An essential part of anyMagic: The Gatheringgame, land is a foundational and ubiquitously necessary element. Blue mana, characterized by its use of Islands, is associated with the more strategic elements of the game, with many of its cards drawing you more cards or initiating long-term plans to win the game.
Related:Magic: The Gathering - The Best Blue Commanders For cEDH
Keeping up with this theme, many Islands try to reflect the calm planning that is often associated with the color. For those looking to spruce up their decks with some unique and interesting lands, here are some of the best Islands that can be placed in any blue deck.
10Island, By Piotr Dura
Originally in Mill-themed Jumpstart packs, this Island depicts a staple of a traditionally blue archetype: the Millstone. Set in a cosmic background, the millstone lies suspended in a void, slowly grazing away at the land beneath it. Belying the gorgeous print, there is an element of simplicity to this Island, but its thematic elements make it so special.
Mill is a classic in blue decks that aims to get rid of an opponent’s deck by sending it to the graveyard, a term known as “milling.” Millstone was the earliest card to accomplish this feat, and so is what the term is named after. This piece reflects the grind of playing such a strategy. The millstone set in an empty void with its only goal to slowly bear down on a large mass is a pretty good representation of the unyielding force of mill decks that only aim to destroy your deck in as little time as possible, making it perfect formill-themed decks.
9Island, By Evan Cagle
Set in Innistrad, this Island was part of a special Midnight Hunt collection aimed at evoking old film-style gothic horror, and it very much nails this respect. The card itself depicts a person standing on an island beset by large, tumultuous waves. The black and white of the ink perfectly capture the force of the waves in a way no colored image could.
Related:Magic: The Gathering - The Best Art From Double Masters 2022
Of all the black and white pieces of the Midnight Hunt land collection, this one seems like it was plucked straight from a gothic painting out of Dracula’s castle and is sure to add some spooky vibes to any horror-themed deck.
8Island, By Matteo Bassini
This Island by Matteo Bassini depicts both the calming feel of blue mana while adapting it to the sprawling city landscape of New Capenna in a way that feels much more organic to the plane than the islands in the similar city-plane of Ravnica. The canal presented in this card makes sense for the 1930s gangster era-look of the plane while still highlighting the city’s tall towers and shining lights.
However, much of the card is shrouded in dark buildings, making it feel cramped and somewhat limited even if the dark, foreboding buildings lend well to the theme of the dark underbelly that the set touches upon. Regardless, it is still a good fit in blue decks looking to have an edgier feel to them and would likely be right at home in any Dimir deck.
7Island, By Adam Paquette
One of the gorgeous full-art planet lands from Unfinity, this Island by Adam Paquette depicts a water world, complete with skyscraping geysers. While theUnfinity dual-lands were beloved, this piece of art is fantastic for making the planet feel truly real. If you look at the small details of the card, you can see the part lit by the sun: all sunny beaches are paler blue water, while the shaded areas have become so cold that they freeze over.
The icing on the cake for this one is that the geysers, caused by changes in thermal temperature underground, are mostly placed on the intersection between the sunlit part and the sun-shaded part, which is where they would actually happen. The attention to detail in this piece highlights how the commitment to realism really brings these kinds of cards to life.
6Island, By Johannes Voss
Made by prolific Magic artist Johannes Voss, this island from Kaldheim captures the beauty of the Nordic-inspired plain. The aurora borealis in the sky, its colors reflected in the stillness of the water below, frame the island in the center perfectly while the World Tree, a staple of Nordic mythology, lies barely visible in the background. The artistry seen is among the best in Magic for such a simple card.
5Island, By Johannes Voss
This Island, present in the Inventors half of the Elves vs. Inventors duel decks, reflects the calm beauty of water as it naturally snakes around the land. In stark contrast to its red-aligned inventor half, this Island focuses on the quiet contemplation that is often associated with blue mana in Magic.
While ambiguous, this card is likely depicting a scenic landscape from Kaladesh, which is often characterized by swirls in its landscape as the aether of the plane flows naturally. While unnatural to logical thinking, this card makes the landscape feel organic, as though the swirls of the land have always belonged there. It is a fantastic representation of how artists truly bring the world of Magic to life.
4Island, By Adam Paquette
The second Unfinity Island from Adam Paquette, this one takes a more intimate look at the water-covered planet he did previously. The water-eroded spherical rock fits right in with the water-covered world and is complete with small beaches and flora reminiscent of things more at home in the sea rather than on the shore.Unfinity had many hidden details, and this card is no exception. The visual detail once again points to a real world realized by a single image.
Additionally, the articulate detail is not only heeded in the landscape itself. From the out-of-this-world landscape to the cosmically bordered Island symbol, this card is dripping with cosmic flavor and is a perfect addition to any deck looking to add some alien elements.
3Island, By Véronique Meignaud
This card reflects the chaotic nature of the plane of Zendikar, while still highlighting its key narrative elements. The elemental Roil that afflicts the plane manifests in different ways and is apparent here in the twisting columns of water reaching for the sky. Meanwhile, a hedron lies calmly in the center frame, giving off a protective light as it wards against an unseen threat just below the surface.
Related:Magic: The Gathering - The Best Art In Dominaria Remastered
The juxtaposed images serve a combination of form and function, capturing the elemental chaos that makes the plane unique while also spotlighting a narrative element in the form of the hedron. The quiet stillness projected by the hedron is almost eerie here, clashing starkly with the raging seas around it. It adds to the mystery of the hedrons that, at the time of this card’s release, was not revealed yet.
2Island, By Anna Steinbauer
From Zendikar Rising, this Island by Anna Steinbauer cuts to the core a key blue visual motif. Many blue cards have a visual motif of a head being cracked open or unlocked to unravel secrets, usually to draw cards or mill. This image is very interesting because it is visually reminiscent of those blue cards.
In this case, the orbs are cracked open to reveal a sprawling formation underneath, effectively unlocking its secret in a more physical sense. What makes it all the better is that it fits so well into the landscape of Zendikar. The floating orbs, the city-like stones, and the ever-flowing midair waterfall all encompass the look and feel of the plane. This interesting visual motif ties into the core of blue mana and would serve well in any blue deck.
1Island, By Jonas De Ro
This breathtaking card is from the Godzilla Land Secret Lair Drop and depicts the King of Monsters as he lumbers across a setting sun. Despite the massive creature in the background, this image has a calmness and evokes the feeling that Godzilla is returning from another hard-fought battle, seeking refuge in his home.
The quiet stillness belies Godzilla’s usually violent nature and makes you think that even he can take some time to ponder and reflect. It is one of the best cards for evoking the spirit of blue mana. Sadly, this land is extremely hard to obtain and is often sold out in most places, for good reason.
