EncroachHow it works & interactions with other cards

Precision Land Destruction

When you cast Encroach, you target a player (which can be an opponent or yourself). Upon resolution, that player reveals their entire hand. You then look through the revealed cards and choose exactly one nonbasic land card. The player must then discard that specific card to their graveyard. If the player has no nonbasic land cards in their hand, the spell finishes resolving without anyone discarding anything, but you still get to see their hand.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast Encroach and choose a target player. When the spell resolves, the target player reveals their hand to all players in the game. Second, you check the revealed cards for any land that does not have the 'Basic' supertype (this includes dual lands, utility lands, and artifact lands). Third, you choose one of those nonbasic lands. Finally, that card is moved from the player's hand to their graveyard.

Identifying Nonbasic Lands

A common mistake is assuming Encroach can hit any land. It specifically targets 'nonbasic' lands, meaning it cannot force a player to discard a Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, or Forest. However, it can hit powerful lands that provide multiple colors or unique effects. If you target yourself, you must still reveal your hand to all other players, which is a strategic risk.

Strategic Timing

Because Encroach costs only one mana, it is most effective during the first or second turn of the game. At this stage, players are often holding onto their nonbasic lands to fix their mana colors for the rest of the game. Removing a key land early can delay your opponent's spells by several turns, giving you a massive tempo advantage.

Interaction examples

Scouting the Hand

Demonic Tutor

You cast Encroach on turn one targeting your opponent. They reveal their hand, showing a Demonic Tutor and a nonbasic land like Underground Sea. You choose the Underground Sea, forcing them to discard it. Even though you couldn't take the Tutor, you now know exactly what they will search for later and have hampered their ability to cast it.

Self-Discard Synergy

Reanimate

If you have a powerful nonbasic land that doubles as a creature (like a creature land) and you want it in the graveyard for a specific combo, you can target yourself with Encroach. You reveal your hand, choose your own nonbasic land, and discard it. You could then use Reanimate on a later turn if that land becomes a creature in the graveyard, though typically Reanimate targets creatures; this highlights the mechanic of targeting yourself to enable graveyard strategies.