Overgrown Tomb — ruling 1

This land has two basic land types. It's not basic, so cards such as Tend the Sprigs can't find it, but it does have the appropriate land types for effects such as that of Kishla Village (from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm release).

Overgrown Tomb — ruling 2

If an effect puts this land onto the battlefield tapped, you may pay 2 life, but it still enters tapped.

Overgrown Tomb — ruling 3

Unlike most dual lands, this land has two basic land types. It's not basic, so cards such as District Guide can't find it, but it does have the appropriate land types for effects such as that of Drowned Catacomb (from the Ixalan set).

Overgrown Tomb — ruling 4

If an effect puts this land onto the battlefield tapped, you may pay 2 life, but it still enters tapped.

Overgrown Tomb : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Overgrown Tomb 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 .) As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped.

Complete guide

Overgrown Tomb is a powerful cornerstone of mana fixing in Magic: The Gathering, specifically for decks utilizing Black and Green. Known as a 'shock land,' it provides immediate access to two colors at the small cost of some health. Because it carries basic land types, it interacts with many other cards in ways basic lands cannot.

Dual Types and Mana Ability

Overgrown Tomb is both a Swamp and a Forest. This means it naturally possesses the inherent mana abilities of those types: tapping for one Black mana or one Green mana. While it is not a 'Basic Land,' it satisfies any card requirement that checks for a Swamp or a Forest on the battlefield.

How the Entry Choice Works

As Overgrown Tomb enters the battlefield, you face a choice: pay 2 life to have it enter untapped, or pay nothing and have it enter tapped. This is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability, meaning it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to. You make the decision exactly as the land is placed onto the battlefield.

Interactions with Other Effects

If an external effect, such as a spell that searches your library, specifically states that the land enters the battlefield tapped, Overgrown Tomb will enter tapped regardless of whether you pay the 2 life. You may still choose to pay the life, but the land will not become untapped. Additionally, because it is not a basic land, you cannot search for it with effects that specify 'Basic Land' only.

When to Play Overgrown Tomb

This land is best played early in the game when you need to cast spells with specific color requirements like Green or Black on curve. If you already have enough mana for your turn or are low on life, you should let it enter tapped to preserve your health for later turns.

Interaction examples

Evaluating Mana Options

Command Tower

If you have both cards in hand, playing Overgrown Tomb first and paying 2 life allows you to immediately have access to Black or Green. Command Tower can then be played on a subsequent turn to provide any color in your Commander's identity without any life loss, ensuring you have a diverse mana pool ready for your spells.

Opponent Dependencies

Exotic Orchard

If your opponent controls an Overgrown Tomb, your Exotic Orchard can now tap for either Black or Green mana. This is because Exotic Orchard checks what colors your opponents' lands could produce. Even if the opponent's Overgrown Tomb is currently tapped, it still 'could' produce those colors, making your Orchard a versatile tool.

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

How it works : Overgrown Tomb

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1November 17, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
This land has two basic land types. It's not basic, so cards such as Tend the Sprigs can't find it, but it does have the appropriate land types for effects such as that of Kishla Village (from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm release).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 17, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect puts this land onto the battlefield tapped, you may pay 2 life, but it still enters tapped.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
Unlike most dual lands, this land has two basic land types. It's not basic, so cards such as District Guide can't find it, but it does have the appropriate land types for effects such as that of Drowned Catacomb (from the Ixalan set).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect puts this land onto the battlefield tapped, you may pay 2 life, but it still enters tapped.
No other card is named in this ruling.