Contested Cliffs MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 314
2013-11-01 - Number 282
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
| Abilities | Fight |
Text of card
oc T: Add o1 to your mana pool. o Ro G, oc T: Choose target Beast you control and target creature an opponent controls. Each creature deals damage equal to its power to the other.
Cards like Contested Cliffs
Contested Cliffs holds a unique place in decks that favor creature control elements in Magic: The Gathering. This card is comparable to other lands that provide creature control options, such as Keldon Megaliths, which can deal damage to target creature but requires the user to have no cards in hand to be activated. Contested Cliffs offers a more controlled and consistent creature fighting mechanic, albeit at the cost of mana and the presence of a Beast on your battlefield.
Another similar card is Arena, an older land with an ability to force creatures to fight. While Arena does not require any mana payment, it does demand a tap of the land and both creatures involved, which limits its use to only your turn similar to Contested Cliffs. Raging Ravine, on the other hand, is a land that becomes a creature and can fight itself but lacks the direct creature targeting capability that Contested Cliffs provides.
In sum, compared to its counterparts, Contested Cliffs carves out a distinct niche for Beast-synergy decks in MTG, offering both a mana sink and a way to leverage large creatures for board control.
Cards similar to Contested Cliffs by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Contested Cliffs provide a strategic edge by allowing you to repetitively use the fight mechanic, effectively removing opposing creatures while maintaining your own board presence.
Resource Acceleration: As a land, it doesn’t just tap for mana. It enables quicker plays by supporting your creature-based strategies, meshing well with decks that have numerous creatures to leverage.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Contested Cliffs at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing you to respond to threats during your opponent’s turn or right before your own turn to clear the way for a safe attack.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Contested Cliffs does not directly make you discard cards, but its activation cost requires an investment that might force you to choose between holding onto key cards or utilizing the land’s ability.
Specific Mana Cost: The activated ability of Contested Cliffs demands a specific combination of mana, namely red and green plus one generic mana. This requirement restricts its usage to decks that can produce both types of mana reliably.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its ability cost, along with the creature requirement, is comparatively high when looked at other land cards. You might find this land takes up a slot that could be used for more consistently useful lands in a game where mana efficiency can be a deciding factor.
Reasons to Include Contested Cliffs in Your Collection
Versatility: Contested Cliffs is a land card that provides not only mana flexibility but also a repeatable creature fighting ability. This can be included in decks with a focus on Beast creatures or those that aim to control the board by removing opponents’ threats.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with creatures that have high power or enter the battlefield effects. By triggering fight mechanics, Contested Cliffs can be an integral part of combo strategies aiming to leverage creature abilities or enrage mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based decks dominate, Contested Cliffs ensures you always have an option to engage enemy creatures directly. Its relevance escalates in metagames rich with targets for its ability, making it a tactical inclusion against diverse creature strategies.
How to beat
Contested Cliffs is a land card that draws players in with its ability to turn creatures into a formidable force, especially in beast-focused decks within MTG. The card offers a unique mechanism: it essentially turns a creature you control into a point of removal, capable of battling another target creature. This fight mechanic can quickly tip the scales of the battlefield in your favor, but there are ways to mitigate its impact.
To confront the challenge posed by Contested Cliffs, consider countering with instant-speed removal. This way, you can eliminate the creature targeted by the Cliffs before the ability resolves. Adding indestructibility to your creatures can also negate the fighting effect. Furthermore, leveraging creatures with protection from the beasts can leave your opponent’s strategy in tatters. Lastly, cards that restrict activated abilities can render Contested Cliffs null, avoiding any confrontations entirely.
Successfully navigating against Contested Cliffs involves strategic deck building and timely reactions. Always be mindful of your opponent’s mana and the beasts they control to anticipate when Contested Cliffs might come into play, and be prepared to act accordingly. Neutralizing its power can maintain control over the board and secure your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Contested Cliffs MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Commander 2013, 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 Contested Cliffs and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Contested Cliffs Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2013-11-01. Illustrated by Anthony S. Waters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 314 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 2 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 282 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Contested Cliffs has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Contested Cliffs 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 | If either target is illegal when the ability resolves, it will do nothing. |