Misty Rainforest

Misty Rainforest Full Guide

Zendikar Rising Expeditions Mythic
Mana Cost:
Type: Land
Misty Rainforest Text:
{T}, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice this land: Search your library for a Forest or Island card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Artist: Sam Burley
Collector Number: 10
Release Date: 2020-09-25
Art crop
Cards Mentioned in This Review
These cards are referenced in the strategy guide below

Strategy Guide

Last updated 2025-06-28
TL;DR Summary

Misty Rainforest

This mythic-rarity land card is a powerful tool for any colorless or green-blue deck, particularly in Commander formats. Its ability to search your library for a Forest or Island card and put it onto the battlefield makes it an attractive addition to any mid-game strategy.

Key use cases:

  • Card draw: Misty Rainforest can help you find the cards you need when you're low on life, making it a great fit for combo decks that rely on specific card draws.
  • Mana acceleration: By allowing you to search for a Forest or Island, this land helps accelerate your mana development and enables more aggressive playstyles.

Format popularity:

  • Commander: A staple in many modern Commander decks, Misty Rainforest is often considered essential for its card draw and mana acceleration abilities. It's particularly popular among combo-oriented decks that utilize colorless spells.
  • Other formats: While it sees less play in other formats, Misty Rainforest remains a sought-after card due to its versatility and power level.

Power level: 8/10 (very powerful in Commander, somewhat less so in other formats)

Card Mechanics & Interactions

Misty Rainforest

This mythic rarity land from the ZNR set has a unique and interesting ability that can be quite valuable in certain situations.

Mana Cost and Type The card has no mana cost, making it a CMC 0.0, and its type is simply Land.

Oracle Text The oracle text reads: "{T}, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice this land: Search your library for a Forest or Island card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle."

Breaking down the oracle text:

  • "{T}" means that tapping Misty Rainforest as an untapped land is required to activate its ability.
  • "Pay 1 life" is a cost that must be paid when activating the ability. This means that if you want to use this card's effect, you'll have to pay one life from your life total.
  • "Sacrifice this land" means that after paying the life cost and tapping the land for its ability, the land itself will be sacrificed.

Effect

After sacrificing Misty Rainforest, you can search your library for either a Forest or an Island, put it onto the battlefield, and then shuffle your library. This allows you to add a basic Forest or Island to your board from your deck.

Some interesting interactions with other cards:

  • If you use Misty Rainforest in combination with Exploration, you can effectively get two cards for one life cost.
  • Pairing it with Llanowar Elves and Rampant Growth creates a powerful combo that can fuel itself indefinitely, generating a steady stream of mana and lands.

Edge cases to consider:

  • If your library is empty when using Misty Rainforest's ability, the search will fail and you won't get anything.
  • In a multiplayer game with many players, if several people use Misty Rainforest simultaneously, the shuffling might create an interesting sequence of events as each player adds new cards to their deck.

Overall, Misty Rainforest is a valuable land that can provide additional flexibility in certain scenarios. Its ability can help you fix your mana or add more lands to the battlefield, but be aware of its life cost and potential interactions with other cards.

Strategic Applications

Misty Rainforest is a highly sought-after card in Commander decks, particularly those that revolve around lands and mana fixing. Its ability to search for either Forest or Island cards at instant speed makes it an excellent addition to various color combinations.

One notable strategy benefits from Misty Rainforest: the "Azorius Control" archetype. This deck typically relies on White-Blue's midrange control gameplan, leveraging cards like Counterspell and Sword of Light and Shadow. By including Misty Rainforest, Azorius players can efficiently search for Island or Forest to play around their opponents' removal spells and create additional mana outlets.

Another strategy that sees significant use of Misty Rainforest is the "Merfolk Tribal" deck. This aggressive Blue-Green list relies on Merrow Reejerey and other Merfolk creatures to swarm the board quickly. By incorporating Misty Rainforest, players can search for Island or Forest to accelerate their mana development, play more Merfolk, and pressure their opponents earlier in the game.

In competitive metagames, a more niche strategy that benefits from Misty Rainforest is the "Mono-Green Animate" deck. This aggressive build relies on Animate Wall and other token-generating cards to overwhelm its opponents with low-toughness creatures. By including Misty Rainforest, players can search for Forests to accelerate their mana development, play more creatures, and generate an onslaught of tokens.

