Rule evolution

Rule 701.18a

Previously numbered 701.10a, 701.11a, 701.12a, 701.13a, 701.14a.

Earliest archived Rules release: 2009-10-01 · 4 wording revisions · 5 renumberings

  1. Earliest archived Rules release701.10aDetails
    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it's in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if he or she has priority, it's the main phase of his or her turn, the stack is empty, and he or she hasn't yet played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 114), so it doesn't use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn't the same as playing a land. See rule 305, "Lands."
  2. Wording changed701.10aDetails
    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it's in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if he or she has priority, it's the main phase of his or her turn, the stack is empty, and he or she hasn't yet played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 114115), so it doesn't use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn't the same as playing a land. See rule 305, "Lands."
  3. Renumbered701.10a → 701.11aDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it's in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if he or she has priority, it's the main phase of his or her turn, the stack is empty, and he or she hasn't yet played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 115), so it doesn't use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn't the same as playing a land. See rule 305, "Lands."
  4. Wording changed701.11aDetails
    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it's in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if he or she has priority, it's the main phase of his or her turn, the stack is empty, and he or she hasn't yet played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 115), so it doesn't use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn't the same as playing a land. See rule 305, "Lands."
  5. Renumbered701.11a → 701.12aDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it’s in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if he or she has priority, it’s the main phase of his or her turn, the stack is empty, and he or she hasn’t played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 115), so it doesn’t use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn’t the same as playing a land. See rule 305, “Lands.”
  6. Wording changed & Renumbered701.12a → 701.13aDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it's in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if hethey orhave she has priority, it's the main phase of histheir or her turn, the stack is empty, and hethey or she hasnhaven't played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 115), so it doesn't use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn't the same as playing a land. See rule 305, "Lands."
  7. Wording changed701.13aDetails
    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it's in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if they have priority, it's the main phase of their turn, the stack is empty, and they haven't played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 115116), so it doesn't use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn't the same as playing a land. See rule 305, "Lands."
  8. Renumbered701.13a → 701.14aDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it’s in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if they have priority, it’s the main phase of their turn, the stack is empty, and they haven’t played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 116), so it doesn’t use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn’t the same as playing a land. See rule 305, “Lands.”
  9. Renumbered701.14a → 701.18aDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone it’s in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if they have priority, it’s the main phase of their turn, the stack is empty, and they haven’t played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 116), so it doesn’t use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isn’t the same as playing a land. See rule 305, “Lands.”

Current in the latest available Rules
Unchanged since 2026-08-07.