Terrain Generator MTG Card
2000-02-14 - Number 143
2008-11-07 - Number 29
2014-12-05 - Number 29
2022-06-10 - Number 926
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
oc T: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. , oc T: Put a basic land card from your hand into play tapped.
Cards like Terrain Generator
Terrain Generator stands out within the landscape of land-focused cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other utility lands like Ghost Quarter, that also present a means to interact with land cards. However, Terrain Generator’s unique capability allows players to put a basic land card from their hand onto the battlefield tapped. This trait gives players an edge in ramping up their mana resources faster than traditional land play.
Another card that echoes this ramp theme is the classic Rampant Growth, although non-land, this spell also places a basic land card onto the battlefield tapped. Yet, Terrain Generator provides repeatable value, unlike the single-use nature of Rampant Growth. Then there’s the comparison with Temple of the False God which also helps in accelerating mana, however, it comes with restrictions and doesn’t provide the same early game utility that Terrain Generator can.
While assessing the effectiveness of Terrain Generator against its kin, its standing in MTG as a low-cost ramp tool is undeniable. This card enables consistent land drops ensuring smooth game progression, making it a staple in decks that prioritize landfall and mana acceleration.
Cards similar to Terrain Generator by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Terrain Generator in play, you’re empowered to turn extra land cards from your hand into live resources on the battlefield, mitigating land-clump scenarios and keeping you ahead in the land count.
Resource Acceleration: Terrain Generator acts as a resource accelerator, giving you the ability to effectively double your land drop for the turn, which can be a pivotal play for ramping up your available mana, particularly in the crucial mid-game phase.
Instant Speed: The ability to put a land onto the battlefield at instant speed thanks to Terrain Generator offers tactical flexibility, allowing you to wait until the end of your opponent’s turn before expanding your mana base, keeping your options open and your strategy adaptive.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Notably absent in the case of Terrain Generator, the lack of a discard requirement means there’s no need to sacrifice valuable hand cards to utilize its land-putting ability. However, it does require you to have a land in hand to benefit from its function, which can be limiting.
Specific Mana Cost: While Terrain Generator only requires generic mana to activate, its initial casting cost does demand colorless mana. This can potentially constrain deck-building options, particularly for those decks that are color-intensive and may not benefit from the colorless mana type.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its activation cost is relatively low, providing you with an additional land to play can be less impactful when considering the pace of the game. There are other methods of land ramping that might offer a more immediate advantage or could be more synergistic with certain strategies that rely on landfall triggers or other field-based mechanics.
Reasons to Include Terrain Generator in Your Collection
Versatility: Terrain Generator slips effortlessly into a vast array of decks, particularly those that need to ramp up their mana. Its ability to put extra lands onto the battlefield makes it a tactical asset in both mono and multi-colored builds.
Combo Potential: This unassuming land can be the key cog in landfall-based strategies, enabling repetitive triggers and allowing for synergistic plays that can tip the scales in your favor. Its interactions can give life to effective game-winning combinations.
Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting metagames, Terrain Generator has a place among strategies that seek to outpace the opponent by advancing their resource development. In games where incrementing land drops can make all the difference, this card becomes a powerhouse enabling you to stay ahead.
How to beat
Terrain Generator is a unique land card that allows players to ramp up their game by placing additional lands onto the battlefield. To effectively counter this card’s influence, one should consider land destruction strategies, or cards that restrict the abilities of lands. For instance, employing cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can remove the Terrain Generator from the game, thus halting your opponent’s progression.
Another effective tactic is to implement cards that counteract land abilities such as Blood Moon or Alpine Moon, which can transform all nonbasic lands into basic Mountains or target a specific land card to lose all abilities, respectively. Ultimately, disruption through direct land targeting or limiting the opponent’s land capabilities is key to undermining the strategic advantage offered by Terrain Generator.
Assessing the situation and managing your resources to keep Terrain Generator in check will provide you with a solid defense against this land-based strategy, keeping you firmly in the game and curbing your opponent’s land-based advantages.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Terrain Generator MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, 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 Terrain Generator 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 Terrain Generator Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2000-02-14 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-02-14 | Nemesis | NEM | 143 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 2 | 2008-11-07 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra | DD2 | 29 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 3 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra | JVC | 29 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 926 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Terrain Generator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Terrain Generator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Putting a land onto the battlefield this way does not count as your one land play for the turn. |
| 2007-05-01 | Putting the card onto the battlefield is optional. When the ability resolves, you can choose not to. |