1997 Magic: The Gathering Tempest Wasteland

Some Magic: The Gathering cards are valuable because they are rare. Others are valuable because they are powerful. Wasteland, from the 1997 Tempest expansion, is valuable because it is both. This unassuming land card, illustrated by Una Fricker, has been a cornerstone of competitive Magic for nearly three decades. It is one of the most played cards in Legacy and Vintage formats, one of the most influential designs in the game's history, and one of the most reliable stores of value in the entire MTG collectibles market.

For players, Wasteland is a tool of strategic destruction. For collectors, it is a piece of Magic history that has maintained consistent demand through every shift in the game's competitive landscape. The original Tempest printing, with its distinctive art and old-border frame, remains the definitive version of the card.

The Card

Game Text

Wasteland Land Tap: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. Tap, Sacrifice Wasteland: Destroy target nonbasic land.

What It Does

Wasteland's power lies in its elegant simplicity. It functions as a normal land that produces colorless mana, but it can also be sacrificed to destroy any nonbasic land an opponent controls. In a game where mana production is the foundation of every strategy, the ability to destroy an opponent's lands while developing your own position is devastatingly effective.

The card creates a fundamental tension in deck construction. If you play too many nonbasic lands (dual lands, fetch lands, utility lands), you become vulnerable to Wasteland. If you play too conservatively with basic lands, you sacrifice the power and flexibility that nonbasic lands provide. This tension has shaped competitive deck building in Legacy and Vintage for the card's entire history.

Design Context

Wasteland was designed as a more balanced version of Strip Mine, a card from Magic's earliest sets that could destroy any land (including basic lands) without restriction. Strip Mine was so powerful that it was restricted in Vintage and banned in Legacy. Wasteland's limitation to nonbasic lands only makes it powerful but fair, a design achievement that has stood the test of time.

The Tempest Set

Tempest was released on October 14, 1997, as the first set in the Tempest block. Designed by a team led by Mark Rosewater (who would go on to become Magic's head designer), Tempest is remembered as one of the most impactful expansions in the game's history.

The set introduced several mechanics and cards that would shape competitive play for years, but Wasteland may be its most enduring contribution. While other powerful Tempest cards have faded from competitive relevance as formats evolved, Wasteland has remained a staple.

Tempest Set Details

• Release Date: October 14, 1997

• Total Cards: 350

• Rarity Distribution: 110 rare, 110 uncommon, 110 common, 20 basic land

• Wasteland Rarity: Uncommon

• Illustrator: Una Fricker

The fact that Wasteland was printed at uncommon rarity is notable. It means more copies exist than if it had been printed as a rare, but demand has been so consistently high that even uncommon status has not prevented significant appreciation.

Competitive Legacy

Wasteland's competitive resume is extraordinary. It has been a format staple in Legacy since the format's inception and sees play in Vintage as well.

Legacy

In Legacy, Wasteland is one of the most played cards in the format, appearing in approximately 40-60% of all competitive decks. It is a four-of inclusion in aggressive strategies (Delver of Secrets decks, Death and Taxes) and a two to three-of in many midrange and control decks.

Key Legacy strategies that rely on Wasteland include:

• Delver decks: Combine Wasteland with cheap threats and counterspells to attack the opponent's mana while applying pressure

• Death and Taxes: Use Wasteland alongside Rishadan Port and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to create a comprehensive mana denial strategy

• Lands: A dedicated land-destruction deck that uses Life from the Loam to recur Wastelands repeatedly

• Various tempo and aggro decks: Nearly any deck that can function on fewer lands benefits from Wasteland's ability to disrupt the opponent

Vintage

In Vintage, Wasteland sees play as a tool against the format's powerful nonbasic lands, including the original dual lands, Mishra's Workshop, Bazaar of Baghdad, and Library of Alexandria. It is less universally played than in Legacy but remains an important strategic tool.

