Pointed Discussion

strictly better then underground sea

um, no.

id rather just have my mana properly laid out

Strictly better than underground sea? The original duals are the best duals in the game. They have no drawbacks and count as both types of mana (swamp and island in this case). This is probably second best with the shock lands a close 3rd.

Sweet art.

Actually the second best duals are the Ravnica ones like Watery Grave. They're the only ones besides the original duals that have the basic land types, and the only drawback is a one-time optional 2 life.

Carnophage's Dual Lands Scale

1st - Original Dual Lands - By a land slide, no drawback except the 4 copies limit;
Distant 2nd - Ravnica lands - You can choose if you get the 2 dmg or not;
Tied at 3rd - M10/M11 Lands - Act as dual lands if you have corresponding basic land in play, no dmg
Tied at 3rd - Scars of Mirrodin Dual Lands - Act as dual lands when you're Manaskrewd or on first 2 turns, less $$$, grab em now!
4th - Shards of Alara Triple Color lands - Come in tapped. 3 color possibility.
5th - Underground River, Shivan Reef, etc. - No tap, colorless, but damage for color mana
6th - Guildpact Lands - Give 2 colored mana, come in tapped, bounce other lands
7th - Homeland Lands - Dont even bother, they're as awful as awful can be.

Of course, we're talking dual-color lands, not legendary lands or utility lands, like Urborg or Maze of Ith. Of course it's arguable for some positions depending on what you want to play, but positions 1 and 2 ARE NOT ARGUABLE.

I disagree. Original duals have the problem that they count as both type of basics and as such are vulnerable to two type of hosers. Ravinca lands has the same problem so they are definately worse than original duals.

M10/M11 and Scars lands doesn't have this problem and come in untapped if situation is right.

I'd say that these last two might be the best if used together. Scars lands are ideal to start the mana production and M10/M11 to drop later.

Strictly narrower than Underground Sea.

@tavaritz, the interaction with fetchlands is far more important than potential 'hosers', and another important card brainstorm. Generally it goes "I Brainstorm and put two filth cards back on top (which pretty much translates to i draw three new cards" and clear them away with a fetch land and then the sweetner of I fetch a dual land". Thats power. This land doesnt get fetched for two colours. It doesnt get fetched at all. It's worse. You would run shock lands before this then you would run basics in place of this because of Tectonic Edge, Wasteland etc...These are the land 'hosers' that actually get played. In other words i disagree with 100% of what you said.

However this is sweet for EDH.

Really awesome art.

@carnophage you forgot the fetch lands and these are better then the tri-color lands.

I like the art.

these come into play untapped no drawback there and have free colorless which makes them way more useful than the new core set lands