Island MTG Card

Island cards aid card draw spells and resource acceleration crucial for blue-dominated decks and strategies. Providing essential blue mana for instant-speed spells, Islands crucially support control, making them always relevant. Despite being single-colored, Islanders are a must-have for their versatility and impact on the game’s meta.
Card setsReleased in 122 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeBasic Land — Island

Text of card

Tap to add o U to your mana pool.

Cards like Island

The Island card, a fundamental piece of Magic: The Gathering, shares its basic land status with others such as Forest, Swamp, Mountain, and Plains. Each provides a specific type of mana, with Island offering blue. This simplicity is mirrored in the Plains card which generates white mana. However, unlike color-specific lands like Steam Vents that require you to pay life for an untapped state, Island enters the battlefield ready to use.

While the Island card doesn’t produce any additional effects like the dual lands, it remains a cornerstone in many MTG decks due to the consistency it offers. Lands such as Hinterland Harbor might tap for blue or green mana but are conditional, requiring you to have another type of basic land for it to come into play untapped. This requirement doesn’t hamper the reliable Island.

In the realm of basic lands, Island stands out for enabling powerful blue spells, known for control and manipulation in the game. Its counterpart, the Mountain, thrives in high-paced, aggressive strategies. Both are equally important, offering versatility and stability in mana bases within MTG’s diverse deck archetypes.

Forest - MTG Card versions
Swamp - MTG Card versions
Mountain - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions
Steam Vents - MTG Card versions
Hinterland Harbor - MTG Card versions
Forest - MTG Card versions
Swamp - MTG Card versions
Mountain - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions
Steam Vents - MTG Card versions
Hinterland Harbor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Island by color, type and mana cost

Teferi's Isle - MTG Card versions
Remote Isle - MTG Card versions
Cephalid Coliseum - 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
Snow-Covered Island - 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
Castle Vantress - MTG Card versions
Rivendell - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Isle - MTG Card versions
Remote Isle - MTG Card versions
Cephalid Coliseum - 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
Snow-Covered Island - 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
Castle Vantress - MTG Card versions
Rivendell - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Esper MidrangeEsper Midrange StandardEsper MidrangePro Tour Thunder Junction
Temur AnalystTemur Analyst StandardTemur Land ComboPro Tour Thunder Junction
Domain RampDomain Ramp StandardDomainPro Tour Thunder Junction
Grixis ReanimatorGrixis Reanimator StandardGrixis ReanimatorPro Tour Thunder Junction
Dimir MidrangeDimir Midrange StandardDimir MidrangePro Tour Thunder Junction
Dimir ControlDimir Control StandardDimir ControlPro Tour Thunder Junction
Mono-Blue CauldronMono-Blue Cauldron StandardIzzet Cauldron ComboPro Tour Thunder Junction
Five-Color AnalystFive-Color Analyst Standard4c Land ComboPro Tour Thunder Junction
Azorius ControlAzorius Control StandardAzorius ControlPro Tour Thunder Junction

Card Pros

Card Advantage: An Island card doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but it supports numerous blue card draw spells that can tilt the game in your favor, making it a backbone for decks that aim to maintain a healthy hand size throughout the match.

Resource Acceleration: Islands are fundamental for mana acceleration in blue-centric decks, enabling you to swiftly cast high-impact spells earlier in the game. It harmonizes perfectly with spells that untap lands, or with artifact abilities that convert blue mana into even more resources.

Instant Speed: While an Island itself isn’t cast at instant speed, it provides the mana necessary to execute some of the most powerful instant-speed interactions in MTG. This includes countering critical threats or drawing cards in response to an opponent’s moves, keeping you one step ahead.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Island card itself doesn’t require a discard, it can sometimes lead to a hand clogged with land cards, causing critical non-land cards to be discarded for hand size limits.

Specific Mana Cost: This card provides only blue mana, which might not be helpful in multicolored decks that need other types of mana to cast a variety of spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In decks that require mana acceleration or multiple colors, relying too heavily on basic lands like the Island may slow you down compared to using dual lands or mana artifacts.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Island card is a fundamental piece in any MTG player’s collection due to its ability to provide blue mana with no drawbacks. It’s an essential land for blue-based decks, from control to combo, and it seamlessly fits into multicolored deck strategies as well.

Combo Potential: As a basic land, the Island is often used to fuel powerful blue spells that can turn the tide of the game. It’s also part of many combo setups, enabling the casting of game-ending sequences or empowering synergies with cards that benefit from having numerous Islands in play.

