Denizen of the Deep MTG Card

Denizen of the Deep offers card advantage by reusing enter-the-battlefield effects through its return mechanic. The card’s high mana cost can be restrictive and compete with other impactful cards in your deck. With the right deck, Denizen of the Deep’s daunting board presence can be a game-changing asset.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Serpent
Power 11
Toughness 11

Text of card

When Denizen of the Deep comes into play from your hand, return all your other creatures from play to your hand.

Cards like Denizen of the Deep

Denizen of the Deep is an entrancing creature card that holds its place in the Magic: The Gathering seascape. Its closest kin on the aquatic front is Serpent of the Endless Sea, which also carries a substantial body for controlling the board. Nonetheless, Denizen of the Deep demands a more substantial mana investment, reflecting its might in returning all other creatures you control to your hand upon entering the battlefield.

Looking to other sea monsters, Lorthos, the Tidemaker casts a broad net with its ability to tap eight permanents, disrupting opponents significantly. Despite their similar daunting presence, Lorthos offers a more direct disruption compared to the Denizen’s board reset effect. Additionally, we look towards Stormtide Leviathan, imposing an islandwalk and restricting creatures to those with flying or islandwalk, thereby shaping the battle against opponents in different tides than Denizen of the Deep.

In essence, while each of these titanic sea creatures weaves their own tapestry in the game’s strategy, Denizen of the Deep remains a distinct choice for its unique combination of heavy board impact and the potential for strategic redeployment of your creatures.

Serpent of the Endless Sea - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Stormtide Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Serpent of the Endless Sea - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Stormtide Leviathan - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Denizen of the Deep offers a unique form of card advantage due to its sheer size. When it enters the battlefield, you return all other creatures you control to your hand, which can be beneficial. This is particularly advantageous when you have creatures with useful enter-the-battlefield effects, allowing you to reuse those abilities for extra value.

Resource Acceleration: While Denizen of the Deep itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its massive presence can be a catalyst for other cards that capitalize on having large creatures on the battlefield. This synergy can lead to accelerated resource gain through various interactions or combos within your deck.

Instant Speed: Although this sea giant doesn’t have instant speed, its place in decks that manipulate the phase of play can be critical. For example, you could pair this card with flash enablers, allowing you to surprise your opponents with a sudden board-shaking sea creature outside of your main phases.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Denizen of the Deep demands that upon entering the battlefield, other creatures you control return to your hand. This can disrupt your board presence and diminish your tactical advantage, particularly if you have established a strong board state.

Specific Mana Cost: The summoning cost of Denizen of the Deep is quite restrictive, requiring two blue mana. This can make it challenging to include in multi-colored decks that also need mana for other spells and abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an eight mana value—specifically requiring six generic mana and double blue—Denizen of the Deep is a costly investment. Given this mana investment, it competes with other high-impact cards in your deck that may offer immediate effects or board control without a demanding prerequisite.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Denizen of the Deep offers a significant presence on the battlefield that can adapt to various gameplay styles. As a blue creature, its substantial power and toughness provide a robust defense as well as a dominant potential attacker in decks that can handle its mana cost.

Combo Potential: This sea monster is a perfect match for strategies that revolve around bounce or recursion effects. Its ability to return all other creatures you control to your hand when it enters the battlefield can be exploited to reuse enter-the-battlefield triggers or to protect your valuable creatures from board wipes.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where the game tends to reach later turns, having a heavy-hitter like Denizen of the Deep can turn the tide in your favor. It demands an answer from your opponents, fitting seamlessly into control strategies that aim to win through powerful late-game threats.

How to Beat Denizen of the Deep

Denizen of the Deep is an imposing presence in Magic: The Gathering, boasting an ability that can turn the tide of the game by potentially returning all other creatures you control to your hand when it enters the battlefield. To counter this sea giant’s effect, players should focus on maintaining board control. Removal spells are key—cards like Murder or Path to Exile can efficiently handle this threat before its ability becomes a factor.

Counterspells such as Cancel or Negate also offer a strategic defense by preventing Denizen of the Deep from ever entering the battlefield. Alternatively, sacrificing your own creatures in response to the Denizen’s ability, using cards like Village Rites, allows you to extract value before they get bounced back to your hand. It also pays to invest in creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects, turning the Denizen’s drawback into an advantage by reusing those effects.

Lastly, perpetual board presence is vital. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt negate the recursive plays by exiling creatures from the graveyard. By employing these strategies, players can mitigate the impact of Denizen of the Deep, maintaining control of the game and steering it towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Denizen of the Deep MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Starter 1999, 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 Denizen of the Deep and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Denizen of the Deep Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 351997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21999-07-01Starter 1999S99 351997NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
32007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 802003NormalBlackJim Pavelec
42010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 72003NormalBlackJim Pavelec
52023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2821997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
62023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4172015NormalBorderlessMark Tedin
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 472015NormalBlackAnson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Denizen of the Deep has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal