Drifting Meadow MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 320
1999-11-12 - Number 22
2013-11-01 - Number 285
2014-11-07 - Number 292
2015-11-13 - Number 282
2018-06-08 - Number 248
2020-04-17 - Number 271
2023-01-13 - Number 245
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
| Abilities | Cycling |
Text of card
Drifting Meadow comes into play tapped. oc T: Add o W to your mana pool. Cycling (You may pay and discard this card from your hand to draw a card. Play this ability as an instant.)
Cards like Drifting Meadow
Drifting Meadow enters the landscape of MTG with unique attributes in the realm of land cards. Often compared to cards like Sejiri Steppe, Drifting Meadow can be cycled for another card, something Sejiri Steppe does not offer. Both can be played tapped, yet Drifting Meadow provides a strategic edge for deck cycling efficiency.
Peering over to New Benalia, another similar land, it too enters the battlefield tapped but allows for scrying instead of cycling. New Benalia offers foresight, whereas Drifting Meadow offers the adaptability of cycling. Additionally, the classic Plains stands out as a basic land card, ready for immediate use for white mana without the tap delay. While Plains lacks the extra features, it exemplifies consistency in mana accessibility.
While weighing the benefits, Drifting Meadow aligns well with decks that capitalize on cycling mechanics, offering both mana fixing and deck thinning. Its versatility is a valuable asset in games where resource management and card flow are crucial. Thus, Drifting Meadow stamps its worth within the selection of specialized lands in MTG, displaying a balance of tactical depth and resourcefulness.
Cards similar to Drifting Meadow by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Drifting Meadow. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Fluctuator | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drifting Meadow can cycle from your hand, providing an opportunity to draw another card and maintain card flow. This ensures that even when it’s not needed as a land, it still contributes to your hand’s options.
Resource Acceleration: As a land card, Drifting Meadow contributes to your mana base. Even though it enters the battlefield tapped, it eventually turns into a source of white mana, helping you cast spells crucial for your strategy.
Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Drifting Meadow can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt to the battlefield’s changing circumstances. You can decide to cycle it on the opponent’s turn if you don’t require the land drop, thus keeping your options open.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Integrating Drifting Meadow into your deck brings a caveat — it occupies a land slot that could otherwise feature an active utility land. When you’re pressed ever closer to the pivotal rounds, having an untapped land could make the difference rather than one that requires sacrificing.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting costs can make or break your game, and Drifting Meadow demands a commitment to white mana. This can pigeonhole its integration, especially into multi-colored decks that may benefit more from a land offering flexible mana options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In a game where timing is critical, the cycling ability of Drifting Meadow bears a cost that’s a touch steep. One mana less and you might have played a game-changing spell. Thus, it’s vital to weigh the benefits of its potential card draw against what immediate plays you might be foregoing.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Drifting Meadow can be a key addition to decks that seek a stable mana base. It serves dual functions: entering the battlefield tapped for future planning or cycling for card draw when land is plentiful.
Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on landfall abilities or graveyard synergies, Drifting Meadow can trigger vital effects. Furthermore, cycling lands support archetypes that benefit from cards moving from the library to the graveyard, setting up powerful plays.
Meta-Relevance: Having lands that provide both accessibility to white mana and the utility of cycling makes Drifting Meadow adapt well to various metagames, especially ones where the pace of play allows for setting up advanced board states while still maintaining card flow.
How to beat
Drifting Meadow is a land card in Magic the Gathering that offers players a strategic option for mana fixing in their decks. It enters the battlefield tapped and can be tapped itself for white mana, or cycled for two generic mana to draw a card. Recognizing the timing and utility of this card is key in planning a strategy to overcome it.
To effectively challenge a deck utilizing Drifting Meadow, players should focus on aggressive plays that can capitalize on the potential tempo loss when a land enters the battlefield tapped. This can hinder an opponent’s early game development, giving an advantage to players with faster decks. Furthermore, land destruction or land manipulation spells can be used to target Drifting Meadow, disrupting the mana base and cycling ability which could potentially deprive an opponent of card advantage or the right mana at the crucial moment.
In essence, mastering your own deck’s pace and being prepared with countermeasures to mitigate the benefits Drifting Meadow offers can substantially increase your chances of coming out on top. Keep the pressure high and make wise use of land interaction abilities to maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Drifting Meadow MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Drifting Meadow 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Drifting Meadow Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 320 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Bob Eggleton | |
| 2 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 22 | 1997 | Normal | White | Bob Eggleton | |
| 3 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 285 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 4 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 292 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 5 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 282 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 6 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 248 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 7 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 271 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 8 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 245 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Drifting Meadow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |