Port Town 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
As this land enters, you may reveal a Plains or Island card from your hand. If you don't, this land enters tapped.: Add
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Complete guide
Port Town is a versatile dual land that rewards players for building decks around specific basic land types. While it provides both white and blue mana, its efficiency depends entirely on the contents of your hand as it hits the battlefield. Mastering the timing of this land is key to ensuring your mana base remains fast and responsive.
How Port Town Enters the Battlefield
Port Town has a replacement effect that modifies how it enters the battlefield. As you play it, you have the choice to reveal a card from your hand that has the Plains or Island subtype. If you choose not to reveal a card, or if you do not have one to reveal, the land enters the battlefield tapped. This check happens exactly as the land is entering, meaning the revealed card stays in your hand afterward.
Subtypes vs. Mana Production
It is vital to remember that a land's subtype is what matters, not the mana it produces. Port Town itself does not have the Plains or Island subtypes; it is simply a Land. Therefore, you cannot reveal one copy of Port Town to allow a second copy of Port Town to enter untapped. You must look for the specific words 'Plains' or 'Island' on the type line of the cards in your hand.
Interaction with Other Effects
If an external effect, such as a spell or ability, specifically states that a land enters the battlefield tapped, that effect takes precedence. Even if you reveal a Plains or Island from your hand, Port Town will still enter tapped if the effect that put it onto the battlefield requires it. Additionally, if multiple lands are entering the battlefield at the same time, you can reveal one of the other lands (if it has the correct subtype) to satisfy Port Town's requirement.
When to Play Port Town
Port Town is most effective in the early to mid-game when your hand is still populated with other lands. It allows you to develop your mana base without falling behind on tempo. In the late game, if your hand is empty, it will almost always enter tapped, so plan your turns accordingly if you need immediate access to white or blue mana.
Interaction examples
Command TowerIf you control Port Town and Command Tower, you can tap Port Town for either White or Blue mana. Command Tower checks your commander's color identity; if your commander is White and Blue, Command Tower can also produce those colors, giving you high flexibility in your spell casting.
Exotic OrchardIf you have Port Town and Exotic Orchard in your hand, playing Port Town will result in it entering the battlefield tapped. Even if Exotic Orchard could produce White or Blue mana based on your opponent's lands, it does not have the 'Plains' or 'Island' subtype on its type line. Since you cannot reveal a qualifying card, Port Town cannot enter untapped.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Port Town
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs you to put Port Town onto the battlefield tapped, it will still enter the battlefield tapped even if you reveal a land card from your hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Lands don't have a subtype just because they can produce mana of the corresponding color. Port Town itself is neither a Plains nor an Island, even though it produces white and blue mana, so you can't reveal one to satisfy the ability of another.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You may reveal any land card with either or both of the appropriate subtypes. It doesn't have to be a basic land. For example, you could reveal Canopy Vista from the Battle for Zendikar set to satisfy the ability of Port Town.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a Plains or Island is entering the battlefield from your hand at the same time as Port Town, you may reveal the other land to have Port Town enter untapped.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Port Town
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.