<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth|10E|288" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.stevenbelledin.com/">Steven Belledin</a></em></p>
<p><em>Magic: The Gathering</em> is fundamentally a game of resource management. Mana is one of those resources, and ramp means gathering more of it. Ramp also describes the strategy of outpacing opponents' mana production, then deploying threats they can't answer.</p>
<p>This guide is for anyone looking to accelerate their gameplay with more mana. Read on to learn about ramp basics, methods, and deck strategies.</p>


<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampant Growth|10E|288"></div></div>
<p>The term ramp is often credited to the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a working class spell that takes a basic land from the library and puts it into play tapped. After that land untaps, the player can make more mana. That's great. And yet, there is a lot more to ramp than putting more lands into the battlefield.</p>
<p>A game effect is ramp if both of these statements are true:</p>
<ol>
<li>The effect increases the amount of mana a player can spend in a turn.</li>
<li>The net value of the increase is greater than playing on curve.</li>
</ol>
<p>Playing on curve means spending mana at a rate equivalent to playing one land per turn, and using that mana every turn cycle. Making land drops is the most reliable way to play on curve. Playing ahead of curve is faster, and ramp makes it possible.</p>


<p>The game of <em>Magic</em> is a race, and the player setting the pace often wins. Ramp accelerates the pace of the game, presenting greater threats on earlier turns. Ringing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Victory Chimes" href="#" target="_blank">Victory Chimes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be a path to victory.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Victory Chimes"></div></div>
<p>Many aggressive decks ramp to overwhelm opponents' defenses. Meanwhile, including ramp in a deck can help to keep up with other fast strategies. Decks with high mana value commanders may want to ramp on early turns.</p>
<p>On the other hand, packing the 99 with high-cost effects is easier with a commander that ramps. Sometimes ramp is the whole point; pushing the limits of mana production might be its own reward.</p>


<p>Decks work better when ramp happens on the right turn. Mana values in the command zone influence which turns a deck wants ramp.</p>
<p>Commanders with higher mana values usually want to ramp early. Meanwhile, many low mana value commanders can capitalize on ramp options with higher casting costs. A critical deckbuilding decision is whether to include ramp that costs the same amount of mana as a commander.</p>
<p>If a card in the 99 and a commander occupy the same spot in the deck's mana curve, then they are competing for play on the same turn. This is problematic for ramp spells, unless the card provides additional utility.</p>
<p>Many ramp options have extra upsides worth overlapping with the commander in a deck's mana curve. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patchwork Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Patchwork Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes any color of mana, and pumps creatures of a chosen type. While it's designed to support <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/typal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">typal</a> decks, it could support a commander that cares about power or toughness.</p>
<p>Despite both cards costing three mana, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisay, Weatherlight Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Sisay, Weatherlight Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would love a Patchwork Banner.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sisay, Weatherlight Captain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patchwork Banner"></div></div>
<p>Sisay needs the mana to pay for her activated ability, and the +1 to power increases the value of creatures she can find. Clearly, a commander's abilities influence the selection of ramp that best supports a deck. Take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rankle, Master of Pranks" href="#" target="_blank">Rankle, Master of Pranks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for another example:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rankle, Master of Pranks"></div></div>
<p>As a commander, Rankle is looking to attack early and often. Playing on curve, most four-drop creatures don't attack until turn five. With haste, Rankle can attack on turn four. With early ramp, Rankle can attack even sooner.</p>
<p>Ramping for two mana, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Charcoal Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Charcoal Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, enables this prankster to attack on turn three. In contrast, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides more mana acceleration, but conflicts with sequencing Rankle to attack early.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Charcoal Diamond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of the Animist"></div></div>
<p>The <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/the-edhrec-guide-to-mulligans-in-commander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC Guide to Mulligans</a> discusses the importance of sequencing a starting hand. Good sequencing starts during deckbuilding, and this is especially true for choosing ramp. While timing ramp matters, so does the type of ramp.</p>
<p>The next chapter of this guide explores different ramp methods in more detail.</p>


