Snow-Covered Island MTG Card


Snow-Covered Islands synergize with snow-based cards, offering strategic card advantage in gameplay. They’re crucial for mana acceleration, particularly in decks leveraging snow land effects. This land type underpins casting powerful instant-speed spells using snow mana sources.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeBasic Snow Land — Island

Text of card

oc T: Add o U to your mana pool.


Cards like Snow-Covered Island

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the Snow-Covered Island card holds a unique standing among the pantheon of basic lands. Visually distinctive with its icy landscape, it functions like the classic Island, offering a crucial blue mana to a player’s mana pool. Yet, where it diverges is in its synergy with other cards that recognize “snow” as a key characteristic. Such cards as Skred benefit enormously, as they calculate damage based on the number of snow lands you control.

Comparatively, other lands such as Basic Island or Mystic Sanctuary present a different set of interactions. The Basic Island is the most straightforward and common land, but lacks the snow subtype which is pivotal for specific deck strategies. Mystic Sanctuary, while tapping for the same blue mana, comes with an enter-the-battlefield ability to potentially recast a crucial instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. However, it does not share the ‘snow’ trait that could amplify the effects of snow-centric cards used in combination with Snow-Covered Island.

Although the advantage of Snow-Covered Island may be subtle, it is significant in decks that capitalize on the snow mechanic. It demonstrates that small adjustments to deck components can yield substantial strategic enhancements in Magic: The Gathering.

Skred - MTG Card versions
Mystic Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Skred - MTG Card versions
Mystic Sanctuary - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Snow-Covered Island by color, type and mana cost

Island - MTG Card versions
Tolaria - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Isle - MTG Card versions
Remote Isle - MTG Card versions
Cephalid Coliseum - MTG Card versions
Minamo, School at Water's Edge - MTG Card versions
Vivid Creek - MTG Card versions
Magosi, the Waterveil - MTG Card versions
Lonely Sandbar - MTG Card versions
Faerie Conclave - MTG Card versions
Halimar Depths - MTG Card versions
Tolaria West - MTG Card versions
Jasconian Isle - MTG Card versions
Thriving Isle - MTG Card versions
Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn - MTG Card versions
Beyeen Veil // Beyeen Coast - MTG Card versions
Umara Wizard // Umara Skyfalls - MTG Card versions
Memorial to Genius - MTG Card versions
Otawara, Soaring City - MTG Card versions
Island - MTG Card versions
Tolaria - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Isle - MTG Card versions
Remote Isle - MTG Card versions
Cephalid Coliseum - MTG Card versions
Minamo, School at Water's Edge - MTG Card versions
Vivid Creek - MTG Card versions
Magosi, the Waterveil - MTG Card versions
Lonely Sandbar - MTG Card versions
Faerie Conclave - MTG Card versions
Halimar Depths - MTG Card versions
Tolaria West - MTG Card versions
Jasconian Isle - MTG Card versions
Thriving Isle - MTG Card versions
Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn - MTG Card versions
Beyeen Veil // Beyeen Coast - MTG Card versions
Umara Wizard // Umara Skyfalls - MTG Card versions
Memorial to Genius - MTG Card versions
Otawara, Soaring City - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Snow-Covered Island. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
FamiliarsFamiliars PauperFamiliarsPauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Temur PonzaTemur Ponza PauperTemur PonzaPauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Dimir FaeriesDimir Faeries PauperDimir FaeriesPauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 64 2024-04-28
DoomsdayDoomsday VintageDoomsdayVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27
Beanstalk ControlBeanstalk Control LegacyBeanstalk ControlLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-28
5c Control5c Control Legacy5c ControlLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-28
NeobrandNeobrand ModernNeobrandModern League 2024-04-28
Murktide RegentMurktide Regent ModernMurktide RegentModern Preliminary 2024-04-28
WUBWUB LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-04-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Snow-Covered Island is a pivotal asset in decks that capitalize on snow mechanics, as it can synergize with cards that require snow mana for enhanced effects or additional benefits, effectively providing more value with each card played.

