Choking Sands MTG Card


Choking Sands can disrupt and damage, effectively shifting game momentum in your favor. Its sorcery speed requires strategic timing for maximal impact on a match. Despite constraints like specific mana needs, its influence is potentially game-winning.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy target nonswamp land. If that land is a nonbasic land, Choking Sands deals 2 damage to the land's controller.

"The people wiped the sand from their eyes and cursed—and left the barren land to the hyenas and vipers." —Afari, *Tales*


Cards like Choking Sands

Choking Sands is a powerful disruption tool for Magic: The Gathering players, targeting nonbasic lands specifically. It reminds us of other punishing cards like Rain of Tears and Icequake, which also destroy lands to destabilize an opponent’s mana base. Rain of Tears, similar in effect but differing as it can target any land, is not restricted to nonbasic ones.

On the other hand, Icequake shares the same nonbasic land focus and carries the same mana cost as Choking Sands. It comes with the added effect of dealing 1 damage to the land’s controller, a slight edge in effects. Nonetheless, Choking Sands offers its unique advantage with the potential to inflict a steeper 2 damage if the destroyed land happened to be a non-Swamp. This represents a strategic choice in decks targeting heavy nonbasic land play.

To sum up, within the realm of land destruction cards, Choking Sands offers a blend of mana disruption and potential damage, positioning itself as an effective choice especially in matches where nonbasic lands are prevalent and pivotal to an opponent’s strategies.

Rain of Tears - MTG Card versions
Icequake - MTG Card versions
Rain of Tears - MTG Card versions
Icequake - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Choking Sands by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions
Pain's Reward - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions
Pain's Reward - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Choking Sands. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono Black PonzaMono Black Ponza Pauper5° Tappa - Season 6 - Road to Paupergeddon Winter edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Choking Sands targets a non-swamp land and not only destroys it but also deals damage to the land’s controller if it’s a nonbasic land. This dual ability can potentially swing the game in your favor by disrupting your opponent’s mana base and chipping away at their life total simultaneously.

Resource Acceleration: By hindering your opponent’s mana development, Choking Sands effectively accelerates your position in the race for resources. As they lose access to vital colors or capabilities provided by the nonbasic land, you gain a significant tactical advantage to outpace them in deploying your strategy.

Instant Speed: While Choking Sands is a sorcery, its impact on the game can be as pivotal as an instant-speed interaction. Casting it at the right moment, such as when your opponent is tapped out or has just played a key nonbasic land, can be game-changing. The strategic timing of this card’s use can create opportunities that put you firmly in control of the match’s tempo.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Choking Sands requires both black mana and generic mana to cast, meaning it is strictly playable in decks that can produce black mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in multicolored or non-black decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, which includes two black mana symbols, it can be considered costly compared to other land destruction spells, which might offer similar effects for less or provide additional utility.

Discard Requirement: While Choking Sands does not require you to discard as a cost, it’s important to note that using it can be disadvantageous in scenarios where the mana could be allocated to more impactful plays, or the card slot could be dedicated to another card with broader utility.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Choking Sands is not just another land destruction card; it’s a powerful control tool valuable in land-centric metas. It can disrupt multicolored decks relying heavily on non-basic lands, making it a strategic choice in various deck builds.

Combo Potential: Partner Choking Sands with cards that punish players for land loss or search libraries for lands. Its ability to cripple an opponent’s mana base can be part of an effective combo chain to secure your game position.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where lands play a pivotal role, whether it’s ramp strategies or powerful utility lands, Choking Sands can be a silver bullet. It helps you remain competitive by directly counteracting those strategies with pinpoint precision.


How to beat

Choking Sands is an iconic disruption spell that targets nonbasic lands, making it a potent card in disrupting an opponent’s mana base in MTG. Overcoming this card requires strategic deck building and in-game decision making. To mitigate Choking Sands’ impact, consider diversifying your land base with basic lands, which are immune to its effects. Furthermore, integrating instant-speed land search spells can swiftly replace any targeted land, keeping your mana resources stable.

Another effective approach is employing cards with land regeneration abilities or using counterspells to negate Choking Sands before it executes its destructive ability. Incorporating spells that can return lands from your graveyard to the battlefield is also a savvy move. This resilience against land destruction spells like Choking Sands can be the difference between maintaining a strong board presence and falling behind. Ultimately, while Choking Sands can impose a significant threat, various strategies can be employed to ensure your land base remains intact and resilient against such pivotal disruption tactics.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Choking Sands MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Choking Sands and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Choking Sands Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Roger Raupp.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 1131997NormalBlackRoger Raupp
21997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 js1131997NormalGoldRoger Raupp
32014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1092015NormalBlackRoger Raupp

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Choking Sands has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal