In Commander, or EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), mana bases are often filled with powerful nonbasic lands that enable multicolor decks to run smoothly and efficiently. From fetch lands to utility lands like Gaea’s Cradle or Cabal Coffers, these cards can generate significant advantages. However, as the average power level of EDH increases, so too does the need for answers to these nonbasic threats. This has given rise to the strategic inclusion ofnonbasic land hatein EDH deckbuilding. Targeting these lands can shift the balance of power, disrupt greedy mana bases, and control explosive plays. Understanding how to use this strategy effectively is vital for players aiming to stay competitive in multiplayer pods.
Why Nonbasic Land Hate Matters in EDH
Nonbasic Lands Are Everywhere
In most Commander decks, basic lands are a minority. Players often rely on nonbasic lands for fixing, ramp, card draw, and combo pieces. Cards like Ancient Tomb, Maze of Ith, and Field of the Dead provide value beyond mana, making them high-priority threats. Nonbasic land hate helps mitigate these threats and punishes decks that go too far in avoiding basic lands.
Metagame Balancing Tool
EDH tables often include decks with vastly different power levels and playstyles. Nonbasic land hate gives control or midrange decks a way to respond to over-tuned or combo-heavy strategies that rely heavily on lands for tempo or synergy. Especially in cEDH, where greedy mana bases are the norm, land disruption can be a strong equalizer.
Key Cards for Nonbasic Land Hate
Mass Land Destruction and Taxing Effects
- Ruination Destroys all nonbasic lands, often devastating multicolor decks that skimp on basics.
- From the Ashes Each player sacrifices all nonbasic lands, then searches for basics. Less punishing than Ruination but still disruptive.
- Back to Basics In mono-blue or blue-heavy decks, this enchantment taps down nonbasic lands and prevents them from untapping.
- Blood Moon Turns all nonbasic lands into Mountains. Powerful against three- or four-color decks that rely on nonbasic mana fixing.
Targeted Land Removal
- Wasteland Sacrifice it to destroy a nonbasic land. Efficient and recurrable in the right deck.
- Strip Mine No restrictions. A powerful staple that answers problem lands like Gaea’s Cradle or Coffers.
- Ghost Quarter Destroys a land and gives the opponent a basic in return. Politically safer in multiplayer games.
- Field of Ruin Similar to Ghost Quarter, but affects everyone equally by also giving the controller a land.
Recurring Land Destruction
- Crucible of Worlds Combined with Strip Mine or Wasteland, allows you to destroy a nonbasic every turn.
- Ramunap Excavator A creature version of Crucible that enables constant land recursion in green decks.
- Life from the Loam Retrieves multiple lands, enabling Strip Mine loops or general land value plays.
Strategies to Implement Nonbasic Land Hate
Inclusion Without Overcommitment
Not every deck needs to dedicate a full package to land destruction, but including a few targeted options can drastically improve flexibility. One or two land destruction lands like Strip Mine and Ghost Quarter can fit into almost any deck without weakening your mana base.
Building Around Hate Effects
If your deck includes heavy land hate like Blood Moon or Back to Basics, it’s important to structure your mana base accordingly. Include more basic lands, ramp that fetches basics, and avoid relying on nonbasic lands for combos. This allows you to play around your own hate pieces while shutting down opponents.
Political Timing and Multiplayer Etiquette
Land destruction can be controversial in casual EDH pods. Cards like Ruination or Armageddon can make you the table’s target if played without context. Targeted land hate is often more acceptable and should be deployed when specific threats, like Gaea’s Cradle or Maze of Ith, are active. Multiplayer EDH thrives on subtle balance, so timing your plays carefully is key.
Deck Archetypes That Benefit Most
Mono-Red Control or Stax
Mono-red lacks many traditional control tools but makes up for it withBlood Moon,Magus of the Moon, andRuination. These cards turn red decks into nightmare matchups for color-hungry opponents. AddingPillageorMolten Rainincreases pressure while fitting the aggressive theme.
Azorius or Mono-Blue Control
Decks runningBack to BasicsorSpreading Seascan shut down opponents’ mana while maintaining their own access through basics and mana rocks. These enchantments are difficult to remove and can permanently disrupt greedy mana bases.
Green Land Recursion Decks
Land-focused green decks running cards likeLife from the LoamandCrucible of Worldscan support recurring land destruction. Some Titania, Gitrog, or Lord Windgrace builds will runStrip MineandWastelandloops for soft land locks that gradually eliminate enemy resources.
Common Counterplays to Nonbasic Land Hate
Running More Basic Lands
One of the best defenses against land hate is simple: include more basic lands. This helps you operate under Blood Moon, Back to Basics, and similar effects. Decks with too many taplands or utility lands risk being locked out entirely.
Artifact-Based Ramp
Mana rocks likeArcane Signet,Talisman of Progress, orChromatic Lanterncan bypass land hate entirely. If you expect a meta heavy on land disruption, prioritize ramp that doesn’t rely on lands.
Enchantment Removal
Targeted removal for enchantments is vital to stop cards like Blood Moon or Back to Basics. Cards likeKrosan Grip,Disenchant, orWear // Tearcan end the lock and restore mana access.
Evaluating Meta and Power Level
Nonbasic land hate is more effective in metas where players build greedy manabases. If your table includes multiple four- or five-color decks, hate likeBlood MoonorRuinationcan slow down the game and give mono- or two-color decks a fighting chance. However, in more casual or budget pods where players rely on basics, such strategies may be less effective or even backfire.
It’s also important to note that land hate doesn’t mean full land destruction. Cards that target utility lands or restrict their untapping offer a middle ground, punishing greed without wiping the board. Finding the right balance is part of strategic deck construction in Commander.
Nonbasic land hate in EDH is a powerful, sometimes controversial, and always strategic choice. Whether you’re running Strip Mine as a silver bullet or building a deck around Blood Moon and Back to Basics, targeting lands can disrupt opponents, shift tempo, and control the game’s flow. As mana bases grow more complex, tools to punish those decisions grow more relevant. Carefully selected and timed land hate doesn’t just destroy lands it changes the entire trajectory of the game.