Acidic Soil MTG Card


Acidic Soil punishes land-heavy opponents, potentially swinging the game in your favor with one move. Strict mana requirements limit its use, favoring mono-red or red-centric decks for consistent play. In land-heavy metagames, the card effectively counters ramp strategies, inflicting sizable damage.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Acidic Soil deals 1 damage to each player for each land he or she controls.

Phyrexia had tried to take Urza's soul. He was relieved that Shiv tried to claim only his soles.


Cards like Acidic Soil

Acidic Soil is a distinct card in Magic: The Gathering that inflicts damage to each player equal to the number of lands they control. It finds parallels in cards like Price of Progress, which also punishes players for their lands, but specifically nonbasic lands, potentially causing higher damage in certain scenarios. However, Acidic Soil offers a more reliable damage output as it counts all lands rather than discriminating between land types.

Manabarbs is another card that can be seen as a relative, with a continuous effect that damages players whenever they tap lands for mana. It presents a different strategic angle, creating a sustained pressure on opponents throughout the game. While Acidic Soil has an immediate and one-time impact, Manabarbs can whittle down an opponent’s life total over several turns.

Ultimately, Acidic Soil carves out its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a card that can swiftly alter the course of the game in a player’s favor, especially in metagames where land ramp strategies are prevalent. Its ability to deliver a significant blow in a single cast makes it a card to be respected and feared in the right deck archetype.

Price of Progress - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Price of Progress - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Acidic Soil by color, type and mana cost

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Cry - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Cry - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Acidic Soil can turn the tables in your favor by punishing opponents for overextending their land base, effectively reducing their options while maintaining your own hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct accelerant, Acidic Soil disrupts opponents who rely on ramp strategies. This creates a more level playing field and indirectly accelerates your position relative to theirs.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Acidic Soil may not have the flexibility of instant speed, but its effect is so impactful that it compensates for this by shaping the timing of your plays for maximum disruption during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While this card doesn’t specifically require you to discard a card, it forces each player to lose life equal to the number of lands they control. This could backfire if you are ahead on the board with more lands in play, inadvertently causing you as much, or more, harm as your opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Acidic Soil demands a strict red mana cost, which could potentially restrict it to mono-red or red-heavy decks. Players running multicolor decks may find it challenging to consistently meet the color requirement when they need it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, including two red mana, Acidic Soil carries a somewhat high cost for an effect that does not always guarantee a significant advantage. Many times, a lower-costing spell could provide a more impactful and immediate result, such as removal of key threats or creatures.


Reasons to Include Acidic Soil in Your Collection

Versatility: Acidic Soil can be easily slotted into various Red-based decks, offering a unique source of noncombat damage that scales with the amount of land your opponents control.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combos that increase land counts or punish opponents for ramp strategies, synergizing well with cards that limit land usage or accelerate your own land drops.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where players tend to accumulate vast quantities of land, Acidic Soil emerges as an effective counter, dealing significant damage in the later stages of a game.


How to beat

Acidic Soil is a potent card that can catch players off guard, particularly in formats where life totals are under constant pressure. It deals damage to each player equal to the number of lands they control, turning players’ land development into potential liabilities. To navigate around Acidic Soil’s damaging effect, maintaining a healthy life total is key, as it minimizes the card’s impact.

Strategies to counteract Acidic Soil include utilizing life-gain spells to outpace the damage, employing land destruction or sacrifice to control your land count, and holding up counterspells specifically for this kind of spell. It’s also beneficial to diversify your threats so your victory isn’t solely based on lands and their count. Additionally, cards that negate noncombat damage or redirect damage can serve as effective shields against this type of red sorcery.

Overall, while Acidic Soil can shift momentum, a prepared player can mitigate the damage and turn the tables. Games involving Acidic Soil demand that you stay adaptable, balancing between land development and the imminent threat of damage, making for an engaging, strategic play experience.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of MTG cards like Acidic Soil can be a game-changer in your matches. This card provides a tactical advantage against opponents heavy on lands, and slots into red decks aiming to even the battlefield. Keeping up with meta shifts is vital, and Acidic Soil can be a hidden gem in your arsenal – particularly in land-rich environments. It’s essential to consider both its strengths and drawbacks in your strategies. Dive deeper into deck building tips, perfect your gameplay, and uncover more insights to outmaneuver opponents. Learn more with us and add another layer to your MTG skills.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Acidic Soil MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and The List, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Acidic Soil and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Acidic Soil Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 1998-10-12. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1721997NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
22020-09-26The ListPLST USG-1721997NormalBlackScott M. Fischer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Acidic Soil has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Acidic Soil card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 This counts the lands on resolution.