<p>Lands are the foundational mana source. Other card types produce mana, but lands are the most accessible. Ramp with lands is more resilient than other forms of mana acceleration because land removal is less efficient, and mass land denial is discouraged in lower <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brackets</a>.</p>
<p>There are two main ways to ramp with lands. One is to put more lands in play, and the other is to play lands that produce additional mana.</p>
<p>Dozens of green instants and sorceries do some variation of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These spells are backed by an army of creatures that also fetch a land. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farhaven Elf" href="#" target="_blank">Farhaven Elf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is Rampant Growth on a creature. Plenty of other creatures do it with a twist, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yavimaya Dryad" href="#" target="_blank">Yavimaya Dryad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>If a deck doesn't have green, then consider <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solemn Simulacrum" href="#" target="_blank">Solemn Simulacrum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yavimaya Dryad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble"></div></div>
<p>White can search for lands and put them in play, even though green does it best. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kor Cartographer" href="#" target="_blank">Kor Cartographer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costs more mana than its green equivalents. White effects that search for lands usually have restrictions based on the number of lands an opponent controls. Options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer&#039;s Map" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer&#039;s Map</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> technically ramp their controller, but only if an opponent is further ahead.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kor Cartographer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer&#039;s Map"></div></div>
<p>Many cards ramp by allowing players to play additional lands, or put lands from hand into play. There's an important rules distinction here. Playing a land is a special action on a player's own turn, and opponents can't respond to it.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa, Lost but Seeking" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa, Lost but Seeking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic ramp commander that allows the player to play more lands. Abilities like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Atlas" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Atlas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terrain Generator" href="#" target="_blank">Terrain Generator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be activated on any player's turn, and opponents may respond because these abilities use the stack.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azusa, Lost but Seeking"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Walking Atlas"></div></div>
<p>Instead of playing more lands, another approach to land ramp is playing lands that make more mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Tomb" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Tomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temple of the False God" href="#" target="_blank">Temple of the False God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are controversial ramp pieces for different reasons. The former is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a>, and using it is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shock|MKM|144" href="#" target="_blank">Shock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the face. The latter doesn't make any mana unless the player controls four other lands.</p>
<p>Despite the downsides, these are both great cards in the right deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Tomb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temple of the False God"></div></div>
<p>Some lands ramp as a reward for having other objects in play. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes mana based on devotion to a color. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Tree City" href="#" target="_blank">Three Tree City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does the same thing based on creature types.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Three Tree City"></div></div>


<p>In <em>Magic</em> slang, creatures that produce mana are called "mana dorks." There's some debate over the exact criteria to be a mana dork, but this guide includes any creature with a mana ability. Mana dorks are outstanding role players: a mana source with power and toughness is ramp, offense, and defense in one package.</p>
<p>Of the hundreds of mana dorks, about two-thirds are green. Green or not, there are a two main downsides for including mana dorks in a deck.</p>
<p>Creatures have summoning sickness the turn they enter play, unless they have haste. This means most mana dorks don't increase the deck's mana production on the turn they enter. The creature must survive at least one round of turns before the ramp is effective.</p>
<p>Surviving long enough to be impactful can be a problem. The <em>Magic</em> idiom "Bolt the bird" refers to zapping <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birds of Paradise|LEA|186" href="#" target="_blank">Birds of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt|LEA|161" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Birds of Paradise|LEA|186"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Bolt|LEA|161"></div></div>
<p>This idiom exists because a creature that ramps is accelerating the game for one player. It's a tempo advantage, and leads to additional advantages when combined with other game effects.</p>
<p>Mana dorks are a mainstay of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/elves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elf</a> decks. Many Elves tap for a single mana, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Others tap for multiple mana like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Priest of Titania" href="#" target="_blank">Priest of Titania</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Elf decks ramp to pay for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri, Renegade Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri, Renegade Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Priest of Titania"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezuri, Renegade Leader"></div></div>
<p>Elves don't have a monopoly on creature ramp. Other popular creature types with mana dorks include <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/humans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Humans</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/elementals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elementals</a>.</p>
<p>Some of the most powerful commanders are mana dorks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi Ornitier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link only-front"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esika, God of the Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Esika, God of the Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all mana-producing legends with very different strategies.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giada, Font of Hope|J25|60"></div></div>


