Holdout Settlement MTG Card

Holdout Settlement acts as a dynamic resource converter, turning creatures into additional mana sources. It accelerates mana development strategically while offering immediate utility without tapping itself. The card adds strategic depth, allowing creature tapping at instant speed for flexible mana generation.

Holdout Settlement - Oath of the Gatewatch

Rarity	Common
Type	Land
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Number	172
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kieran Yanner

Text of card

: Add to your mana pool. ( represents colorless mana.) , Tap an untapped creature you control: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.

Even in areas of profound devastation, the hedrons remained intact.

Cards like Holdout Settlement

Holdout Settlement stands as a unique land option in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. Its most comparable counterpart is Survivor’s Encampment, which shares the feature of tapping an untapped creature you control to generate one mana of any color. The similarity lies in their ability to diversify mana resources without tapping themselves, a property not found in many lands.

Another similar card is Springleaf Drum, which also requires tapping another creature to produce mana. However, Springleaf Drum is an artifact and charges no mana for its activation. This can be a subtle yet significant difference in gameplay, especially in the early stages when mana is at a premium. Conversely, Holdout Settlement doesn’t require any prior investment to start using its ability, as it is a land.

Some might also draw parallel lines between Holdout Settlement and Cryptolith Rite due to their creature-based mana generation, though Cryptolith Rite grants this ability to all creatures rather than necessitating tapping an additional card. This makes Holdout Settlement a more situational choice yet potentially favorable in decks focused on vigilance or summoning sickness.

Decks using this card

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

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Walls Combo	Pauper	Walls Combo	Pauper Challenge 32 2023-12-09 (1)
Sliver Sliver Sliver	Pauper	Slivers	Tappa LP Comense Pauperissima "Road to Milano" @Magic Akiba
Slivers	Pauper	Slivers	Lega Pauper Canavese - 4a Tappa Paupergeddon Winter Edition 2023 - 25 Players
Naya Combo	Pauper	Boros Bully	BLUE - SAT - 1PM - Chicago Pauper Cup
Walls Cascade	Pauper	Walls Cascade	Pauper League 2023-12-26

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Holdout Settlement ensures that you never fall behind in managing your resources efficiently. It permits you to consistently tap any creature you control to generate mana, essentially converting your creatures into potential mana sources and maintaining a fluid game state.

Resource Acceleration: This utility land is exceptional at accelerating your mana development without the need for tapping itself, offering a strategic advantage by keeping other lands available for further play. This is especially crucial as it allows you to utilize colorless creatures or those with summoning sickness to contribute to your mana pool immediately.

Instant Speed: While Holdout Settlement does not operate at instant speed itself, it allows the use of creatures to tap for mana at instant speed. This strategic nuance gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn by tapping a creature for that much-needed mana to unleash a surprise counter or instant speed trick, ultimately giving you the upper hand in the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Holdout Settlement is that it necessitates the tapping of an untapped creature you control to produce mana. This requirement effectively forces a card commitment that might be better served on combat or defense, reducing your tactical flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: While Holdout Settlement can add one mana of any color to your mana pool, it still requires an initial colorless mana to play. This cost could be restrictive for color-heavy decks that rely on precise mana curves.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s activation cost doesn’t involve mana, but instead hinges on a creature presence, which indirectly adds to the card’s expense. In some situations where board presence is essential, this might be costlier compared to other mana resources that don’t have such a requirement. Moreover, in decks where creatures are scarce or valuable, this can be a significant drawback.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Holdout Settlement provides an excellent utility as a land card that can also tap any creature you control for mana of any color. Its dual functionality serves a wide array of decks, helping you fix your mana base without sacrificing tempo.

Combo Potential: Its ability to convert untapped creatures into immediate mana can unlock numerous combo opportunities. Players may find it particularly useful in decks that summon creatures with summoning sickness or in decks that strive to maximize tap and untap effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where fast mana and color fixing are crucial, Holdout Settlement stands out. Its presence allows for greater flexibility, ensuring that you can cast your spells on curve, even in a deck with a demanding mana base.

How to beat

Holdout Settlement is a utility land card offering players a unique way to tap creatures for mana within MTG. Unlike other lands that merely provide mana, this card requires a creature to tap in conjunction with it, unlocking a color of any choice. This can be particularly useful in multi-colored decks seeking to smooth out mana curves and increase color availability.

To counter Holdout Settlement effectively, one should consider strategies that focus on limiting the opponent’s creature presence. Removal spells are a solid approach, as they directly decrease the opponent’s ability to capitalize on Holdout Settlement’s ability. Land destruction or denial can also be effective, though that typically won’t be the primary answer since creatures are the essenstial part of this dynamic.

Moreover, adding creature tapping to your game plan, via cards that force creatures to stay tapped or come into play tapped, could impede your opponent’s ability to utilize Holdout Settlement to its fullest potential because a tapped creature can’t be used again to activate this card’s ability. In summary, maintaining control over the battlefield and disrupting your opponent’s creature-based strategies are key to overcoming the versatility provided by the Holdout Settlement.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Holdout Settlement MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Holdout Settlement and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Holdout Settlement has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-01-22	To activate the last ability, you may tap any untapped creature you control, including one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. (Note that tapping the creature doesn’t use -he tap symbol].)