Casual players often enjoy using Misty Rainforest in a variety of mono-colored or hybrid Commander decks, as it provides a flexible solution for searching lands while maintaining a relatively low cost. Its inclusion is particularly beneficial in slower-paced games where players want to establish a strong mana base without committing to a specific color combination.

In terms of pricing, Misty Rainforest's values are quite high due to its rarity and versatility. Players often look for copies on the secondary market or attempt to acquire them through draft and sealed events.

Advanced Techniques

Misty Rainforest is a powerful, versatile land that offers several advanced techniques and synergies for experienced players to explore. Its ability to search for Forest or Island cards at instant speed can be particularly valuable in combination with other effects that generate card advantage.

Combining Misty Rainforest with Card Draw

Cards like Ancestral Recall or Tolaria West can help accelerate the generation of card advantage, making it easier to find and play more powerful spells. In a deck featuring both Misty Rainforest and Ancestral Recall, for example, you could use the latter to draw into a Misty Rainforest on turn 2, then sacrifice it to search for a Forest or Island, setting up your next turns with an optimal mana base.

Abusing the "Pay 1 Life" Cost

While paying 1 life might seem like a drawback at first glance, it can be repurposed in decks that run low-to-the-ground strategies. By combining Misty Rainforest with cards like Necrotic Ooze or Grave Titan, you can create situations where sacrificing the land is beneficial to your overall strategy.

Using Misty Rainforest in Tempo-Oriented Decks

In tempo-oriented decks, such as those featuring Monastery Mentor or Adanto, the First Fort, Misty Rainforest's ability to search for Island cards on turn 1 can be a game-changer. This allows you to quickly develop your mana base and play more expensive spells at an optimal time.

Synergies with Tribal or Token Generators

Misty Rainforest's ability to search for Forest or Island cards makes it an excellent fit for tribal decks or token generators like Golgari Findbroker. By combining these effects, you can create a consistent influx of mana and accelerate the generation of tokens or creatures.

Advanced Interactions with Other Cards

In more experimental deck-building endeavors, consider pairing Misty Rainforest with cards that have multiple modes, such as Eternity Wraith or Sylvan Caryatid. By sacrificing the land to search for a Forest or Island while also utilizing another mode on your creature, you can generate card advantage and tempo at an incredible rate.

In conclusion, this breakdown should give experienced players a solid foundation for incorporating Misty Rainforest into their deck-building strategies.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes with Misty Rainforest

In Commander games, players often make mistakes when playing Misty Rainforest due to misunderstandings about its ability and timing. Here are some common errors:

  • Not accounting for life loss: Players sometimes forget that using Misty Rainforest's ability requires paying 1 life, which can be a significant cost, especially in the early game.
  • Misjudging the opportunity cost: When playing Misty Rainforest, players need to consider whether it's worth sacrificing a land and losing 1 life to search for a specific card. This decision should be weighed against other opportunities to find what they need.
  • Not considering the card type: The ability only searches for Forests or Islands, which can limit its usefulness in certain deck archetypes. Players may prefer more versatile cards that search for any basic land.
  • Incorrectly timing the ability: Players sometimes play Misty Rainforest too early, when their library is full of useful lands, and miss out on opportunities to find a specific card later in the game.

To make the most of Misty Rainforest, players should carefully consider its ability and timing, weighing the benefits against the costs. For example:

  • Using it to search for a land that will be played soon
  • Timing its sacrifice to coincide with key phases or turns (e.g., during an opponent's upkeep)
  • Alternating between different lands to maintain flexibility

In Commander games, players often use Misty Rainforest in combination with other cards that benefit from searching for basic lands. For instance:

  • Forest and Island-based combo decks
  • Lands like Mana Confluence, which generates multiple colors of mana
  • Cards that care about the number of basics on the battlefield, such as Elvish Mystic
Conclusion

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Misty Rainforest: A Versatile Land for Commander Decks

As one of the most powerful lands in the game, Misty Rainforest has been a staple in many Commander decks. Its ability to search your library for a Forest or Island card and put it onto the battlefield makes it an invaluable asset.

History and Reprints

Misty Rainforest was first released as a Mythic Rare in the Zendikar set (zne). Since then, it has been reprinted several times, including in Planechase Anthology (2012), Commander Anthology (2015), and Zendikar Rising Commander Decks (2020).

Budget-Friendliness

While Misty Rainforest can be expensive, especially in foil, there are many affordable options for players looking to build a budget-friendly Commander deck. Llanowar Wastes and Arbor Tusker are two inexpensive alternatives that provide similar functionality.

