Can Paliano, the High City even tap for mana?
Asked by UniqueUserID 9 years ago
Using Paliano, the High City in Legacy cannot gain mana as far as I can tell. But is it considered to be tapped FOR mana?
For example, what happens when these cards are on the field?
1) Burning Earth ?
2) Storm Cauldron ?
3) Desolation ?
I'm desperately trying to think of a use for it... I can't bare to think something so useless exists...
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2
106.10. To "tap a permanent for mana" is to activate a mana ability of that permanent that includes the 
symbol in its activation cost. See rule 605, "Mana Abilities."
605.1a An activated ability is a mana ability if it meets three criteria: it doesn't have a target, it could put mana into a player's mana pool when it resolves, and it's not a loyalty ability. (See rule 606, "Loyalty Abilities.")
605.2. A mana ability remains a mana ability even if the game state doesn't allow it to produce mana.
Paliano, the High City's second ability is a mana ability, even though it can't produce any mana if it is played in Constructed formats. That said, Paliano, the High City wasn't created for Constructed, and it's very far from useless.
January 27, 2015 11:42 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
@lordoftheshadows: The Gatherer ruling states that Paliano, the High City won't produce mana, but it doesn't say that it can't be tapped for mana.
5/29/2014: If you control Paliano, the High City but you didnt draft a card named Paliano, the High City, its second ability wont add mana to your mana pool. Notably, Paliano wont produce colorless mana.
filledelanuit says... #1
If you check the gatherer rulings you will learn that Paliano, the High City cannot tap for anytype of mana thus:
Burning Earth cannot trigger off of Paliano, the High City because mana cannot be added to that players mana pool.
Storm Cauldron has the same issue as above. It will never trigger off of Paliano, the High City.
Desolation; see above.
January 27, 2015 11:40 p.m.