Restless PrairieRestless Prairie | Art by Randy Gallegos

Lands are a funny thing in Commander; they can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. Maybe you need to draw more of them, or less of them. Maybe they aren't producing the color of mana you need. Or maybe they keep entering tapped. Love them or hate them, you need your lands.

Since they're such a key part of the game, great lands tend to fetch a high price. However, since I'm Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, I brought you a list of strong budget lands that you can refer to the next time you're deckbuilding.

Before we get started, let's cover some of the criteria that went into putting this together.

My Thoughts on Budget Dual Lands

Let's start off right away by saying this: You shouldn't ignore non-budget lands. When you're looking to power up a deck, or just help it run a bit more smoothly, grabbing staples can be a good idea, since great lands will always be useful.

However, I don't think we should rely solely on the flashy cards in your game store's glass cases.

When I put this list together, I wanted it to be filled with solid lands that fixed your mana, of course, but I also looked for a few more things. Having a condition to enter untapped was paramount, but if they had to enter tapped, they should have some additional utility to offer.

Lands That Didn't Make the List

There will be a few lands you'll notice are missing from the list below: the gain lands (Tranquil CoveTranquil Cove), indestructible artifact lands (Mistvault BridgeMistvault Bridge), Dominaria dual lands (Geothermal BogGeothermal Bog), as well as Guildgates (Gruul GuildgateGruul Guildgate) are all omitted.

While these lands are beneficial in specific decks, they always enter tapped and don't provide enough value to a broad number of strategies.

However, if you have them in your collection, don't be afraid to utilize them. One of the best ways to build on a budget is by playing the cards you already own!

Honorable Mentions

Let's give a quick shout out to two cards that might not be dual lands, but are the best budget mana fixers in the format: Command TowerCommand Tower and Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard. These two should go in every deck that is two or more colors, so don't forget to grab them when you're putting your deck together.

Of course, we also can't forget about the bounce lands. While some players don't include these in their decks, it's always good to know that they are on hand when you need them. So, here is a list of them, just in case you need to copy one of them over into your 99.

Now for the List

When I'm quantifying a "budget" land, I tend to lean towards the cards being $1 or less. Now, that might seem extreme to some players, however I'm aiming for this list to be easy to purchase whenever you're grabbing a new deck from your local game store or favorite online retailer.

As we go through each one of the dual color pairs, I'll list the benefits for each land type, that way there's no confusion on why they ended up here.

Finally, these are in alphabetical order. That just seemed to take all bias out of the list and made it more of a level playing field for each inclusion. Now, with all of that out of the way, let's get into it!

Azorius Lands

• Adarkar WastesAdarkar Wastes - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Glacial FortressGlacial Fortress - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Irrigated FarmlandIrrigated Farmland - Cycling Land: enters tapped, but has the upside of two basic land types, as well as a low cycling cost.
• Port TownPort Town - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.

• Prairie StreamPrairie Stream - Battle Land: can enter untapped, with the upside of having two basic land types, but requires you to have two basics already in play.
• Seachrome CoastSeachrome Coast - Fast Land: can enter untapped, but only if you have two or fewer other lands, which makes this good in the early game.

• Skycloud ExpanseSkycloud Expanse - Filter Land: always enters untapped, but requires additional mana to activate their ability.
• Temple of EnlightenmentTemple of Enlightenment - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Dimir Lands

• Choked EstuaryChoked Estuary - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.
• Darkwater CatacombsDarkwater Catacombs - Filter Land: always enters untapped, but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Fetid PoolsFetid Pools - Cycling Land: enters tapped, but has the upside of two basic land types, as well as a low cycling cost.
• Restless ReefRestless Reef - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.

• River of TearsRiver of Tears - Future Sight Dual: always enters untapped, but requires specific sequencing to give you the type of mana you need.
• Sunken HollowSunken Hollow - Battle Land: can enter untapped, with the upside of having two basic land types, but requires you to have two basics already in play.

• Tainted IsleTainted Isle - Tainted Land: always enters untapped, however requires a deck to have a certain number of Swamps to be effective.
• Temple of DeceitTemple of Deceit - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Rakdos Lands

• Canyon SloughCanyon Slough - Cycling Land: enters tapped, but has the upside of two basic land types, as well as a low cycling cost.
• Dragonskull SummitDragonskull Summit - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Foreboding RuinsForeboding Ruins - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.
• Restless VentsRestless Vents - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.

• Shadowblood RidgeShadowblood Ridge - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.
• Smoldering MarshSmoldering Marsh - Battle Land: can enter untapped, with the upside of having two basic land types, but requires you to have two basics already in play.

