<p><strong>Basic lands are only legal in a format if they were printed in a set that is legal in that format.</strong></p>
<p>The formats are defined in the <a href="https://media.wpn.wizards.com/attachements/mtg_mtr_1june20_en.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Tournament Rules</a>, not the Comprehensive rules, and that is where deck legality for each format is defined, specifically in section 6.</p>
<p>The rules do not explicitly say that basic lands are allowed, rather they say what sets are legal for each format, and what cards are banned. As you mention, every one of Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest have been printed in every set, so they are therefore legal in every format. Any other basic land is only legal if a set in which they were printed is legal.</p>
<p>The Standard deck construction rules in particular say</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When Snow-Covered Lands are not legal in Standard, they are treated as the equivalent basic lands. Players must replace them when discovered, but no infraction is committed.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-27T17:59:13.163Z
2020-06-27T19:57:45.667Z
2020-06-27T19:57:45.667Z
murgatroid99
<p>I've been told offhand that basic lands are always legal in every sanctioned format, as a special rule. This would mean that I could play a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bWastes%5d">Wastes</a> in a Standard deck, since they're basic lands.</p>
<p>However, the five &quot;core&quot; basic lands have also been reprinted in every set, and every sanctioned format allows at least one set. So they could be legal for that reason, not because of a specific rule—which would mean the Wastes would <em>not</em> be legal in Standard.</p>
<p>Which (if either) is correct? The Comprehensive Rules don't seem to cover format legality questions.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-28T03:17:33.570Z
This might be considered a duplicate of [Can you play older versions of cards in standard?](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/15363/can-you-play-older-versions-of-cards-in-standard) There aren't exceptions to that, although basic lands might be a case worth addressing specifically.
NotThatGuy
<magic-the-gathering>
Are basic lands legal in every format by definition?
Draconis
# Are basic lands legal in every format by definition?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-27)

I've been told offhand that basic lands are always legal in every sanctioned format, as a special rule. This would mean that I could play a [Wastes](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bWastes%5d) in a Standard deck, since they're basic lands.

However, the five "core" basic lands have also been reprinted in every set, and every sanctioned format allows at least one set. So they could be legal for that reason, not because of a specific rule—which would mean the Wastes would *not* be legal in Standard.

Which (if either) is correct? The Comprehensive Rules don't seem to cover format legality questions.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This might be considered a duplicate of [Can you play older versions of cards in standard?](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/15363/can-you-play-older-versions-of-cards-in-standard) There aren't exceptions to that, although basic lands might be a case worth addressing specifically.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-27. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

**Basic lands are only legal in a format if they were printed in a set that is legal in that format.**

The formats are defined in the [Tournament Rules](https://media.wpn.wizards.com/attachements/mtg_mtr_1june20_en.pdf), not the Comprehensive rules, and that is where deck legality for each format is defined, specifically in section 6.

The rules do not explicitly say that basic lands are allowed, rather they say what sets are legal for each format, and what cards are banned. As you mention, every one of Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest have been printed in every set, so they are therefore legal in every format. Any other basic land is only legal if a set in which they were printed is legal.

The Standard deck construction rules in particular say

> When Snow-Covered Lands are not legal in Standard, they are treated as the equivalent basic lands. Players must replace them when discovered, but no infraction is committed.


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