Island
| Island | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Land Type | |
| (Subtype for land cards) | |
| Introduced |
Alpha (updated) Eighth Edition (printed) |
| Last used | Evergreen |
| Rules |
 : Add  . |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Island is one of the five basic land types and provides blue mana, which is required to cast blue spells.[1]
Additionally, there is a snow variant, the Snow-Covered Island.
Description
Islands are traditionally defined as relatively small land masses that are surrounded by water. Due to the fantasy nature of the game, there is significant artistic freedom in terms of interpretation for some planes, something that the community has riffed on.
For urbanized areas like Avishkar, Ravnica, and New Capenna, "island" turns into decorative waterways or industrial canals. On Mirrodin, the mercury of the Quicksilver Sea is the water equivalent. In Lorwyn-Shadowmoor, there are no large bodies of water, so rivers, streams, and creeks are used instead. Planes with gravity-defying terrain like Kamigawa and Zendikar use waterfalls with presumably magical origins.
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)
- Island
- One of the five basic land types. Any land with this subtype has the ability “{T}: Add {U}.” See rule 305.6.
Storyline
Islands of Alara
Grixis
- Droning Isles, home to the massive hives of the banewasps.
Islands of Azoria
Azoria's ocean featured desert islands until Freyalise destroyed them.
Islands of Cridhe
Cridhe itself seems to be mostly an island. There are other smaller isles though.
- The Southern Isle
Islands of Dominaria
Caliman
Corondor
The Domains
- Avenant
- The Burning Isles
- Esturin
- Foriys
- Icehaven
- Kieve
- Kish
- Mirtiin
- Oneah
- Orvada
- Ru-nora
- Sardnia
- Spice Isles
- Stahaan
- Varnalca
- Vesuva
Great Ocean
Jamuraa
Northland
Otaria
Shiv
- Although continent-sized, Shiv is always called an island.
Terisian Isles
- Almaaz
- Argoth
- Gulmany
- Isles of Argive
- Jehesic
- Jharth
- Lat-Nam
- Korlis
- New Argive
- Shattered Isles
- Yavimaya
Tolaria
- Tolaria was known for the academy built on it.
Islands of Ixalan
Islands of Kamigawa
- Otawara, may be considered an island in the sky, rather than in the sea.
- Most islands are those floating near the Kamitaki waterfall. Minamo was built on one of them.
Islands of Lorwyn
Lorwyn does not have any seas. Instead of islands, the Merrow Lanes supply blue mana.
Islands of Mercadia
Islands of Mirrodin
Quicksilver Sea
- The Vedalken Spires with Lumengrid
- As New Phyrexia islands exist within the Surgical Bay layer, where the Quicksilver Sea was transplanted.
Islands of Rabiah
- Serendib
- The Island of Wak-Wak. Home to a tribe of winged folk. Named for a peculiar fruit that grows there. The fruit looks like a woman's head, and when ripe speaks the word “Wak.”
Islands of Ravnica
None. Ravnica's water supply system provides blue mana.
Islands of Shandalar
Island of Tarkir
Islands of Ulgrotha
Metal Island
A pocket plane could be reached using the Riddle Gate on Esper.
Islands of Zendikar
Islands of Zhalfir
- Chaza Isles, including Teferi's Isle
Unknown plane
- Sevick Isles [2]
Trivia
- The highest rarity an island has ever been printed in was rare in Alpha, as part of WotC's plot to keep players from guessing rarities.[3][4]
References
- ↑ Michael Yichao (October 6, 2015). "Evolution of the Basic Land". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017-11-23.
- ↑ Flavor text for Nimbus of the Isles
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 16, 2009). "25 Random Things About Magic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 17, 2009). "In My Day". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-04-23.
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