• Tainted PeakTainted Peak - Tainted Land: always enters untapped, however requires a deck to have a certain number of Swamps to be effective.
• Temple of MaliceTemple of Malice - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Gruul Lands

• Cinder GladeCinder Glade - Battle Land: can enter untapped, with the upside of having two basic land types, but requires you to have two basics already in play.
• Copperline GorgeCopperline Gorge - Fast Land: can enter untapped, but only if you have two or fewer other lands, which makes this good in the early game.

• Game TrailGame Trail - Reveal Land: can enter untapped but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.
• Mossfire ValleyMossfire Valley - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Restless RidgelineRestless Ridgeline - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.
• Rootbound CragRootbound Crag - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Sheltered ThicketSheltered Thicket - Cycling Land: enters tapped, but has the upside of two basic land types, as well as a low cycling cost.
• Temple of AbandonTemple of Abandon - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Selesnya Lands

• BrushlandBrushland - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Canopy VistaCanopy Vista - Battle Land: can enter untapped, with the upside of having two basic land types, but requires you to have two basics already in play.

• Fortified VillageFortified Village - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.
• Restless PrairieRestless Prairie - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.

• Scattered GrovesScattered Groves - Cycling Land: enters tapped, but has the upside of two basic land types, as well as a low cycling cost.
• Sungrass PrairieSungrass Prairie - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Sunpetal GroveSunpetal Grove - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.
• Temple of PlentyTemple of Plenty - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Orzhov Lands

• Caves of KoilosCaves of Koilos - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Desolate MireDesolate Mire - Filter Land: always enters untapped, but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Fetid HeathFetid Heath - Eventide Filter Land: always enters untapped, taps for a colorless and can be filtered into any combination of two colors of mana.
• Isolated ChapelIsolated Chapel - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Restless FortressRestless Fortress - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.
• Shineshadow SnarlShineshadow Snarl - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.

• Tainted FieldTainted Field - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Temple of SilenceTemple of Silence - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Izzet Lands

• Cascade BluffsCascade Bluffs - Eventide Filter Land: always enters untapped, taps for a colorless and can be filtered into any combination of two colors of mana.
• Ferrous LakeFerrous Lake - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Frostboil SnarlFrostboil Snarl - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.
• Restless SpireRestless Spire - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.

• Shivan ReefShivan Reef - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Sulfur FallsSulfur Falls - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Temple of EpiphanyTemple of Epiphany - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Golgari Lands

• Llanowar WastesLlanowar Wastes - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Necroblossom SnarlNecroblossom Snarl - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.

• Tainted WoodTainted Wood - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Temple of MaladyTemple of Malady - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

• Twilight MireTwilight Mire - Eventide Filter Land: always enters untapped, taps for a colorless and can be filtered into any combination of two colors of mana.
• Viridescent BogViridescent Bog - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Woodland CemeteryWoodland Cemetery - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

Boros Lands

• Battlefield ForgeBattlefield Forge - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.
• Clifftop RetreatClifftop Retreat - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Furycalm SnarlFurycalm Snarl - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.
• Restless BivouacRestless Bivouac - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.

• Rugged PrairieRugged Prairie - Eventide Filter Land: always enters untapped, taps for a colorless and can be filtered into any combination of two colors of mana.
• Sunscorched DivideSunscorched Divide - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.

• Temple of Triumph - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.

Simic Lands

• Flooded GroveFlooded Grove - Eventide Filter Land: always enters untapped, taps for a colorless and can be filtered into any combination of two colors of mana.
• Hinterland HarborHinterland Harbor - Check Land: consistently enters untapped with minimal deckbuilding requirements.

• Overflowing BasinOverflowing Basin - Filter Land: always enters untapped but requires additional mana to activate their ability.
• Restless VinestalkRestless Vinestalk - Restless Land: enters tapped, but can turn into a beneficial creature if needed.

• Temple of MysteryTemple of Mystery - Scry Land: enters tapped, but assists with smoothing out your draws at any stage of the game.
• Vineglimmer SnarlVineglimmer Snarl - Reveal Land: can enter untapped, but requires correct sequencing to meet that condition.

• Waterlogged GroveWaterlogged Grove - Horizon Land: always enters untapped, but costs life to gain mana. However, it can be cheaply cashed in for a card when needed.
• Yavimaya CoastYavimaya Coast - Pain Land: always enters untapped, can be used without spending the life if need be.

In Closing

Well, there you have it, a big list of budget dual lands for commander. As you saw, most of the colors had about seven or eight cards listed for them, which might not seem like a lot. However, when you factor in utility lands and other ways to fix your mana, you could be hitting that 38 land count in no time.

Also, if you're making a three-color deck, then these go from only seven or eight cards, to close to twenty. Melding three different two-color pairs gets you a lot of coverage for what your deck needs.

So, the next time you go to build around a new commander, pick up some of these lands to ensure your ambition isn't limited by your wallet.

The Full List For Purchasing