Land Destruction In Standard, Pioneer, Modern, & Commander
Strategies that destroy opposing lands (land destruction) have always been controversial. Especially in casual formats like Commander, where playgroups often boycott the strategy altogether, deeming it "unfun to play against" and "making games take too long." While those may be valid concerns, it isn't enough to keep devoted LD players from doing what they love - Blowing up opposing lands. Today, I'd like to talk about MTG land destruction, including looking at lists from several formats.
If you hate seeing all that mana-producing real estate on the opposing battlefield, you're in the right place. So, sleeve up those Armageddon
and prepare to be the most hated player at the table. Let's jump right in, starting with Standard.
Standard
Land Destruction By Arne Huschenbeth
Main 60 cards (17 distinct)
Lands - 23
Side 15 cards (9 distinct)
Main 60 cards (17 distinct)
Lands - 23
Side 15 cards (9 distinct)
Main 60 cards (17 distinct)
| Creature (13) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.26€0.200.03 | |||
| $9.16 | |||
| $2.43 | |||
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (19) | |||
| $10.58 | |||
|
1
Farewell
|
|||
| $0.62€0.670.01 | |||
| $0.52 | |||
| $0.99 | |||
| $1.51€1.000.02 | |||
| Planeswalker (5) | |||
| $1.68€1.660.02 | |||
| Land (23) | |||
|
14
Plains
|
$0.150.03 | ||
| $0.25€0.170.04 | |||
| $2.19€2.020.03 | |||
Side 15 cards (9 distinct)
| $0.49 | |||
| $4.30 | |||
| $2.570.07 | |||
| $0.24€0.160.03 | |||
|
1
Farewell
|
|||
| $0.54 | |||
| $0.35€0.150.01 | |||
| $4.04 | |||
| $1.20€1.200.03 |
As it turns out, many of the top decks in Standard don't play many basic lands, and that's the perfect scenario to play land destruction. I would say the core of this deck is having access to four Demolition Field
and Field of Ruin
, as they'll be how you blow up lands. However, the number of cards in Standard that can support them is surprising.
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For example, Ao, the Dawn Sky
can dig for them, and Serra Paragon
& The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration
is used to reuse them from the graveyard, which is backbreaking if the opponent doesn't have basic lands they can grab. Oh, and speaking of basics, there are plenty of cards (Ambitious Farmhand // Seasoned Cathar
& The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration) which grab plains for you. Not only does this ensure you have mana after losing your utility lands, but it also makes Lay Down Arms
mighty.
Pioneer
Gruul Land Destruction By Meryn MTG
Main 60 cards (17 distinct)
Lands - 21
Side 15 cards (7 distinct)
Main 60 cards (17 distinct)
Lands - 21
Side 15 cards (7 distinct)
Main 60 cards (17 distinct)
| Creature (19) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.74€2.800.45 | |||
| $0.49€0.440.03 | |||
| $0.40€0.260.03 | |||
| $6.00€4.320.02 | |||
| $0.49€0.300.02 | |||
| Planeswalker (5) | |||
| $3.08€2.870.31 | |||
| $2.50€2.240.22 | |||
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (15) | |||
| $0.22€0.120.03 | |||
| $0.20€0.100.03 | |||
| $0.28€0.100.02 | |||
| Land (21) | |||
|
7
Forest
|
$0.110.03 | ||
| $0.20€0.100.03 | |||
|
1
Mountain
|
$0.150.03 | ||
| $4.15€2.980.02 | |||
| $11.10€9.670.46 | |||
| $2.19€2.020.03 | |||
Side 15 cards (7 distinct)
| $0.15€0.030.04 | |||
| $2.67€2.120.02 | |||
| $2.48€1.830.35 | |||
| $0.15€0.060.03 | |||
| $2.14€2.190.98 | |||
|
2
Roast
|
$0.33€0.180.03 | ||
| $0.30€0.150.02 |
As a secret lover of Modern Ponza, Meryn MTG adapted the archetype to Pioneer and had nice results - Even if some cards might look over cost, there's plenty of tempo and ramp. The deck destroys lands using Frenzied Tilling
, Haphazard Bombardment
, Sylvan Primordial
, Memorial to War
, and Demolition Field.
