In Magic, when you tap swamps to create more swamps do you physically need to have a swamp in your hand?

Question

I'm trying to figure out Sulfurous Springs.

Answer 1

It depends, you can only play one land per turn, but tapping mana to play spell such as "3s: Tap this card and put a swamp card into play" you would have to have it in your hand. However there are also cards that allow you to create mana right into your mana pool, no cards required. it depends on what you are trying to accomplish exactly

Answer 2

You tap lands to create mana.  Not more lands.  When it says "Add B to your mana pool."  It means that you add one black mana to your pool.

Mana is the magical energy you need to play spells.  The land only acts like the flask that pours the mana out into your pool.  Everytime the land untaps, the flask is full again for you to use when you want it.

Answer 3

First, your premise is wrong, you tap swamps to add black mana to your mana pool to cast spell and use abilities with.  Sulfurous springs is a land and according to MTG rules, you may play one land from your hand per turn.  There are other spells that will put lands into play as well each turn, example, Rampant Growth and Search for Tomorrow will allow you to put a land into play that does not count as your land per turn.  Sulfurous Springs is a land.  It taps for Generic Mana or if you really need black or red mana, it will produce it, but there is the side effect of damaging you one point of damage.  So on turn 1, you drop Sulfurous springs, you tap it for a red mana (damaging you one point, your life total goes to 19) and you use the red mana to drop a Mogg Fanatic (1/1 red creature with an ability).  It does NOT allow you to create more mountains or swamps.

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