So, as an EDH player, I am quite familiar with the "pimping" of decks, but I've always thought it was unnecessarily expensive to foil out a deck when 6-12 months later I might get bored of it.
BUT, what I can get behind is pimping out the manabase, and in particular the basic lands, since there will never be a time when you dont need basics or shocklands.
Currently I have all zendikar basics in one of my 4 EDH decks, and just random basics I had lying around for the rest, but I want to change that.
I want to de-pimp one/some of my lands by doing horrible things such as getting as much white border as possible, as well as getting the ugliest basics that are around!
So, what are the worst basics in your opinion? I have only played a year and a few months, so hit me up with some really old and just plain ugly lands!
* Time Spiral: many bad lands, with Plains 283, Island 286 and Forest 299 as the worst IMO.
(You can get reprints of the island and forest arts in Commander 2014, if you think the newest border uglier, but the art appears to be clearer there - see the same island and forest as before).
* Shadowmoor had an Island 289 that looks more like a forest than anything else.
* Time Spiral: many bad lands, with Plains 283, Island 286 and Forest 299 as the worst IMO.
(You can get reprints of the island and forest arts in Commander 2014, if you think the newest border uglier, but the art appears to be clearer there - see the same island and forest as before).
* Shadowmoor had an Island 289 that looks more like a forest than anything else.
Damn, you seem to hate all the lands that I love. The twisted, bleak landscape of Time Spiral is one of the coolest art direction that Magic's lands have gone in, imo, barring Zendikar.
On topic:
All of the Scars of Mirrodin swamps are kind of the same. Lots of boring, green gas.
This plains from Alara doesn't even look like a plains. This one from Onslaught is pretty boring as well.
This forest from Mirrodin just kind of hurts my eyes.
But otherwise, Wizards is pretty good at making sure that the basic lands look pretty good.
* Time Spiral: many bad lands, with Plains 283, Island 286 and Forest 299 as the worst IMO.
(You can get reprints of the island and forest arts in Commander 2014, if you think the newest border uglier, but the art appears to be clearer there - see the same island and forest as before).
* Shadowmoor had an Island 289 that looks more like a forest than anything else.
I'm really partial to the revised basic lands. Especially the swamps, because some of them are printed so light that they REALLY stand out in a black deck.
I'm not really a fan of any of the Tempest plains TBH.
I would love if the ROE basics' hedrons actually looked like different Platonic solids (e.g., tetrahedra for mountains, cubes for forests, octahedra for plains, dodecahedra for swamps, icosahedra for islands...or something) but they didn't go with that. Instead, the only Platonic solid is the cubes in the swamp.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
This swamp from Lorwyn has always been one of my least favourite land arts. (I think the other ones look pretty nice, though. Especially the one with all the flowers.)
The original Mirrodin block seems to be a pretty good place as well.
The Shads of Alara plains are overall some of my least favorite (and I say this as an obsessive collector of plains!). I also find the 6th and 7th Edition ones pretty blah, due to their white-borderedness and the art just not being very interesting (except for the excellent 7th ed John Avon, which I believe is his debut plains offering).
Does "this [land] does not look like [land]" counts as horrible?
Some of the basic lands from the ravnica blocks does not look like the lands they portray. (especially tower plains).
I like those ravnica basics for that reasons since I am not really a nature sort of guy and I enjoy living in a city but I still need green mana somewhere.
That Ice Age Plains is part of a mural with the 3 other Plains art, showcasing all 4 "Seasons". I believe that was representing Spring. It is actually a very nice scene when viewed all together.
This is, by far, the worst island in the game. It is severely lacking depth, and could have benefited greatly from a horizon (among other changes). As it is, it looks like an old mossy tree stump hovering above the water while suffering through the painful process of turning inside-out.
This is, by far, the worst island in the game. It is severely lacking depth, and could have benefited greatly from a horizon (among other changes). As it is, it looks like an old mossy tree stump hovering above the water while suffering through the painful process of turning inside-out.
I actually like that Island, for whatever reason. All a matter of taste, I guess.
The very worst lands I've ever seen are those altered ones on e-bay that are just soft-core anime porn with "island" in the corner. Bad art, bad taste, and just reeks of clichés.
When it comes to non-altered cards, I think the unglued full-arts are probably the worst ever. The art is meh but the boarder seals the deal. When it comes to looking strictly at the artwork, the ones I don't like are the ones where it doesn't look like they even bothered to try. Willdice's list is a good start.
EDIT: Ice age has some pretty consistently terrible land artwork. Especially the mountains. Bonus points if you can find ones that are torn to crap by being played without sleeves... I have dozens if you want some
Seriously, Ron Spears, even Rainbowland had Murky and Lurky.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Seriously, Ron Spears, even Rainbowland had Murky and Lurky.
except this was meant to represent a swamp controlled by faeries. There was an island that went with it, and they both went with secluded glen.
