Desert MTG Card


Desert lands in MTG add unique strategic elements, expanding deck building options with their distinctive abilities. These lands often feature in high-level play, leveraging their synergies in decks centered around land interactions. Collectors and players prize desert lands for their rarity and the tactical advantages they provide in gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeLand — Desert

Text of card

Tap to add 1 colorless mana to your mana pool or do 1 damage to an attacking creature after it deals its damage.


Cards like Desert

Desert Lands MTG finds its counterparts in cards like Dust Bowl and Wasteland. These lands cards destroy nonbasic lands, similar to the Desert mechanic. Dust Bowl, however, requires a land sacrifice and three mana for its effect, offering a slightly higher cost for a similar outcome. Wasteland, in contrast, does the job for free, but only targets nonbasic lands, restricting its potential usage.

We then have the Ghost Quarter, a card that destroys any land but lets the opponent search their library for a basic land card. Unlike Desert Lands MTG, it provides the opponent a potential land replacement, leading to a less harsh impact but easier activation.

Perhaps the most unique among the similar cards is Tectonic Edge. Its ability resembles Wasteland, but the activation only kicks in if the opponent controls at least four lands. Despite its limited usability, it serves as a control measure in land heavy decks.

In summary, Desert Lands MTG holds its own in the landscape of lands destruction cards in Magic: The Gathering, balancing cost and effectiveness with its unique characteristics and in-game benefits.

Dust Bowl - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Ghost Quarter - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Dust Bowl - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Ghost Quarter - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Desert by color, type and mana cost

Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Bad River - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
Hall of Tagsin - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Zoetic Cavern - MTG Card versions
Grixis Panorama - MTG Card versions
Rupture Spire - MTG Card versions
Krosan Verge - MTG Card versions
Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions
Springjack Pasture - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Bad River - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
Hall of Tagsin - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Zoetic Cavern - MTG Card versions
Grixis Panorama - MTG Card versions
Rupture Spire - MTG Card versions
Krosan Verge - MTG Card versions
Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions
Springjack Pasture - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Turbo FogTurbo Fog PauperTurbo FogPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-05
TurboFogTurboFog PauperTurbo Fog5° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana
Simic MillSimic Mill PauperTurbo FogSprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 2^ tappa PISA 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Desert Lands in MTG can provide you with a significant card advantage. This is because they are highly effective in setting up your board state. They allow you to access mana that may have been locked away, thereby increasing the number of cards you can play per turn.

Resource Acceleration: Desert Lands often come with resource acceleration properties. As they can tap to produce colored mana, they eventually ramp up your mana sources. More mana means more possibilities, allowing you to play big spells earlier and outpace your opponents.

Instant Speed: While Desert Lands in themselves cannot be played at instant speed, they potentially enable you to keep mana open for instant speed responses. Having these lands on the field ensures you have the resources to respond to threats or opportunities at any time, making your game play unpredictable and difficult for opponents to counter.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Desert Lands MTG cards necessitate a discard obligation which can be limiting if you find yourself in a resource-deficit position.

Specific Mana Cost: The particular mana requisite of these cards may confine their utility to only certain deck constructions. Although the desert theme is versatile, it could impede use in color-restricted decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the effects they generate, Desert Lands MTG cards often demand a higher mana cost. This can lead to a slower game pace, forcing you to possibly forgo faster, more efficient plays. It’s important to balance the deck with care, keeping in mind the high mana cost of these cards.


Reasons to Include Desert Lands in Your Collection

Versatility: With the variety of Desert Lands available, these cards are perfect for a wide range of decks. Tailoring your game around their unique abilities can give you the upper edge, be it extra mana or damaging effects.

Combo Potential: They can be paired with a slew of cards for devastating effects, expanding strategic approaches. For instance, using them with cards that enhance land types boosts their inherent strengths.

Meta-Relevance: Desert Lands hold relevance in many meta-games due to their unique tactical benefits. They present added depth and complexity to matches, providing both strategic advantage and disrupting opponents’ strategies.


How to beat

When it comes to playing against enchantments like Desert Lands in Magic:The Gathering, it often comes down to understanding when to strike and how to best use your resources. Given the advantage Desert Lands offers by providing additional mana, it’s prudent for opponents to engage strategies that counteract this strength.

A smart approach involves incorporating land destruction cards, such as Rain of Tears or Acidic Slime. These cards allow you to target and demolish the Desert Lands before its benefits come into play. Consider using targeted spells like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin that efficiently take down problematic lands like Desert Lands.

In addition, understanding the strategies your opponent can potentially develop with Desert Lands will also work in your favor. Ensuring your deck has ample creature removal or counter spells can deter your opponent from comfortably using their Desert Lands. This way, you can keep a tight rein on the game dynamics.

To wrap up, effectively countering Desert Lands in Magic: The Gathering revolves around clever deck strategies, well-timed card plays, and keen situational awareness. Exploiting these tactics will fortify your gameplay and give you the upper hand when dealing with Desert Lands.


Conclusion

In conclusion, exploring the diverse terrains of Desert Lands in Magic the Gathering offers a thrilling dimension to gameplay and deck building. Mastery over these cards can lead to strategic victories and enhance your overall MTG experience. Whether you’re refining your playstyle or seeking to conquer your opponents with unique land-based strategies, understanding the nuances of Desert Lands can elevate your journey. Embark on an enthralling quest to integrate these lands into your collection and leverage their potential to turn the tides of battle in your favor. We welcome you to deepen your knowledge and gather the insights necessary to advance your MTG expertise with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Desert MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Magic Online Promos, 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 Desert and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Desert Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-12-17Arabian NightsARN 721993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 351482003NormalBlackGlen Angus
32006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 1181997NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
42012-08-31From the Vault: RealmsV12 42003NormalBlackGlen Angus
52020-09-26The ListPLST AFC-2332015NormalBlackGlen Angus
62021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 2332015NormalBlackGlen Angus

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Desert has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Desert 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 The ability can be used on any player's attacking creatures. This includes your own and creatures in an attack you are not involved in (for multiplayer games).
2017-04-18 Desert is a land subtype with no special meaning. It doesn't grant the land an intrinsic mana ability. Other cards may care about which lands are Deserts.