Frenzied Tilling not only puts the opponent down a land but also accelerates you by one, which really helps cast the other more expensive spells mentioned above. With a playset of Elvish Mysticic and Llanowar Elves
, it's not uncommon to cast this on turn three. If you make all your land drops, you can even cast one of the seven mana spells the turn after you cast this.
Haphazard Bombardment can remove any permanent type except enchantments; This of course, includes lands. So, not only is it a land destruction spell, but it comes in clutch against key creatures or Planeswalkers. Another key thing to consider is that this doesn't target the permanents. This makes it very effective against Lotus Field
, which usually wouldn't be able to be removed.
Sylvan Primordial is a jack-of-all-trades card in the deck. Like Bombardment, its main purpose is to destroy lands but can also remove other permanents. Furthermore, it's a big enough threat to threaten lethal damage quickly - Especially on diminished boards when opponents can't cast significant threats thanks to not having mana.
Meryn's original list was made before Demolition Field was a thing, so I added it in place of Memorial to War without issue.
Modern
8-Field Ponza By Mhayashi
Main 60 cards (13 distinct)
Lands - 24
Side 15 cards (6 distinct)
Main 60 cards (13 distinct)
Lands - 24
Side 15 cards (6 distinct)
Main 60 cards (13 distinct)
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (28) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00€19.9611.61 | |||
| $0.25€0.210.03 | |||
| $0.39€0.39 | |||
| $0.37 | |||
| $0.23€0.140.03 | |||
| $0.30€0.210.03 | |||
| $0.25€0.220.03 | |||
| Creature (8) | |||
|
4
Fury
|
$6.76€10.790.97 | ||
| $5.30€8.261.50 | |||
| Land (24) | |||
| $2.19€2.020.03 | |||
| $0.25€0.170.04 | |||
|
12
Mountain
|
$0.150.03 | ||
| $38.77 | |||
Side 15 cards (6 distinct)
| $0.50€0.200.02 | |||
| $0.64€0.530.04 | |||
| $0.20€0.140.03 | |||
| $0.70€0.380.02 | |||
| $5.63€5.492.35 | |||
| $0.350.21 |
This list doesn't look like the classic Ponza lists that longtime players associate with the classic MTG land destruction builds, but this is a mighty list. That said, let's take a look at how the deck does its thing. For land destruction/disruption spells, we have Flame Slash
, Field of Ruin, and Demolition Field. This package victimizes greedy Modern mana bases, which usually don't play more than two or three basics.
Beyond these spells, you have a plethora of burn/removal spells like Flame Slash, Lightning Bolt
, Pyrite Spellbomb
, Fury
, and Unholy Heat
. The delirium on Unholy Heat is made possible by the varied card types and a package of looting effects from Seasoned Pyromancer
and Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
.
The deck also plays four copies of Urza's Saga
, which I'm assuming is why the deck doesn't play Blood Moon
. Mhayashi is the master of mono-red, so I trust their judgment on leaving it out. The Saga can grab Mishra's Research Desk
(for card advantage), Pyrite Spellbomb, and several hate pieces from the sideboard.
Commander
Zo-Zu Land Destruction
Commander 1 cards (1 distinct)
Main 99 cards (74 distinct)
Lands - 31
Commander 1 cards (1 distinct)
Main 99 cards (74 distinct)
Lands - 31
Commander 1 cards (1 distinct)
| $8.38€2.970.02 |
Main 99 cards (74 distinct)
| Creature (19) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.25€0.220.03 | |||
| $1.53€2.580.49 | |||
| $0.98€0.370.02 | |||
| $1.12€0.750.04 | |||
| $0.61€0.490.04 | |||
| $0.99€1.230.16 | |||
| $1.65€0.60 | |||
| $0.40€0.200.02 | |||
|
1
Iron Myr
|
$0.35€0.260.03 | ||
| $2.00€1.310.48 | |||
| $11.00€12.50 | |||
| $2.99€2.630.18 | |||
| $0.24 | |||
| $13.09€8.010.15 | |||
| $0.48€0.210.03 | |||
