, let's define what makes a land ideal for a blue-black deck. Generally, we're looking for lands that:
- Produce blue and/or black mana: This is the most fundamental requirement.
- Enter the battlefield untapped: Consistent mana production is vital, especially in the early game.
- Offer additional benefits: Many lands provide synergistic effects that enhance your strategy, such as card draw, fixing mana colors, or providing protection.
- Cost-effectiveness: Balancing power with budget is important, especially for casual players.
Budget-Friendly Blue-Black Lands
For players on a budget, several excellent options exist without breaking the bank:
- Basic Lands: Islands and Swamps are the foundation of any blue-black deck. While they don't offer extra abilities, their consistency is invaluable.
- Dual Lands (From older sets): While expensive if bought individually, older sets often feature dual lands like Underground Sea and Polluted Delta which can still be found at lower costs. These are powerful additions for consistent mana production of both colors.
- Checklands: Lands like Godless Shrine and Hallowed Ground offer the benefit of entering untapped if you control another basic land, providing a smooth mana curve without the significant cost of fetch lands.
Mid-Range and Powerful Blue-Black Lands
As your budget increases, more powerful land options become available:
- Fetch Lands: Cards like Polluted Delta and Underground Sea allow you to fetch basic lands from your deck, improving mana consistency and thinning your deck. While expensive, they are considered staples in competitive blue-black decks.
- Shock Lands: Lands like Bloodstained Mire and Watery Grave enter the battlefield tapped but offer useful color fixing and are widely considered excellent value for the investment.
- Battle Lands: These lands, such as Godless Shrine and Watery Grave, are a solid mid-range option that enters the battlefield tapped but are less punishing than shock lands if you miss the early mana.
Lands with Synergistic Effects for Blue-Black Decks
Some lands offer additional benefits that synergize particularly well with blue-black strategies:
- Command Tower: This is a staple in any multi-colored Commander deck, fixing your mana base without the need to draw additional lands.
- Arcane Sanctum: This allows you to draw a card for each spell you cast in a given turn.
What are the best lands for a budget Blue Black Commander deck?
A budget Blue Black Commander deck can utilize a mix of basic lands (Islands and Swamps), Checklands (like Godless Shrine and Hallowed Ground), and a Command Tower for mana fixing. Adding a few less expensive dual lands from older sets would further improve the mana base.
What are the best lands for a competitive Blue Black Modern deck?
A competitive Blue Black Modern deck will almost certainly utilize fetch lands (Polluted Delta and Underground Sea), shock lands (Bloodstained Mire and Watery Grave), and potentially other powerful lands depending on the specific archetype.
What are some good lands for a casual Blue Black deck?
Casual blue-black decks can use a mix of basic lands, checklands, and even some less expensive dual lands. Prioritizing lands that enter untapped is usually the best strategy for consistent mana production.
Are there any lands that specifically benefit Blue Black strategies?
While many lands simply provide mana fixing, some like Arcane Sanctum synergize well with blue-black's frequent spell-casting strategies, offering a significant bonus for your investment.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of blue-black lands in Magic: The Gathering, catering to various budgets and play styles. Remember that the optimal land base will depend on your specific deck's needs and strategy. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each land type when constructing your deck to maximize your chances of victory.
