Back to Basics MTG Card


It grants control by restricting opponents’ use of nonbasic lands, leading to a pronounced card advantage. Indirectly causes resource acceleration for you, compared to an opponent’s hindered land development. Encourages instant speed play, allowing strategic mana usage without falling behind.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Nonbasic lands do not untap during their controllers' untap phases.

"A ruler wears a crown while the rest of us wear hats, but which would you rather have when it's raining?" —Barrin, *Principia*


Cards like Back to Basics

Back to Basics from Magic: The Gathering is a powerful Enchantment that non-basic land punishment stands out within its category. This card finds parallels with Blood Moon, as both disrupt opponents’ mana base by affecting the land types in play. Blood Moon turns non-basic lands into Mountains, which can be just as crippling as Back to Basics’ method of keeping non-basic lands from untapping.

Another comparable card is Stasis, which holds the potential to freeze out an opponent’s game by not allowing any permanents to untap during the untap step. While Stasis affects all permanents and requires a continuous cost to maintain, Back to Basics is more specialized but can be a constant threat without further investment. Then there’s Winter Orb, a classic that only allows players to untap one land during their untap step. This strategy is less discriminatory than Back to Basics, impacting basic and non-basic lands alike but to a lesser degree.

Each card has its own strategic use, but Back to Basics remains a formidable option for control decks that aim to lock down opponents and dominate the game tempo through resource denial.

Blood Moon - MTG Card versions
Stasis - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Blood Moon - MTG Card versions
Stasis - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Back to Basics. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Esper StonebladeEsper Stoneblade LegacyEsper StonebladeLegacy League 2024-05-08
Jeskai ControlJeskai Control LegacyJeskai ControlLegacy League 2024-04-03
NinjasNinjas LegacyNinjasLegacy League 2024-04-05
Jeskai StonebladeJeskai Stoneblade LegacyJeskai Stoneblade*HALF PRICE FRIDAY* $1K - Legacy - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 1:30 pm
UU LegacyLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-07
StiflenoughtStiflenought LegacyStiflenoughtLegacy League 2024-04-29
Azorius ControlAzorius Control LegacyAzorius ControlBerlin Double Up Legacy IV im Brettspielplatz 04.04.24
Bant ControlBant Control LegacyBant ControlLegacy Preliminary 2024-04-01 (1)
Bant StonebladeBant Stoneblade LegacyBant StonebladeLegacy Preliminary 2024-04-01 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Back to Basics drastically impacts your opponent’s ability to utilize nonbasic lands, often leaving them untapped and unusable. This can lead to a significant card advantage as your opponents may find their spells stuck in hand while you effectively dictate the pace of the game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Back to Basics can indirectly contribute by slowing your opponent’s development. This allows you to leverage your basic lands and spells more efficiently, often translating into a resource acceleration effect in comparison to your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Back to Basics itself is an enchantment that operates at sorcery speed, its presence on the battlefield encourages you to play at instant speed. With opponents’ lands often completely locked down, you are free to optimize your gameplay, holding mana open for instant speed interaction without fear of falling behind on board presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the strategy-rich landscape of MTG, maintaining a strong hand is critical. The Back to Basics card imposes a drawback that could deter players in complex matches where every card held might signify a path to victory. If your hand is already depleted, being compelled to discard further might critically diminish your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for decks with a reliable blue mana base, Back to Basics has a specific mana requirement that may be challenging for multicolored or color-variable decks to meet. Its inclusion necessitates a dedication to blue mana, potentially restricting its use across the diverse array of MTG decks where maintaining flexibility in mana allocation is essential.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its mana valuation, Back to Basics demands a steeper investment compared to other cards with similar effects. This may lead to it being sidelined in favor of lower-cost alternatives that perform adequately in a wider variety of scenarios, providing flexibility that Back to Basics cannot afford.


Reasons to Include Back to Basics in Your Collection

Versatility: Back to Basics is a unique enchantment that can adapt to various strategies, particularly control or tempo decks that are designed to operate efficiently with basic lands while penalizing opponents for relying on nonbasic lands.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with land destruction or stax strategies, elevating the pressure on opponents by limiting their mana options and potentially locking them out of the game if played correctly.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where complex mana bases are common, Back to Basics has a substantial impact. It’s most effective in an environment where decks are heavily dependent on nonbasic lands, making it a powerful sideboard choice or even a main deck inclusion in the right meta.


How to beat

Back to Basics is a notable card in Magic: the Gathering that can significantly disrupt nonbasic lands. While powerful, it’s not unbeatable. Strategies to overcome this card revolve around minimizing the impact on your own mana base. Players can opt for strategically including more basic lands in their deck construction, ensuring their game is not severely hampered. It’s also beneficial to use mana rocks and other mana-generating artifacts that aren’t affected by Back to Basics.

Another approach is to remove the enchantment using spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize, which can efficiently address the problem at a low cost. Running counter spells can also serve as a preventative measure, stopping Back to Basics from hitting the board in the first place. Finally, quick play and maintaining a steady curve leading up to the potential play of this card can lessen its impact, allowing the player to operate on limited resources more effectively.

Maintaining flexibility and adaptability in playstyle and deck building will significantly aid players in countering the restrictive nature of Back to Basics. Preparing for such an obstacle is crucial in competitive play, where encountering high-impact cards like this can be a turning point in a match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the dynamics of MTG’s ever-evolving metagame is an art, and Back to Basics is a masterpiece in the right context. Controlling the flow of resources can be the difference between a win and a loss, making this card a must-know. With its ability to hamper your opponent’s land utility and bolster your own strategic gameplay, it’s a card that aligns with both control and tempo playstyles. For those ready to harness the power of mana control and refine their deck building skills, further insights await. Step into the realm where each card is a step towards victory and join us to expand your MTG expertise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Back to Basics MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Ultimate Masters, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Back to Basics and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Back to Basics Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 621997NormalBlackAndrew Robinson
22018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 462015NormalBlackTerese Nielsen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Back to Basics has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelBanned
PredhLegal