Darkslick Shores MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 226
2020-09-25 - Number 12
2023-02-03 - Number 372
2023-02-03 - Number 250p
2023-02-03 - Number 250
2023-02-03 - Number 250s
2024-04-19 - Number 281
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Darkslick Shores enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or fewer other lands. : Add or to your mana pool.
Where the Mephidross leaches into the Quicksilver Sea, the waves writhe with necrogen.
Exploring the Depths of Darkslick Shores
Darkslick Shores is a versatile land card that has cemented its place in Magic: The Gathering. As a land card, it has the inherent advantage of not costing any mana to play, setting it apart from traditional mana-generating spells or artifacts. Darkslick Shores offers immediate access to both blue and black mana, conditionally entering the battlefield untapped if you control two or fewer other lands. This makes it incredibly valuable in the early game, helping to set up your mana base without delay.
Cards like Darkslick Shores
Darkslick Shores shares similarities with other land cards aimed at optimizing mana in MTG. Cards like Seachrome Coast also offer dual mana and the same conditional untapped entry, but cater to different color combinations, serving decks that leverage white and blue mana. Botanical Sanctum follows the same entrance rule while providing green and blue mana, essential for early creature and spell deployment. These cards are all part of a cycle known for their role in competitive play, especially in formats where speed is crucial. Unlike most dual lands that come into play tapped or have a life cost associated with them, these fastlands give players an immediate advantage at the start of a game.
In conclusion, Darkslick Shores holds its own among these comparable fastlands as a critical piece in any deck requiring swift access to blue and black mana sources. Its importance grows in fast-paced formats where establishing your mana early can often lead to victory.
Cards similar to Darkslick Shores by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Darkslick Shores. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4c Legends | Standard | 4c Legends | Standard Super Qualifier 2024-04-28 |
 | Dimir Control | Standard | Dimir Control | Standard League 2024-04-29 |
 | Ad Nauseam | Modern | Ad Nauseam | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-28 |
 | Esper Midrange | Standard | Esper Midrange | Standard Super Qualifier 2024-04-28 |
 | Dimir Scam | Modern | Dimir Scam | Modern League 2024-04-28 |
 | Dimir Vampires | Pioneer | Dimir Vampires | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-29 |
 | 5c Legends | Standard | 5c Legends | Standard Preliminary 2024-04-29 |
 | UB | Pioneer | Pioneer League 2024-04-28 | |
| Rogues | Pioneer | Rogues | Pioneer League 2024-04-28 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Seizing the opportunity to lay down a land without costing a turn can subtly tip the scales in your favor. Darkslick Shores allows for efficient deck cycling, potentially connecting you with key cards faster.
Resource Acceleration: By entering the battlefield untapped under the right conditions, Darkslick Shores can propel your strategy forward. This swift mana accessibility can be crucial in executing your game plan ahead of the curve.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of tapping for either blue or black mana without delay complements strategies hinging on instant speed interactions. Casting impactful spells during an opponent’s turn or reacting to unforeseen threats becomes significantly easier with this reliable land.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Though Darkslick Shores does not require discarding cards itself, it may force difficult decisions on whether to keep important cards in hand or play the land untapped in the early game.
Specific Mana Cost: Darkslick Shores provides specific mana types, which can be a hindrance in decks that do not require both blue and black mana, or in ones that need a more diverse color pool.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In high-paced matchups, its restriction related to lands can be more limiting compared to other fastlands or lands with no such conditions.
Reasons to Include Darkslick Shores in Your Collection
Versatility: This fast land can serve as a foundational piece in various deck archetypes. Darkslick Shores enters the battlefield untapped, a critical feature for strategies looking to execute their game plan swiftly and efficiently.
Combo Potential: Land cards that don’t cause slowdowns are integral to combo decks. Darkslick Shores fits seamlessly into decks aiming to assemble combination plays quickly, helping to ensure that mana isn’t a bottleneck in executing intricate and powerful combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given that it taps for two of the most popular colors in competitive play, blue and black, Darkslick Shores is well-positioned in many metagames. It maximizes the chances of playing your spells on curve and can be particularly beneficial in control or tempo decks that need to maintain momentum.
How to Beat
Darkslick Shores is a valuable nonbasic land card in Magic the Gathering that offers considerable flexibility in mana generation for decks running blue and black colors. It enters the battlefield untapped if it’s among the first three lands you play, thus enabling an early advantage for casting powerful spells. However, this benefit becomes less impactful as the game progresses and you have more lands in play.
To effectively counter Darkslick Shores, players can use land destruction spells or effects that specifically target nonbasic lands, such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin. Utilizing cards that can strip a land’s abilities, like Blood Moon or Spreading Seas, can also minimize the value Darkslick Shores provides, effectively transforming it into a basic land or denying the desired mana colors to the opponent.
Adaptability in response to evolving board situations is crucial when facing cards like Darkslick Shores. Ensuring that you have the means to interact with or negate your opponent’s mana base can be just as vital as dealing with their creatures and spells, potentially disrupting their strategic plays and swinging the momentum in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Darkslick Shores MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Zendikar Rising Expeditions, 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 Darkslick Shores and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Darkslick Shores Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 226 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Charles Urbach | |
| 2 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Expeditions | ZNE | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 3 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 372 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Daria Khlebnikova | |
| 4 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos | PONE | 250p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 5 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 250 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 6 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos | PONE | 250s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 7 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Darkslick Shores has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Darkslick Shores card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-02-04 | If one of these lands enters the battlefield at the same time as one or more other lands (due to Oblivion Sower or Warp World, perhaps), it doesn't take those lands into consideration when determining how many other lands you control. |
| 2023-02-04 | If one of these lands enters the battlefield under your control and you control zero, one, or two other lands, it enters the battlefield untapped. If you control three or more other lands, however, it enters the battlefield tapped. |