What's the Big Deal

[The1337Magician]

Why are shock lands so much money. I don't see why they are so good. For example: {Stomping Ground}
It's just a land that enters tapped unless I pay life. I know I wasn't too big on phyrexian mana too, but paying life for mana seems just a little extreme to me. If you want my shock lands... Just take them!
(And for the record, {Jungle Troll} is beautiful.)

[Dudecore]

I'll take em ✋

[Keyeto]

Shocklands are priced because they're highly sought after. Most lands that give you more than one mana come into play tapped. Having the ability to have that mana right away is great. When it comes down to it, mana is the way you're going to win, and the faster your source of mana, the better. And being able to pay life instead of mana: HUGELY overpowered. See: {Channel}, {Fireball}, and {Black Lotus}. It was an easy way to kill the opponent before they could even take their turn. All because of using life for mana.

[darkshanx]

I think it's because you can play the shock land and if you're desperate for mana you can pay life that can allow to take an immediate advantage using one of the two colours if mana you get. So if there's a card that could win you the game and you know your opponent hasn't got anyway to counter it you could pay the two life to cast the card while you can.

[Dudecore]

Magic is a game of resources, life is one of those resources. You don't get bonus points for winning with the most amount of life. You win by getting your opponent to 0 by whatever means necessary.

[The1337Magician]

Shocklands are priced because they're highly sought after. Most lands that give you more than one mana come into play tapped. Having the ability to have that mana right away is great. When it comes down to it, mana is the way you're going to win, and the faster your source of mana, the better. And being able to pay life instead of mana: HUGELY overpowered. See: {Channel}, {Fireball}, and {Black Lotus}. It was an easy way to kill the opponent before they could even take their turn. All because of using life for mana.

Of course  {Black Lotus} has since been banned.
I do see the idea behind these cards though: {Dimir Aqueduct}

[Dudecore]

Bounce Lands or Karoo lands are for reusing lands with abilities ({Bojuka Bog}, {Vesuva}, renaming {Cavern of Souls}) and for Landfall - ie {Grazing Gladehart}

[Falcon182]

I think we are being  {Sea Troll}ed.

[The1337Magician]

Actually you're being  {Murder}ed.

[Mikefrompluto]

Actually you're being  {Murder}ed.

May I direct your attention this way?
http://imtgapp.com/forum/index.php?topic=160.0#top

#4

[The1337Magician]

Clever.  {Jace's Ingenuity}
{I had no actual intention of murdering anyone}

[Mikefrompluto]

Clever.  {Jace's Ingenuity}
{I had no actual intention of murdering anyone}

Hahah I know guy.

[The1337Magician]

{You've gotta admit this is pretty cool}
Why does that link to a card?

[Keyeto]

{You've gotta admit this is pretty cool}
Why does that link to a card?

Anything put in curly brackets will try and link the closest card to it. It's led to some fun things, like the "What Card Are You?" Topic.

[Dmreiss]

Magic is a game of resources, life is one of those resources. You don't get bonus points for winning with the most amount of life. You win by getting your opponent to 0 by whatever means necessary.

This... Does it matter if you have 20 life or 1 life if your opponent has 0?  No... If the land helps you cast what you need and you have responses to your opponent, then it is a huge advantage.