Ramp cards in Magic: the Gathering accelerates your ability to produce mana. Maybe they put lands into play, perhaps they’re creatures which can be tapped for mana, or maybe they generate a lot of treasure tokens.
Whatever the case, when we think of ramp effects, we usually think of Green. The term is named after the card Rampant Growth. Although that card is not typically run in Commander, ramp cards like Sakura-Tribe Elder, Cultivate
CultivateSearch your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal those cards, put one onto the battlefield tapped and the other into your hand, then shuffle., and Kodama’s Reach
Kodama’s ReachSearch your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal those cards, put one onto the battlefield tapped and the other into your hand, then shuffle. are auto-includes in green decks.
Green isn’t the only color that can ramp, however. White has also received a variety of powerful ramp effects, especially in recent years. Here are ten White ramp cards that you can slot into your commander decks.
10. Monologue Tax
Though some cards higher up the list leave Monologue Tax in the dust, it’s still a decent budget option for white players looking to accelerate their mana. It will hopefully activate at least once or twice in the time between the end of your current turn and the start of your next one, netting you a few treasures.
9. Knight of the White Orchid
Knight of the White Orchid is the first card on this list which demonstrates that white is the “catch-up ramp” color. In order to ensure that Green remains the pre-eminent ramping color, Wizards of the Coast gives many of White’s ramp cards the limitation that they only work if an opponent controls more lands than you. Even with this limitation in mind, Knight of the White Orchid is still a decent two drop which can sometimes grab you a land.
8. Boreas Charger
As a 2/1 flyer for three mana, Boreas Charger can swing in for some early game aerial damage against opponents without flying blockers. Later in the game, the charger can also block a flier coming at you and fetch you a few plains on its way out. A useful little steed, especially if it ends up grabbing you more than one land.
7. Kor Cartographer
This card is just a straight up ramp effect, no need to “catch up” here.
Kor Cartographer is most directly comparable to Solemn Simulacrum, and the two cards fulfil very similar roles. This card loses a few points for not drawing you a card on death, like the sad robot, it offers other advantages. Notably, unlike Solemn Simulacrum, Kor Cartographer isn’t restricted to getting you basic lands. The cartographer can grab you shock lands or triomes as long as they have the word “plains” in their typeline.
6. Keeper of the Accord
Keeper of the Accord
Keeper of the AccordAt the beginning of each opponent's end step, if that player controls more creatures than you, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.
At the beginning of each opponent's end step, if that player controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a basic Plains card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. not only helps you ramp, but also helps you churn out creatures. At the end of each opponents turn, the keeper checks to see if they have more creatures or more lands than you. If they’ve got more creatures, you get a free 1/1 soldier, and if they have more lands, you get a free plains. Another catch up card, but a versatile one that can give you creatures as well as lands.
5. Deep Gnome Terramancer
Deep Gnome Terramancer is a very sneaky card. He offers you the opportunity to punish an opponent for trying to ramp. If someone uses a copy of Wood Elves to fetch a forest, just flash Deep Gnome Terramancer out, and you’ll be ramping alongside them.
4. Smuggler’s Share
White’s struggles with card draw are infamous at this point. Smuggler’s Share
Smuggler’s ShareAt the beginning of each end step, draw a card for each opponent who drew two or more cards this turn, then create a Treasure token for each opponent who had two or more lands enter the battlefield under their control this turn. offers a solution to this which also helps you ramp. Smuggler’s ShareSmuggler’s ShareAt the beginning of each end step, draw a card for each opponent who drew two or more cards this turn, then create a Treasure token for each opponent who had two or more lands enter the battlefield under their control this turn. benefits you if an opponent draws too many cards in a turn and if they play too many lands. Smuggler’s ShareSmuggler’s ShareAt the beginning of each end step, draw a card for each opponent who drew two or more cards this turn, then create a Treasure token for each opponent who had two or more lands enter the battlefield under their control this turn. is a nice demonstration that White is Magic’s rule-setting color, which punishes opponents for trying to sneak ahead.
3. Archaeomancer’s Map
Fetching two plains for three mana is a pretty decent effect. Allowing you to play those plains if any opponent develops a high land count is what puts this card on the map. Although undoubtedly a catch-up card, Archaeomancer’s Map
Archaeomancer’s MapWhen this artifact enters, search your library for up to two basic Plains cards, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.
Whenever a land an opponent controls enters, if that player controls more lands than you, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield. still offers a useful effect even if no opponent has ramped out miles ahead of everyone else.
2. Battle Angels of Tyr
Battle Angels of Tyr takes the idea of White being the “catch-up color” and runs (or rather flies) with it. If the Angels hit the player with the most cards in their hand, you draw a card; if they hit the player with the most lands, you make a treasure; if they hit the player with the most life, then you gain three life. Since the angels duplicate themselves with Myriad whenever they attack, just as long as you aren’t the player with the most life, cards in hand, and lands, you’ll likely be getting some benefit from them.
1. Smothering Tithe
The best white ramp spell in the game, and it isn’t even close. Designer Mark Rosewater has stated that he regrets the design of this card and its place in the color pie. He wrote on his blog that it is a: “a strong bend we shouldn’t have made.”. A take on the card, Rhystic Study, Smothering Tithe
Smothering TitheWhenever an opponent draws a card, that player may pay {2}. If the player doesn't, you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.") generates a treasure token whenever any opponent draws a card unless they pay a two mana tax. Smothering Tithe is quite pricey financially, but if you can afford one, it’s easily White’s best ramping option.
Read More: The 10 Best Ramp Cards In Commander
