So this is my first thread, that's pretty cool. My (most likely dumb) question to you all is: how come nearly every pro tournament I view, the players use the same basic land art for all their basic lands? Does it offer some sort of competitive edge, like to prevent counting cards in some way? And should I be doing the same?
I personally like to use all different basics from different eras of Magic, because variety is fun. What do you all think?
If your opponent sees your hand (for example, through Thoughtseize), they can take note of which basics you have in hand. If you then play one with different art, that signals to your opponent that one of the cards you've drawn since then was a basic land. If it matches, they can cross off one of the cards on their list, but the cards you've drawn since then are entirely unknown. Or maybe you cast a card like Brainstorm and put a basic land back, then your opponent sees your hand and there's a basic of a different art there. It just gives information to your opponent that you don't strictly have to give them. It doesn't really matter casually, but it can be a small competitive edge.
Plus, I imagine at least some pros do the same thing a bunch of players (including myself) do where all basics have to match just for the sake of aesthetics. But the short of it is you should play with whatever basics you like.
I have favourites. I use the Veronique Mountain from Zendikar in my Standard decks with red, One of the foil John Avon Mountains from the time spiral (iirc) for my modern burn.
I just have certain arts I love. I try and get enough to run just that one so they match.
In line with what Teia said, different art or editions can allow your opponent to pick up on whether you're running multiples of a card (basic land or even a normal spell) even if they only see a single copy in each of the first two games. This can help inform them on how much to play around cards.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
The "use all the same basic lands in case your opponent sees your hand" thing is the slimmest of competitive edges possible. As Jon Finkel and LSV discussed recently, it has probably decided one game in the history of magic. LSV admitted he only runs lands with matching art because it bothers him when they don't match. Finkel doesn't bother with it. You could play competitive events for years and never have it make a difference. Just play whatever lands you want, you are never gonna lose a GP because all your lands didn't match.
Technically speaking, careful play makes up for any discrepancies in land art anyway. But some people like to have literally any edge they can get, and all your lands matching gives you slightly more wiggle room for minor oversights. The theory is small, incremental advantages add up, so that one individual advantage is so minor that it doesn't matter but when taken together they're relevant, and that matching lands would just be one of those tiny incremental advantages among other things you do. I'm not sure I buy into it being a thing for its own sake, but it's how the train of thought goes.
I play all the same of full-art basics because I like the art a lot, and I like my lands to match each other. It is also a little bit of a statement that I have been playing for a while - most newer players don't have a collection of matching lands. So I guess it is a combination of aesthetics and making your deck look a little extra special.
The main difference in Modern and Legacy is that if game 1 you play a Time Spiral Mountain, and game 2 you play a Mirage Mountain, your opponent knows you play at least 2 basic Mountains in your 75, which might make a difference to their decisions with cards like Wasteland, Ghost Quarter, Path to Exile and the like.
It's particularly relevant in Modern with non-Mountain lands if you are playing Blood Moon (or Magus of the Moon). If you suspect your opponent (playing UR Twin) has only one basic Island alongside 4 fetches, 4 shocks and some Shivan Reefs and Cascade Bluffs, you'll be more likely to side in Blood Moon (especially if you also play Ghost Quarter) than if you suspect they have lots of basic Islands.
Small edges add up. You only get a small edge by replacing Birds of Paradise with the superior Noble Hierarch, or by swapping Deadbridge Goliath for Polukranos, yet people take those small edges seriously.
It also helps a small bit with pattern recognition. Have you ever played with an alt-art card, and it takes you a little while to recognize that card at a glance without actually reading the name? Same thing with basic land art. Playing identical ones instead of random cards out of the land box lets you assess your board at a single glance, and this will lead to less instances of mistapping your mana and speed up your play slightly. Again, a very small edge, but still nontrivial.
If you separate all you mana into different piles based on type and utility, you'll not have an issue with misreading the board. Some people will mix up their land types to try to trick their opponents into thinking they have incorrect mana up, others will play all of the same land art to conceal information. If everyone had a perfect memory for what basic I was rocking, or what edition my doom blade was, I would be sure to make my deck very uniform. But as most are not up to that task, I just have fun and play with what I think looks the best. All different full art lands are my choice, and I've gotten plenty to complements for it.
So this is my first thread, that's pretty cool. My (most likely dumb) question to you all is: how come nearly every pro tournament I view, the players use the same basic land art for all their basic lands? Does it offer some sort of competitive edge, like to prevent counting cards in some way? And should I be doing the same?
I personally like to use all different basics from different eras of Magic, because variety is fun. What do you all think?
Plus, I imagine at least some pros do the same thing a bunch of players (including myself) do where all basics have to match just for the sake of aesthetics. But the short of it is you should play with whatever basics you like.
I just have certain arts I love. I try and get enough to run just that one so they match.
BEEEES!
Rabble Red
Modern
Burn
Infect
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
Check out Odds//Ends - My articles on Quirky Cards and Oddball Builds
Long-time PucaTrade member and sometime author. Send me cards!
Currently playing Knight of the Reliquary - Retreat to Coralhelm Combo
It's particularly relevant in Modern with non-Mountain lands if you are playing Blood Moon (or Magus of the Moon). If you suspect your opponent (playing UR Twin) has only one basic Island alongside 4 fetches, 4 shocks and some Shivan Reefs and Cascade Bluffs, you'll be more likely to side in Blood Moon (especially if you also play Ghost Quarter) than if you suspect they have lots of basic Islands.
Small edges add up. You only get a small edge by replacing Birds of Paradise with the superior Noble Hierarch, or by swapping Deadbridge Goliath for Polukranos, yet people take those small edges seriously.
Cheeri0sXWU
Reid Duke's Level One
Who's the Beatdown
Alt+0198=Æ