Drown in Sorrow MTG Card

Drown in Sorrow can decisively shift the game’s momentum, offering crucial card advantage. Its specific mana cost may limit deck-building versatility, potentially affecting strategy. In a creature-heavy meta, Drown in Sorrow’s sweeping effect can be a game-changer.

Drown in Sorrow - Born of the Gods (BNG)

Born of the Gods (BNG)
2014-02-07 - Number 65

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 91

Drown in Sorrow - Commander Masters (CMM)

Commander Masters (CMM)
2023-08-04 - Number 154

Drown in Sorrow - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Magic Online Promos (PRM)
2002-06-24 - Number 88296

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Scry

Text of card

All creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn. Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)

"The sad truth is that the whip of Erebos is long enough to wrap around all our throats." —Perisophia the philosopher

Cards like Drown in Sorrow

Drown in Sorrow stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a potent sweeper for smaller creatures. Its nearest rival in effects and costs is perhaps Flaying Tendrils, which also clears out the battlefield of creatures with power 2 or less. However, Flaying Tendrils exiles those creatures, preventing any graveyard strategies, while Drown in Sorrow instead scrys 1, potentially smoothing out future draws for the player.

Another card that echoes the effect of Drown in Sorrow is Infest. Although Infest lacks the added scry bonus and is an older card, it shares the same mana cost and also destroys all creatures with power 2 or less. The lack of the scry ability makes Drown in Sorrow a more strategic option for deck builders who value the ability to control their draws.

In the landscape of control cards, Drown in Sorrow offers a balanced approach to taking care of early game threats while enhancing the controller’s foresight into upcoming turns. Its delicate mix of board control and card quality optimization sets it apart in the category of creature sweepers within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Drown in Sorrow by color, type and mana cost

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Drown in Sorrow. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Golgari Gardens	Pauper	Golgari Gardens	Pauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28
BG	Pauper		Pauper Challenge 32 2024-04-28
BRG	Pauper		Pauper Challenge 32 2024-04-28
Golgari Garden	Pauper	Golgari Gardens	AWESOME PAUPER
Dimir Control	Pauper	Dimir Control	Pauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Jund Gardens	Pauper	Golgari Gardens	Pauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Drown in Sorrow offers you the chance to potentially clear several of your opponent’s creatures off the board with a single card, which can tilt the balance of the game in your favor by reducing their options and improving your own board state.

Resource Acceleration: Though it doesn’t directly ramp your mana like some green spells, removing multiple early threats can save resources in the long run, allowing you to deploy your own threats sooner without having to deal with a swarm of opposing creatures.

Instant Speed: Despite being a sorcery, the impact Drown in Sorrow has during your main phase can be akin to the surprise and flexibility of an instant. By strategically casting it after attackers are declared, you can effectively turn it into a blowout play that reduces the need for defensive mana during your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Drown in Sorrow doesn’t demand players to discard from their hand, it has other limitations that may cause it to be less useful in certain situations. Without an inherent discard requirement, it doesn’t synergize with strategies that benefit from player discard mechanisms.

Specific Mana Cost: Drown in Sorrow requires one black and two generic mana, meaning it’s somewhat restricted to black-centric or two-color decks. This specific mana cost can be inconvenient for decks that run three or more colors due to mana base constraints, potentially slowing down the game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana for its sweeping effect, Drown in Sorrow could be considered high when compared to other mass removal spells in the game. For its mana cost, some might expect it to have more impact, such as dealing with larger threats or providing additional value.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Drown in Sorrow offers flexibility as a sweeper effect that can be slotted into any black-inclusive deck, useful for clearing out swarms of small creatures that some aggressive strategies rely on.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that benefit from creatures dying, such as those that trigger death-related abilities or feed graveyard mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with low-cost creatures, Drown in Sorrow can provide a critical edge by setting back your opponent’s board, and its scry effect also helps in sifting through your deck for needed pieces.

How to beat

Drown in Sorrow is a black sorcery card famous for its sweeping ability, impacting the battlefield by giving all creatures -2/-2 until end of turn. This can be quite the hurdle when you’re reliant on a board filled with small or medium-sized creatures. Overcoming Drown in Sorrow involves strategic plays such as using creatures with toughness greater than two or employing indestructible creatures that aren’t affected by its debuff.

Protection spells can also save your valuable creatures from destruction, preserving your board presence. Another effective strategy is to bait out Drown in Sorrow. By only playing a few creatures at a time, you force the opponent to make a decision to use it prematurely or hold onto it. Lastly, consider including cards in your deck that can counter sorcery spells, ensuring Drown in Sorrow never resolves and your creatures survive to fight another turn.

Recognizing the threat and adapting your strategy to it will keep your army intact and enable you to maintain pressure on your opponent even after they play a card as potent as Drown in Sorrow.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Drown in Sorrow MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Born of the Gods, 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 Drown in Sorrow and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Drown in Sorrow Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-02-07 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	~~2002-06-24~~	Magic Online Promos	PRM	88296	2015	Normal	Black	Valera Lutfullina
2	2014-02-07	Born of the Gods	BNG	65	2003	Normal	Black	Noah Bradley
3	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM	91	2015	Normal	Black	Noah Bradley
4	2023-08-04	Commander Masters	CMM	154	2015	Normal	Black	Valera Lutfullina

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Drown in Sorrow has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-08-07	Drown in Sorrow affects only creatures on the battlefield at the time it resolves. Creatures that enter the battlefield or become creatures later in the turn won't get -2/-2.