<p>Artifact ramp is the easiest method of mana acceleration for all colors. Any artifact that taps to produce mana is called a mana rock. Most mana rocks are colorless, and many of them easily fix a deck's color production. Mana rocks are available at every mana value, so sequencing a game plan with mana rocks is easy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Manalith"></div></div>
<p>Let's start with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manalith" href="#" target="_blank">Manalith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a base line. It costs three mana to cast, and it makes one mana of any color. No frills; it gets the job done. For players who expect more from their mana base, there are fancier options up and down the mana curve.</p>
<p>In Commander, Manalith has been pushed to the brink of extinction by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The cycle of Talismans, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talisman of Indulgence" href="#" target="_blank">Talisman of Indulgence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are also popular for their efficiency.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Talisman of Indulgence"></div></div>
<p>Mana rocks can do double duty as utility spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heraldic Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Heraldic Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fixes one color, and pumps creatures of that color. Color-specific options provide even more powerful side effects, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cursed Mirror" href="#" target="_blank">Cursed Mirror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> entering as a temporary, hasty copy of another creature.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heraldic Banner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cursed Mirror"></div></div>
<p>Some mana rocks are mana positive, meaning they produce more mana than their casting cost. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are fast mana, and tend to be <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mox Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Mox Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chrome Mox" href="#" target="_blank">Chrome Mox</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chrome Mox"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lotus Petal"></div></div>
<p>Gold and Treasure are token mana rocks. <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> prints new cards that make Treasures in nearly every set. A deck can effectively ramp using Treasures alone.</p>
<p>All colors create Treasure tokens, but red and black do it best with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guild Artisan" href="#" target="_blank">Guild Artisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market Connections" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market Connections</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Though one of the best Treasure makers in the game is the white enchantment <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guild Artisan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market Connections"></div></div>
<p>Mana rocks don't suffer from summoning sickness the way mana dorks do, but artifacts are still vulnerable to removal. Don't be sad if someone overloads <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vandalblast" href="#" target="_blank">Vandalblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on a board full of mana rocks. It's just good business.</p>
<p>Although these next examples don't tap like a typical mana rock, they produce tons of mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enable <a href="https://partner.tcgplayer.com/c/4913290/1830156/21018?partnerpropertyid=5237567&amp;subId1=edhrec%2Ccardprice&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tcgplayer.com%2Fproduct%2F105714%2Fmagic-battle-for-zendikar-zulaport-cutthroat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/reanimator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reanimator</a>, and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/combo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Combo</a> strategies.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod&#039;s Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Altar"></div></div>


<p>There's a series of Auras that increase the mana produced by a land. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the starting point, increasing one land's mana production by <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. For a two-mana investment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fertile Ground" href="#" target="_blank">Fertile Ground</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> adds one mana of any color.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Growth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fertile Ground"></div></div>
<p>These Auras cumulatively increase mana production when the land is tapped, meaning their bonuses stack with the land's mana ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gift of Paradise"></div></div>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gift of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Gift of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ramp by granting a land another mana ability that produces more mana. This is not a cumulative bonus like Wild Growth and friends, but those other effects still stack on the mana ability from Gift of Paradise.</p>
<p>A few Auras grant a mana ability to a creature, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Multani&#039;s Harmony" href="#" target="_blank">Multani&#039;s Harmony</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Making a mana dork this way is synergistic with <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/enchantress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enchantress</a> decks, or decks that care about <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Modified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modified</a> creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Multani&#039;s Harmony"></div></div>
<p>There are a couple oddball enchantments that meet the definition of ramp.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braid of Fire"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braid of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Braid of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a relic of outdated <em>Magic </em>rules and design. It was first printed in the era of <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Mana_burn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mana burn</a>, when spontaneous mana production could have resulted in a spontaneous game loss. Surplus mana no longer causes life loss, and it's awesome with the right mana sinks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carpet of Flowers"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carpet of Flowers" href="#" target="_blank">Carpet of Flowers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very conditional, requiring opponents to have Islands. In the right meta (<a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-commander-brackets-4-and-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brackets 4 &amp; 5</a>) it frequently competes with fast mana. Even in lower Brackets, Carpet of Flowers is often mana positive.</p>


