There have been many islands over the years, but which ones are the best? I’ve made a list of what I find to be the best islands of all time. This is all my own opinion and please feel free to let me know what you think should be number this and number that.

(All pictures come from www.magiccards.info)

#40

The Ice Age lands, though not all technically snow-covered lands, all appeared to be snow-covered lands in their pictures. Only two snow-covered lands have been printed for each type of land since MTG began. It is a a fairly rare type of land. This however, is not quite so hard to find.

#39

The Kamigawa lands were all floating islands rather than mere islands in the sea. They all look very similar so there aren’t many others appearing on this list. Those elaborate palaces just look cool in this one.

#38

#37

This island comes from Alpha and shows how simple the original MTG was. If you look at the illustrations from those early sets, you’ll see how the art was very plain. However, there is still a lot to be said with this land. It looks good!

#36

This is the third island ever! It comes from Beta. It’s always strange to think how few lands there used to be. It’s very basic, but still pleasing to the eye.

#35

Portal lands all seemed to be this same picture from different angles, so I included the best one as number thirty-five.

#34

An Alpha island, this one is still a good looking card. The lands of today seem so much busier than the lands of old.

#33

This card was the Arena League 2005 prize/promo card. It would be more of an island without those floating rocks, but it’s still really great. It’s a fact— people love waterfalls.

#32

Why is this land not snow-covered? Good question. I can’t answer it, but I can tell you that this card comes from Fifth Edition, which brought a lot of Ice Agecards back. Trying for a consistant theme perhaps?

#31

Another Fifth Editionland, this one reminds me of the coasts of northern France a little. If you don’t know what I mean then google it! It looks amazing!

#30

This is another Arena League prize, but this time from 2003. It’s very realistic looking and that’s why it’s so good!

#29

I have no idea where the island in this one is, but it looks really cool!  Floating islands again? And what’s with the sky? I don’t know, but I like it.

#28

The reflective sands sealed the deal for this one. Rob Alexander is the man. He also is very willing to sign cards if you contact him. Do it! It’s worth the time!

#27

Portal Second Age has quite a bright set of islands. Perhaps the balloon in the background is Goblin Balloon Brigade?

#26

A controversial pick, yes. Why? Because what are those things on the island? To me they resemble burning crosses. Good job Fifth Edition. As if pentagrams weren’t enough…

#25

A bunch of seagulls in a dark cove? Sounds great! And it is. This land looks great. It’s a little dark for some, but when I look at it it brightens my day.

#24 

A cool chain of islands makes for a good island card.

#23

This comes from the Asian Pacific land program and is something from the real world! I’m not sure what it is, because I’ve never excelled at geography, but it looks pleasant. What’s with the lion/fish thing in the corner though?

#22

This card comes from the European land program. Yet another island that should be snow-covered.

#21

A bizarre land from Mirrodin, this card still looks cool. I think it would be a little better without the rising thing in the background, but you can’t change it! Sure this island looks a little artificial, but it still gets the job done and looks good!

#20

This card would be a little better without that distracting drake flying by, but it has a good tropical feel to it.

#19

Now, this is actually from the Asia Pacific land program again. It could pass for a Kamigawa land though if you think about it. I’m sure at the time it was made the idea of MTG and samurai was still absurd. Between you and me, it’s still a little absurd.

#18

Yeah, a tropical beach again. Never gets old.

#17

This is the last card on the list from the Asia Pacific land program. It’s cool to see a boat going by. Not a lot of lands have creatures/things in their pictures (and still look darn good).

#16

More of a river than an island, this card reminds us of those scenic hikes through the woods we’ve all taken at some time in life.

#15

Desert Island= Good Island

#14

Sunsets always make land cards look good. Shuler also has quite a talent for lands. He is another artist who is willing to sign cards, so contact him!

#13

#12

One of the five Guru lands that show stage of an eclipse, this card comes in at number twelve based on rarity, coolness, and uniqueness.

#11

Like I said before, people love waterfalls. Although I’m not a fan of Ravnica lands, this one just looks beautiful. Your eyes go straight to the falls every time.

#10

To make life a little more confusing, this card was made into an island in the Coldsnap theme deck. Originally this same illustration was used for a snow-covered island. Glad MTG decided to make things harder for us. But to be fair, this is a really cool island and it’s nice to see a more basic land in the newer sets. Plus, back then was when they used to draw without computers! Aah! The actual talent of it!

#9

#8

Those staffs in the ground? I could do without them. However, the rest is so clear and blue that it grabs you.

#7

#6

A coral reef is visible in this one. This is one of those lands that could actually be somewhere which makes it more interesting.

#5

This card comes from the European land program. Since all the cards from this set are actual places on Earth, it is a little cooler.

#4

Another European land, this card is your standard looking island. The waters look so inviting.

#3

This card was a 1996 Arena League prize. It was the fourth island ever created! A card like this really was a prize back then! The sea monster is quite nice as well.

#2

It’s nice to see that Shards Of Alara put out some good cards other than mythic rares! Just kidding, but this is a great island. The waters look like you could reach out and touch them. The city/building in the background adds to the feel as well.

#1

Unhinged produced some of the best lands in all of MTG. The lands are the only cards from the set that can be played with in tournaments. This card is what everyone envisions when they here the word island. All land should be like this card! It’s simply stunning!