Bottomless Pit MTG Card


Bottomless Pit skews card advantage, benefiting discard-focused strategies. Instant discard pressure each upkeep can disrupt opponent plans. Demands strategic deck building to mitigate mandatory discard downside.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

During each player's upkeep, that player discards a card at random.

"I'm sure it came with the place. I don't think you build one on purpose." —Gerrard


Cards like Bottomless Pit

Bottomless Pit stands as one of the more punishing discard mechanics in Magic: The Gathering’s array of black control cards. When explored alongside cards like Necrogen Mists, both present players with a forced discard during their upkeep. However, Bottomless Pit doesn’t offer the choice of a card to discard, adding a layer of randomness and potential disruption for your opponent’s calculated plays.

Likewise, Oppression is another card that fuels the discard strategy but triggers upon any spell cast, providing a consistent discard drive throughout the match. While Bottomless Pit might disrupt at a specific moment during the upkeep, Oppression can cause a steady flow of discarded cards during the game’s entirety. Mindslicer also deserves a mention; though it’s a creature, it shares the devastating effect of causing both players to discard their hands, which can work harmoniously with the surprise element of Bottomless Pit’s random discard. However, unlike Bottomless Pit, Mindslicer requires a larger mana investment and a condition to be met for the discard to happen.

Assessing the varying features of these cards reveals how Bottomless Pit’s relentless and automatic discard effect can uniquely unsettle opponents in the game, solidifying its niche in discard-focused decks.

Necrogen Mists - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Mindslicer - MTG Card versions
Necrogen Mists - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Mindslicer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bottomless Pit by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Pit RackPit Rack PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
Mono-Black ControlMono-Black Control PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bottomless Pit ensures that each player sheds part of their hand each turn, skewing the playing field to your advantage if you’re piloting a deck built around discard strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Although Bottomless Pit itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its ability to consistently whittle down opponents’ resources can indirectly accelerate your position by comparison, allowing you to capitalize on their diminishing options.

Instant Speed: While Bottomless Pit is an enchantment that functions at the speed of your upkeep, the discard it provokes happens at instant speed once your upkeep begins. This puts immediate pressure on your opponents every turn and can disrupt their plans at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the challenges of deploying Bottomless Pit is its obligatory discard effect during each player’s upkeep. This mechanic demands that players shed part of their hand, potentially disrupting key strategies and depleting valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Bottomless Pit requires a precise combination of black mana to cast. This necessity can sometimes be restrictive, especially for decks that either run multiple colors or have a mana base that cannot consistently produce enough black mana when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana including two black mana symbols, Bottomless Pit is on the higher end for an enchantment with its effect. Players might find it more effective to utilize lower mana cost cards that offer similar disruptive effects or provide more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bottomless Pit offers a disruptive element to any black deck that focuses on resource denial. By forcing each player to discard at random during their upkeep, it counters strategies that rely on holding specific cards and pieces to execute their plan.

Combo Potential: This card excels within decks that capitalize on opponent’s discard or graveyard interaction. Combined with cards that punish discards or retrieve value from your own discarded pile, Bottomless Pit can be a linchpin in a synergistic setup.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players stockpile their hands for the right moment, Bottomless Pit disrupts these tactics. As dependable discard mechanisms are perennially relevant in various metas, this card holds continual significance by potentially derailing opponents’ meticulously crafted strategies.


How to Beat Bottomless Pit

Bottomless Pit stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a vexing black enchantment that imposes a challenge on each player during their upkeep. It’s an unpredictable yet potent piece that lets players randomly discard, disrupting their strategies and depleting their resources. To effectively navigate against Bottomless Pit, consider strategies focused on card advantage and graveyard utilization. Cards that generate card draw, like Phyrexian Arena, can mitigate the discard effect by consistently replenishing your hand each turn. Moreover, incorporating cards that thrive in the graveyard, such as creatures with Unearth or creatures that trigger abilities when discarded, can turn Bottomless Pit’s downside into a strategic advantage for you. Additionally, utilizing enchantment removal spells, including Naturalize or Disenchant, can swiftly eliminate the Pit from play, halting its oppressive effect. Employing these approaches can help maintain your hand size and leverage the situation, transforming Bottomless Pit from a threat into an opportunity on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depths of MTG strategies with cards like Bottomless Pit can significantly alter the dynamics of your matches. The key to success lies in understanding the synergy between your cards and adapting to the ebb and flow of the ever-changing MTG meta. If you’re keen to refine your deck with a card that subtly yet effectively shifts the balance of power in your favor, or if you’re looking to counteract opposing strategies that rely heavily on hand size, it’s time to consider including Bottomless Pit in your arsenal. Ready to unearth more winning strategies and bolster your collection with potent cards? Dive into our comprehensive MTG guides and discover how to optimize your gameplay for victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bottomless Pit MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold 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 Bottomless Pit and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Bottomless Pit Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-03-02StrongholdSTH 511997NormalBlackKev Walker
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 14042015NormalBorderlessRyan Quickfall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bottomless Pit has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 The ability is controlled by the player who controls Bottomless Pit. This means that Bottomless Pit can trigger abilities which trigger off an opponent forcing you to discard.