Crawling Barrens MTG Card
2020-09-25 - Number 262p
2020-09-25 - Number 378
2020-09-25 - Number 262s
2020-09-25 - Number 262
2002-06-24 - Number 83732
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add . : Put two +1/+1 counters on Crawling Barrens. Then you may have it become a 0/0 Elemental creature until end of turn. It's still a land.
Zendikar is restless.
Cards like Crawling Barrens
Crawling Barrens joins the ranks of adaptable land cards in Magic the Gathering, offering an edge during the late game phases. Comparable to Mutavault, which can also become a creature, Crawling Barrens has the unique ability to grow without limit thanks to its +1/+1 counter addition. This capability often outstrips Mutavault’s constant power and toughness. However, Mutavault has the advantage of needing only one mana to activate, providing flexibility in mana use.
Celestial Colonnade is another land with creature transformation abilities, but it leans into control strategies with its flying and vigilance traits, and commands a more substantial mana investment to become a creature. Despite this, it presents an immediate offensive and defensive power, unlike Crawling Barrens which requires time to become a substantial threat.
Lastly, Mishra’s Factory is a lesser discussed option that can provide early defense with its summoning sickness immunity. However, Crawling Barrens’ potential for growth and mana sink utility in the later stages of the game render it a more formidable force over the course of a match. In the landscape of land creature cards, Crawling Barrens claims a spot for offering a valuable balance between immediate impact and long-term strategic advantages.
Cards similar to Crawling Barrens by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Crawling Barrens. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Black Control | Pioneer | Mono-Black Discard | *HALF PRICE FRIDAY* ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 2:00 pm |
| Mono-Black Discard | Pioneer | Mono-Black Discard | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-02-25 |
 | Dice Factory | Free form | d00mwake's Pure Modern 5 | |
 | Eldrazi Tron | Modern | Eldrazi Tron | DEN24 Sun 9:30 - Modern $10k Open 8-slot RCQ |
 | Mono-White Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Abzan Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
| Mono-Black Ramp | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
 | Mono-Green Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Crawling Barrens doesn’t directly cause you to draw cards, it steadily grows and becomes a more formidable creature, effectively giving you a reusable and increasing threat without expending additional cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: As a land, Crawling Barrens contributes to your mana base without occupying a slot in your deck that might be used for a traditional spell. Over time, its ability to add to its own power and toughness can turn it into a major player on the battlefield without needing to invest in separate creature cards.
Instant Speed: The ability to invest mana into Crawling Barrens at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing you to end your turn without using the ability but respond to your opponent’s actions by growing the Barrens if the mana would otherwise go unused.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Crawling Barrens doesn’t explicitly require you to discard a card, its ability competes for valuable resources within your hand. Activating its growth may come at the opportunity cost of discarding other potent cards that could be vital at critical gameplay moments.
Specific Mana Cost: Crawling Barrens requires colorless mana for its ability, which might not always align seamlessly with your mana-base, especially in multicolored decks. Ensuring the availability of colorless mana could present a challenge, potentially complicating your gameplay.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: To both activate its ability and tap for mana in the same turn, the investment is a minimum of four mana. Given that Crawling Barrens grows incrementally with each activation, utilizing it to its full potential can be mana-intensive. It might take several turns before you garner substantial benefits, which can be inefficient compared to other land cards or strategies available to players.
Reasons to Include Crawling Barrens in Your Collection
Versatility: Crawling Barrens stands out as a flexible land card, able to add colorless mana to your mana pool or become a powerful creature when the need arises. This dual functionality makes it an asset for numerous deck archetypes that value land cards with added utility.
Combo Potential: With the ability to grow its power and toughness through its own ability, Crawling Barrens can become a formidable threat. It synergizes well with decks focused on land animation or with cards that count the number of lands you control or their abilities, paving the way for potent combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by control decks or in environments where board wipes are commonplace, Crawling Barrens thrives. As a land that dodges sorcery-speed removal and can be activated in response to threats, its relevance in such metas cannot be overstated, offering a resilient and ever-present danger to your opponents.
How to Beat Crawling Barrens
Crawling Barrens is a versatile land card in MTG that can become a significant threat if left unchecked. As a card that can gradually grow larger with each activation, it presents a unique challenge as a manland. When facing such a card, there are several effective strategies players can employ. First, using instant-speed removal when your opponent animates Crawling Barrens can be a game-changer. This ensures that you utilize your mana efficiently while disrupting their game plan.
Another effective tactic is to apply continuous pressure on the opponent, forcing them to use mana defensively rather than investing it into Crawling Barrens. Cards that cause land destruction or can exile lands are particularly useful in this regard. Furthermore, taking advantage of cards that hamper land abilities, such as Stony Silence, can impede the utility of Crawling Barrens, essentially rendering it a basic land.
Timing is crucial when playing against Crawling Barrens. Swift responses and strategic plays that align with your deck’s strengths can help maintain control of the game. By applying these techniques, players can significantly increase their chances of overcoming the challenge posed by this formidable MTG card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crawling Barrens MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising Promos, 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 Crawling Barrens 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
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Printings
The Crawling Barrens Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Jonas De Ro.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 83732 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | ||
| 2 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 262p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 3 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 378 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 4 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 262s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 5 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 262 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crawling Barrens has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |