land
General forum
Posted on Jan. 10, 2013, 11:46 a.m. by demonx666
can i tap land just to tap them without casting a spell
@Jimhawk what about basic land can i tap them without casting a spell
January 10, 2013 12:04 p.m.
Correct! When you tap those lands, you will add the mana to your mana pool and just not use it. As a corollary to that, your mana pool will empty as you progress from one phase to the next, so you can't use mana you produce in your upkeep to cast a spell later, such in your postcombat main phase (unless an effect prevents mana pools from emptying).
January 10, 2013 12:11 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
You should note that you can NEVER tap something just to tap it, much like you can't sacrifice something just to sacrifice it.
In this case, you are activating an ability of the land. All basic lands and lands with basic land types have the inherent ability "T: Add C to your mana pool," where C represents a mana of the appropriate color. You can tap the lands to add that mana to your mana pool. You are not required to do anything with that mana, but you must have a way to tap the land.
January 10, 2013 12:20 p.m.
candlehawk says... #6
It is worth a reminder that mana pools empty when phases change (such as Upkeep to draw, Main1 to combat, combat to main2 etc.)
Jimhawk says... #2
Yes, if that land has the ability to tap and produce an effect (usually adding mana to your mana pool). An example of a land that you can't just tap because it has no such ability is The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale .
January 10, 2013 11:53 a.m.