Burrowing MTG Card


Burrowing enables crucial damage by making creatures unblockable through mountainwalk. It demands strategic hand and mana management, potentially limiting versatility. With meta shifts, Burrowing’s relevance can surge, adding a tactical advantage.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Target creature gains mountainwalk.


Cards like Burrowing

Burrowing is a unique enchantment card in MTG that endows a creature with the ability to be unblockable as long as the defending player controls at least one plains. Resembling this tactical edge, there’s the spell Seismic Stomp which, albeit only temporary, makes creatures without flying unblockable for a turn. The main difference lies in permanence versus a one-off effect.

When considering permanence, Spirit Mantle provides a similar boon, bestowing protection from creatures to ensure its attached creature can often attack unimpeded. Yet, unlike Burrowing, it shields against all creatures regardless of land type and adds a power boost. Conversely, Trailblazer’s Boots is an equipment that renders its wearer unblockable by virtue of nonbasic landwalk, a broader condition given the diversity of nonbasic lands in players’ decks.

While Burrowing sets a specific prerequisite linked to a common land type, its enchantment nature means it can persistently affect the board’s dynamics. This gives it strategic merit in formats where plains are frequently played, positioning it as a niche but potent tool in the right deck.

Seismic Stomp - MTG Card versions
Spirit Mantle - MTG Card versions
Trailblazer's Boots - MTG Card versions
Seismic Stomp - MTG Card versions
Spirit Mantle - MTG Card versions
Trailblazer's Boots - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Burrowing by color, type and mana cost

Earthbind - MTG Card versions
Firebreathing - MTG Card versions
Storm World - MTG Card versions
Eternal Warrior - MTG Card versions
Immolation - MTG Card versions
Imposing Visage - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Curse - MTG Card versions
Veteran's Voice - MTG Card versions
Mob Mentality - MTG Card versions
Crown of Flames - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Rage - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Blade - MTG Card versions
Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Mark of Fury - MTG Card versions
Incendiary - MTG Card versions
Seal of Fire - MTG Card versions
Laccolith Rig - MTG Card versions
Brutal Suppression - MTG Card versions
Need for Speed - MTG Card versions
Crackling Club - MTG Card versions
Earthbind - MTG Card versions
Firebreathing - MTG Card versions
Storm World - MTG Card versions
Eternal Warrior - MTG Card versions
Immolation - MTG Card versions
Imposing Visage - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Curse - MTG Card versions
Veteran's Voice - MTG Card versions
Mob Mentality - MTG Card versions
Crown of Flames - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Rage - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Blade - MTG Card versions
Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Mark of Fury - MTG Card versions
Incendiary - MTG Card versions
Seal of Fire - MTG Card versions
Laccolith Rig - MTG Card versions
Brutal Suppression - MTG Card versions
Need for Speed - MTG Card versions
Crackling Club - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The utility of Burrowing extends beyond its initial play. Its enchantment feature can potentially disrupt your opponent’s board state, giving you an indirect form of card advantage by limiting their options.

Resource Acceleration: By enhancing a creature’s ability to avoid being blocked, Burrowing can accelerate your resource damage, pushing through critical points of damage to your opponent more efficiently than an unmodified creature.

Instant Speed: The ability to equip Burrowing at instant speed offers remarkable flexibility, allowing you to react to battlefield changes and adapt to incoming threats or surprise your opponent with a sudden shift in tactics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Burrowing can provide a strategic advantage by granting mountainwalk, it requires you to discard a card when you play it. This can deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options in critical moments of the game. Especially in tight situations, where every card counts, this additional cost can significantly set you back.

Specific Mana Cost: Burrowing’s casting cost demands two red mana, which might not be a concern in a mono-red deck. However, in a multicolor deck, this requirement could pose a challenge, potentially leading to a delay in its deployment. Consequently, this makes Burrowing a less versatile choice when building a deck with a diversified mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For two mana, Burrowing grants only one creature mountainwalk, which could be seen as a steep cost when compared to other enhancement cards available. This could put you at a disadvantage when trying to maintain a robust board presence since you might be sacrificing tempo and resources for an effect that, while useful, may not always turn the tide of the game.


Reasons to Include Burrowing in Your Collection

Versatility: Burrowing offers a unique flexibility to red decks, allowing creatures the chance to evade blockers by granting them mountainwalk. This often catches opponents off-guard and can be the deciding factor in games where board control is tight.

Combo Potential: The enchantment pairs well with cards that alter land types or with strategies looking to capitalize on landwalk abilities. Integrating Burrowing into a setup amplifies the effectiveness of land-based tactics, creating opportunities for game-changing plays.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts and players experiment with different land types or defense-oriented decks, Burrowing can offer a strategic advantage by making your creatures virtually unblockable. Staying ahead of the curve and anticipating meta trends can make this card a powerful asset in your arsenal.


How to beat

Burrowing is one of those cards in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide in favor of creatures with lesser might, providing them an edge with its unblockable feature when attacking alone. To overcome this card, it’s crucial for players to have a strategy that doesn’t rely solely on blocking creatures. Instead, look for cards that can remove an opponent’s creatures before they become an issue. Board wipes such as Wrath of God offer a clean slate by destroying all creatures, circumventing the need to block. Spot removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can target specific threats without having to block them.

Alternatively, prioritize control elements such as counter spells that can prevent your opponent from ever playing Burrowing. Counterspell and Mana Leak are excellent examples of these tactics. Moreover, consider strategies that outrun or neutralize the one creature that might be armed with Burrowing. Cards that can overpower or provide lifegain faster than the Burrowing creature can deal damage might also serve as a reliable game plan. In the ever-shifting landscape of Magic: The Gathering, staying one step ahead of such enchantments could make all the difference.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burrowing MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Burrowing and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Burrowing Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1381993NormalBlackMark Poole
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1391993NormalBlackMark Poole
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1391993NormalWhiteMark Poole
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1391993NormalBlackMark Poole
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1391993NormalBlackMark Poole
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1401993NormalBlackMark Poole
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1401993NormalWhiteMark Poole
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1401993NormalWhiteMark Poole
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1801993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1801993NormalWhiteMark Poole
111999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1701997NormalWhiteMark Poole
122022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1352015NormalBlackMark Poole
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4321997NormalBlackMark Poole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Burrowing has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal