Maybe I'm playing in an atypical environment or something, but I'm not seeing the dual lands from Battlebond in play very often, and I'm really quite surprised, as they are quite good, especially in decks with more than two colors. Unless you are playing duel commander or you draw into one way late in the game when most of your opponents have already been eliminated, they have no downside at all. In contrast, things like Drowned Catacomb and Sunpetal Grove are progressively more likely to enter tapped the more colors you are running.
Is this just a function of price? Availability (which seems less likely to be an actual issue given how easy it is to buy cards online)?
I think it will probably just a take a while for them to proliferate into most metas. I know that is the case in my various playgroups, where most people will likely end up running these, but just haven't ordered them yet.
Riku of Two Reflections - Copy, then copy again | Shattergang Brothers - Token Sac&Recur | Gahiji, Honored One - Multiple attack steps | Karametra, God of Harvests - Landfall, Creaturefall, Shroud | Ruhan of the Fomori - Stop hitting yourself | Zurgo Helmsmasher - Equipment&Wraths | Crosis, the Purger - Dragon Tribal Reanimator | Derevi, Empyrial Tactician - No stax, just tap and untap fun | Anafenza, the Foremost - Enduring Ideal Enchantress | Sharuum, the Hegemon - Sphinx Tribal Control | Noyan Dar - Spellslinger | The Mimeoplasm - Counterpalooza
Lists can be found here.
Still convinced the guy on Beseech the Queen is wearing a Mitra-type hat. Wake up sheeple!
I just picked up a few last night. They're good, but I'm only putting them in certain decks, so folks playing against me won't necessarily see them that often.
I am not a big fan. They aren't dual typed, and I cannot control the etb ability as easily. Good budget lands that will etb untapped early game when you need it, but with the amount of dual typed allied lands, I favor those more.
I don't find M10 duals to be worse with more colors because anything beyond 2 colors will get Shocks and Fetches which makes M10 duals like Glacial Fortress better. Not to mention the basics I'm still running.
I give a disproportionate amount of weight to dual typed lands, especially in green **Wood Elves. So after using all those (Shocks, Tango, Cycle Duals) and Filter Lands, these Battlebond lands just slipped my interest.
If you're trying to cast things on the first turn, these Battlebond lands are much better than checks for multiplayer EDH.
If you're playing 1-v-1, well, that's a different format. These will occasionally enter tapped when a multiplayer game has turned into a duel, but that's a super minor downside.
I think they're great. Coming into play tapped in the very late game when it's just you and one opponent is irrelevant since it's very likely a topdecked land would've been a dead draw anyway. It's regrettable that WotC printed yet another series of dual lands that have zero chance of the cycle being completed with enemy duals, but the ones we got are pretty solid. I'd say they're better than the M10 duals.
I think they are 4th best cycle of lands for commander. In multiplayer they are great always coming untaped. Its irrelevant when its down to 2 players when at that time you have enough lands anyways.
They are really good, but prices have not dropped as far as I expected, and I think people update decks more slowly for small sets. I only have them in decks I built since they came out, I have not gone back yet
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
I am not a big fan. They aren't dual typed, and I cannot control the etb ability as easily. Good budget lands that will etb untapped early game when you need it, but with the amount of dual typed allied lands, I favor those more.
I don't find M10 duals to be worse with more colors because anything beyond 2 colors will get Shocks and Fetches which makes M10 duals like Glacial Fortress better. Not to mention the basics I'm still running.
I give a disproportionate amount of weight to dual typed lands, especially in green **Wood Elves. So after using all those (Shocks, Tango, Cycle Duals) and Filter Lands, these Battlebond lands just slipped my interest.
Dual typed lands are often better but there aren't very many unless you're 3-5 colors. For 2 color decks I think these are an auto-include, and significantly better than checklands (like glacial fortress) since they'll always enter untapped early when it matters most, and better than filters in most cases since they'll always produce colored mana early. two color lands aren't actually very good in 5c unless you're fetching them, so these won't make the cut in most 5c manabases unless it's very imbalanced, and 4c is probably the same to a lesser degree, but I think most 3c and certainly all 2c decks should run the ones they can.
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
The Battlebond duals are, without a doubt, some of the best dual lands ever printed for Commander, and it would be foolish not to include them in virtually every deck capable of playing them. Having said that, I think the reason the Battlebond duals don't seem so prevalent is because Battlebond was an ancillary set, and Commander players at large tend to not be concerned about minmaxing their mana bases.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
WUBRGMr. Bones' Wild RideGRBUW Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
I have the set and just haven't sleeved them up yet. We have an abundance of fixing, especially for allied colors, so even budget manabases could be very consistent before this printing and there's not a strong incentive to update quickly. I'm sure they'll make their way into more decks over time as people pick them up.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
Yes, I think if these were enemy colors they would be seen a lot more frequently by now. There are now four notable land cycles that have allied pairs only (Battlelands from BFZ, Battlebond lands, Amonkhet cycle lands, and the Odyssey filter lands). On top of that many of the enemy land cycles have been printed far less than their allied friends.
