Desert of the Glorified MTG Card

Desert of the Glorified enhances card advantage through its on-demand cycling ability, potentially swapping for better options. This land supports black mana strategies with instant flexibility, aligning well with various deck types for optimized play. Despite the cycling cost, its dual functionality as both a land and a cycling card adds valuable versatility to decks.

Desert of the Glorified - Hour of Devastation (HOU)

Hour of Devastation (HOU)
2017-07-14 - Number 171

Desert of the Glorified - Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)

Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
2020-08-13 - Number 288

Desert of the Glorified - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)

Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
2022-10-07 - Number 275★

Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
2022-10-07 - Number 275

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Rarity	Common
Type	Land — Desert
Abilities	Cycling

Text of card

Desert of the Glorified enters the battlefield tapped. : Add to your mana pool. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Cards like Desert of the Glorified

Desert of the Glorified finds its niche in the realm of MTG lands with a specific advantage – the ability to cycle itself. Comparable to other cycle lands like Lonely Sandbar or Barren Moor, which offer blue and black mana cycling respectively, Desert of the Glorified offers a similar functionality but taps for black mana and has a higher cycling cost. While it shares the basic trait of tapping for mana and cycling, it stands out for its inclusion in a desert-themed deck, potentially interacting with cards that benefit from deserts being in play or in the graveyard.

Another card to consider is Drifting Meadow, which like Desert of the Glorified, enters the battlefield tapped and can be cycled. However, it provides white mana and has a distinctly lower cycling cost, making it more accessible in early game scenarios. This can be pivotal in decks where the speed of mana availability is crucial. As with any cycling land, the context of the deck’s color scheme, synergy with desert-related mechanics, and the mana curve all play a role in determining the best fit.

Ultimately, Desert of the Glorified occupies a specialized spot among cycling lands with its unique desert synergy and color specificity, catering well to players who value the versatility and thematic incorporation it offers within their MTG strategies.

Cards similar to Desert of the Glorified by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Stronghold - MTG Card versions

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Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince - MTG Card versions

Hostile Hostel // Creeping Inn - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Desert of the Glorified. 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 Midrange	Gladiator		Gladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unlike traditional lands, Desert of the Glorified offers a unique twist by providing the ability to cycle itself out of your hand. This gives you the chance to draw another potentially more useful card, thereby subtly increasing your card advantage during the match.

Resource Acceleration: As a land card, it smoothly integrates into your mana base, allowing you to tap for black mana which is vital for crucial spells and abilities. This acceleration can be instrumental in outpacing your opponent to cast game-changing cards.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Desert of the Glorified can be activated at instant speed, offering flexibility in your gameplay. You can end your turn without revealing your strategy, and if an opportunity doesn’t present itself during your opponent’s turn, you can then cycle the card to draw something new, keeping your options open and responsive.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Desert of the Glorified necessitates discarding a card if you utilize its cycling ability. This can be a setback when your hand is already depleted, making it costly to cycle for a new card.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast this card, you need one black mana which may not seamlessly integrate with decks that don’t heavily feature black mana in their strategy, potentially restricting its utility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While cycling can provide a degree of flexibility, the need for two mana (one of which is black) can feel steep, especially when other cycling cards may offer similar benefits at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Desert of the Glorified offers a dual role by serving both as a land and a source of cycling. It ensures you’re not missing land drops early game while providing card draw in the later stages.

Combo Potential: This card can work well with land-related strategies, tapping into graveyard synergy or underpinning decks that capitalize on the cycling mechanic for powerful interactions and board advantages.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where mana fixing and smooth deck operation are crucial, Desert of the Glorified holds its ground. It can seamlessly fit into current metas that value consistent deck performance and versatility.

How to beat

Desert of the Glorified presents a unique set of challenges in MTG, due to its combination of land utility and card cycling feature. Notably, it’s part of a cycle of deserts that can each turn into a resource later in the game. To efficiently tackle this card, it’s important to adapt your strategy around its nuances.

One effective method is by applying land destruction or land alteration spells to disrupt the opponent’s mana base, thus hindering their ability to cycle Desert of the Glorified for card advantage. Cards like Field of Ruin can turn this desert into a basic land, thereby eliminating its utility. Another strategy is using graveyard disruption tools such as Scavenger Grounds, which can exile cards from the graveyard, negating the late-game advantages Desert of the Glorified can provide when combined with other desert cards.

Beyond direct interactions, keeping pressure on the opponent to limit the occasions they can afford to cycle can be effective. Aggressive gameplay forces the opponent to use mana for immediate answers rather than cycling, which can delay their game plan and give you the upper hand. By understanding and anticipating the strategic uses of Desert of the Glorified, you can craft tactics that minimize its impact on the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Desert of the Glorified MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Desert of the Glorified and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Desert of the Glorified Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-07-14	Hour of Devastation	HOU	171	2015	Normal	Black	Jonas De Ro
2	2020-08-13	Amonkhet Remastered	AKR	288	2015	Normal	Black	Jonas De Ro
3	2022-10-07	Warhammer 40,000 Commander	40K	275★	2015	Normal	Black	Stanton Feng
4	2022-10-07	Warhammer 40,000 Commander	40K	275	2015	Normal	Black	Stanton Feng

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Desert of the Glorified has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Desert of the Glorified card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2017-04-18	Desert is a land subtype with no special meaning. It doesn't grant the land an intrinsic mana ability. Other cards may care about which lands are Deserts.