Contaminated Ground MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 102
2013-02-01 - Number 59
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant land Enchanted land is a Swamp. Whenever enchanted land becomes tapped, its controller loses 2 life.
"The Na Plateau is lost. Do not ask what happened, and never return there." —Nirthu, lone missionary
Cards like Contaminated Ground
Contaminated Ground stands out in the realm of land disruption spells within Magic the Gathering. It’s often likened to cards such as Psychic Venom, which similarly turns an opponent’s land into a liability. However, Contaminated Ground comes with the added twist of transforming the affected land into a Swamp, limiting an opponent’s mana diversity and potentially disrupting their strategy.
Poison the Well is another relative, costing more mana but serving a dual purpose; it not only contaminates the land but also inflicts damage to the land’s controller. This can create a more immediate impact on the game’s balance. Then we have Evil Presence, which also has the power to turn any land into a Swamp, but without the damage-dealing aspect of Contaminated Ground, making it a more subtle approach to mana disruption.
After considering the various effects and strategic advantages each card provides, Contaminated Ground has a unique position among land disruption spells in Magic the Gathering. Its ability to both tweak the mana pool and chip away at an opponent’s life total gives it a niche role, particularly in formats where mana base manipulation is key.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Contaminated Ground offers a strategic twist to the typical card advantage approach. Instead of adding cards to your hand, it disrupts your opponent’s land bases causing potential mana issues which can indirectly lead to card advantage by suppressing their ability to cast spells efficiently.
Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources. However, by transforming an opponent’s land into a liability, you effectively slow them down which can feel like acceleration as you continue developing your board unimpeded.
Instant Speed: Contaminated Ground operates at sorcery speed, but its strength lies in its ability to be enacted preemptively. Planting this on a key land can set the tempo, forcing your opponent to react or hinder them just as they’re about to make a crucial play, similar to how instant speed interaction can disrupt an opponent’s strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Contaminated Ground doesn’t require discarding, it can often feel like a card disadvantage when played. This is because its effect is only situationally useful, reducing its utility in dynamic game situations.
Specific Mana Cost: Contaminated Ground has a cost that includes black mana, which could limit deck compatibility. The card’s utility is mainly harnessed in black-focused decks or those with sufficient mana fixing to accommodate a black splash.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its mana cost of two, with one needing to be black, the card presents a cost that can be considered high for the effect it brings. There are other options available that may provide greater versatility or more impactful board presence for the same, or lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Contaminated Ground offers a unique flexibility for black decks aiming to disrupt the opponent’s mana base. It can be slipped into various deck archetypes including control or discard-focused strategies, highlighting its adaptability within your arsenal.
Combo Potential: This enchantment not only turns a land into a swamp but also enables damage-dealing combos by punishing your opponent every time they tap the afflicted land. Pairing this with cards that force taps enhances its utility.
Meta-Relevance: This card can shine in an environment abundant with nonbasic lands. As players seek to optimize their mana with versatile lands, Contaminated Ground becomes an efficient tool to throw a wrench in their plans, making it a relevant sideboard contender in certain metas.
How to beat
Contaminated Ground finds its niche in the realm of land disruption within the Magic: The Gathering battlefield. Transforming a potent mana source into a liability, this aura spells trouble for unprepared opponents by essentially converting any land into a less desirable Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth that also chips away at its controller’s life. While it may seem daunting, there are effective strategies to circumvent this roadblock.
Land cleansing spells like Naturalize or enchantment removals such as Disenchant can directly target and eliminate the threat of Contaminated Ground. Additionally, relying on land cards with basic land types can also mitigate the damage, as they’re less likely to become critical casualties. For a more proactive approach, utilizing cards like Ghost Quarter to sacrifice the targeted land ensures you maintain control over your mana flow and life total. Lastly, decks that employ strategies not heavily reliant on specific land types are naturally more resilient against tactics focused on land contamination.
Dealing with contaminated spaces requires tact and an understanding of the card’s limitations. In varying circumstances, Contaminated Ground can either be a minor setback or a potent weapon. Smart deck building and a prepared sideboard are your best defenses in Magic: The Gathering’s ever-evolving landscape of strategy and suppression.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Contaminated Ground MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Gatecrash, 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 Contaminated Ground 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
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Printings
The Contaminated Ground Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2013-02-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 102 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 2 | 2013-02-01 | Gatecrash | GTC | 59 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christine Choi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Contaminated Ground has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Contaminated Ground card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | Contaminated Ground’s last ability triggers whenever the enchanted land becomes tapped for any reason, not just when it’s tapped for mana. |
| 2010-06-15 | If, while casting a spell or activating an ability, the enchanted land’s controller taps the land for mana to pay for it, Contaminated Ground’s ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of that spell or ability. Contaminated Ground’s ability will resolve first. |
| 2010-06-15 | On the other hand, the enchanted land’s controller may tap the land for mana, let Contaminated Ground’s ability trigger and go on the stack, then spend that mana to cast an instant or activate an ability in response. In that case, that instant or ability will resolve first. |
| 2010-06-15 | The enchanted land loses its existing land types and any abilities printed on it. It now has the land type Swamp and has the ability to tap to add to its controller’s mana pool. Contaminated Ground doesn’t change the enchanted land’s name or whether it’s legendary, basic, or snow. |