Dismal Backwater MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 232
2015-01-23 - Number 168
2016-02-26 - Number 70
2016-06-10 - Number 238
2016-11-11 - Number 291
2017-08-25 - Number 246
2018-08-09 - Number 244
2019-07-12 - Number 245
2019-11-07 - Number 1663
2020-04-24 - Number 246
2020-07-03 - Number 245
2020-09-25 - Number 128
2022-02-18 - Number 267
2022-10-07 - Number 276
2022-10-07 - Number 276★
2023-04-21 - Number 269
2020-09-26 - Number KTK-232
| Card sets | Released in 17 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Dismal Backwater enters the battlefield tapped. When Dismal Backwater enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life. : Add or to your mana pool.
Cards like Dismal Backwater
Dismal Backwater is a common fixture in many MTG decks for its dual utility. It shares similarities with other lands that provide dual colors and a life gain bonus. For instance, Tranquil Cove operates similarly by offering a white and blue mana source, alongside a one-point life increment upon entering the battlefield. Unlike Dismal Backwater, which caters to blue-black mana needs, Tranquil Cove serves a different color pair.
Another comparable land is Jungle Hollow, which aligns closely with Dismal Backwater. Both enter the battlefield tapped, add to your life total, and cater to green-black and blue-black mana requirements respectively. The choice between the two would largely depend on the player’s specific deck colors. Scoured Barrens rounds out this list, echoing the same benefits but for white-black combinations. While each of these lands is tailored for different color strategies, they all present the added advantage of life gain, crucial for stabilizing against more aggressive decks.
Therefore, in the grander scheme of MTG’s landscape, Dismal Backwater and its counterparts are pivotal for mana fixing in multicolored decks while providing incremental life benefits, a subtle yet meaningful edge in many matches.
Cards similar to Dismal Backwater by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Dismal Backwater. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dimir Faeries | Pauper | Dimir Faeries | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-03-10 |
 | Dimir Draws | Standard | Dimir Draws | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 8, 2024 |
 | Dimir Control | Pauper | Standard Pauper | |
 | Dimir Reanimator | Standard | Dimir Reanimator | BOP! Standard Open |
 | UB | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 19, 2024 | |
| WUBRG | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 26, 2024 | |
 | Dimir Midrange | Standard | Dimir Midrange | WHITE - SAT - 12PM - Chicago Standard Cup |
 | Golgari Tokens | Standard | Sultai Insidious Roots | WHITE - SAT - 12PM - Chicago Standard Cup |
| Dimir Poison | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 | |
 | Grixis Control | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dismal Backwater has the subtle upside of giving you a life upon entering the battlefield. While this might not draw you cards directly, it can be an incremental advantage in long games where the life total matters, effectively giving you more time to find the resources you need.
Resource Acceleration: This land is a fixture in decks that benefit from mana fixing, providing access to both blue and black mana. This dual capability can be essential for casting key spells on time without the pressure of finding the right colors naturally through your draw.
Instant Speed: Although Dismal Backwater doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, having a land that enters the battlefield tapped can influence you to keep mana open for instant-speed interactions. By playing the tapland during your turn, you can better assess how to use your untapped lands for spells you may need to cast in response during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Dismal Backwater doesn’t require you to discard cards from your hand, it does come into play tapped. This can be a tempo setback, as it restricts your ability to use that land for mana until your next turn. In fast-paced games, this drawback can put you at a disadvantage when trying to establish your board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Dismal Backwater provides specific mana colors – one blue and one black. This specialization can be restrictive for certain strategies that require a more flexible mana base or decks that run three or more colors, potentially making it less desirable compared to other land options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Dismal Backwater doesn’t have a high mana cost associated with its use, it’s worth considering that other dual lands enter the battlefield untapped or offer additional abilities. The implicit “cost” of a tapped land can be the lost opportunity to utilize the mana immediately, which might be less than optimal when compared to the dual lands with no such entering-the-battlefield tapped clause.
Reasons to Include Dismal Backwater in Your Collection
Versatility: Dismal Backwater is a dual land that provides both black and blue mana, making it a flexible addition to any deck that runs these colors. The ability to tap for either type of mana can significantly improve your deck’s consistency.
Combo Potential: While Dismal Backwater may not directly enable combos, its place in a mana base ensures you have the right colors of mana when you need them to execute your game-winning plays. Additionally, it supports multi-color cards that could be crucial to your strategy.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors slower, more control-oriented play or multicolored decks, having a reliable mana base is key. Dismal Backwater can add to this stability without sacrificing speed, as it enters the battlefield tapped but also gives you a small life boost, which could be pivotal in tight matches.
How to Beat Dismal Backwater
Dismal Backwater is a common dual land card that serves as a simple yet vital component in MTG decks requiring blue and black mana. Its ability to enter the battlefield tapped and provide one life upon its entry makes it a modest yet strategic choice for many players. It sets a clear pace for the game, ensuring a slight life advantage while securing mana diversity.
To effectively counteract the benefits that Dismal Backwater offers, players should consider the use of land destruction cards or strategies that can disrupt the opponent’s mana base. Aggressive decks could take advantage of the fact that Dismal Backwater enters the battlefield tapped, allowing for a faster-paced assault before the opponent can stabilize their mana. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can be used to replace the land with a basic one, while direct damage spells keep the pressure on the opponent.
Ultimately, while Dismal Backwater provides a safe and stable mana source, it can be easily integrated into a straightforward strategy to outpace and overcome the land’s minor life gain and tap delay. As such, staying ahead of the curve and applying pressure is key to beating the advantages Dismal Backwater presents to your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dismal Backwater MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged, 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 Dismal Backwater and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Dismal Backwater Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 232 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 2 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 168 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 3 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 70 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 4 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 238 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 5 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 291 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 6 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 246 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 7 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 8 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 245 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 9 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1663 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 10 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 246 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 11 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 245 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 12 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Commander | ZNC | 128 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 13 | The List | PLST | KTK-232 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Burley | ||
| 14 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 267 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Ostrowski | |
| 15 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 276 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Henry Peters | |
| 16 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 276★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Henry Peters | |
| 17 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 269 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Ostrowski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dismal Backwater has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |