Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Design Empathy for Highland Lake: Embracing Diverse MTG Playstyles
In the Magic multiverse, some lands aren’t just taps and turns; they’re bridges between playstyles. Highland Lake from Commander 2019 is a perfect little case study in design empathy. It doesn’t shout for attention with flashy mana costs or game-breaking effects, but it quietly rewards thoughtful deck-building and flexible play. This land enters the battlefield tapped, then you may tap it to add either blue or red mana. For a two-color identity that skews toward clever control, tempo, or spell-slinging aggression, Highland Lake is a gift that keeps on giving 🧙🔥💎.
Why a land that offers a choice matters
Highland Lake’s dual-output identity is a deliberate design choice that invites players to plan ahead. In a world of color-fixing staples—lands that simply give you two colors—the ability to choose between blue or red tap mana at the moment of activation offers strategic depth. It’s not just about having access to U or R; it’s about timing. In a deck that can flex between control and aggression, this land helps smooth out color requirements on key turns, even when your curve bends toward two-color or three-color splashes. The card’s texture encourages you to consider tempo: waiting a turn to untap with a tapped land can still pay off when you’re enabling a crucial counterspell, a fast early-fire spell, or a big late-game spell surge. The art by Noah Bradley also hints at a place where bargains, storms, and brave choices mingle—an atmosphere every brewer loves to sip from while drafting a list around late-game inevitability 🎨⚔️.
“A place like this makes me wonder if there’s more to life than blood and treasure... Nah.”
Flavor aside, Highland Lake embodies a principle that designers chase: empower diverse playstyles without compromising the deck’s identity. Players who lean blue-heavy into card draw and counter magic can lean on the blue mana option; those who crave red’s aggression can pivot toward early-rush and direct damage late in the game. For EDH/Commander circles, where the color identity often drives the color-pixing requirements of legendary creatures and their decks, this land is a dependable bridge between concepts and execution 🧙🔥.
Playstyle guidelines: how Highland Lake supports different approaches
- Blue-centric control builds: Highland Lake helps secure the blue mana needed for counterspells, draw engines, and permission spells. It’s a patient land that rewards careful sequencing, enabling you to hold up counter magic while still contributing to mana needs on later turns. The “enters tapped” clause is a gentle tempo hit, not a brick wall—perfect for decks that value late game stability 🎲.
- Red-aligned aggression and spellslinger tricks: For red or Izzet-flavored shells, the option to produce red mana means you can push out efficient threats and burn spells without sacrificing tempo. The flexibility to also spike blue mana gives you access to disruption when the board gets sticky, turning Highland Lake into an insurance policy for curve toppers ⚔️.
- Multi-color splashes and ramp-forward decks: In decks that run multiple colors for synergy (think Izzet, Jeskai, or broader four-color options), this land reduces mana-fix friction. It isn’t a fetchland or dual land in the strictest sense, but its flexible output helps you hit your two-color spikes while keeping a comfortable early game pace 🧙.
- Budget-friendly, accessible design: As an uncommon reprint in Commander 2019, Highland Lake sits at an approachable price point for budget players—roughly around $0.10 USD in many markets—while still offering meaningful functional value. Affordability matters for building diverse playgroups where new players feel welcome to experiment with color pairs and archetypes 💎.
From design to deck: practical tips for builders
When you’re designing around Highland Lake, start with your commander’s color identity and the archetype you’re aiming for. If your list needs blue and red, this land becomes a reliable contributor, especially in opening draws that would otherwise stall on color access. Consider pairing Highland Lake with other mana-fixing options—guild gates, dual lands, or utility lands—that reduce early weakness and smooth out your turns. In multiplayer formats, the land’s flexibility shines as you encounter opponents who lean into control, aggressive combos, or value-lingering engines. The payoff isn’t immediate raw power; it’s dependable resilience that helps you stay in the game long enough to turn the corner into a favorable board state 🧙💨.
For collectors and players who enjoy the broader culture around MTG, Highland Lake also represents a snapshot of Commander 2019’s design ethos: accessible, flavorful, and broadly useful. The set’s inclusion of reprints like Highland Lake reflects a deliberate approach to card availability in Commander circles, where players often brew from a wider spectrum of sets and prints. Its art and flavor text contribute to the lore of the Storm Fleet and the world-building surrounding Boyl Bucksalt’s nautical misadventures—moments that fans latch onto during long weekend sessions and casual kitchen-table battles 🎨⚔️.
Value, culture, and community moments
Beyond in-game utility, Highland Lake nods to a wider MTG culture that celebrates diversity in playstyles. In EDH and kitchen table magic, players range from crunchy combo enthusiasts to laid-back value-seekers, and each deck archetype benefits from lands that don’t force a single path to victory. Highland Lake’s simple text, elegant flexibility, and charming flavor text become talking points in deck-building conversations, helping groups appreciate how even a single land card can shape the social contract of a game night 🧠🎲.
Product plug and a playful crossover
Speaking of setups that keep your game nights humming, a slick desk accessory can make all the difference when you’re poring over draws and triggers. Our friends over at Neon Gaming are offering a custom front-print mouse pad that’s perfect for organizing space and adding a splash of personality to your table. If you’re curious, you can explore the available design here: Neon Gaming Mouse Pad – 9x7 and imagine your favorite MTG moments framed in neon while you shuffle and cast with Highland Lake keeping you steady on two colors. It’s these little touches that help us savor the ritual of playing together 🧙💎🎨.
Budget-conscious players will also appreciate how accessible Highland Lake remains, while collectors can enjoy the historical context of its Commander 2019 printing. If you’re building a two-color commander that thrives on flexible mana, you’ll likely find Highland Lake a welcome addition to your mana base—one that invites you to embrace the spectrum of playstyles at your table and celebrate the joy of discovery in every draw step ⚔️.