Cryptic Spires is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
As you create your deck, circle two of the colors below. This land enters tapped.: Add one mana of either of the circled colors.
Complete guide
Cryptic Spires is a unique land that allows players to customize their mana base before the game even begins. By pre-selecting two colors, you transform this colorless land into a reliable dual source tailored to your deck's needs. This card is particularly famous for its role in Limited formats, providing essential fixing for multi-color strategies.
Customizing Your Land
Unlike most lands, Cryptic Spires requires an action during deck construction. You must circle two of the five mana colors on the card face. Once circled, these colors are considered printed on the card for all gameplay purposes. Note that while it produces colored mana, the land itself remains colorless.
Entering the Battlefield
Cryptic Spires enters the battlefield tapped, meaning you typically cannot use its mana the same turn you play it. When it is untapped, you can tap it to add one mana of either of the two colors you circled during deckbuilding. If you have multiple copies, you can choose different color pairs for each individual card.
Copying and Identification
The circled colors are part of the card's copiable characteristics. If a permanent becomes a copy of Cryptic Spires, it will be able to produce the same two colors that were circled on the original. However, if a permanent gains the mana ability without becoming a copy, the ability won't function because it is linked specifically to the physical circles on the card.
When to Play It
This land is best used in decks with demanding color requirements or in formats where dual lands are scarce. Because it enters tapped, it is best played on early turns when you don't need to spend all your mana, ensuring you have your colors ready for the mid-game.
Interaction examples
Exotic OrchardIf you have a Cryptic Spires with Blue and White circled, and your opponent controls Exotic Orchard, their Exotic Orchard can now be tapped to produce either Blue or White mana. This is because Cryptic Spires is legally able to produce those colors.
Command TowerIn a Commander game, circling colors on Cryptic Spires does not change your Commander's color identity. Command Tower still only produces mana of your Commander's colors, regardless of what you chose for your Spires.
When you play Cryptic Spires as your land for the turn, it enters the battlefield sideways (tapped). Even though you have already circled your two colors, you must wait until your next untap step to use it to cast spells.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cryptic Spires
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Many Double Masters 2022 limited decks will include multiple copies of Cryptic Spires. You can choose the same two colors for each of them, or you can make different choices for different cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You circle two colors as you put Cryptic Spires into your deck before any games begin. Which colors are circled must be clear and understandable to all players.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Once a Cryptic Spires has two colors circled, those colors are considered to be printed on the card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The circled colors only affect what colors of mana the last ability produces as it resolves. They do not make Cryptic Spires those colors. It is still colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The circled colors are part of the copiable characteristics of the card. If another permanent becomes a copy of Cryptic Spires, its mana ability will produce the same colors as the permanent that was copied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
The mana ability is linked to the colors circled on the card. If a permanent somehow gains that mana ability without becoming a copy of Cryptic Spires, the ability it gained won't produce any mana as it resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Cryptic Spires
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.