Resource Acceleration: This card is essential for mana acceleration in formats that allow for the use of snow lands. Unlike regular basic lands, it can be untapped by effects that specifically target Snow-Covered lands, leading to efficient mana utilization across multiple phases of the game.

Instant Speed: While the Snow-Covered Island itself is not an instant, it facilitates the casting of potent instant-speed spells by providing a reliable source of snow mana. This can lead to surprising plays, keeping opponents on their toes and unable to predict your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While not inherently carrying a discard feature, the Snow-Covered Island requires specific deck adaptations that could penalize you if a game drags and resources become scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: This island produces snow mana, essential in some strategies, yet it mandates a snow-centric approach, sometimes making it less flexible when considering deck building outside of the snow themes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a basic land, its incorporation into a deck might lead to a higher overall mana curve due to the snow synergies it necessitates, which could be problematic in faster, more aggressive formats.


Reasons to Include Snow-Covered Island in Your Collection

Versatility: Snow-Covered Island offers flexibility in deck building, being an essential piece for strategies that leverage Snow mechanics. It’s interchangeable with regular Islands but also key for unlocking the full potential of snow-centric cards.

Combo Potential: This card serves as a fuel for combos by meeting the Snow mana requirements of spells and abilities. Its presence can turn a dormant Scrying Sheets, for example, into a consistent card advantage engine.

Meta-Relevance: With the fluctuating nature of the MTG meta, having Snow-Covered Islands ensures readiness for any shift that favors Snow-based cards and strategies, keeping your collection adaptable and competitive.


How to beat

The allure of the Snow-Covered Island in the world of MTG lies not just in its ability to provide blue mana, but in the unique interactions it holds with other snow cards. To effectively counter this snowy land, consider strategies that limit land-based advantages. Utilizing cards that restrict land searches, such as Ashiok, Dream Render, or effects that punish players for having certain lands like Blood Moon can be impactful. In games where snow synergies are prevalent, a card like Meltdown shines by sweeping away those Snow-Covered Islands and other snow permanents at a low cost.

Moreover, land destruction effects like Tectonic Edge can single out key lands, directly removing a critical Snow-Covered Island from an opponent’s mana base. Alternatively, non-destructive options like spreading seas can be used to neutralize the snow benefits by transforming Snow-Covered Island into a different land type without the snow property. Remaining vigilant about the potential enhancements Snow-Covered Islands offer to an opponent’s strategy and preparing sideboard answers or main-deck inclusions ensures a higher chance of outmaneuvering the frosty tundras they create.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Snow-Covered Island MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Coldsnap, 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 Snow-Covered Island and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Snow-Covered Island Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 8 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 3711993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
22006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 1522003NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 2421997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
42018-07-14MTG Arena PromosPANA 2582015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
52019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 2512015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
62019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3262015NormalBlackJubilee
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 14742015NormalBlackELK64
82019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 22015NormalBlackAlayna Danner
92021-02-05KaldheimKHM 2792015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
102021-02-05KaldheimKHM 2782015NormalBlackPiotr Dura
112022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 8332015NormalBlackPiotr Dura

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Snow-Covered Island has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-02-05 In a Limited event (usually Booster Draft or Sealed Deck), you can’t add basic snow lands to your card pool as you would other basic lands. You can play with basic snow lands only if you open them in your sealed deck or draft them.
2021-02-05 Snow is a supertype, not a card type. It has no rules meaning or function by itself, but spells and abilities may refer to it.
2021-02-05 Snow isn’t a type of mana. If an effect says you may spend mana as though it were any type, you can’t pay for {S} using mana that wasn’t produced by a snow source.
2021-02-05 Some cards have additional effects for each {S} spent to cast them. You can cast these spells even if you don’t spend any snow mana to cast them; their additional effects simply won’t do anything.
2021-02-05 The Kaldheim set doesn’t have any cards with mana costs that include {S}, but some previous sets do. If an effect says such a spell costs less to cast, that reduction doesn’t apply to any {S} costs. This is also true for activated abilities that include {S} in their activation costs and effects that reduce those costs.
2021-02-05 The {S} symbol is a generic mana symbol. It represents a cost that can be paid by one mana that was produced by a snow source. That mana can be any color or colorless.