Wastes MTG Card
2016-01-22 - Number 183
2016-01-22 - Number 184a
2016-01-22 - Number 183a
2016-01-22 - Number 184
2021-03-19 - Number 410
2022-12-02 - Number 834
2022-12-13 - Number 25
2023-08-04 - Number 1055
2023-08-04 - Number 1056
2024-06-14 - Number 408
2019-12-02 - Number 705
2019-12-02 - Number 706
2019-12-02 - Number 704
2020-09-26 - Number OGW-183
| Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Basic Land |
Text of card
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Cards like Wastes
Wastes stands out in the world of land cards within MTG for its unique attribute – it produces colorless mana without any additional effects or requirements. This stark simplicity makes it a card worth comparing to similar others. When eyeing cards like Ancient Tomb and Eldrazi Temple, both generate colorless mana but also offer additional benefits. Ancient Tomb provides two colorless mana at the expense of two life points, a trade that can accelerate gameplay significantly. Eldrazi Temple, on the other hand, doubles its mana production specifically when casting Eldrazi, which can be a game-changer when summoning these formidable creatures.
Then there’s the case of the versatile utility land, Ghost Quarter, which provides colorless mana as well. However, its ability to destroy any land at the cost of giving the opponent a basic land card in return can be a pivotal move during matches. While Wastes does not offer any additional function, it is immune to cards like Ghost Quarter or Tectonic Edge that specifically target non-basic lands, which is a subtle but relevant advantage in various gameplay scenarios.
To sum up, Wastes may seem unremarkable at first glance due to its lack of inherent abilities, but its inherent resilience to certain land-targeting strategies, alongside its harmony with colorless mana-requiring cards, holds a reserved yet distinct place among land cards in MTG.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Wastes. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Eldrazi | Pioneer | Eldrazi | RCQ - Playtime Merate |
 | Eldrazi Tron | Modern | Eldrazi Tron | MTG China Open S5 Regional Championship |
| Eldrazi | Pioneer | Eldrazi | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-29 |
 | Gruul Initiative | Legacy | Gruul Initiative | Legacy League 2024-03-22 |
| Colorless Shops | Vintage | Other Shops | HBMO24 - Dave & Adams Vintage 1k |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the unique property of not having a color identity, Wastes provides a distinct form of card advantage by enabling colorless card synergies and powering up Eldrazi spells or abilities that require colorless mana.
Resource Acceleration: As a basic land with an intrinsic ability to tap for colorless mana, Wastes can accelerate your mana resources in a deck that heavily relies on colorless spells, ensuring you have the necessary mana without the constraints of color requirements.
Instant Speed: While Wastes itself is not an instant, it complements decks running instant-speed spells by ensuring mana availability. It effectively enhances your capability to play spells at instant speed by providing a reliable mana source during critical moments without compromising your colorless mana pool.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Not applicable in the case of Wastes as it’s a basic land card with no discard required.
Specific Mana Cost: Wastes produce colorless mana, which is specific and not universally needed in all MTG decks, thus potentially limiting its inclusion only to decks that require colorless mana for certain spells or abilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Wastes itself does not have a mana cost, its necessity arises in decks where colorless mana is a key component. In such scenarios, having Wastes could potentially reduce the efficiency of the mana base, especially if the deck’s strategy does not heavily rely on colorless spells or abilities and therefore could use a more versatile land instead.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Wastes are a unique type of card that provides colorless mana, which is essential for activating abilities of Eldrazi creatures and other colorless spells. It’s an asset for any deck that leans on colorless strategies.
Combo Potential: Wastes can be crucial in combinations that rely on land type counts or landfall abilities. Plus, they’re perfect for decks that utilize cards like Kozilek, the Great Distortion, for which colorless mana is mandatory.
Meta-Relevance: With colorless cards playing a vital role in numerous decks across different formats, having Wastes ensures you’re prepared to meet the necessities of evolving metagames, particularly where colorless options are prominent.
How to beat
Wastes is a unique type of basic land in Magic: The Gathering, notable for its rare colorless mana symbol which can be crucial for certain decks revolving around the Eldrazi or other colorless cards. While it doesn’t add any new colors to your mana pool, Wastes enables the casting of demanding colorless spells and can also work in harmony with abilities that require colorless mana specifically.
To effectively counter Wastes, one strategy is to focus on land destruction or land alteration methods. Cards such as Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter can transform Wastes into a basic land of the opponent’s choice, potentially limiting their ability to generate colorless mana. Moreover, employing counterspells or removal for key colorless spells that heavily rely on Wastes can disrupt your opponent’s game plan. Engaging in aggressive land control can ensure your opponent never gains the solid footing they need to leverage their colorless mana-base to the fullest.
Tactically, preventing an opponent’s setup and disrupting their mana sources is a time-honored strategy in Magic: The Gathering. With precise play and well-chosen card interactions, a deck built to be resilient against the specific strengths of Wastes can tip the scales in your favor, preserving your position on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wastes MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and 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 Wastes 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Wastes Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 183 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 2 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 184a | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 3 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 183a | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 4 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 184 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 5 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 705 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filipe Pagliuso | ||
| 6 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 706 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Helge C. Balzer | ||
| 7 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 704 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Evan Shipard | ||
| 8 | The List | PLST | OGW-183 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | ||
| 9 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 410 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 10 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 834 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 11 | 2022-12-13 | Explorer Anthology 2 | EA2 | 25 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 12 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 1055 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 13 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 1056 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 14 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 408 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wastes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wastes card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | Because Wastes is a basic land, you can include as many of them as you like in your Constructed decks. |
| 2021-03-19 | In Limited events (including Sealed Deck and Booster Draft), Wastes must be in your card pool to be included in your deck. You can’t add Wastes to your card pool in the same way that you can add other basic lands. |
| 2021-03-19 | Wastes is not a land type. If something asks you to name a land type, you can’t choose Wastes. |