A card's color is determined by its casting cost.
Since lands' casting cost is "0", thus it is colorless.
March 25, 2012 9:17 p.m.
I thought that color was determined by mana symbols or was that a commander only thing
March 25, 2012 10:23 p.m.
OmegaSerris says... Accepted answer #4
A card's color is defined by one of three things:
Mana symbols in it's casting cost (land have no mana cost)
Color Indicator (see below)
Or if it is specifically mentioned in the rule text (Transguild Courier)
The Color Indicator was added to assign colors to double sided cards (the backs have no mana cost) without having to add a line of text. Normal cards don't have them. It is the small circle next to the card type on the back side of flip cards like (Garruk, the Veil-Cursed is Black/Green for example). Rule text can also override mana symbols (Ghostfire). The color can also be changed by other effects (Niveous Wisps will override all other colors of the target creature).
Color Identity (that is what is used in Commander) extends it to mana symbols in activation costs and other rule text. For example Bosh, Iron Golem can be used as a Red Commander, not just a colorless one. The large mana symbols on modern Basic Land are not part of the rule text (which is hidden and granted to the land based on it's Basic Land Type) but solely decoration.
So long story short all lands are colorless, no matter the mana the make, (unless the rule text says otherwise like on Dryad Arbor) because they have no casting cost nor color indicator.
March 25, 2012 10:56 p.m.
GoblinsInc says... #5
Just one minor correct. Dryad Arbor has a color indicator showing it is green. It used to have it in the rules text instead, but it was changed.
March 26, 2012 12:33 a.m.
OmegaSerris says... #6
Ah, you're right. It has been errata'ed on Gatherer. That's weird since the Indicator is a visual thing and the card hasn't been reprinted. Seems they did it with Transguild Courier too. Wonder why Ghostfire hasn't been changed. Of course, visually speaking, it might be hard to tell the difference between colorless and white with such a small circle. :-P
March 26, 2012 2:01 a.m.
GoblinsInc says... #7
Indeed. I think they are now going for simplicity, and trying to keep it from becoming 8 different methods for determining a card's colour.
fireteam says... #1
no... lands are considered colorless, let me find the rule.
March 25, 2012 9:14 p.m.