In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, few phrases have caused as much excitement, confusion, and strategy shifts as ‘All nonbasic lands are Forests.’ This seemingly simple sentence has powerful implications for how games unfold, particularly in formats where complex land interactions are essential. By altering the fundamental identity of lands, this effect not only disrupts mana bases but also introduces unexpected synergies and control tactics. To fully appreciate its depth, it’s important to understand what it means, how it works, and why it matters so much to MTG players.
Understanding the Phrase in Magic: The Gathering
What Does ‘All Nonbasic Lands Are Forests’ Mean?
When a card or effect states that all nonbasic lands are Forests, it changes the land types of all nonbasic lands on the battlefield to Forest. This means they lose their previous abilities, names, and subtypes unless otherwise specified. They now have the basic ability to tap for green mana and are considered Forests in every way relevant to the game rules.
Origins of the Phrase
This line of text is most famously associated with the cardConversionor more specificallyPrimal Order, but even more relevant in modern discussions is the cardMagus of the MoonorBlood Moon. However, the card that says All nonbasic lands are Forests word-for-word isHall of Gemstonein combination with effects likeUrborg, Tomb of Yawgmothwhen manipulated through enchantments likeLife and LimborNature’s Revolt. It’s a unique game-changing effect that can flip the board state dramatically.
Mechanics of Changing Land Types
Land Type and Mana Abilities
In MTG, land types define what mana a land can produce. For example, a Forest taps for green mana, a Mountain taps for red, and so on. When a nonbasic land becomes a Forest due to a continuous effect, it gains the ability to tap for green mana and loses any previous abilities not granted by being a Forest.
Layer System and Dependency
Magic operates on a complex layer system when multiple continuous effects are applied. Type-changing effects like turning lands into Forests fall into a specific layer (Layer 4), which means they are applied before abilities are removed (Layer 6). This can be important when stacking interactions. If another card adds abilities to lands, the order of application may determine what abilities stick around.
Cards That Cause This Effect
Notable Cards with ‘All Nonbasic Lands Are Forests’
- Conversion Changes all Mountains to Plains, similar in principle.
- Magus of the Moon Turns nonbasic lands into Mountains, indirectly illustrating how nonbasic land types can be overwritten.
- Primal Order Deals damage to players based on the number of nonbasic lands they control, benefiting from a Forest-based shift in synergy.
- Hall of Gemstone A card that limits multicolor play and interacts well in mono-green builds when all lands become Forests.
Example Card: Blanket Effect
Imagine a hypothetical enchantment card that reads: ‘All nonbasic lands are Forests.’ When this card is on the battlefield, lands such asWatery Grave,Command Tower, andCity of Brasslose their original identities and can now only tap for green mana. This can be used to great advantage in mono-green decks while severely disrupting opponents relying on multi-color mana bases.
Strategic Impact in Gameplay
Mana Denial and Color Screw
Changing nonbasic lands into Forests is a powerful control tactic. In constructed formats like Modern or Legacy, where players rely heavily on dual lands, shock lands, or utility lands, converting these into basic green mana sources can severely limit their ability to cast spells of other colors. This creates color screw, a situation where a player can’t draw the right type of mana to play their cards.
Decks That Benefit
Mono-green ramp decks thrive under such conditions. Since the player’s own lands are already Forests or work well as Forests, the effect provides no disadvantage to them. In contrast, opponents are cut off from their key resources, making it easier to dominate the game. In Commander, for example, this is a popular tactic for control-oriented green decks looking to shut down more complex mana bases.
Sideboard and Hate Strategy
In competitive play, cards that turn nonbasic lands into Forests can be used as part of a sideboard strategy. When facing opponents who rely on multi-color decks or land synergy (such as Tron or Lands), introducing this type of land transformation can be game-breaking.
Combos and Synergies
Landwalk and Forest Interaction
Some older cards have abilities like Forestwalk, which makes creatures unblockable if the defending player controls a Forest. If all their nonbasic lands have become Forests, this turns those abilities into guaranteed evasive options. Cards likeElvish ScoutorBlanchwood Armorbenefit from the forest-heavy field.
Green Mana Boosters
- Vernal Bloom Doubles green mana from Forests, becoming explosive if all lands are turned into Forests.
- Heartwood Giant Scales in power based on the number of Forests on the battlefield.
- Primalcrux A massive creature that benefits directly from a Forest-dense field.
Interaction with Enchantments
Combining land transformation with enchantments likeHall of GemstoneorConcordant Crossroadsleads to extremely fast mana generation and acceleration. If the opponent is locked into green mana but not playing green spells, they may be unable to act at all.
Potential Drawbacks and Counters
Self-Inflicted Limitations
If your deck contains many nonbasic lands with vital abilities, such as fetch lands or man-lands, turning them into Forests might actually hurt you. This strategy requires careful deck construction to avoid weakening your own position.
Artifact and Non-Mana Mana Sources
Players can sidestep the limitation by relying on artifacts likeChromatic Lanternor creatures that generate colored mana independently of land types. Green mana flood can also be bypassed using spell-based mana-fixing or hybrid mana costs.
Enchantment Removal
A well-timedDisenchantorNaturalizecan remove the source of the ‘all nonbasic lands are Forests’ effect, immediately restoring the original state of the battlefield. Players must be prepared to protect their enchantments or reestablish the lock quickly.
The statement ‘All nonbasic lands are Forests’ carries with it a surprising amount of power and strategic depth in Magic: The Gathering. By manipulating land types, players can fundamentally alter the flow of a match, restricting resources, enhancing green mana strategies, and disrupting opponents’ plans. While not without its risks, the ability to turn the battlefield into a Forest-filled landscape offers a unique control tool that, when used wisely, can lead to dominant board states and unexpected victories. Whether you’re crafting a mono-green Commander deck or looking for a competitive edge in Modern, this land-altering mechanic is worth considering in your toolkit.