Fetid Pools MTG Card


Fetid Pools offers card flow and mana flexibility, key for control and midrange strategies. Its cycling ability is instant speed, allowing for strategic depth and reaction timing. Despite benefits, it requires mindful play due to its specific mana provision and cycling cost.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand — Island Swamp
Abilities Cycling

Text of card

(: Add or to your mana pool.) Fetid Pools enters the battlefield tapped. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)


Cards like Fetid Pools

Fetid Pools is a versatile land card in Magic: The Gathering that provides blue and black mana and cycling ability. It finds its kinship with cards like Irrigated Farmland and Canyon Slough, which also belong to the cycle dual lands of the Amonkhet set. These cards share the double mana provision with a cycling trait giving players a boost in both resource fixing and hand flexibility. Unlike basic lands, they enter the battlefield tapped unless you control two or fewer other lands, a minor setback for their otherwise flexible utility.

Moreover, Fetid Pools resonates with the functionality of other dual lands such as Watery Grave and Sunken Hollow. Although these do not have cycling, they offer the choice of coming into play untapped at a cost, thus enabling a faster gameplay. Watery Grave imposes a two life payment while Sunken Hollow checks for two or more basic lands to enter untapped.

Considered within the scope of its set and beyond, Fetid Pools presents itself as a balanced choice for decks that value the blend of mana accessibility with the additional card draw option. Its ability to cycle from the battlefield or hand adds a layer of strategic depth to gameplay, distinguishing itself amidst Magic: The Gathering’s broad array of land cards.

Irrigated Farmland - MTG Card versions
Canyon Slough - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hollow - MTG Card versions
Irrigated Farmland - MTG Card versions
Canyon Slough - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hollow - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fetid Pools by color, type and mana cost

Underground Sea - MTG Card versions
River Delta - MTG Card versions
Underground River - MTG Card versions
Salt Marsh - MTG Card versions
Dimir Aqueduct - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway - MTG Card versions
Darkwater Catacombs - MTG Card versions
Dreadship Reef - MTG Card versions
Secluded Glen - MTG Card versions
Jwar Isle Refuge - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Darkslick Shores - MTG Card versions
Tainted Isle - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Depths - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hollow - MTG Card versions
Submerged Boneyard - MTG Card versions
Dismal Backwater - MTG Card versions
Choked Estuary - MTG Card versions
Underground Sea - MTG Card versions
River Delta - MTG Card versions
Underground River - MTG Card versions
Salt Marsh - MTG Card versions
Dimir Aqueduct - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway - MTG Card versions
Darkwater Catacombs - MTG Card versions
Dreadship Reef - MTG Card versions
Secluded Glen - MTG Card versions
Jwar Isle Refuge - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Darkslick Shores - MTG Card versions
Tainted Isle - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Depths - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hollow - MTG Card versions
Submerged Boneyard - MTG Card versions
Dismal Backwater - MTG Card versions
Choked Estuary - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir ControlDimir Control ExplorerJaffer's Mini Mosh - Explorer
Dimir MidrangeDimir Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024
UBUB PioneerPioneer League 2024-04-19
Esper ControlEsper Control GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Sultai ComboSultai Combo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024
Sultai MidrangeSultai Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Five-color ComboFive-color Combo LegacyPainterCharlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1
Grixis MidrangeGrixis Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024
Four-color MillFour-color Mill GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 11 2024
Sultai Some Brand of CerealSultai Some Brand of Cereal GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 10 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fetid Pools offers an edge when it comes to card flow. Cycling this land for a new card helps replace itself in your hand, potentially smoothing out your draws and keeping the resources coming.

Resource Acceleration: As a dual land, Fetid Pools contributes to resource acceleration by accessing two types of mana, blue and black. This multi-color capability can be crucial for various deck strategies, ensuring you have the right mana when you need it.

Instant Speed: The cycling feature of Fetid Pools operates at instant speed, granting the flexibility to react to an opponent’s actions. This helps you hold up mana for counterspells or instant-speed interaction and cycle away the land if it’s not needed, all without missing a beat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fetid Pools comes with a caveat for deck building as it may necessitate discarding other cards to fulfill certain strategies. This can be particularly counterproductive when in dire need of all resources in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: As a land card that taps for either blue or black mana, it may not be universally applicable in multicolor decks seeking more color flexibility. This limitation could restrict its inclusion to primarily blue-black focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana to cycle, Fetid Pools can be a little steep for decks that prioritize low-cost cycling to maintain momentum. While offering deck filtering, it may impede the overall speed and efficiency compared to lower cost cycling options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fetid Pools offers dual functions as both a land card that can provide blue or black mana and as a way to cycle for another card. This adaptability makes it a fit for various decks, enhancing mana consistency and lending itself to strategies that require flexibility.

Combo Potential: As a land with the cycling ability, Fetid Pools interacts beneficially with cards and mechanics that trigger off discarding or drawing cards, or even landfall. This could be the linchpin for combos in decks designed around such synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Top-performing decks in the competitive scene often leverage the most efficient mana bases possible. Fetid Pools fits this criterion, smoothing out mana draws in control or midrange decks while maintaining relevance in the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play.


How to beat

Fetid Pools dives into the realm of dual lands within Magic: The Gathering, offering both blue and black mana without any life penalty—a valuable trait for any deck seeking to stabilize its mana base efficiently. The versatility of the card is further enhanced by its cycling ability, allowing players to draw a new card for a small cost when the land is no longer needed.

Confronting a Fetid Pools on the field can be a subtle yet pivotal point in a match. To effectively counter its advantages, players can consider utilizing land destruction cards or strategies that inhibit its cycling ability. Direct land removal, such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin, can eliminate Fetid Pools from the battlefield. Leveraging cards like Ashiok, Dream Render can also hamper your opponent’s ability to search their library, indirectly reducing the effectiveness of Fetid Pools’ cycling feature.

Ultimately, while Fetid Pools serves as a stable source of two important colors of mana and offers card flexibility, understanding when to disrupt its presence can turn the tides of a game, showcasing the depth and strategy inherent in Magic: The Gathering’s gameplay dynamics.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fetid Pools MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet 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 Fetid Pools and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fetid Pools Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 2432015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
22017-04-29Amonkhet PromosPAKH 243s2015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 2932015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
42023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 4942015NormalBlackMiklós Ligeti
52023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2772015NormalBlackMiklós Ligeti
62023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 10852015NormalBlackMiklós Ligeti
72023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8682015NormalBlackMiklós Ligeti
82024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2612015NormalBlackJonas De Ro
92024-03-08FalloutPIP 4962015NormalBlackKamila Szutenberg
102024-03-08FalloutPIP 7932015NormalBlackKamila Szutenberg
112024-03-08FalloutPIP 10242015NormalBlackKamila Szutenberg
122024-03-08FalloutPIP 2652015NormalBlackKamila Szutenberg
132024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 2962015NormalBlackJonas De Ro

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fetid Pools has restrictions

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