Wastes

Wastes was introduced in the 2016 Magic: The Gathering expansion Oath of the Gatewatch, marking a significant mechanical shift as the first colorless basic land in the game's history. It was designed to support the set's central theme of Eldrazi, which are extra-dimensional entities that exist outside the traditional color wheel of magic. By requiring a specific mana source that was colorless yet distinct from utility lands, the card allowed players to generate colorless mana to pay for the 'Devoid' and Eldrazi-specific costs that defined the block's gameplay.

The artwork for this particular iteration was created by Adam Paquette, who aimed to capture the alien, desolate landscape of Zendikar as it was warped by the presence of the Eldrazi. The visual direction focused on stark, ethereal geometry and haunting color palettes to emphasize the theme of otherworldly consumption. Upon release, the card was well-received by the player base for its unique utility, though it quickly became a staple for collectors and deck-builders looking to facilitate colorless-heavy strategies in formats ranging from Standard to Commander.