Summary
InMagic: The Gatheringyou could argue that there’s nothing basic about land cards. They are the foundation of the game, with basic lands being used to tap for mana you’ll need for everything else. Forests are the cards you tap for green mana, and predictably, they are nature-themed.
These basic forests are more diverse in design than you’d expect, and some of them are surprisingly expensive. If you want to generate mana with the rarest of deck staples, then take a look at these valuable forests.
10Forest By Martina Pilcerova - $26.37
Magic Premiere Shop (2006) #5
The Magic Premiere Shop sets are limited-edition promotional drops designed to celebrate local game stores where they were sold. This print is from the Japanese language Magic Premiere Shop 2006 set and was illustrated by Martina Pilcerova.
The unique design draws your focus to the center, where broken tree stumps bend to face each other. Underneath swirls a blue ground which adds an eerie edge to the art. This idea of a broken forest stands out against the other lush trees, making this illustration captivating.
9Forest By Kev Walker - $29.99
European Land Program #6
The European Land sets are a series of lands where the illustrations are based on real locations in Europe. This particular card is an illustration of Broceliande in France by Kev Walker. You can see the trees are more realistic here, with grass surrounding the roots.
The path cutting through the middle is a common sight in Europe and this card captures not only the way through but also the density of many European forests where the height of the trees dominates, and the sky is difficult to see.
8Forest By Jorge Jacinto - $30.08
Judge Gift Cards 2023 #10
This is one of the most vibrant forest cards, with dark branches tangling together across a bright green background. The leaves blend into the green nicely, creating a swirl of different shades of green in this Judge Gift Card art by Jorge Jacinto.
Given away to tournament judges in 2023, this eye-catching card also features the silhouette of an owl in the center, with its eyes standing out as it sits on a central branch. The tall domineering image is a perfectly mysterious place.
7Forest By Christopher Rush - $30.50
Limited Edition Beta (LEB) #302
This illustration from the Limited Edition Beta sets was done by Christopher Rush and depicts a very traditional fantasy forest. A large tree dominates the front of the frame, with its leaves spreading across the top of the illustration. Behind it other large trees and rocks are shadowed in the background.
If you’re looking for classical art, then this is a great example. It feels very much like the kind of forest a fairy tale would take place in, with dark grounds and a blue sky just peaking out in the background.
6Forest By Stephan Martiniere - $30.99
Magic Premiere Shop 2005 #303
This Premiere Shop set is from 2005 and this particular print is the Japanese language version. It’s a fantasy-style design and here your focus is drawn towards pillars and archways in the background, framed gently by the shadow of a forest. While there are trees they feel secondary here.
If you want a forest that’s more than just trees, this illustration is a great choice. The fantasy vibes evoke feelings of discovering a magical place within some kind of enchanted forest. Ready for exploration and adventure.
5Forest By Christopher Rush - $40.77
Limited Edition Alpha (LEA) #295
This illustration, one of several Christopher Rush did for the Alpha, has a large and domineering tree yet manages to retain colour and vibrancy with the addition of bright flowers along a path snaking down the center of the design. The blue sky is also more visible than in many forest cards.
This artwork was also reprinted in the Limited Edition Beta and that version has a value of around $28.
This forest looks ancient, with wide chunky trees that must be very old. The tree branches frame this illustration well, and the brightness of it makes it a nice card to look at and match up to others.
4Forest By Christopher Rush - $41.21
Limited Edition Alpha (LEA) #294
This forest is sparse yet spooky. Here Christopher Rush has drawn focus to some jagged rocks in the foreground, surrounded by a few sparse branches of small trees. The background is dominated by the shadow of a large tree trunk.
The misty sky dominates here as it frames the large tree trunk’s shadow, giving everything a hazy blue color before the brown rocks pop in the foreground. A unique choice for more traditional artwork.
3Forest By Terese Neilsen - $64.51
Judge Gift Cards 2014 #5
Terese Neilsen’s Forest, given away as a Judge Gift Card in 2014, fills the card with life atop a rocky background. This basic land is both dramatic and inviting, with its silhouetted trees standing tall in the image.
This beautifully drawn forest feels like a misty paradise, with the hint of sun in the corner. The trees contrast nicely against the sky, casting shadows across the ground littered with foliage. The peak of a mountain in the background adds a nice touch.
2Forest By Lie Tie - $125
Portal Three Kingdoms
Portal Three Kingdoms is a starter set which was released mostly in Asia. While the cards were not originally tournament-legal, they were later made so in Eternal formats (Vintage, Legacy, Commander, and Pauper).
Illustrated by Lie Tie, these bamboo forests offer a unique take on the forest theme, with different sizes of bamboo set against beautiful green fields and blue skies. At a glance, they look very similar, but the background details especially are all unique.
1Forest By Terese Nielsen - $457.50
Guru (PGRU) #5
This land card was given away as part of the Guru program, where experienced players helped newcomers to the game learn the rules and get started. The program ran from July 1999 to October 2000, and those involved would earn points from new players using their referral cards. Gurus could exchange points for a set of Guru lands, of which this is one.
The program was replaced by the Magic: The Gathering Academy after its discontinuation and the associated artwork has never been reprinted. That makes this stunning illustration by Terese Nielsen of a forest bathed in moonlight truly rare.