| $2.05€0.860.02 | |||
| $16.16€8.990.67 | |||
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (48) | |||
| $3.58 | |||
| $5.56€2.730.54 | |||
| $1.41€1.180.02 | |||
| $4.26€0.540.03 | |||
| $0.19€0.060.03 | |||
| $0.69€0.93 | |||
| $2.34€2.13 | |||
|
1
By Force
|
|||
| $0.25€0.210.03 | |||
| $2.07€0.950.12 | |||
| $1.10€0.841.78 | |||
| $0.42€0.180.03 | |||
|
1
Pillage
|
$0.23€0.120.03 | ||
| $0.25 | |||
| $0.25€0.170.03 | |||
| $6.74€5.710.91 | |||
| $3.90€2.141.81 | |||
|
1
Tremble
|
$0.25€0.210.04 | ||
| $3.46€2.32 | |||
| $1.00€1.450.03 | |||
|
1
Wildfire
|
$0.58€0.690.02 | ||
| $0.70€1.270.03 | |||
| 0.08 | |||
| $0.60€0.514.00 | |||
| $0.40€0.210.03 | |||
| $0.50€0.370.02 | |||
| $0.20 | |||
| $1.62 | |||
| $0.25€0.120.02 | |||
| $5.52€4.92 | |||
| $0.75€0.880.12 | |||
| $17.99€14.06 | |||
|
1
Sol Ring
|
0.22 | ||
| $2.50€1.250.12 | |||
| $2.05€1.340.18 | |||
| $7.47€7.891.66 | |||
| $3.77€1.810.02 | |||
| $3.75€2.130.02 | |||
| $5.94€3.130.02 | |||
| $1.32€1.030.08 | |||
| $3.85€0.890.02 | |||
| $0.60€0.540.02 | |||
| $10.85€4.360.12 | |||
| $0.95€0.540.02 | |||
| $2.25€1.730.58 | |||
| $7.27€3.17 | |||
| $0.32 | |||
| Planeswalker (1) | |||
| $0.57€0.390.02 | |||
| Land (31) | |||
| $0.75€0.500.04 | |||
| $0.25€0.170.04 | |||
| $0.79€0.690.03 | |||
| $24.95€13.420.03 | |||
|
26
Mountain
|
$0.150.03 | ||
| $0.20€0.100.03 | |||
This is a pretty typical Zo-Zu, the Punisher land destruction list for EDH. I like this build for LD for a few reasons - First, it's fun to play. Next, it's a group slug/burn deck using land hate to damage players. Zo-zu himself, Cemetery Gatekeeper
, Price of Progress
, Wildfire
, Ankh of Mishra
, Dingus Egg
, Burning Earth
, and Manabarbs
are all good examples of what I mean.
Many of the damage-dealing effects in the deck are symmetrical and hit you (the pilot) as well. However, plenty of damage enhancers ensure everyone else feels it more than you do and speeds up games. Things like Mechanized Warfare
, Furnace of Rath
, Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
, City on Fire
and Solphim, Mayhem Dominus
all shine in this department.
Then, of course, there are mass and single-target land destruction spells and Blood Moon effects. Here is a quick list:
- Akki Blizzard-Herder
- Detritivore
- Dwarven Blastminer
- Dwarven Driller
- Dwarven Miner
- Keldon Firebombers
- Magus of the Moon
- Mine Layer
- Stoneshaker Shaman
- Wild Magic Surge
- Cleansing Wildfire
- Epicenter
- From the Ashes (amazing with Ankh of Mishra)
- Molten Rain
- Pillage
- Roiling Terrain
- Ruination
- Tectonic Break
- Tremble
- Wake of Destruction
- Blood Moon
- Impending Disaster
- Price of Glory
- Tectonic Instability
- Stone Rain
- Ghost Quarter
- Field of Ruin
- Memorial of War
In my experience, land destruction decks like this are the most socially acceptable. Please make no mistake, it's a devoted LD deck, and your opponents will be salty. That said, it packs enough of a punch (to all players) that the games usually don't take forever to close out, which is the main concern to most players.
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If you've got the green light to blow up lands in your playgroup and haven't tried Zo-Zu, the Punisher, try it out. It's a real red player, live fast and win or die deck, and it's a lot of fun to play.
Conclusion
When I first transitioned from kitchen table magic to playing Modern, I didn't take long to run into classic Ponzo. I remember thinking, "wow, this sucks... And it's kinda awesome." Soon after, I started trying the builds for myself and realized how disruptive blowing up lands could be. If you're a fan of the archetype, you have options, regardless of your format. So, try one out and let me know how it goes.
