Calamitous Cave-In MTG Card


Calamitous Cave-In provides both creature removal and a potential mana boost with Treasure tokens. Instant speed allows for strategic responses to threats, making this spell highly flexible. A discard requirement and specific mana cost can sometimes hinder its effectiveness.
Calamitous Cave-In - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set nameThe Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set codeLCI
Number139
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDiego Gisbert

Text of card

Calamitous Cave-In deals X damage to each creature and each planeswalker, where X is the number of Caves you control plus the number of Cave cards in your graveyard.

"For 'immortal conquerors,' these vampires seem very susceptible to being crushed by boulders." —Chara Rebal, bat rider


Cards like Calamitous Cave-In

Calamitous Cave-In introduces an intriguing spin on red’s damage dealing repertoire in the game. As we consider other cards akin to it, Rolling Earthquake comes to mind, which can deal damage to each creature without horsemanship and each player. However, Calamitous Cave-In is unique with its conditional mana-free casting cost—a facet not seen on Rolling Earthquake.

Then there’s Pyroclasm, another card that serves as a benchmark. Like Calamitous Cave-In, it delivers damage to each creature, but it’s limited at two points damage across the board. The cave-in has the potential for greater destruction, contingent on the number of mountains you sacrifice. Additionally, Blasphemous Act resonates with Calamitous Cave-In’s theme of escalating damage; it becomes cheaper to cast for every creature on the battlefield, while Calamitous Cave-In assesses no such requirement and hinges on land sacrifice instead.

Therefore, when examining alternatives that fit within the destructive capabilities of red’s sorceries, Calamitous Cave-In holds a distinct angle in MTG. It offers strategic depth to players who can leverage their land base to unleash calamity upon the board, ensuring its position as a card with critical and situational advantages.

Rolling Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Blasphemous Act - MTG Card versions
Rolling Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Blasphemous Act - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Calamitous Cave-In by color, type and mana cost

Shatterstorm - MTG Card versions
Flashfires - MTG Card versions
Anarchy - MTG Card versions
Phoenix Heart - MTG Card versions
Reign of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Deadshot - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Flood - MTG Card versions
Relentless Assault - MTG Card versions
Flameshot - MTG Card versions
Bend or Break - MTG Card versions
Scorching Missile - MTG Card versions
Reckless Crew - MTG Card versions
Draconic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Demolish - MTG Card versions
Granulate - MTG Card versions
Touch and Go - MTG Card versions
Sunder from Within - MTG Card versions
Thoughts of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Inner Fire - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Slide - MTG Card versions
Shatterstorm - MTG Card versions
Flashfires - MTG Card versions
Anarchy - MTG Card versions
Phoenix Heart - MTG Card versions
Reign of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Deadshot - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Flood - MTG Card versions
Relentless Assault - MTG Card versions
Flameshot - MTG Card versions
Bend or Break - MTG Card versions
Scorching Missile - MTG Card versions
Reckless Crew - MTG Card versions
Draconic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Demolish - MTG Card versions
Granulate - MTG Card versions
Touch and Go - MTG Card versions
Sunder from Within - MTG Card versions
Thoughts of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Inner Fire - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Slide - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Calamitous Cave-In, you can eliminate an opponent’s creature or planeswalker, giving you an edge by reducing their resources on the battlefield. This can potentially swing the game in your favor by removing key pieces of their strategy.

Resource Acceleration: As a bonus, Calamitous Cave-In can create a Treasure token when it’s played using the mana value from a discarded land card. This accelerates your resource availability, offering additional mana that can be crucial for casting more spells or activating abilities in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: This spell’s ability to be cast at instant speed is an invaluable asset, providing flexibility to respond to threats immediately without waiting for your own turn. This can disrupt your opponent’s plans at a critical moment, potentially saving you from a losing position or setting you up for a win on your next turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Calamitous Cave-In is the need to discard a card to activate its abilities. In situations where your hand is already depleted, this can put you at a further disadvantage, requiring you to lose valuable assets that could be crucial for later stages of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Calamitous Cave-In comes with a specific mana cost that includes both red and colorless mana. This requirement can be restrictive, particularly in multicolored decks that may struggle to have the necessary red mana available at the right time, potentially delaying your ability to play this card when it’s most needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s efficiency is also a point of consideration. With a casting cost that sits on the higher end of the spectrum for its effect, players might find that there are alternative spells in MTG that provide similar outcomes for a lower mana investment, making Calamitous Cave-In less optimal in competitive play where mana efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Calamitous Cave-In offers a unique blend of red’s direct damage and land manipulation, making it a suitable inclusion in decks focusing on land destruction or direct player damage. Its ability to disrupt land-based strategies while dealing damage gives it an edge in various match-ups.

Combo Potential: This card has a place in strategies aiming to capitalize on damaging spells or effects triggered by land destruction. Players can leverage it within combos that benefit from such disruptions, creating powerful synergies in the right deck.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that fluctuates between aggressive and control archetypes, Calamitous Cave-In can be especially effective against decks that heavily rely on specific lands or mana bases. The surprise element it brings to the table can significantly shift the game in favor of the user. Its relevance increases as it can act as a form of control while still pressing an aggressive strategy.


How to beat

Calamitous Cave-In poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, being a force to reckon with in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This powerful card offers both direct damage and a tactical advantage by destroying land, setting back opponents significantly. For players facing this formidable card, it’s essential to understand that protection and prevention are key. Cards with land regeneration abilities or those that can counter destruction spells are crucial in shielding your resources from such a catastrophic event. Consider leveraging instant spells that can negate Calamitous Cave-In’s effect or employing strategies to maintain a stable mana base even in the wake of potential land loss.

It is also wise to diversify your lands, not relying solely on a single type or those that are critical for your deck’s functioning. By planning ahead and having cards in your deck that allow for quick recovery or by having alternative resources for mana generation, you can minimize the disruption caused by Calamitous Cave-In. Staying adaptable and prepared for land-targeting threats will ensure you maintain control and momentum, regardless of the roadblocks your opponent may deploy.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Calamitous Cave-In MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Calamitous Cave-In and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Calamitous Cave-In has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal