fetch lands... i think theyr called

[GoJuDragon]

y do people run these? whats the point of paying 1 life to find a land? mayb its cuz im relitively new, but i dnt understand

[Willthomjr]

Onslaught lands are stupid expensive.

It's just like running a dual land except based on what hand you get you always get the color you need (granted yøū are playing 2 colors) and most dual lands have drawbacks

{root bound crag}
{razor verge thicket}
{bloodstained mire}

The last havin the smallest drawback IMO.

[Willthomjr]

I'm not familiar with some of the other lands, but yøū want flexibility with smallest setback.

[Dudecore]

In eternal formats (vintage and legacy), they are able to search your library for Shocklands and Dual Lands. 1 life isn't really a big deal because a) how often does a person lose by 1?  B) 1 life is a bargain for searching your library and limiting future dead draws

[D3g3n]

The idea is deck thinning, once you fetch a particular land, your library contains one less card, thus your chances of drawing something in particular is higher.

[GoJuDragon]

ahhh, i c... but y not use something like evolving wilds or terramorphic expanse?

[Dudecore]

Because they search for "basic land". Something like {flooded strand} can find {tundra} or {hallowed fountain}

[GoJuDragon]

ok. so then wuts the point of something like hallowed fountain, who wnts 2 pay 2 life just to bring it in untapped, i mean, i can understand turn 1 and mayb 2 potential, but after that whats the point?

[Dudecore]

Life isn't sacred, it's a resource. Shock lands can be used to aid in tempo, improving your board position and ultimately your chance at winning. If you can't use life has a resource then you're not playing to the fullest potential.

Speed is the name of the game.

[GoJuDragon]

i guess its since im a newbie-ish i dnt like loosing life much

[Dudecore]

i guess its since im a newbie-ish i dnt like loosing life much

Winning by 1 life or 20 is still a win. Magic is a battle of resources and who controls them.

[GoJuDragon]

okay, but still y wuld u wnt 2 pay 2 life on that when u could be using other duals?

[Dudecore]

Because they contain the words "Island Plains". Other dual lands say "land". They don't say "Basic Land", so you cant search for them with any modern cards. 

The shock lands and fetch lands work together, modern duals don't work with anything besides drawing them. Also, you can't guarantee they come in untapped.

[GoJuDragon]

ok, that makes since, thx for the help

[Dudecore]

ok, that makes since, thx for the help

For all intents and purposes, those cards are crazy expensive and are really only for tournament level players. A $500 card is nothing for someone who could win $1,000's at a tournament. Professional play is like a job, and anything that can give you an edge is worth whatever it costs.