Meta-Relevance: In the ever-changing MTG landscape, the significance of Islands remains constant. It supports strategies that hinge on counter-magic, bounce effects, and card draw which are always relevant in competitive play. Keeping Islands in your collection ensures you’re always prepared for shifts in the meta where blue spells become critical.

How to Confront and Overcome Islands in Your Magic Match-Up

The Island card remains a foundational piece in Magic: The Gathering gameplay, acting as the main mana source for powerful blue spells. With its ability to generate blue mana effortlessly, it enables a range of strategic plays, from countering opponent’s moves to drawing cards for an advantageous position. To effectively navigate through the challenge Islands pose, consider employing disruption strategies. These can include land destruction, which can hinder an opponent’s mana base, or utilizing cards that limit mana generation benefits.

An alternative approach to tackle an Island-heavy deck is to apply pressure early in the game. Aggressive deck archetypes can overwhelm an opponent before they stabilize their mana base or mount a substantial defense. Denying the opponent time to establish control or to deploy their most impactful spells is key. Moreover, always be mindful of potential counterspells when playing against decks with Islands and try to bait them out or play around them with your own instants and low-cost spells. Keep them guessing, and you might just disrupt their well-laid plans.

Overcoming the challenge Islands present relies on outsmarting the opponent and predicting their strategies. By forcing them to react rather than allowing them to dictate the pace, you gain the upper hand. Focus on direct, strategic plays, and maintain control over the board to ensure your victory against decks utilizing the serene yet potent power of the Island card.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Island MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Island and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Island Magic the Gathering card was released in 87 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2024-07-05. Illustrated by 54 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 2881993NormalBlackMark Poole
21996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC shr3681993NormalGoldMark Poole
31996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC shr3671993NormalGoldMark Poole
41996-10-08MirageMIR 3351997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
51997-05-01PortalPOR 201s1997NormalBlack库雪明
61997-05-01PortalPOR 2021997NormalBlackEric Peterson
71997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 pm4351997NormalGoldJ. W. Frost
81999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 3351997NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
91999-07-01Starter 1999S99 1581997NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
101999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 1141997NormalWhiteKu Xueming
112000-02-05European Land ProgramPELP 71997NormalBlackEric Peterson
122000-10-02InvasionINV 3351997NormalBlackTony Szczudlo
132001-01-01Arena League 2001PAL01 31997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
142001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 3341997NormalWhiteJohn Avon
152001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab3361997NormalGoldScott Bailey
162001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab3351997NormalGoldTerry Springer
172001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab335b1997NormalGoldTony Szczudlo
182001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ar3341997NormalGoldJohn Avon
192001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab336a1997NormalGoldJohn Avon
202001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ar335b1997NormalGoldTerry Springer
212001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ar336a1997NormalGoldScott Bailey
222001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ar3381997NormalGoldTony Szczudlo
232001-10-01OdysseyODY 3381997NormalBlackRob Alexander
242002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 2731997NormalBlackEric Peterson
252002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 2392003NormalBlackRob Alexander
262002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 818502015NormalBlackPiotr Dura
272002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 319791997NormalBlackRob Alexander
282002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 320232003NormalBlackJohn Avon
292002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 cr3341997NormalGoldJohn Avon
302002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 cr3321997NormalGoldScott Bailey
312003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2922003NormalBlackRob Alexander
322003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2912003NormalBlackMark Tedin
332004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 gn3362003NormalGoldJohn Avon
342005-01-01Magic Premiere Shop 2005PMPS 2932003NormalBlackAnthony S. Waters
352005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 336★2003NormalBlackJohn Avon
362005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H592003NormalWhiteTony Szczudlo
372005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H452003NormalWhiteScott Bailey
382005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H322003NormalWhiteTony Szczudlo
392005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H602003NormalWhiteScott Bailey
402005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL G362003NormalWhiteJohn Avon
412005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL G482003NormalWhiteTony Szczudlo
422005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H212003NormalWhiteTony Szczudlo
432006-01-01Arena League 2006PAL06 22003NormalBlackJohn Avon
442007-10-12LorwynLRW 2892003NormalBlackRob Alexander
452008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 2872003NormalBlackWarren Mahy
462008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 2342003NormalBlackMichael Komarck
472009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 2211997NormalBlackKu Xueming
482009-10-02ZendikarZEN 2362003NormalBlackVéronique Meignaud
492010-01-01Magic Premiere Shop 2010PMPS10 22003NormalBlackJohn Avon