I'd actually rather use battle lands, at least in my 5-color deck, because I can fetch them and I do run enough basics for them to come in untapped frequently enough.
If I ever build another Shard or allied two color deck I'd probably use Battlebond's lands.
I do think many people just didn't bother to order them yet, I know I haven't. Not that I think these lands are GOOD, mind...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I'd actually rather use battle lands, at least in my 5-color deck, because I can fetch them and I do run enough basics for them to come in untapped frequently enough.
You've already got all the fetches, duals, shocks, and cyclers? How do you possibly have room for battle lands AND enough basics to support them? And why would you need 4 duals of the same colors?
I feel like it's partially that they aren't a full cycle, and also that there are a fair amount of people (myself included) who aren't impressed by the lack of land typing.
You've already got all the fetches, duals, shocks, and cyclers? How do you possibly have room for battle lands AND enough basics to support them? And why would you need 4 duals of the same colors?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say they're part of the majority of players who don't have and can't afford duals, possibly also enemy fetches. Battle lands are more reasonable under those conditions.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
I'd actually rather use battle lands, at least in my 5-color deck, because I can fetch them and I do run enough basics for them to come in untapped frequently enough.
You've already got all the fetches, duals, shocks, and cyclers? How do you possibly have room for battle lands AND enough basics to support them? And why would you need 4 duals of the same colors?
I run all 10 shocks, all 5 battles, and the 5 allied fetches, actually. I don't really feel the need to run my enemy fetches too and I don't run the cycle duals.
I run all 10 shocks, all 5 battles, and the 5 allied fetches, actually. I don't really feel the need to run my enemy fetches too and I don't run the cycle duals.
I mean, if you're on a budget that's fine, but don't kid yourself - fetches are among the best lands available to a 5c deck and if you can afford the full set they absolutely will improve your consistency.
Personally I like cyclers over battle lands, but I guess that's personal preference. And if you're only running 5 fetches then the basic land type value drops off pretty significantly imo, so I'd be a lot more likely to run other solid duals without basic typing, such as the battlebond duals or checklands. I don't think there's too much value in basic land typing after the first full cycle of duals/shocks - one full cycle is enough that you're not going to run out of targets, and every fetch functions as a nearly-rainbow land. I guess if you want to run heavy-monocolor cards you might need 2-3 options per basic type pair, but that seems pretty risky on a budget manabase. Last 5c deck I made, I didn't even run my full dual cycle because they just aren't necessary - 9 lets you hit any color with any fetch, and duals are pretty weak draws land-wise. Let alone battle lands, yuck.
Is this just a function of price? Availability (which seems less likely to be an actual issue given how easy it is to buy cards online)?
Tamanoa - Welcome to the Jungle
Lists can be found here.
I don't find M10 duals to be worse with more colors because anything beyond 2 colors will get Shocks and Fetches which makes M10 duals like Glacial Fortress better. Not to mention the basics I'm still running.
I give a disproportionate amount of weight to dual typed lands, especially in green **Wood Elves. So after using all those (Shocks, Tango, Cycle Duals) and Filter Lands, these Battlebond lands just slipped my interest.
If you're playing 1-v-1, well, that's a different format. These will occasionally enter tapped when a multiplayer game has turned into a duel, but that's a super minor downside.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
[Primer] Erebos, God of the Dead
HONK HONK
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
Dual typed lands are often better but there aren't very many unless you're 3-5 colors. For 2 color decks I think these are an auto-include, and significantly better than checklands (like glacial fortress) since they'll always enter untapped early when it matters most, and better than filters in most cases since they'll always produce colored mana early. two color lands aren't actually very good in 5c unless you're fetching them, so these won't make the cut in most 5c manabases unless it's very imbalanced, and 4c is probably the same to a lesser degree, but I think most 3c and certainly all 2c decks should run the ones they can.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
(Canopy Vista's BFZ cycle)
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I still use "Tango" as the name of that row in my land-tracking tab. Fun!
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
If I ever build another Shard or allied two color deck I'd probably use Battlebond's lands.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
My Helpdesk
[Pr] Marath | [Pr] Lovisa | Jodah | Saskia | Najeela | Yisan | Lord Windgrace | Atraxa | Meren | Gisa and Geralf
I run all 10 shocks, all 5 battles, and the 5 allied fetches, actually. I don't really feel the need to run my enemy fetches too and I don't run the cycle duals.
Personally I like cyclers over battle lands, but I guess that's personal preference. And if you're only running 5 fetches then the basic land type value drops off pretty significantly imo, so I'd be a lot more likely to run other solid duals without basic typing, such as the battlebond duals or checklands. I don't think there's too much value in basic land typing after the first full cycle of duals/shocks - one full cycle is enough that you're not going to run out of targets, and every fetch functions as a nearly-rainbow land. I guess if you want to run heavy-monocolor cards you might need 2-3 options per basic type pair, but that seems pretty risky on a budget manabase. Last 5c deck I made, I didn't even run my full dual cycle because they just aren't necessary - 9 lets you hit any color with any fetch, and duals are pretty weak draws land-wise. Let alone battle lands, yuck.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6