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BUT, what I can get behind is pimping out the manabase, and in particular the basic lands, since there will never be a time when you dont need basics or shocklands.
Currently I have all zendikar basics in one of my 4 EDH decks, and just random basics I had lying around for the rest, but I want to change that.
I want to de-pimp one/some of my lands by doing horrible things such as getting as much white border as possible, as well as getting the ugliest basics that are around!
So, what are the worst basics in your opinion? I have only played a year and a few months, so hit me up with some really old and just plain ugly lands!
(You can get reprints of the island and forest arts in Commander 2014, if you think the newest border uglier, but the art appears to be clearer there - see the same island and forest as before).
* Shadowmoor had an Island 289 that looks more like a forest than anything else.
* Mirrodin Besieged: Plains 147, Island 149, Mountain 153, Forest 155
* New Phyrexia: Plains 167, Island 168.
====
Some with white border:
* 5E: Swamp, Plains, Swamp, Forest, Swamp, Swamp.
* Many 4E lands are also bad (specially the plains), but being reprints from Alpha many would still consider positive pimping.
* 7E: I can't take Island 332 seriously.
Damn, you seem to hate all the lands that I love. The twisted, bleak landscape of Time Spiral is one of the coolest art direction that Magic's lands have gone in, imo, barring Zendikar.
On topic:
All of the Scars of Mirrodin swamps are kind of the same. Lots of boring, green gas.
This plains from Alara doesn't even look like a plains. This one from Onslaught is pretty boring as well.
This forest from Mirrodin just kind of hurts my eyes.
But otherwise, Wizards is pretty good at making sure that the basic lands look pretty good.
URW Control
WBG Abzan
GRW Burn
EDH
GR Rosheen Meanderer
I actually don't mind the first lands you suggested.. The whitebordered ones are awesome though, just what I had in mind!
Not a fan of the RotE Swamps, this one being the worst.
None of the Lorwyn Swamps look like swamps, and I have no idea what this is supposed to be.
This is a boulder, not a mountain.
Looks snow-covered to me
I'm not really a fan of any of the Tempest plains TBH.
I would love if the ROE basics' hedrons actually looked like different Platonic solids (e.g., tetrahedra for mountains, cubes for forests, octahedra for plains, dodecahedra for swamps, icosahedra for islands...or something) but they didn't go with that. Instead, the only Platonic solid is the cubes in the swamp.
On phasing:
The original Mirrodin block seems to be a pretty good place as well.
I'm going to second this Plains from Alara, and add this one as well.
Modern: GW Hatebears/midrange, WGU Knightfall/evolution midrange stuff
Standard: nope
Legacy: W Death & Taxes
EDH (not Commander!): W Avacyn, Angel of Hope, GR Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, WGB Anafenza, the Foremost, WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator
Some of the basic lands from the ravnica blocks does not look like the lands they portray. (especially tower plains).
I like those ravnica basics for that reasons since I am not really a nature sort of guy and I enjoy living in a city but I still need green mana somewhere.
That Ice Age Plains is part of a mural with the 3 other Plains art, showcasing all 4 "Seasons". I believe that was representing Spring. It is actually a very nice scene when viewed all together.
Some others I don't like much:
* Odyssey Plains 332. Just boring.
* Onslaught Island 338. There's something I don't like about it overall.
* Onslaught Forest 348. Just... weird.
* M13 plains 231. Clouds over a featureless yellow expanse.
* Mercadian Masques Swamp 342. How is that a swamp?
* Mercadian Masques Forest 350. Here, have a couple of tree trunks. Don't touch the fungus.
I see your boulder, and raise you a a pile of rocks.
Give Zaliki a CardI must have all the cats!
Mirage lands are often hailed as what basic land art should aspire to, and I agree... except for the Mirage Forests.
U.G.L.Y.
Cheers!
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I actually like that Island, for whatever reason. All a matter of taste, I guess.
Heresy! (Actually, some of them are not amazing, but most of them are great.)
Modern: GW Hatebears/midrange, WGU Knightfall/evolution midrange stuff
Standard: nope
Legacy: W Death & Taxes
EDH (not Commander!): W Avacyn, Angel of Hope, GR Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, WGB Anafenza, the Foremost, WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
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When it comes to non-altered cards, I think the unglued full-arts are probably the worst ever. The art is meh but the boarder seals the deal. When it comes to looking strictly at the artwork, the ones I don't like are the ones where it doesn't look like they even bothered to try. Willdice's list is a good start.
EDIT: Ice age has some pretty consistently terrible land artwork. Especially the mountains. Bonus points if you can find ones that are torn to crap by being played without sleeves... I have dozens if you want some
I know Lorwyn was cheery, but somehow this looks like faeries vomited on it.
Seriously, Ron Spears, even Rainbowland had Murky and Lurky.
On phasing:
except this was meant to represent a swamp controlled by faeries. There was an island that went with it, and they both went with secluded glen.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!