Clifftop Retreat — Magic: The Gathering card

Clifftop Retreat

Land
Set PIP
Rarity Rare
Mana Value 0
Artist Samuele Bandini
Collector # 258
Scryfall Gatherer

Why Play Clifftop Retreat

Red-white aggressive and midrange decks prioritize this dual land for its ability to enter untapped when you control basic lands, enabling consistent early plays. The conditional entry requirement is easily met in most Boros builds since you'll naturally play Mountains and Plains to establish your mana base. Unlike gates or other tapped lands, Clifftop Retreat supports aggressive strategies by coming into play ready to use when you need it most during the critical early turns.

Format Notes

Pioneer and Modern see the most play for Clifftop Retreat in competitive Boros Burn, Prowess, and Lightning Helix strategies where mana consistency matters significantly. Commander players frequently include it in red-white decks as affordable mana fixing, though it's not considered essential given the format's slower pace. The card has never faced banning issues and maintains steady playability across eternal formats where dual lands are at a premium.

Combos & Synergies

Sacred Foundry works perfectly alongside Clifftop Retreat since the shock land counts as both Mountain and Plains, guaranteeing untapped entry. Lightning Helix exemplifies the type of gold card that demands reliable red-white mana on turn two, making the Retreat's consistency valuable. Battlefield Forge offers redundant dual land effects in the same color pair, though the Retreat avoids the damage downside when you control basics.

Learn More

Land Modern Pioneer Commander
Frequently asked questions about Clifftop Retreat →

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