Fetch Lands
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on April 19, 2013, 3:04 p.m. by DukeNicky
So I'm just starting to get into EDH (my first build being Hello Sweetie) and I was just wondering how viable were fetch lands in the format? As of now I have Terramorphic Expanse and Evolving Wilds . I'm wondering if the Zendikar and past lands would merit their price Marsh Flats for example. yes I know that in Modern/other formats with multiples they are great, but in EDH are they still as useful when you're limited to 1x Godless Shrine for example
What do you mean by ABUR duals? if by that you mean the original duals such as Tundra and then of those I have none a lil pricey and I didn't start playing till the original Mirrodin block. Having looked through your deck I also noticed you ran the Scars fast lands so Seachrome Coast and their ilk are useful as well even though more often then not they enter tapped?
April 19, 2013 3:19 p.m.
theemptyquiver says... #4
ABUR....I have no idea, but if I had to guess I would think it would be Alpha Beta Urza Revised? But that is the best guess I have.
I think it is in reference to the old dual lands.
April 19, 2013 3:55 p.m.
You can never go wrong with them. As said before it thins out the deck removing a useless land draw late game. Gets you duel lands or an extra of a color you are short on. Its up to you though if they are worth the price tag.
April 19, 2013 4:07 p.m.
True enough thinning as early as possible is a nice bonus, seriously those prices are a bit up there though...wish I didn't have a hiatus from the game >.<
So I know in EDH you can't use cards that have a mana symbol not in your commander identity (mine is Merieke Ri Berit ) so obviously I couldn't use a Temple Garden cuz of the green. but can you use a Misty Rainforest to search out an island? It says "Forest" but doesn't use or show a green mana symbol.
April 19, 2013 4:17 p.m.
ABUR = alpha/beta/unlimited/revised = original duals = $$$
April 19, 2013 4:26 p.m.
Ok one more question those same ABUR lands, of those sets which was the first to be translated into foreign languages (French in this case) I just looked and there are all of those duals in French on there, but I don't wanna bid or spend any kind of money on them in the event they were faked.
April 19, 2013 4:59 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #10
Yes, I run nine of the ten fetches in my deck, and you're right. The color identity of Misty Rainforest
is indeed colorless, so you can run it in any deck you like.
Depending on where you plan to play, having actual copies may or may not be relevant. Playing competitively, you'll want to track real copies down, (beware gold-borders on eBay) but if you're just playing on the kitchen table, I'm sure your playgroup won't be too upset with proxies.
Also, the Scars lands are OK in EDH, but after turn 4 your Seachrome Coast is usually worse than a Sejiri Refuge
April 19, 2013 5:13 p.m.
Yeah, generally speaking the dual land base for an EDH deck tends to be the original duals, the ravnica shocks, and the checklands (Tapped unless you control a land of the basic type) since they fire off untapped off your other duals (Since the ABUR and RAV duals have basic land types)
Fetches are phenomenal in EDH and you'll want to run as many as you can afford to own.
April 19, 2013 9:02 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #12
The fetch lands are fantastic in EDH because they provide badly-needed consistency for 3+ color land bases. Shocks and ABUR duals (not to mention some support lands like Mistveil Plains ) are important to maintaining a strong mana flow in multi-colored decks. The fact that you can only find each land one time is offset by the relative strength of being able to fix your mana quickly.
I run nine fetches in Dominus - Dreamcrusher Edition. Those nine support three ABUR duals, three shocks, and six single-type lands. The consistency is a key reason why the deck is so strong.
April 19, 2013 10:33 p.m.
...not to mention they provide a land drop every turn when combined with Crucible of Worlds or Life from the Loam . And you can shuffle after using Brainstorm /Scroll Rack . And they help you play around Wasteland . And they...well, they're honestly just as good, if not better, than the original duals.
April 21, 2013 2:40 a.m.
Ok So they are exceedingly useful in any format and are very much viable in EDH great to know thank you all. So obviously the Zendikar and Onslaught fetches are the best (hence their price tags) but what about the Mirage fetches (at least till I set aside enough to get the other ones) Granted they make you late while entering tapped, but there isn't a lp payment. Bad River , Flood Plain , Grasslands , Mountain Valley , Rocky Tar Pit are they worth running in the interim or at all?
April 21, 2013 3:27 a.m.
They tend to work out fine if you have good targets like Tundra in your deck to fetch up or something that can untap them/prevent them from entering tapped.
April 21, 2013 11:37 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #17
To give you a late answer to you question, DukeNicky, the Mirage fetches are not really worth running. The advantage of a true fetch land is its ability to give you instant access to dual lands or even monotype lands. The Mirage fetches are slow.
May 9, 2013 11:43 a.m.
Just adding to what Epochalyptik said, the Mirage fetches can also be hit by Wasteland and Strip Mine . So if you plan on using their effect to shuffle and your opponent spots this, you may end up doing something like casting Brainstorm , put two lands on top of your library, then your opponent blows up the fetch land. Now you're stuck drawing cards you don't need for the next two turns.
That's just one example, but the Mirage fetches haven't been very viable since they were first printed.
May 9, 2013 5:39 p.m.
DukeNicky for best results in my EDH decks I use;
1 coloured decks: 2 - 4 (Lots of basic lands around)
2 coloured decks: 4 - 7
3 colour decks: 9
4 - 5 coloured decks: 10
All decks I include relevant ABUR duals / Shock lands
An added benefit is the shuffle library effects on cards like Scroll Rack
BTW, not sure why I've been called out on my Make it Merry! Take it Merie! deck for having illegal lands... the only listed illegal card was the Staff of Domination and that is only because tappedout is behind the times! (I've since removed it as I don't have room yet for its combo)
MindAblaze says... #2
I would say yes, but that depends on how many shocks and ABUR duals you run. Every Zendikar fetch can pull any shockland or ABUR dual that you would put in your deck. They thin your deck and make sure you have all your colors.
I play with them in my Mayael the Anima EDH deck and I am never disappointed.
April 19, 2013 3:13 p.m.