Drown in the Loch MTG Card


Acts as counter and removal, essential for blue-black control strategies, adapting to multiple game situations. Two mana cost integrates well into various plays, balancing tempo with impactful board presence. Demands a stocked opponent’s graveyard, restricting early game effectiveness but excelling later.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Choose one — • Counter target spell with mana value less than or equal to the number of cards in its controller's graveyard. • Destroy target creature with mana value less than or equal to the number of cards in its controller's graveyard.


Cards like Drown in the Loch

Drown in the Loch is an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its dual utility as both a counter and a removal spell. When we consider similar multiverse cards, Thought Collapse emerges as a comparable counter spell. Much like Drown in the Loch, it deals with spells on the stack; however, Drown in the Loch’s flexibility to also act as removal makes it uniquely potent. Moreover, the effectiveness of Drown in the Loch scales with the game, becoming more potent as opponents’ graveyards fill up.

Another relative in this category is Murder, a straightforward removal card. Murder simply destroys a creature for three mana at instant speed. Drown in the Loch, with its conditional nature based on the graveyard, provides a strategic angle Murder does not offer. Finally, there’s Essence Scatter, known for its creature countering ability at a low cost. While Essence Scatter is efficient for creature-only situations, Drown in the Loch’s breadth of target options gives players more control over the game’s outcome, often crucial in the later stages of a match.

Given the diversity of uses and the dynamic nature of Drown in the Loch, it stands out among its counterparts for offering control players a powerful tool in their arsenal, adaptable to various threats in a match.

Thought Collapse - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Essence Scatter - MTG Card versions
Thought Collapse - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Essence Scatter - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Sultai Death's ShadowSultai Death's Shadow ModernDeath's ShadowModern Challenge 64 2024-05-05
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern Qualifier 2024-05-01
Dimir ControlDimir Control ModernDimir ControlModern Challenge 32 2024-05-02
RoguesRogues PioneerRoguesPioneer Super Qualifier 2024-05-04
Esper ControlEsper Control ModernEsper ControlModern Challenge 64 2024-05-05
UBRGUBRG LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05
WUBWUB LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05
Dimir ScamDimir Scam ModernDimir ScamModern Challenge 64 2024-05-04
4c Midrange4c Midrange Modern4c MidrangeModern Challenge 32 2024-05-04
Grixis TempoGrixis Tempo LegacyGrixis TempoLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Drown in the Loch is a versatile tool in the arsenal of blue and black decks. This card acts as both a counter and a removal, allowing you to address threats on the stack or in play with a single card. Efficiently handling two roles, it effectively contributes to a sustainable card advantage strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While Drown in the Loch itself does not directly provide mana or resource acceleration, it aids in preserving your resources. By costing only two mana, it slots smoothly into your curve, letting you maintain tempo while keeping up with opponents who might be leveraging more costly spells to establish board presence.

Instant Speed: The power of instant speed cannot be overstated. Drown in the Loch allows players to answer threats in real-time, whether it be countering a crucial spell or removing a troublesome creature at the most opportune moment. This instant speed interaction enables dynamic play and strategic depth, providing leverage at crucial points in a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Drown in the Loch necessitates a well-stocked opponent’s graveyard for activation. This reliance on another player’s discard pile often limits the card’s effectiveness in the early game when graveyards are less populated.

Specific Mana Cost: With a hybrid mana cost demanding both blue and black, Drown in the Loch’s usability is confined to decks that can produce both colors. This requirement potentially excludes it from a larger variety of mono-colored or non-blue/black decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Drown in the Loch’s cost is two mana, its conditional nature means it might not always provide the value expected for its place on the mana curve. In scenarios where the opponent has a sparse graveyard, alternatives might offer unrestricted removal or countering regardless of graveyard contents.


Reasons to Include Drown in the Loch in Your Collection

Versatility: Drown in the Loch serves dual purposes as both a counter spell and a creature removal. This adaptability allows it to fit seamlessly into various blue and black deck archetypes, ranging from control to midrange, making it a valuable asset in your collection.

Combo Potential: In decks that are designed to fill the opponent’s graveyard, Drown in the Loch’s efficiency skyrockets. It pairs well with cards that contribute to mill strategies or those that benefit from having multiple card types in the opponent’s graveyard, enhancing its effectiveness.

Meta-Relevance: Given its reliance on the graveyard, Drown in the Loch is increasingly pertinent in metagames where players utilize their graveyards as a resource. The card aligns well against various strategies, making it a potent answer in the current competitive scene.


How to beat

Drown in the Loch is a versatile and powerful card in Magic: The Gathering, offering both a counter spell and a creature destruction option. This duality makes it a staple in decks that play blue and black mana. However, the card’s efficacy is reliant on the graveyard content of its target, as it can only counter or destroy a spell or creature with a converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of cards in that player’s graveyard.

To effectively navigate around Drown in the Loch’s constraints, players can employ strategies to limit graveyard build-up. This can be achieved by using cards that exile or shuffle an opponent’s graveyard back into their library, thereby keeping the graveyard’s card count low. Another approach is to bait out the card by playing less critical spells first, or by deploying spells and creatures that exceed the known graveyard threshold, thus slipping beyond Drown in the Loch’s reach. Being aware of this card’s potential and strategizing accordingly can significantly reduce its impact on your game plan.

Implementing these tactics while keeping pressure on your opponent forces them to spend their valuable Drown in the Loch at suboptimal times, dissipating its potential and preserving your key spells and creatures for the late game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is about understanding each card’s role and potential impact on your gameplay. Drown in the Loch offers an exceptional blend of utility for blue and black decks, allowing savvy players to make game-altering plays. Its limitation tied to graveyard size can be strategic in the right meta. If you’re intrigued by this card’s dual nature as a counter and removal tool and wish to adeptly pilot a deck featuring it, we have a wealth of insights and strategic advice. Expand your MTG acumen with us and discover how Drown in the Loch can be your ace in the hole. Dive deeper into MTG strategy and optimize your deck’s potential today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Drown in the Loch MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Drown in the Loch and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Drown in the Loch Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 1882015NormalBlackJohn Stanko
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2702015NormalBlackAnato Finnstark
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8422015NormalBlackJohn Stanko
42023-01-01Wizards Play Network 2023PW23 41997NormalBlackJohn Stanko
52023-11-17Special GuestsSPG 272015NormalBorderlessChris Seaman

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Drown in the Loch has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-10-04 For spells with in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine the spell's mana value.
2019-10-04 If a creature on the battlefield has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.