- What is a check lands cycle?
- Check lands — the 10-card cycle from Innistrad (2011) and Ixalan (2017) — are nonbasic dual lands that ETB untapped if you control a basic land with one of the listed basic types, otherwise tapped. They’re the standard low-effort upgrade over temples for decks that play 2+ basics. In Standard, Pioneer, and Modern they pair naturally with the Onslaught/Khans and Zendikar fetch cycles — fetching a shock or triome with the relevant basic type makes future check lands ETB untapped. In Commander, where basics are common, they’re a reliable budget pick at $1–$3 each. The two sub-cycles (Innistrad allied + Ixalan enemy) together cover all 10 color pairs.
- How many lands are in the Check Lands cycle?
- The Check Lands cycle has 10 lands, first printed in M10.
- How much does the Check Lands cycle cost?
- Buying the complete Check Lands cycle costs about $4.77 based on the cheapest English printing of each land.
- What's the cheapest land in the Check Lands cycle?
- Clifftop Retreat is the cheapest at about $0.22.
- What's the most expensive land in the Check Lands cycle?
- Drowned Catacomb is the most expensive at about $1.90.
- What other names are used for check lands?
- Players also call them buddy lands, M10 duals, Innistrad check lands, reveal-a-basic lands. The cycle name and its nicknames all refer to the same 10 cards.
- Are check lands better than fast lands?
- Different upsides. Fast lands are untapped early (better turns 1-2); check lands are untapped late (better turns 3+). Aggressive decks want fast lands; midrange wants check lands. Both pair well with each other.
- Why does my check land enter tapped?
- Because you don’t control a basic land of one of its two listed types yet. Either play a basic earlier, or fetch a shock land with the relevant basic type.
- Are check lands legal in Modern?
- Yes — Innistrad (2011) and Ixalan (2017) both made their respective sub-cycles Modern-legal on print.
