Rugged Highlands MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 240
2015-01-23 - Number 170
2016-06-10 - Number 243
2016-11-11 - Number 318
2017-03-31 - Number 59
2019-07-12 - Number 250
2019-08-23 - Number 271
2020-04-24 - Number 252
2020-07-03 - Number 249
2022-02-18 - Number 273
2022-10-07 - Number 292
2022-10-07 - Number 292★
2023-04-21 - Number 271
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Rugged Highlands enters the battlefield tapped. When Rugged Highlands enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life. : Add or to your mana pool.
Cards like Rugged Highlands
Rugged Highlands enters the battlefield among a unique group of MTG lands that offer a dual mana advantage. This card mirrors the utility seen in Swiftwater Cliffs, as both can tap for either red or green mana while granting the player a slight life boost upon entry. Yet, Rugged Highlands stands distinct with its association to green mana, aligning with the resilience typically seen in green-centered card decks.
Comparatively, Timber Gorge follows the same trend of entering the battlefield tapped and providing red or green mana options, minus the life gain. This minor difference emphasizes Rugged Highlands’ edge in strategies that prize every increment of life. Rootbound Crag steps into the lime light as an upgrade provided it meets its condition – a control of another Mountain or Forest, it leaps ahead by allowing immediate use of the mana without the pesky wait, catering to faster-paced play styles.
When considering the balance of immediate utility versus long-term gain, Rugged Highlands holds a noteworthy position for those who favor stability and a buffer to their life total, an aspect that might tip scales in prolonged matches within the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Rugged Highlands by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Rugged Highlands. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Aggro | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 | |
 | Five-color Midrange | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 | |
 | Turbo Fog | Pauper | Turbo Fog | Pauper League 2024-01-27 |
 | Jund Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 2 | |
 | Gruul Midrange | Standard | Gruul Dinosaurs | Community Turnier 4/2023 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Despite not directly offering card draw, Rugged Highlands provides an incremental advantage by contributing to both your land count and life total. This is subtly beneficial, setting a healthier life benchmark while supporting landfall triggers or similar mechanics.
Resource Acceleration: This dual land offers resource acceleration by tapping for both red and green mana. While it enters the battlefield tapped, the diversified mana resource it provides is crucial for casting spells more efficiently in multi-colored decks, smoothing out mana curves and ensuring you meet color requirements.
Instant Speed: Rugged Highlands doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, but it’s an ally in a deck that does. By ensuring you have the right mana at the ready, it enables a seamless transition from laying groundwork to exploiting instant speed spells without stumbling on color restrictions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike other utility lands that offer passive benefits, Rugged Highlands doesn’t impose a discard requirement, thus not impacting your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Entering the battlefield tapped means that Rugged Highlands requires a turn before its mana can be used, which could slow down your gameplay compared to lands that don’t have this stipulation.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite providing both red and green mana, this card doesn’t incur a high mana cost which is characteristic of many other dual lands. However, the delay in availability can be a tactical disadvantage in fast-paced matches where tempo is crucial.
Reasons to Include Rugged Highlands in Your Collection
Versatility: Rugged Highlands is an excellent addition to any deck that operates on a red-green mana base. The ability to enter the battlefield tapped but also provide a life point offers a small but sometimes crucial advantage, fitting into various deck archetypes that can afford a non-basic land coming into play tapped.
Combo Potential: While not directly impacting most combos, Rugged Highlands can be a key piece in decks that harness landfall abilities or other mechanics that are dependent on lands entering the battlefield. Its presence can help maintain a steady flow of both green and red mana, which are often critical in activating powerful combo sequences.
Meta-Relevance: Amidst a meta that’s heavy on aggressive decks, the extra life gained from Rugged Highlands can allow a player an additional turn to stabilize against fast-paced strategies. The land gives red-green decks more consistency, helping them establish a strong presence on the board and compete effectively.
How to beat
Rugged Highlands is a common land card that finds its way into many Magic: The Gathering decks, particularly those needing a boost in mana stability. This dual land, catering to red and green mana strategies, offers a slight edge with its ability to gain you one life upon entering the battlefield. However, it enters play tapped, potentially slowing your tempo just enough for your opponent to gain the upper hand.
To outpace a deck utilizing Rugged Highlands, speed and disruption are your best allies. Cards that allow for land destruction or forced shuffling can negate the life gain and tempo advantage that Rugged Highlands confers. Applying pressure with fast, low-cost creatures can take advantage of the turn lost by your opponent while their land is tapping. Alternatively, employing non-basic land hate cards can efficiently manage these dual lands. But be wary, land destruction can be seen as unsporting by some, so use this strategy judiciously.
Ultimately, while Rugged Highlands provides a stable two-color mana base with a small life cushion, its setback of coming into play tapped is exploitable. By keeping your gameplay brisk and meddling with your opponent’s land setup, you can diminish Rugged Highlands’ impact on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rugged Highlands MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged, 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 Rugged Highlands and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Rugged Highlands Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 240 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 2 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 170 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 3 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 243 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 4 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 318 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 5 | 2017-03-31 | Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might | DDS | 59 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 6 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 250 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 7 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 271 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 8 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 252 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 9 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 249 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 10 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 273 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alayna Danner | |
| 11 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 292 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Oleg Shekhovtsov | |
| 12 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 292★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Oleg Shekhovtsov | |
| 13 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 271 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Thomas Stoop |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rugged Highlands has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |