Drifting Meadow MTG Card


Cyclical flexibility allows for instant-speed card draw, adapting to the need for mana or new options. While it may slow initial tempo, Drifting Meadow offers integral mana support and strategic depth. Its specialized role in decks is balanced against other cards with differing mana-fixing mechanics.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeLand
Abilities Cycling

Text of card

Drifting Meadow comes into play tapped. oc T: Add o W to your mana pool. Cycling (You may pay and discard this card from your hand to draw a card. Play this ability as an instant.)


Cards like Drifting Meadow

Drifting Meadow enters the landscape of MTG with unique attributes in the realm of land cards. Often compared to cards like Sejiri Steppe, Drifting Meadow can be cycled for another card, something Sejiri Steppe does not offer. Both can be played tapped, yet Drifting Meadow provides a strategic edge for deck cycling efficiency.

Peering over to New Benalia, another similar land, it too enters the battlefield tapped but allows for scrying instead of cycling. New Benalia offers foresight, whereas Drifting Meadow offers the adaptability of cycling. Additionally, the classic Plains stands out as a basic land card, ready for immediate use for white mana without the tap delay. While Plains lacks the extra features, it exemplifies consistency in mana accessibility.

While weighing the benefits, Drifting Meadow aligns well with decks that capitalize on cycling mechanics, offering both mana fixing and deck thinning. Its versatility is a valuable asset in games where resource management and card flow are crucial. Thus, Drifting Meadow stamps its worth within the selection of specialized lands in MTG, displaying a balance of tactical depth and resourcefulness.

Sejiri Steppe - MTG Card versions
New Benalia - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions
Sejiri Steppe - MTG Card versions
New Benalia - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Drifting Meadow by color, type and mana cost

Plains - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Plains - MTG Card versions
Ruins of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Karoo - MTG Card versions
Nomad Stadium - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Hall of Heliod's Generosity - MTG Card versions
Rustic Clachan - MTG Card versions
Emeria, the Sky Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vivid Meadow - MTG Card versions
Kabira Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Secluded Steppe - MTG Card versions
Windbrisk Heights - MTG Card versions
Shefet Dunes - MTG Card versions
Makindi Stampede // Makindi Mesas - MTG Card versions
Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo Castle - MTG Card versions
Mistveil Plains - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire - MTG Card versions
Castle Ardenvale - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Plains - MTG Card versions
Ruins of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Karoo - MTG Card versions
Nomad Stadium - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Hall of Heliod's Generosity - MTG Card versions
Rustic Clachan - MTG Card versions
Emeria, the Sky Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vivid Meadow - MTG Card versions
Kabira Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Secluded Steppe - MTG Card versions
Windbrisk Heights - MTG Card versions
Shefet Dunes - MTG Card versions
Makindi Stampede // Makindi Mesas - MTG Card versions
Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo Castle - MTG Card versions
Mistveil Plains - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire - MTG Card versions
Castle Ardenvale - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
FluctuatorFluctuator PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Drifting Meadow can cycle from your hand, providing an opportunity to draw another card and maintain card flow. This ensures that even when it’s not needed as a land, it still contributes to your hand’s options.

Resource Acceleration: As a land card, Drifting Meadow contributes to your mana base. Even though it enters the battlefield tapped, it eventually turns into a source of white mana, helping you cast spells crucial for your strategy.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Drifting Meadow can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt to the battlefield’s changing circumstances. You can decide to cycle it on the opponent’s turn if you don’t require the land drop, thus keeping your options open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Integrating Drifting Meadow into your deck brings a caveat — it occupies a land slot that could otherwise feature an active utility land. When you’re pressed ever closer to the pivotal rounds, having an untapped land could make the difference rather than one that requires sacrificing.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting costs can make or break your game, and Drifting Meadow demands a commitment to white mana. This can pigeonhole its integration, especially into multi-colored decks that may benefit more from a land offering flexible mana options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In a game where timing is critical, the cycling ability of Drifting Meadow bears a cost that’s a touch steep. One mana less and you might have played a game-changing spell. Thus, it’s vital to weigh the benefits of its potential card draw against what immediate plays you might be foregoing.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Drifting Meadow can be a key addition to decks that seek a stable mana base. It serves dual functions: entering the battlefield tapped for future planning or cycling for card draw when land is plentiful.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on landfall abilities or graveyard synergies, Drifting Meadow can trigger vital effects. Furthermore, cycling lands support archetypes that benefit from cards moving from the library to the graveyard, setting up powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: Having lands that provide both accessibility to white mana and the utility of cycling makes Drifting Meadow adapt well to various metagames, especially ones where the pace of play allows for setting up advanced board states while still maintaining card flow.


How to beat

Drifting Meadow is a land card in Magic the Gathering that offers players a strategic option for mana fixing in their decks. It enters the battlefield tapped and can be tapped itself for white mana, or cycled for two generic mana to draw a card. Recognizing the timing and utility of this card is key in planning a strategy to overcome it.

To effectively challenge a deck utilizing Drifting Meadow, players should focus on aggressive plays that can capitalize on the potential tempo loss when a land enters the battlefield tapped. This can hinder an opponent’s early game development, giving an advantage to players with faster decks. Furthermore, land destruction or land manipulation spells can be used to target Drifting Meadow, disrupting the mana base and cycling ability which could potentially deprive an opponent of card advantage or the right mana at the crucial moment.

In essence, mastering your own deck’s pace and being prepared with countermeasures to mitigate the benefits Drifting Meadow offers can substantially increase your chances of coming out on top. Keep the pressure high and make wise use of land interaction abilities to maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Drifting Meadow MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Drifting Meadow and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Drifting Meadow Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 3201997NormalBlackBob Eggleton
21999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 221997NormalWhiteBob Eggleton
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2852003NormalBlackJonas De Ro
42014-11-07Commander 2014C14 2922015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
52015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2822015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 2482015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
72020-04-17Commander 2020C20 2712015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2452015NormalBlackJonas De Ro

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Drifting Meadow has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal