The History of Fetch Lands and Why They're So Expensive

Why Every Competitive Magic Player Wants Them (and Pays the Price)

If you've spent any time looking into building a Magic: The Gathering deck—especially in Modern, Legacy, or Commander—you’ve probably run into a type of land called a Fetch Land. You’ve also probably noticed something else: they’re expensive. Often $20–$80 each, and you usually want four.

So… what’s the deal?

In this blog, we’ll cover:

- What fetch lands are

- Their history in MTG

- Why they’re so valuable

- Whether you really need them

- How to get them affordably

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🌉 What Are Fetch Lands?

Fetch lands are a cycle of lands that let you pay 1 life and search your library for a land with specific land types, putting it onto the battlefield.

Classic Example:

Scalding Tarn
{T}, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Scalding Tarn: Search your library for an *Island or Mountain* card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle.

They don’t just “grab a land”—they grab dual lands, shock lands, triomes, and more. That’s what makes them so powerful: color fixing and deck thinning in one card.

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A Brief History of Fetch Lands

🔹 1996: Mirage Fetch Lands (Slow Fetches)

The first fetch-style cards: Flood Plain, Bad River, etc.

They entered the battlefield tapped and were much slower.

Useful in casual play, but nowhere near today’s power level.

🔹 2002: Onslaught Fetch Lands (OG Five)

Polluted Delta, Windswept Heath, Bloodstained Mire, etc.

The first "true" fetches—instant-speed, untapped, and format-defining.

Extremely popular in Legacy and Commander ever since.

🔹 2009: Zendikar Fetch Lands (Enemy Colors)

Scalding Tarn, Misty Rainforest, Arid Mesa, etc.

Completed the cycle with enemy color pairings.

Print run was limited, demand skyrocketed.

🔹 2020–2021: Reprints (Finally)

Secret Lair / Modern Horizons 2 brought partial relief.

Still expensive due to massive demand and only partial reprints.

There are now 10 “true” fetch lands: 5 from Onslaught, 5 from Zendikar.

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Why Are Fetch Lands So Expensive?

Several key reasons:

1. Format Ubiquity

Fetches are played in Commander, Modern, Legacy, and Vintage

They slot into almost any multi-color deck

Most players need 4–10+ for a single deck

2. Power Level

Enable consistent color fixing

Trigger landfall, fill the graveyard, or thin your deck

Synergize with shock lands, dual lands, and triomes

3. Limited Reprints

Fetch lands are not reprinted often, especially in Standard

Most reprints come through specialty sets (Modern Masters, MH2, Secret Lair)

Some fetches, like Scalding Tarn, go years without restock

4. Casual + Competitive Demand

Commander players want them

Modern grinders need them

Collectors hoard them

Speculators invest in them

Result? Low supply, high demand.

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Do You Need Fetch Lands?

It depends.

Yes, If You:

Play competitive formats like Modern or Legacy

Run multi-color Commander decks and want maximum consistency

Play landfall, graveyard, or spell-synergy archetypes

No, If You:

Play mono-colored decks

Are just starting out

Don’t mind occasional slow mana

There are great budget alternatives like:

Evolving Wilds

Terramorphic Expanse

Fabled Passage

Slow fetches like Rocky Tar Pit or Jund Panorama

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Where to Get Fetch Lands (and How to Save)

If you're looking to invest wisely:

Buy singles instead of opening random boosters

Watch for reprint announcements and seasonal drops

Look for played condition cards if you want to save 20–30%

Keep an eye on our Weekly Singles Deals section

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Final Thoughts

Fetch lands are one of the best investments you can make in MTG. They’re powerful, flexible, and used across nearly every format. But you don’t have to rush—start slow, use budget versions, and upgrade over time.

Once you play with real fetches, you’ll understand why they’ve stood the test of time.