Behind the Tag - Deck Stories Part 1
EntertainmentBy ChristopherB (2018-12-13)
Nowadays, most new decks have reasonable names like "Izzet Phoenix" or "Golgari Midrange," which more or less describes what the decks do/contain. But what about deck names from days gone by? Where does "the Rock" come from? What does "Death and Taxes" have to do with a white weenie deck? This is a series meant to discuss, briefly, the history behind these names.
At the time of printing, the difference in power between Karakas and the "other 4" (Hammerheim, Tolaria, Pendelhaven, Urborg) was not as big as it is today. In those times, Karakas would mainly be used to protect your own Legends from being destroyed or stolen with Control Magic. And playing Legends was clunky, as you needed multiple colours of mana and there were no fetchlands then. In later additions, many Legends were added with new combos (eg Dark Depths/Thespian's stage), so Karakas became more versatile and valuable. On the other hand, abilities like Banding and the individual landwalk abilities (like swampwalk) became outdated with the introduction of more and better creature abilities. So the Legendary lands drifted apart over the years.
I wonder if it's going to be reprinted in Eternal Masters. Would like it, I'm getting a weenie into legacy, and this staple is very expensive.
Actually Pendelhaven is playable although only in berserk stompy deck, and of course Tabernacle but I guess it wasn't in those "other 4" you mentioned
it's really incredible how the legendary lands cycle from legends ended being so unbalanced: The other 4 lands are totally unplayable, and this one is a legacy white staple.