Tomb of Annihilation MTG Card


Tomb of Annihilation - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
TypeDungeon
Released2021-07-23
Set symbol
Set nameAdventures in the Forgotten Realms
Set codeAFR
Number22
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred by

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides consistent undead minions, offering substantial card advantage and board control in matches.
  2. Enables faster mana and resource access through dungeon progression, enhancing spell and creature availability.
  3. Accommodates surprise plays with associated instants, leveraging the element of surprise in games.

Text of card

Trapped Entry — Each player loses 1 life. (Leads to: Veils of Fear, Oubliette) Veils of Fear — Each player loses 2 life unless they discard a card. (Leads to: Sandfall Cell) Sandfall Cell — Each player loses 2 life unless they sacrifice a creature, artifact, or land. (Leads to: Cradle of the Death God) Oubliette — Discard a card and sacrifice a creature, an artifact, and a land. (Leads to: Cradle of the Death God) Cradle of the Death God — Create The Atropal, a legendary 4/4 black God Horror creature token with deathtouch.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Tomb of Annihilation brings a new level of strategy to your gameplay. Its ability to potentially flip into a land that sprouts an unending stream of zombies provides you with a significant boost in board presence. This translates into a formidable card advantage as it threatens to overwhelm opponents with an army of undead minions.

Resource Acceleration: As a part of the Dungeon mechanic, venturing into this tomb can lead to faster resource acceleration. By progressing through the dungeon’s rooms, you unlock various benefits that can ramp up your resources, giving you the much-needed edge to summon more powerful creatures or cast spells sooner than your adversary.

Instant Speed: While the Tomb of Annihilation itself is not an instant, its association with instant-speed dungeon venturing spells and abilities accommodates strategic depth. This can catch opponents off guard and allow you to advance through the dungeon at times most beneficial to your game plan, keeping the element of surprise on your side.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Tomb of Annihilation is its demand that you discard a card as part of its activation. This can be problematic when you’re already struggling to maintain a healthy hand size, turning the artifact’s advantage into a potential liability.

Specific Mana Cost: Tomb of Annihilation requires a diverse mana investment to activate. Its specific mana cost may not align well with all deck archetypes, particularly those that do not have a flexible mana base or rely predominantly on a single color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating Tomb of Annihilation against other cards within its category, one should consider its relatively high mana cost. There are alternatives available that might not require such a significant expenditure of mana and still offer similar or greater benefits.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tomb of Annihilation can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes that thrive on dungeon mechanics. Its ability to navigate through the dungeon gives players additional flexibility in shaping their plays and responding to the board state.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes efficiently with creatures and spells that benefit from completing dungeon rooms, potentially creating powerful interactions and continuous benefits as you advance through your dungeon exploration.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting landscape of the current meta, cards that enable multiple strategies are invaluable. Tomb of Annihilation’s role can be instrumental against decks that are unprepared for its unique and recursive dungeon-completion effects.


How to beat

The Tomb of Annihilation is an intriguing card in the world of MTG, challenging players to strategize effectively to overcome its potential hindrance. To navigate around this card’s pitfalls, you must prioritize cards and strategies that can neutralize its effects or turn them to your advantage. Graveyard recursion abilities that allow you to bring creatures back from the graveyard can effectively counteract the life loss imposed by Tomb of Annihilation. Additionally, incorporating cards that can exile Tomb of Annihilation or nullify its abilities will help maintain your board presence and keep your life total secure.

Another tactic is to exploit the card’s ‘venture into the dungeon’ mechanic with your own dungeon-delving cards to reap the benefits before the Tomb’s detrimental effects can take hold. It is also advised to adjust your playstyle by being more conservative with the creatures you play while the Tomb is active, thereby minimizing potential life loss. Timely removal spells are crucial as well—not only to deal with the Tomb itself but also to eliminate accompanying threats that may capitalize on your vulnerability while under the Tomb’s influence.

Ultimately, defeating a card like Tomb of Annihilation requires a combination of foresight, adaptability, and perhaps a bit of luck as you navigate its challenging effects and secure your victory on the battlefield.


Cards like Tomb of Annihilation

Tomb of Annihilation stands as a notable card with unique mechanics that plunge players into the treacherous depths of the dungeons in MTG. It echoes the exploratory traits of cards like Maze’s End, which also offers a distinct win condition for gamers willing to navigate through a labyrinth of actions. While Maze’s End compels players to amass a collection of gates, Tomb of Annihilation challenges them with a more perilous journey through a dungeon to earn their victory.

Similar to Vault of Catlacan from the Rivals of Ixalan set, which requires players to hit specific markers to unlock a treasure trove of cards and mana, Tomb of Annihilation provides incremental advantages as players delve further. However, Vault of Catlacan offers a broader immediate gain, whereas Tomb invites a prolonged strategic gamble through its dungeon cards. Additionally, in comparison with Door to Nothingness, which demands a heavy resource investment for an instant win, Tomb of Annihilation offers a more gradual, although no less deterministic, path to triumph.

In the landscape of MTG cards that offer alternative win conditions and unique in-game experiences, Tomb of Annihilation emerges as a captivating choice for players who enjoy a blend of risk and strategy on their way to outmaneuvering opponents.

Maze's End - MTG Card versions
Door to Nothingness - MTG Card versions
Maze's End - Dragon's Maze Promos (PDGM)
Door to Nothingness - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Cards similar to Tomb of Annihilation by color, type and mana cost

Lost Mine of Phandelver - MTG Card versions
Dungeon of the Mad Mage - MTG Card versions
The Initiative // Undercity - MTG Card versions
Lost Mine of Phandelver - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Dungeon of the Mad Mage - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
The Initiative // Undercity - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tomb of Annihilation MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Tomb of Annihilation and other MTG cards:

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