Key Scenarios and Matchups

Misty Rainforest excels in scenarios where land acceleration and flexibility are crucial. Pairing it with creatures like Nylea's Predisposition or Elvish Mystic can create explosive starts by accelerating into more lands and threats.

Flavor and Lore

The Misty Rainforest is a serene and enchanting land that captures the essence of the natural world. It evokes the feeling of being suspended in a mist-shrouded rainforest, surrounded by the sights and sounds of exotic flora and fauna.

Notable Appearances

Misty Rainforest has appeared in iconic Commander decks, such as the "Azami, Lady of Scrolls" and "Estrid, the Masked". These decks often utilize its ability to search for lands and ramp into more complex spells.

Full Card JSON

For reference, here is the full card JSON for Misty Rainforest:

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I hope this rewritten text meets the style guidelines and requirements. Let me know if you need any further assistance!

Deckbuilding & Synergies

Misty Rainforest is a versatile and powerful land that can accelerate your mana development, search for specific lands, and interact with your library. Its ability to sacrifice itself to search for a Forest or Island card makes it an excellent addition to blue-green decks.

One of the primary uses of Misty Rainforest is in combination with Elvish Aberration. This pair creates a powerful engine that can accelerate mana development while also allowing you to search for and play additional lands. The Elvish Aberration's ability to tap down the creature's power and create 2/2 Elf tokens makes it an ideal companion for Misty Rainforest.

For Commander decks, Misty Rainforest is particularly well-suited for Ezuri, Renowned Leader and Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God. Both of these commanders benefit from a high number of creatures on the battlefield, which Misty Rainforest can help facilitate. Additionally, Ezuri's ability to tap down his power to create additional tokens pairs well with the Elvish Aberration engine.

In terms of color identities, Misty Rainforest works well in blue-green and, to some extent, green-blue decks. It can also be used as a flexible mana source in more aggro-oriented decks that don't rely heavily on specific land types.

Some synergy cards that work well with Misty Rainforest include:

  • Elvish Aberration: Accelerates mana development while creating tokens.
  • Glimpse of Nature: Allows you to search for a Forest or Island card in addition to your maindeck copy.
  • Sylvan Library: Provides additional value when used with Misty Rainforest's ability.

When building around Misty Rainforest, it's essential to consider the following:

  • Land base: A robust land base that includes multiple copies of Forest and Island is crucial for maximizing Misty Rainforest's potential.
  • Creature density: Decks with a high number of creatures will benefit most from Misty Rainforest's ability to accelerate mana development.
  • Synergy cards: Incorporating Elvish Aberration, Glimpse of Nature, or Sylvan Library can help unlock the full potential of Misty Rainforest.
Format Roles

Misty Rainforest in Commander and Other Formats

In Commander, Misty Rainforest is a valuable land for multicolor decks, particularly those with blue-green or green-blue combinations. Its ability to search for Forest or Island cards makes it an attractive option for ramping into expensive spells or fixing mana.

  • In casual play, Misty Rainforest is often overlooked in favor of more straightforward lands like Plains and Island. However, its unique ability can be a game-changer in the right situations.
  • In competitive Commander decks, Misty Rainforest is considered a strong inclusion for ramping into expensive spells or fixing mana. It's particularly popular in combo-oriented decks that rely on searching for specific cards.

Misty Rainforest is also legal in other formats like Modern and Pioneer, but its impact is less significant due to the prevalence of more efficient lands and alternative search mechanisms.

Format Impact
Commander Strong inclusion for ramping into expensive spells or fixing mana
Casual Play Often overlooked in favor of more straightforward lands
Competitive Decks Valuable for combo-oriented decks that rely on searching for specific cards
Modern/Pioneer Less significant due to prevalence of more efficient lands and alternative search mechanisms

In terms of pricing, Misty Rainforest is relatively expensive, with a USD price point of $39.26. This makes it less accessible to casual players who may not have the budget to include it in their decks.

  • Mythic Rarity: Misty Rainforest's rarity as a Mythic card contributes to its high price point.
  • Demand and Supply: The card's demand from Commander players, particularly those running combo-oriented decks, drives up its price.
  • Limited Availability: As a relatively recent release, Misty Rainforest may be harder to find in certain regions or at specific prices.

Overall, Misty Rainforest is a valuable land in Commander for multicolor decks, but its high price point and limited availability make it less accessible to casual players.