502010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 2362003NormalBlackVincent Proce
512011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 452003NormalBlackJohn Avon
522011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 472003NormalBlackJung Park
532011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 462003NormalBlackJung Park
542011-07-15Magic 2012M12 2352003NormalBlackCliff Childs
552012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 2352003NormalBlackJung Park
562012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 1412003NormalBlackMartina Pilcerova
572012-07-13Magic 2013M13 2342003NormalBlackRob Alexander
582012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 2572003NormalBlackAdam Paquette
592013-11-01Commander 2013C13 3422003NormalBlackCliff Childs
602014-11-07Commander 2014C14 3222015NormalBlackRob Alexander
612014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. ChandraJVC 312015NormalBlackScott Bailey
622015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2592015NormalBlackRichard Wright
632015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 258a2015NormalBlackVincent Proce
642016-11-11Commander 2016C16 3422015NormalBlackKev Walker
652016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 708032015NormalBlackBabyson Chen & Uzhen Lin
662016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 1372015NormalBlackJohn Avon
672016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 1392015NormalBlackMartina Pilcerova
682017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 2602015NormalBlackMark Poole
692017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 2942015NormalBlackCliff Childs
702017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 982015NormalBlackChristine Choi
712017-09-29IxalanXLN 2662015NormalBlackRaoul Vitale
722017-10-202017 Gift PackG17 22015NormalBlackMark Poole
732017-10-24Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. GoblinsDDT 312015NormalBlackRaoul Vitale
742017-12-08UnstableUST 2132015NormalBorderlessJohn Avon
752018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1932015NormalBlackDimitar Marinski
762018-04-27DominariaDOM 2572015NormalBlackMark Poole
772018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 2882015NormalBlackJohn Avon
782018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 2862015NormalBlackRob Alexander
792018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 2652015NormalBlackCliff Childs
802018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 2662015NormalBlackChippy
812018-07-14MTG Arena PromosPANA 2372015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
822018-07-14MTG Arena PromosPANA 2492015NormalBlackBob Ross
832018-08-09Commander 2018C18 2982015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
842018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 242015NormalBlackJung Park
852018-11-09GRN Ravnica WeekendPRWK A012015NormalBlackJung Park
862019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 2612015NormalBlackEytan Zana
872019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 2562015NormalBlackNils Hamm
882019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 5522015NormalBlackPiotr Dura
892019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6732015NormalBlackDaniel Warren Johnson
902019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4162015NormalBorderlessBen Schnuck
912020-01-01MagicFest 2020PF20 32015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
922020-02-29UnsanctionedUND 902015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
932020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2652015NormalBlackNick Southam
942020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2632015NormalBlackCliff Childs
952020-07-17JumpstartJMP 492015NormalBlackPiotr Dura
962020-07-17JumpstartJMP 472015NormalBlackSung Choi
972020-07-17JumpstartJMP 502015NormalBlackPiotr Dura
982020-09-26The ListPLST AKH-2582015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
992020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5072015NormalBlackAlayna Danner
1002020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5062015NormalBlackBabyson Chen & Uzhen Lin
1012021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 4832015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
1022021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3812015NormalBlackAndreas Rocha
1032022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 4582015NormalBlackSam White
1042022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 2952015NormalBlackJames Paick
1052022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 2942015NormalBlackPiotr Dura
1062022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2672015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
1072022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 3082015NormalBlackCalder Moore
1082022-10-07UnfinityUNF 4922015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
1092022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 1272015NormalBlackKev Walker
1102022-11-18The Brothers' WarBRO 2812015NormalBlackLucas Staniec
1112022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 5841997NormalBlackMark Poole
1122022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 2882015NormalBlackMark Poole
1132022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1012015NormalBlackCliff Childs
1142023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4041997NormalBlackMark Poole
1152023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 2842015NormalBlackGrady Frederick
1162023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 7162015NormalBlackDeven Rue
1172023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 4401997NormalBlackAlayna Danner
1182023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 1982015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
1192024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 2792015NormalBlackJorge Jacinto
1202024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder JunctionOTJ 2792015NormalBlackSergey Glushakov
1212024-07-05Assassin's CreedACR 3032015NormalBlackAlexandre Honoré
1222024-07-05Assassin's CreedACR 1032015NormalBlackAlexandre Honoré

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Island has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal