Blossoming Sands MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 231
2015-01-23 - Number 166
2016-06-10 - Number 237
2017-08-25 - Number 237
2018-08-09 - Number 237
2019-07-12 - Number 243
2019-08-23 - Number 231
2019-11-07 - Number 1659
2020-04-24 - Number 244
2020-07-03 - Number 244
2022-02-18 - Number 265
2023-04-21 - Number 268
2020-09-26 - Number C18-237
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Blossoming Sands enters the battlefield tapped. When Blossoming Sands enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life. : Add or to your mana pool.
Cards like Blossoming Sands
Blossoming Sands is part of a collective of dual lands in Magic: The Gathering that provide mana fixing abilities for players’ decks. Likened to cards such as Tranquil Expanse, Blossoming Sands offers both Green and White mana upon tapping, alongside a modest life gain. Where it stands out is in the life gain feature – a small uptick that can be pivotal in tight situations. Tranquil Expanse lacks this slight boost, providing only a mana benefit without any life gain.
Similarly, Selesnya Guildgate mirrors the functionality of providing Green and White mana, yet it enters the battlefield tapped without the life gain incentive that Blossoming Sands provides. This nuanced difference maintains Blossoming Sands as an appealing choice for many decks. Then there’s Graypelt Refuge, a parallel option that pairs mana versatility with a life gain buff. Both Blossoming Sands and Graypelt Refuge enter the battlefield tapped, yet the life gain can certainly influence the course of the game, making them both valuable in decks that appreciate the incremental health advantage.
When comparing these lands, Blossoming Sands remains a favorable choice among MTG players who value the blend of mana stability and additional life – an asset that can be just as critical as card selection in constructing a solid deck foundation.
Cards similar to Blossoming Sands by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Blossoming Sands. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bant Tokens | Standard | Bant Tokens | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 15, 2024 |
 | Selesnya Slivers | Pauper | Slivers | 2° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana |
 | Naya Aggro | Standard | Naya Aggro | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 18, 2024 |
| Bant Combo | Standard | Brokers Ascendancy | BOP! Standard Open |
 | Naya Combo | Pauper | Boros Bully | BLUE - SAT - 1PM - Chicago Pauper Cup |
 | Decklist | Free form | 79#CS | |
 | Abzan Mill | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 | |
| Slivers | Pauper | Slivers | Monthly Tournament #35 |
 | Bant Bogles | Pauper | Bogles | Magic do Bem - 2 Edio |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blossoming Sands may not directly provide card draw, but its entry into the battlefield tapped and with a life gain offers a subtle edge. Every increment in life total can be pivotal, fostering an advantage that keeps you in the game longer against aggressive strategies.
Resource Acceleration: As a dual land, Blossoming Sands might be modest, but it’s instrumental in smoothing out your mana base. Playing a land that taps for two colors of mana is a fundamental way to ensure your deck operates efficiently, reducing the risk of being mana-color starved at critical moments.
Instant Speed: While lands don’t operate at instant speed, the immediate life gain from Blossoming Sands offers a small yet timely boost. In scenarios where life totals are tight, this gain can be just as crucial as an instant-speed interaction, providing you with a buffer that could make all the difference when survival is on the line.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Blossoming Sands provides a dual mana source upon entry, it requires immediate sacrifice from your hand if newly drawn during late-game scenarios where establishing board presence is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This land generates only green or white mana, which may not seamlessly integrate into multicolor decks seeking a more diversified mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Blossoming Sands can be valuable, its entrance tapped delays immediate use, potentially placing its controller at a tempo disadvantage in faster-paced games.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Blossoming Sands is a multifaceted land card, seamlessly integrating into a variety of Green and White decks. It provides mana fixing, crucial for decks that operate on a tight color curve.
Combo Potential: This card offers immediate life gain, a subtle yet effective boon for strategies capitalizing on life manipulation or the bolstering of life totals for cards like “Ajani’s Pridemate.”
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where tempo is not the highest priority, Blossoming Sands serves as a valuable asset. Its land type synergies and life gain can tip the scales in a tightly contested match.
How to beat
Blossoming Sands enters the battlefield of MTG as a common fixture in many green and white decks, praised for its ability to stabilize mana while providing a small boost of life. While it might seem minor, the single point of life gained upon its entry can be crucial for gaining that slight edge in a tight match where every life point counts.
However, every card has its counter, and Blossoming Sands is no exception. One strategy to outmaneuver a deck relying on Blossoming Sands is to intensify the speed of your own deck. Land destruction cards or spells that restrict land play can severely disrupt strategies hinging on dual lands like Blossoming Sands. Aggressive decks that put early pressure can also overpower a deck settling in with such lands. Fast plays and keeping your opponent on the defensive give little time for them to enjoy the benefits of their mana-fixing lands.
Furthermore, cards that punish lifegain or utilize an opponent’s lifegain to trigger deleterious effects can turn the tables on a deck using Blossoming Sands. By utilizing these approaches, you can effectively negate the advantage provided by Blossoming Sands and steer the game to a victorious outcome.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blossoming Sands MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged, 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 Blossoming Sands and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Blossoming Sands Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 2 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 166 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 3 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 4 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 5 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 6 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 243 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 7 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 8 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1659 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 9 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 10 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 11 | The List | PLST | C18-237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | ||
| 12 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 265 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sarah Finnigan | |
| 13 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 268 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robin Olausson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blossoming Sands has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |