Fertile ThicketHow it works & interactions with other cards

Finding Your Roots

When Fertile Thicket enters the battlefield, you are allowed to peek at the top five cards of your library. This is a 'may' ability, meaning you can choose not to look at all, though you almost always should. If you find a basic land card among those five, you can reveal it and place it right on top of your deck, guaranteeing your next draw is exactly what you need to develop your mana base.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, the land enters the battlefield tapped, so you cannot use it for mana immediately. Second, the triggered ability goes on the stack. When it resolves, you look at the top five cards. You may choose one basic land card to reveal; if you do, it goes on top of your library. Finally, all other cards you looked at—including any basic lands you chose not to reveal—are placed on the bottom of your library in any order you prefer.

Common Misconceptions

A common mistake is thinking you must reveal a land if one is present. According to official rulings, you don't have to reveal a basic land card even if one is among the top five. If you choose not to reveal one, or if there are no basic lands, no card is put on top, and all five cards go to the bottom. Additionally, remember that this card only searches for 'Basic' lands, so non-basic lands like Command Tower cannot be put on top.

Strategic Timing

Because this land enters tapped, it is often best played on turn one or during a turn where you don't need to spend all your mana. It is particularly effective when you have a hand full of spells but are short on lands, as it essentially 'tutors' a basic land to the top of your deck for your next turn.

Interaction examples

Securing the Next Turn

You play Fertile Thicket as your land for the turn. It enters tapped. The trigger resolves, and you look at the top five cards. You see two Forests, a Mountain, and two spells. You choose to reveal one Forest and place it on top of your library. The other four cards go to the bottom. You have now guaranteed your land drop for next turn.

Filtering for Action

Command Tower

You already have plenty of mana and really need to draw a creature. You play Fertile Thicket and look at the top five cards. You see a Forest and four powerful spells. Even though the Forest is a basic land, you choose not to reveal it. All five cards, including the Forest, go to the bottom of your library, bringing you five cards closer to the action you need. You can still tap Command Tower for mana later since it was already on the field.

Non-Basic Limitations

Exotic Orchard

When resolving the Fertile Thicket trigger, you see an Exotic Orchard among the top five cards. Because Exotic Orchard does not have the 'Basic' supertype, you cannot reveal it or put it on top of your library using Fertile Thicket's ability. You must choose a basic land like a Forest or Island, or put all five cards on the bottom.