<p>All the ramp examples in previous sections are permanents that produce mana. The following mana accelerants are either not permanents, or not mana producers. However, every one of these effects meets the criteria for ramp. Here's the criteria again for reference.</p>
<p>A game effect is ramp if both of these statements are true:</p>
<ol>
<li>The effect increases the amount of mana a player can spend in a turn.</li>
<li>The net value of the increase is greater than playing on curve.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Cost Reducers</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Semblance Anvil"></div></div>
<p>Cost reducers apply a continuous discount from the casting cost of other spells. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Semblance Anvil" href="#" target="_blank">Semblance Anvil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> subtracts <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> from the cost of an imprinted nonland card type.</p>
<p>Cost reducers are potentially game-breaking. They're cumulative with other cost reducers, and the discounts can apply to multiple costs in a turn cycle.</p>
<p>It's also important to note that cost reduction counts toward the value of <em>X </em>in an <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> cost.</p>
<h3>Mana Multipliers</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Reflection"></div></div>
<p>A select few cards apply order of operations to mana production. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are replacement effects that multiply the amount of mana produced by other sources.</p>
<h3>Untappers</h3>
<p>Starting small, a single untap effect can provide a big amount of ramp. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voltaic Key" href="#" target="_blank">Voltaic Key</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> untaps a single artifact. If that artifact makes two or more mana, then the net result is ramp. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arbor Elf" href="#" target="_blank">Arbor Elf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not technically a mana dork by itself, because it needs a Forest to untap. After clearing that low bar, add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends for a bigger boost.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voltaic Key"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arbor Elf"></div></div>
<p>A higher form of untapper ramps by untapping multiple mana-producing permanents. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a> for good reason. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unwinding Clock" href="#" target="_blank">Unwinding Clock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only untaps artifacts, but it's also colorless, so it's allowed in all decks. These effects can create an unsurmountable advantage, giving one player disproportionately more game actions than their opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedborn Muse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unwinding Clock"></div></div>
<h3>Rituals</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Ritual"></div></div>
<p>Rituals are not permanent, repeatable mana sources, but mana acceleration doesn't need to be permanent to win games. Rituals still ramp out threats ahead of curve and dump mana into closers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireball" href="#" target="_blank">Fireball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Chaining multiple rituals together is a proven approach to increasing <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Storm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storm</a> count, before casting a finisher like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grapeshot" href="#" target="_blank">Grapeshot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brain Freeze" href="#" target="_blank">Brain Freeze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The original ritual was black's boon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, this effect is now primarily red, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> setting the gold standard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeska&#039;s Will"></div></div>


<p>Green cards made a dominant showing in previous chapters of this guide. Of the tens of thousands of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/ramp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ramp</a> decks on EDHREC, about 85% include green.</p>
<p>Regardless of color identity, most deck archetypes consist of a common set of enablers and payoffs. Ramp decks rely on mana production as the enabler and mana-intensive threats for the payoffs. The payoffs tend to be huge creatures or <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> spells.</p>
<p>The payoffs in Ramp decks tend to be so expensive that they wouldn't be viable in a deck that only plays on curve. The ramp enables the payoffs to be timely and effective.</p>
<p>A Ramp deck can focus on one type of ramp, or diversify into multiple ramp sources. Choosing the right enablers depends on the characteristics of the intended payoff. A spell like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crackle with Power" href="#" target="_blank">Crackle with Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't care where the mana for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> came from, only that it's enough to obliterate opponents' life totals.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omnath, Locus of Mana" href="#" target="_blank">Omnath, Locus of Mana</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/voltron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voltron</a> commander that needs its ramp to make <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crackle with Power"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omnath, Locus of Mana"></div></div>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tron</a> is a sub-archetype of Ramp decks that use the Urza's lands for mana acceleration. This started long before the inception of Commander with the original Urza's lands, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Power Plant" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Power Plant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Mine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Power Plant"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Tower"></div></div>
<p>Traditionally, Tron decks ran four copies of each of these. That's not an option in a singleton format, limiting the viability of Tron in Commander. Additional Urza's lands, printed in recent sets, as well as a high density of land tutors, make Tron consistent enough for Commander play.</p>
<p>As ramp enablers, Urza's lands can only support generic or colorless payoffs. Favorites include <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> spells, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/eldrazi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eldrazi</a> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>No matter how you choose to ramp in your deck, the goal is the same: Make mana faster than your opponents, and spend it to win before they stop you.</p>


The EDHREC Guide to Ramp in Commander

Foundations: How to Build Mana Bases

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<p>Lands, lands, lands! Today the cast dissects the format's best color-fixing lands, noting which cycles they like, which they don't, which ones are the most popular on EDHREC, and where and when to play the best of the best.</p>
<p>Follow the cast on twitter!<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/edhrecast">@EDHRECast</a><br />
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<p>Question, comment, or data insight? Email us at:<br />
edhrecast@gmail.com https://edhrec.com/</p>
<p>If you wanna see any of the decks we play, <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/edhrecast-our-decks/">you can check them out here</a>!</p>


mana base

The EDHREC Guide to Ramp in Commander

Foundations: How to Build Mana Bases

EDHRECast Ep 96 - Fixing Your Colors