Game Trail MTG Card


Game Trail is crucial for decks utilizing both green and red mana, enabling a more flexible strategy. Due to conditions for untapped play, it can influence timing and decision-making in gameplay. Its comparison with similar cards reveals a unique niche, minus any life cost penalties.
Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand

Text of card

As Game Trail enters the battlefield, you may reveal a Mountain or Forest card from your hand. If you don't, Game Trail enters the battlefield tapped. : Add or .


Cards like Game Trail

Game Trail is an intriguing land card in Magic: The Gathering, offering green and red mana to the player’s resource pool. It’s comparable to Rootbound Crag, another land that can provide the same colors of mana. What sets Game Trail apart is its check condition, requiring a player to reveal a Mountain or Forest from their hand to enter the battlefield untapped. Rootbound Crag, meanwhile, checks for the lands being in play, which can be more consistent in multi-color decks.

Another similar card is Cinder Glade, which shares the check land mechanic but leans on basic land types already being in play, and can be searched with a fetch land thanks to having the Mountain and Forest land types. However, Cinder Glade enters play tapped unless you control two or more basic lands, which could lead to a different timing strategy. Karplusan Forest, though it comes into play untapped regardless, deals damage to a player every time it’s tapped for mana, which is a clear downside compared to Game Trail’s conditional untapped entry.

In essence, Game Trail has its niche in decks that need to have untapped multicolor mana sources early in the game without the life cost penalty that comes with some similar land cards. It’s a strong choice in certain MTG deck builds where revealing a hand card is a minor downside.

Rootbound Crag - MTG Card versions
Cinder Glade - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions
Rootbound Crag - MTG Card versions
Cinder Glade - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Game Trail by color, type and mana cost

Taiga - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions
Mogg Hollows - MTG Card versions
Shivan Oasis - MTG Card versions
Mossfire Valley - MTG Card versions
Rockfall Vale - MTG Card versions
Contested Cliffs - MTG Card versions
Pinecrest Ridge - MTG Card versions
Skarrg, the Rage Pits - MTG Card versions
Stomping Ground - MTG Card versions
Highland Weald - MTG Card versions
Fungal Reaches - MTG Card versions
Fire-Lit Thicket - MTG Card versions
Rootbound Crag - MTG Card versions
Gruul Turf - MTG Card versions
Raging Ravine - MTG Card versions
Kazandu Refuge - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolf Run - MTG Card versions
Gruul Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Temple of Abandon - MTG Card versions
Taiga - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions
Mogg Hollows - MTG Card versions
Shivan Oasis - MTG Card versions
Mossfire Valley - MTG Card versions
Rockfall Vale - MTG Card versions
Contested Cliffs - MTG Card versions
Pinecrest Ridge - MTG Card versions
Skarrg, the Rage Pits - MTG Card versions
Stomping Ground - MTG Card versions
Highland Weald - MTG Card versions
Fungal Reaches - MTG Card versions
Fire-Lit Thicket - MTG Card versions
Rootbound Crag - MTG Card versions
Gruul Turf - MTG Card versions
Raging Ravine - MTG Card versions
Kazandu Refuge - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolf Run - MTG Card versions
Gruul Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Temple of Abandon - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Game Trail. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Gruul ShamansGruul Shamans Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
DecklistDecklist Free form81#CS
Gruul ComboGruul Combo GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Gruul StompyGruul Stompy GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Gruul ControlGruul Control GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 14 2024
Gruul RampGruul Ramp GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 44
Gruul MidrangeGruul Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Naya MidrangeNaya Midrange LegacyMO82#CS
Four-color MidrangeFour-color Midrange LegacyMO78#CS

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Game Trail doesn’t inherently generate card advantage, but as a land, it efficiently ensures that you have the necessary resources to play your spells. This sets you up for plays that can lead to card advantage down the line.

Resource Acceleration: By providing access to both green and red mana, Game Trail can accelerate your game by allowing you to cast spells ahead of the curve. In a two-color deck, this can be crucial for hitting your land drops and accessing the right colors at the right time.

Instant Speed: While Game Trail itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, having a reliable mana base means you can confidently keep mana open for instant-speed interaction. A stable land like Game Trail lets you plan your turns knowing you’ll have the resources to respond to an opponent’s threats immediately.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Game Trail doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it may force a player to choose between playing the land untapped or holding onto crucial cards for later turns, which could be a strategic setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Game Trail enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more basic lands. This can be a hurdle in multicolor decks that rely on a mix of basic and non-basic lands, making it less flexible than other land options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For aggressive or fast-paced decks, the potential setback of having Game Trail enter tapped may be significant, especially when compared to other lands that don’t have such requirements and can provide immediate mana without conditions.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Game Trail offers a flexible mana base for decks that run on both green and red mana. It can come into play untapped easily, making it a speedy and reliable choice for various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This land card synergizes well with landfall abilities and other mechanics that benefit from the type of land entering the battlefield or controlling certain land types.

Meta-Relevance: As decks in the current meta often require fast and consistent mana, Game Trail provides that stability which is crucial, especially in a format like Modern where the pace of play can be swift.


How to Beat Game Trail

When facing an opponent wielding the Game Trail land card, strategic plays are crucial. Game Trail allows players to tap for either green or red mana, becoming a cornerstone for multicolor decks within those hues. To work around this, ensuring your land destruction cards or spells that restrict land abilities are at the ready can be advantageous. Cards like Ghost Quarter can dismantle the mana base that Game Trail provides, hindering your opponent’s multicolored strategy.

Moreover, compelling your opponent to play lands that enter the battlefield tapped stalls their game, providing you with a speed advantage. This delay can disrupt their mana curve, buying you essential turns to establish board presence and control. Focusing on a swift aggro strategy to outpace the multicolored decks that favor Game Trail can also tilt the match in your favor. By applying pressure early and consistently, you may force them to respond defensively, ultimately keeping their Game Trail and other mana sources from being employed to their fullest potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Game Trail MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad Promos and Shadows over Innistrad, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Game Trail and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Game Trail Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 276s2015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
22016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 2762015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
32020-09-26The ListPLST NCC-4052015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
42021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 2402015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
52022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 1692015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
62022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 4052015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
72022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8942015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
82022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2822015NormalBlackLixin Yin
92022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 282★2015NormalBlackLixin Yin
102023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2692015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
112023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 4052015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
122023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 10912015NormalBlackVictor Harmatiuk
132023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8752015NormalBlackVictor Harmatiuk
142023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2842015NormalBlackVictor Harmatiuk
152023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 5002015NormalBlackVictor Harmatiuk
162023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 3342015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
172024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2642015NormalBlackAdam Paquette

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Game Trail has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Game Trail card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-04-08 If a Mountain or Forest is entering the battlefield from your hand at the same time as Game Trail, you may reveal the other land to have Game Trail enter untapped.
2016-04-08 If an effect instructs you to put Game Trail onto the battlefield tapped, it will still enter the battlefield tapped even if you reveal a land card from your hand.
2016-04-08 Lands don't have a subtype just because they can produce mana of the corresponding color. Game Trail itself is neither a Mountain nor a Forest, even though it produces red and green mana, so you can't reveal one to satisfy the ability of another.
2016-04-08 You may reveal any land card with either or both of the appropriate subtypes. It doesn't have to be a basic land. For example, you could reveal Canopy Vista from the Battle for Zendikar set to satisfy the ability of Game Trail.