Market History

Wasteland's price history reflects its sustained competitive demand:

• 1997-2000: Initially sold for $2 to $5 as an uncommon from a widely opened set

• 2001-2005: Climbed to $10 to $20 as Legacy format grew and supply from sealed product dried up

• 2006-2010: Reached $30 to $50 as Legacy became an official format and tournament demand intensified

• 2010-2015: Peaked around $60 to $80 before reprints in supplemental products created temporary price relief

• 2015-2020: Stabilized around $20 to $40 after Eternal Masters (2016) and other reprints increased supply

• 2020-2026: The original Tempest printing has diverged from reprint pricing, with collectors paying a premium for the original art and border

Current Market Values (2024-2026)

Tempest Printing (Original)

Condition	Estimated Value
Near Mint (NM)	$25 - $40
Lightly Played (LP)	$18 - $28
Moderately Played (MP)	$12 - $20
Heavily Played (HP)	$8 - $15
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)	$200 - $400
PSA 9 (Mint)	$80 - $150
BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint)	$150 - $300

Foil Versions (Judge Promo and Other Special Printings)

Version	Condition	Estimated Value
Judge Promo (Foil)	NM	$150 - $250
Expedition (BFZ)	NM	$100 - $180
Eternal Masters (Foil)	NM	$40 - $70

Condition Grading

For competitive players, condition is less critical than for collectors. However, for investment-grade Tempest Wastelands:

• Near Mint (NM): No visible wear on front or back. Edges clean, corners sharp, surface free from scratches or scuffs. This is the standard for competitive play and basic collecting.

• Lightly Played (LP): Minor edge whitening, slight corner softness, or a few light surface scratches. Still presentable in a deck and acceptable for most collectors.

• Moderately Played (MP): Noticeable wear including edge whitening, minor creases, or surface scratches. Fully playable in sleeves but shows its age.

• Heavily Played (HP): Significant wear. Suitable for play in opaque sleeves but not for display or collection.

For graded copies (PSA, BGS), centering is often the differentiating factor. Tempest cards were printed with inconsistent centering, and well-centered copies are meaningfully scarcer.

Reprints and Variants

Wasteland has been reprinted several times, which affects the market dynamics for the original Tempest printing:

• Player Rewards Promo (2004): Full-art version given to DCI members

• Eternal Masters (2016): The most significant reprint, making the card more accessible for players

• Tempest Remastered (MTGO only): Digital-only reprint

• Various judge promos and special editions: Limited-run foil versions for judge program participants

Each reprint has satisfied some player demand while reinforcing the premium on original Tempest copies. Collectors consistently favor the original printing for its historical significance, original art, and old-border frame.

Investment Analysis

Strengths:

• Consistent competitive demand ensures a price floor

• The original Tempest printing carries a collector premium above reprints

• Magic: The Gathering has demonstrated remarkable longevity as both a game and a collectible

• Wasteland's design is so fundamental that it is unlikely to ever become irrelevant in eternal formats

Weaknesses:

• Reprints can temporarily suppress prices

• Wizards of the Coast could theoretically ban the card in Legacy (though this seems unlikely given its role in format health)

• As an uncommon, the original print run is larger than many sought-after Magic cards

Best suited for: Collectors who play Legacy and want investment-grade copies of their deck staples, or MTG collectors who appreciate historically significant cards.

Storage and Preservation

For collectible copies:

• Store in a penny sleeve inside a top loader

• For graded copies, keep in padded cases away from heat and humidity

• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, which can fade the card

• If using in a deck, double-sleeve in a perfect-fit inner sleeve and a quality outer sleeve to minimize wear

Why Wasteland Matters

Wasteland represents one of Magic: The Gathering's greatest design achievements: a card powerful enough to shape formats for decades while remaining fair enough to avoid the ban list. Its influence on competitive play, deck construction, and strategic thinking in Magic cannot be overstated. The Tempest printing, now nearly three decades old, captures a specific era of Magic design and art that holds deep nostalgic value for an entire generation of players. For collectors and players alike, Wasteland is essential.

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