Summary
Plains cards may be core toMagic: The Gathering, but they don’t have to be plain in design. There have been many different variations of these basic land cards across the years, featuring illustrations by a number of artists. This means you’ll always be able to find one to suit your deck.
These particular plains cards are the most valuable, mostly due to rarity, and among them are some unique and interesting designs which you won’t find anywhere else.
10Plains By Lars Grant-West - $25.29
Secret Lair Drop #63 The Godzilla Lands (Japanese)
This plains card, only available in the Japanese Godzilla Lands Secret Lair Drop, shows two small figures waving at Godzilla and Mothra. The picture-perfect mountains and the beautifully crafted plains spread across the card, with the Kaiju dominating the top half of the image.
An interesting combination of plains and iconic monsters, this card is a unique way to add a basic land which is not so basic in design to your deck. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the unique nature of this plains card.
9Plains By Stephan Martiniere - $34
Magic Premiere Shop 2005 #287 (Japanese)
This fantasy-style design from the Japanese Magic Premiere Shop series, distributed via selected game stores back in 2005, is sure to be recognizable to fans of Stephan Martiniere. His signature columns look like they belong in Rivendell, and here are complimented by statues.
The artwork is beautiful but not easily recognizable as a plains theme, due to it mainly focusing on paths, statues, nearby columns and a city in the background. This makes it all the more unique for anyone looking for something without a focus on fields or hills.
8Plains By Rob Alexander - $35.33
Arena League 1999 #7
This plains design by Rob Alexander was awarded as an Arena League prize in 1999. The deep plains circle around and appear as cliffs with an orange sky surrounding them. Clouds contrast with the rocky ground, creating an interesting illusion.
At first glance, this looks like it could be land surrounding water, until you notice the clouds at the base. It creates an interesting design which is more sky than land, and has some unique rock designs adding interest to the landscape.
7Plains By Jack Wei - $37.49
Portal (POR) #196s (Chinese)
Portal is a starter set from 1997. There were three Portal sets in total, with this card being from the first. Portal sets are different in both design and mechanics, having no instants, enchantments or artifacts. This set actually comprises several land cards but this specific one is the most affordable.
The rolling plains are a simple but effective design, making it obvious what the card’s type is. This helped with the simplicity of the rules and gameplay for beginners looking to play MTG.
6Plains By Terese Nielsen - $59.14
Judge Gift Cards 2014 #1
This captivating land card was a Judge Gift Card back in 2014. The vibrant blue sky with a smattering of clouds shares the frame with rolling green hills. Terese Nielsen’s artwork is both captivating and beautiful, feeling very traditional in nature.
If you’re seeking a card filled with a stunning skyline and detailed plains then this one evokes watercolor painting vibes and would fit in nicely in any traditional deck.
5Plains By Jesper Myrfors - $67.06
Limited Edition Alpha #287
This muted pastel illustration by Jesper Myrfors is one of the earliest MTG cards from the Limited Edition Alpha. Traditional fields are framed here by a cloudy sky detailed with clouds, and grass with wildflowers in the foreground.
The traditional art here is a muted landscape packed with detail and evoking feelings of the time before a storm when the grass sways in the wind and everything feels tense. A perfect picture for a card.
4Plains By Eric Peterson - $69.99
European Land Program #9
This card by Eric Peterson is inspired by the Lowlands in the Netherlands. It’s an image evocative of the country, with a splash of colored tulips across the bottom of the card. The windmill in the background adds to the image, making it recognizable as Dutch.
The cloudy sky is also common in Europe, the lands celebrated by this set. If you want your art based on stunning landscapes you may actually visit, then this is a beautiful addition to your set.
3Plains By Ron Spears - $93.09
Asia Pacific Land Program #4
This card is from the Asia Pacific Land Program and depicts a field of beautiful sunflowers, all facing the same way and stretching as far as you can see. The blue sky peaks over the top, finishing the bright and captivating design.
Ron Spears' design is Japanese-inspired and is a unique, eye-catching and detailed design offering a different perspective on a plains card. Nature lovers will enjoy the sunny style.
2Plains By Jack Wei - $125
Portal (POR) #197s / #199s (Chinese)
These plains cards are also from the portal set and illustrated by Jack Wei. They make a set together with the third card from earlier in the list. However, these two are both worth much more for unknown reasons. What we do know if that they have the same style as the third.
Plains is very much the focus here, as the majority of the artwork on both is a sprawling grass landscape with hills and trees marking out differing parts of the landscape. One design also has a lake in the background. Nature at it’s most detailed.
1Plains By Terese Nielsen - $399
Guru (PGRU) #1
This plains card from the Guru set is not only incredibly rare but also incredibly beautiful. The background is a barren-looking plain with hills and a tree across the skyline. However, it’s Terese Nielsen’s overlaid details here which make this stand out.
The card is almost split in half with the left-hand side overlaid with a sketched diagram of the moon’s path to its current position. The overlay adds depth and detail to this card, also linking it with other basic land cards in the same set by the same artist.
