I am having trouble understanding non-common lands that you can tap to get one mana pool. The pool resets at the end of the turn, so why tap to get one mana when the card is worth one mana that turn anyways; being that it is a land?? I must have something wrong...
On the other hand, most lands have a mana ability that adds one or more mana to your mana pool. For example, Swamps have ":symtap: : Add to your mana pool." You can use these mana to cast spells and activate abilities and so on. And finally, your mana pool empties at the end of every step and phase, not just at the end of the turn.
What in gods name is up with this set? Did RnD just sit down and say "lol let's pack as many over-the-top cards as we possibly can into this one because the world ends this year anyway!"
You're misunderstanding how mana works, presumably. Remember, the mana in your mana pool empties at the end of every phase and step, not merely at the end of the turn.
A land doesn't produce mana until you've activated its mana ability, which almost always has the tap symbol in its cost. This means that you need to tap lands to produce mana. Just having a land on the battlefield does not mean it automatically adds one mana to your mana pool -- you have to tap it for mana if you want to use said mana for casting spells or activating abilities.
Here, let's look at it another way. See the card Maze of Ith? You'll notice that it doesn't have any ability to tap for mana. This means that Maze of Ith on its own will never give you mana. Compare with Mystifing Maze, which does have the ability to add 1 colorless mana to your mana pool.
I'll reiterate, just to get the point across: lands are never "worth one mana" just for existing on the battlefield. Lands only ever give you mana when you use their mana abilities. In fact, some lands can even give you more than one mana when used! Examples include Temple of the False God and Simic Growth Chamber.
On the other hand, most lands have a mana ability that adds one or more mana to your mana pool. For example, Swamps have ":symtap: : Add to your mana pool." You can use these mana to cast spells and activate abilities and so on. And finally, your mana pool empties at the end of every step and phase, not just at the end of the turn.
I'm guessing you are referring to lands like Kessig Wolf Run. it can produce one colorless mana, but it can instead be used for an alternate ability.
A land doesn't produce mana until you've activated its mana ability, which almost always has the tap symbol in its cost. This means that you need to tap lands to produce mana. Just having a land on the battlefield does not mean it automatically adds one mana to your mana pool -- you have to tap it for mana if you want to use said mana for casting spells or activating abilities.
Here, let's look at it another way. See the card Maze of Ith? You'll notice that it doesn't have any ability to tap for mana. This means that Maze of Ith on its own will never give you mana. Compare with Mystifing Maze, which does have the ability to add 1 colorless mana to your mana pool.
I'll reiterate, just to get the point across: lands are never "worth one mana" just for existing on the battlefield. Lands only ever give you mana when you use their mana abilities. In fact, some lands can even give you more than one mana when used! Examples include Temple of the False God and Simic Growth Chamber.
Commander/EDH Decks:
BRG The Blood of Jund - Kresh the Bloodbraided BRG
WR The Blades of Goldnight - Gisela, Blade of Goldnight WR