LandfillHow it works & interactions with other cards

What Landfill Does

When you cast Landfill, you choose a specific land type, such as Mountain or Forest. You then exile all lands you control of that type and physically drop them, one by one, from at least a foot above the table. If a dropped card completely covers another permanent, that permanent is destroyed. Finally, all the lands you dropped return to the battlefield under your control, but they enter the battlefield tapped.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, name a land type. Identify all lands you control with that type and move them to the exile zone. Second, hold the first exiled card at least twelve inches above the playing surface and let it go. Repeat this for each exiled land. Third, check the final resting position of the cards; any permanent (creature, artifact, etc.) that is entirely obscured by a dropped card is destroyed. Finally, place all the exiled land cards back onto the battlefield in the tapped position.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that a permanent is only destroyed if it is completely covered by the land card. If any part of the target card is visible from a top-down perspective, it survives the Landfill. Additionally, remember that Landfill only affects permanents on the playing area; you cannot destroy cards in a player's hand or library. Because the lands return tapped, you won't be able to use them for mana immediately after the spell resolves unless you have a way to untap them.

Strategic Timing

Since Landfill returns your lands tapped, it is best played when you have already spent your mana for the turn or have alternative ways to generate resources. It serves as a chaotic board wipe that can bypass hexproof or shroud, as it does not target the permanents it destroys; it only relies on where the cards physically land.

Interaction examples

Maximizing Destruction

If you control five Mountains, you can cast Landfill choosing 'Mountain'. You get five individual drops to try and cover your opponent's most dangerous creatures. Even if you miss with the first four, the fifth card might land perfectly, destroying a crucial blocker.

Following Up with Mana Geyser

Mana Geyser

After Landfill resolves, all your chosen lands return to the battlefield tapped. If your opponent also has many tapped lands, you could follow up on a later turn with Mana Geyser to capitalize on the tapped state of the board, though Landfill itself only taps your own lands.

Clearing the Path for Ignition

Chandra's Ignition

You can use Landfill to physically remove small utility creatures or artifacts that might interfere with your strategy. Once the board is cleared of specific threats by the falling lands, you can safely cast Chandra's Ignition on a high-power creature to finish off your opponent's remaining forces and life total.