Highland Forest — ruling 1

Snow is a supertype, not a card type. It has no rules meaning or function by itself, but spells and abilities may refer to it.

Highland Forest — ruling 2

The {S} symbol is a generic mana symbol. It represents a cost that can be paid by one mana that was produced by a snow source. That mana can be any color or colorless.

Highland Forest — ruling 3

Snow isn't a type of mana. If an effect says you may spend mana as though it were any type, you can't pay for {S} using mana that wasn't produced by a snow source.

Highland Forest — ruling 4

Some cards have additional effects for each {S} spent to cast them. You can cast these spells even if you don't spend any snow mana to cast them; their additional effects simply won't do anything.

Highland Forest — ruling 5

The Kaldheim set doesn't have any cards with mana costs that include {S}, but some previous sets do. If an effect says such a spell costs {1} less to cast, that reduction doesn't apply to any {S} costs. This is also true for activated abilities that include {S} in their activation costs and effects that reduce those costs.

Highland Forest : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Highland Forest 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

(: Add or .) This land enters tapped.

Complete guide

Highland Forest is a versatile snow land that provides both Red and Green mana to your deck. While it enters the battlefield slowly, its status as a snow permanent and its dual land types make it a valuable utility piece. Understanding how to manage its tapped entry is key to maximizing its potential in your mana base.

What it does

Highland Forest is a Snow Land with the Mountain and Forest types. This means it can be searched for by any effect that looks for a Mountain or a Forest, such as certain fetch lands. It provides either Red or Green mana when tapped, but it carries the restriction of entering the battlefield tapped, meaning you cannot use it the turn you play it unless you have a way to untap it.

How it resolves step by step

First, as you play Highland Forest, its static ability applies, and it enters the battlefield in the tapped position. Second, once it is on the battlefield, it is considered both a 'Snow' permanent and a 'Land'. Third, you can tap it during your subsequent turns to add one {R} or one {G} to your mana pool. Because the mana comes from a snow source, it can also be used to pay for costs that require the snow mana symbol {S}.

Common Mistakes

A frequent point of confusion is the 'Snow' supertype. Snow is not a color or a type of mana; it is a property of the source. You cannot use mana from a non-snow source to pay for a snow cost {S}, even if an effect says you may spend mana 'as though it were any type'. Additionally, remember that while Highland Forest has basic land types, it is not a 'Basic Land' itself, so effects that only search for basic lands cannot find it.

When to play it

This land is best played on early turns when you don't need to spend all your mana immediately, or during turns where you have excess mana and the 'tapped' entry won't stall your tempo. It is especially powerful in decks that utilize snow synergies or require specific land types for cards that care about the number of Forests or Mountains you control.

Interaction examples

Generating Snow Mana

If you control Highland Forest and an ability requires {S} (snow mana), you can tap Highland Forest for either Red or Green. Because the source of that mana has the 'Snow' supertype, that mana satisfies the {S} requirement.

Interaction with Opponent's Lands

Exotic Orchard

If you control Highland Forest and your opponent controls Exotic Orchard, your opponent can tap their Exotic Orchard for either Red or Green mana. This is because Highland Forest is a land you control that can produce those colors.

Commander Color Identity

Command Tower

If your Commander's color identity includes both Red and Green, you can include both Highland Forest and Command Tower in your deck. While Command Tower provides mana based on your Commander, Highland Forest provides fixed colors and adds to your snow permanent count.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Highland Forest

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Snow is a supertype, not a card type. It has no rules meaning or function by itself, but spells and abilities may refer to it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
The symbol is a generic mana symbol. It represents a cost that can be paid by one mana that was produced by a snow source. That mana can be any color or colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Snow isn't a type of mana. If an effect says you may spend mana as though it were any type, you can't pay for using mana that wasn't produced by a snow source.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Some cards have additional effects for each spent to cast them. You can cast these spells even if you don't spend any snow mana to cast them; their additional effects simply won't do anything.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
The Kaldheim set doesn't have any cards with mana costs that include , but some previous sets do. If an effect says such a spell costs less to cast, that reduction doesn't apply to any costs. This is also true for activated abilities that include in their activation costs and effects that reduce those costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.