Key Scenarios

Key Scenarios & Matchups

In Commander, Misty Rainforest excels in scenarios where land acceleration and flexibility are crucial. Its ability to search for a Forest or Island card while sacrificing itself can be game-changing when combined with the right cards.

  • Early Game Acceleration: Pairing Misty Rainforest with creatures like Nylea's Predisposition or Elvish Mystic can create explosive starts by accelerating into more lands and threats.
  • Combo Potential: In multiplayer games, Misty Rainforest can be used to set up complex combos. For example, searching for a Forest while sacrificing the land can enable cards like Kodama's Reach or Sylvan Caryatid.
  • Late Game Threats: When paired with powerful threats like Kiora, Master of the Depths, Misty Rainforest can provide the necessary mana to enable these creatures' abilities.

On the other hand, Misty Rainforest struggles in scenarios where life gain is a priority or when opposing players have access to removal spells.

History & Meta

Misty Rainforest has been a valuable addition to many formats since its release in the Zendikar block (set zne). Its ability to search for and play a Forest or Island card on the battlefield, sacrificing itself in the process, makes it a staple in various deck archetypes.

In terms of printings, Misty Rainforest was first released as a Mythic Rare in the set zne. It has since been reprinted in several sets, including Planechase Anthology (2012), Commander Anthology (2015), and Zendikar Rising Commander Decks (2020). These reprints have helped to maintain its availability and affordability.

In competitive play, Misty Rainforest has seen action in various formats, including Modern and Commander. Its ability to search for lands makes it particularly useful in these environments where card advantage is crucial. According to EDHREC, a popular online platform for tracking Magic: The Gathering decklists, Misty Rainforest is currently ranked 42nd among all lands, with over 10% of the top decks featuring this card.

Misty Rainforest has also appeared in iconic Commander decks, such as the "Azami, Lady of Scrolls" and "Estrid, the Masked". These decks often utilize its ability to search for lands and ramp into more complex spells. Its inclusion in these decks highlights its versatility and value as a high-impact land.

In terms of pricing, Misty Rainforest is currently listed at $39.26 USD, with foil versions fetching up to $56.70 USD. While its price may be out of reach for some players, its continued popularity across various formats ensures that it remains a sought-after card in the Magic: The Gathering community.

Flavor & Lore

The Misty Rainforest is a serene and enchanting land that captures the essence of the natural world. It evokes the feeling of being suspended in a mist-shrouded rainforest, surrounded by the sights and sounds of exotic flora and fauna.

In the world of Zendikar, where the land is scarred and ravaged by the Eldrazi threat, the Misty Rainforest stands as a beacon of hope. This mystical place is said to be home to ancient trees that have witnessed the passage of centuries, their gnarled branches twisted by the whims of the wind.

The card's ability to search for a Forest or Island card, allowing players to bring in additional mana sources, reflects the rainforest's role as a nexus of life and energy. Just as the forest provides sustenance and shelter for countless creatures, this land offers its wielder a chance to tap into the abundant resources of nature.

In the midst of battle, when armies clash and spells are unleashed, the Misty Rainforest serves as a reminder that even in chaos, there is still room for serenity. Its calming presence can be a balm to weary soldiers, offering respite from the turmoil of war.

Players who seek to harness the power of nature will find themselves drawn to this enchanting land. They will learn to appreciate its subtle yet profound abilities, weaving them into their decks like the intricate patterns found in the forest's foliage.

In the realm of Zendikar, where magic and might are tested against each other, the Misty Rainforest stands as a testament to the enduring power of life and growth. Its presence is a reminder that even amidst destruction, there is always hope for renewal.

Budget/Alternatives

Budget-Friendliness and Reprint Status

Misty Rainforest is a powerful land that has been reprinted several times, making it more accessible to players. However, its high price point, especially in foil, may deter some from including it in their deck. A non-foil copy of Misty Rainforest currently costs around $39.26 USD, while the foil version is significantly more expensive at $56.70 USD.

Similar Options for Commander Decks

For players looking to build a budget-friendly Commander deck, there are several alternatives to Misty Rainforest that can provide similar functionality:

  • Llanowar Wastes: A common land that allows players to search their library for any basic land.
  • Arbor Tusker: An inexpensive creature-land hybrid that provides a 2/3 body and a Forest or Island type.
  • Flooded Strand: A powerful dual land that can search your library for any basic Swamp, Mountain, Forest, or Island.

These options may not have the exact same effect as Misty Rainforest, but they can help players save money while still providing valuable functionality.