<p>No, you cannot tap non-basics for mana unless they have an ability that specifically says otherwise.</p>

<p>Basic lands are handled with a special case in the rules:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>305.6 The basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. If an object uses the words “basic land type,” it’s referring
  to one of these subtypes. <strong>A land with a basic land type has an
  intrinsic ability to produce colored mana</strong>. (See rule 406, “Mana
  Abilities.”) The land is treated as if its text box included,
  “Tap.gif: Add [mana symbol] to your mana pool,” even if the text box
  doesn’t actually contain text or the card has no text box. For Plains, [mana symbol] is {W}; for Islands, {U}; for Swamps, {B}, for Mountains, {R}, and for Forests, {G}. See rule 107.4a. Also see rule 605, "Mana Abilities."</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Basic" rel="nofollow">http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Basic</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-07T16:09:44.390Z
Does that mean that prismatic omen allow all the lands to produce all 5 types of mana since lands become of all the basic land types
LittleViking26
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-07T16:13:52.610Z
@LittleViking26 Yes. The rulings on gatherer support this. http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=151989
Colin D
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-07T16:16:45.570Z
Wow thanks, and here I tought that Prismatic omen was just good to finally play that Coalition Victory card!
LittleViking26
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-07T17:41:02.353Z
@LittleViking26 Prismatic Omen was generally used in Valakut decks so that you didn't have to play a bunch of mountains
WPickett
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-07T15:20:37.783Z
2015-05-01T22:11:12.327Z
2015-05-01T22:11:12.327Z
Colin D
<p>For example, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Evolving%20Wilds">Evolving Wilds</a> has a mana fixing ability, but it doesn't say you can tap it for mana. Other non-basic lands have a mana ability listed on the card. Should I assume that Evolving Winds cannot be tapped for mana?</p>
<p>Basic lands don't have mana tapping abilities listed, but are assumed you can tap them for mana of the color they represent.</p>

<magic-the-gathering><mtg-manabase>
Can non basic lands be tapped for colorless mana?
OghmaOsiris
# Can non basic lands be tapped for colorless mana?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-03-07)

For example, [Evolving Wilds](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Evolving%20Wilds) has a mana fixing ability, but it doesn't say you can tap it for mana. Other non-basic lands have a mana ability listed on the card. Should I assume that Evolving Winds cannot be tapped for mana?

Basic lands don't have mana tapping abilities listed, but are assumed you can tap them for mana of the color they represent.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-manabase


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-03-07. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

No, you cannot tap non-basics for mana unless they have an ability that specifically says otherwise.

Basic lands are handled with a special case in the rules:

> 305.6 The basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. If an object uses the words “basic land type,” it’s referring
> to one of these subtypes. **A land with a basic land type has an
> intrinsic ability to produce colored mana**. (See rule 406, “Mana
> Abilities.”) The land is treated as if its text box included,
> “Tap.gif: Add [mana symbol] to your mana pool,” even if the text box
> doesn’t actually contain text or the card has no text box. For Plains, [mana symbol] is {W}; for Islands, {U}; for Swamps, {B}, for Mountains, {R}, and for Forests, {G}. See rule 107.4a. Also see rule 605, "Mana Abilities."

<http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Basic>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Does that mean that prismatic omen allow all the lands to produce all 5 types of mana since lands become of all the basic land types  
> **username_1**: @username_2 Yes. The rulings on gatherer support this. http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=151989  
> **username_2**: Wow thanks, and here I tought that Prismatic omen was just good to finally play that Coalition Victory card!  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Prismatic Omen was generally used in Valakut decks so that you didn't have to play a bunch of mountains  

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