Unclaimed Territory MTG Card
2017-09-29 - Number 258
2017-09-29 - Number 258
2019-11-07 - Number 1693
2020-04-17 - Number 320
2021-09-24 - Number 187
2021-11-19 - Number 188
2022-10-07 - Number 304
2022-10-07 - Number 304★
2023-01-01 - Number 11
2023-08-04 - Number 1050
2023-11-17 - Number 366
2024-06-14 - Number 399
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-258
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
As Unclaimed Territory enters the battlefield, choose a creature type. : Add to your mana pool. : Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast a creature spell of the chosen type.
Cards like Unclaimed Territory
Unclaimed Territory is a versatile land card in Magic: The Gathering, enabling players to tap for mana of any color as long as it’s used to cast a creature of the chosen type. This specializes it in tribal decks. In comparison to Ancient Ziggurat, which serves a similar purpose, Unclaimed Territory does not require the mana to be spent on creatures exclusively; however, Ancient Ziggurat provides mana that can’t be used for noncreature spells, while Unclaimed Territory allows for casting noncreature spells of the chosen type.
We also have Cavern of Souls, another land offering a somewhat parallel functionality. Cavern of Souls allows for casting creatures of a chosen type that can’t be countered, along with producing any color of mana, presenting a clear edge especially in formats where counter spells are prevalent. Despite this, Cavern of Souls comes with a higher price point, both in terms of real-world cost and in-game utility.
To conclude, Unclaimed Territory is a reliable and cost-effective choice for tribal decks, particularly for players looking to streamline their mana base while still maintaining flexibility. With its unique ability to seamlessly integrate into various tribal strategies, it holds its ground when stacked against other similar land cards.
Cards similar to Unclaimed Territory by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Unclaimed Territory. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Humans | Modern | Humans | Friday Night Magic - The Games Den |
 | Abzan Elves | Pioneer | Abzan Elves | Pioneer League 2024-04-24 |
| Bant Humans | Explorer | The Pizza Box Open: Explorer | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Set Roulette Spring 2024 | |
| Mardu Humans | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024 | |
 | Slivers | Legacy | Slivers | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 10 |
 | Rocco Rainbow Elves | Free form | Noble Spring Quarterly | |
| Five-Color Humans | Free form | d00mwake's Pure Modern 5 | |
| Five-color Humans | Modern | Humans | 2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open |
| Esper Humans | Modern | Humans | Grand Open Qualifier Prague 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Unclaimed Territory doesn’t directly grant card advantage but indirectly supports it by allowing consistent casting of creatures of the chosen type, which can lead to a more dominant board presence and potential card value over time.
Resource Acceleration: This land contributes to resource acceleration by tapping for any color of mana for your chosen creature type. This flexibility helps in deploying creatures ahead of the curve and efficiently utilizing mana resources.
Instant Speed: While Unclaimed Territory is a land and not an instant, it still interacts favorably with instant-speed plays by ensuring that your mana isn’t tied to specific colors, giving you the freedom to cast creature spells of any color at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Unclaimed Territory facilitates mana fixing, it does not exempt you from the discard requirements of other cards you play. If a card in your hand demands a discard as part of its casting cost, this land won’t alleviate that downside, potentially putting you at a card disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: While it’s a boon for tribal decks, Unclaimed Territory can be restrictive because it only generates mana of any color for creature spells. This limitation means that it cannot be used to cast noncreature spells or activated abilities that require specific mana colors, which might not align well with multicolored decks or strategies relying on a variety of noncreature spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite not having a casting cost itself, the opportunity cost of including Unclaimed Territory in your deck might be high compared to other lands. It doesn’t provide the immediate versatility of generating any color of mana for any type of spell, and in a format where mana efficiency is crucial, sometimes a simple basic land can offer more consistent results for the needs of your deck at the time.
Reasons to Include Unclaimed Territory in Your Collection
Versatility: Unclaimed Territory is a land card that provides mana fixing for any tribal deck. Being able to tap for colorless or for any color that matches the chosen creature type when the land enters the battlefield, it’s a perfect inclusion in decks built around specific tribes like Humans, Elves, or Dragons.
Combo Potential: It can seamlessly integrate into combo strategies that revolve around creatures of a particular type. This enables players to more consistently cast their key creatures and activate their synergies without being hindered by mana colors.
Meta-Relevance: As the metagame evolves, tribal themes often emerge or re-emerge as strong contenders. Unclaimed Territory assists in maintaining the fluidity of these decks in various competitive environments, making it a staple choice for players looking to streamline their tribal strategies.
How to beat
Unclaimed Territory is a versatile land card in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to tap for colorless mana or choose a creature type to generate a mana of any color to cast a creature spell of the selected type. This card is reminiscent of Cavern of Souls yet slightly less potent as it doesn’t provide the uncounterable clause. To overcome the mana flexibility that Unclaimed Territory provides in tribal decks, players should focus on strategies that don’t solely rely on countering creature spells.
Resource disruption is a practical approach to destabilize decks that depend on Unclaimed Territory. Land destruction or effects that restrict land usage can hinder your opponent’s ability to use this card effectively. Effects that change the types of creatures or invalidate the importance of the chosen type can also nullify Unclaimed Territory’s benefits. Enforcing a noncreature strategy or using cards that punish the opponent for using many colors of mana can be effective tactics as well.
Overall, considering the vast array of strategies in Magic: The Gathering, being resourceful and adaptive is key when facing cards that provide mana flexibility like Unclaimed Territory. Focusing on disrupting your opponent’s mana base or their tribal synergies can lead to a path of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Unclaimed Territory MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Ixalan Promos, 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 Unclaimed Territory 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 Unclaimed Territory Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 258 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 2 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan Promos | PXLN | 258 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1693 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 4 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 320 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | XLN-258 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | ||
| 6 | 2021-09-24 | Midnight Hunt Commander | MIC | 187 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 7 | 2021-11-19 | Crimson Vow Commander | VOC | 188 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 8 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 304 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Henry Peters | |
| 9 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 304★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Henry Peters | |
| 10 | 2023-01-01 | Wizards Play Network 2023 | PW23 | 11 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 11 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 1050 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 12 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 366 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 13 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 399 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Unclaimed Territory has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Unclaimed Territory card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | To choose a creature type, you must choose an existing creature type, such as Vampire or Knight. You can't choose multiple creature types, such as "Vampire Knight." Card types such as artifact can't be chosen, nor can subtypes that aren't creature types, such as Jace, Vehicle, or Treasure. |