Dunes of the Dead MTG Card

Dunes of the Dead grants card advantage by creating a Zombie token upon being sacrificed or destroyed. The land excels in resource acceleration, morphing from mana source to creature upon leaving the battlefield. It’s versatile in decks that rely on landfall triggers and sacrificial strategies, increasing its collection value.

Dunes of the Dead - Hour of Devastation (HOU)

Hour of Devastation (HOU)
2017-07-14 - Number 175

Dunes of the Dead - Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander (OTC)

Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander (OTC)
2024-04-19 - Number 291

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Land — Desert

Text of card

: Add to your mana pool. When Dunes of the Dead is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.

The Curse of Wandering permeated Amonkhet long before Nicol Bolas. He simply harnessed it.

Cards like Dunes of the Dead

Dunes of the Dead offers a unique twist to land cards within Magic: The Gathering. It resides in the same realm as lands such as Ifnir Deadlands, both presenting a desert theme. Dunes of the Dead distinguishes itself by creating a 2/2 black Zombie creature token when it’s put into a graveyard from the battlefield, a subtle yet strategic advantage that adds creatures to your board presence.

Comparing that to Desert of the Glorified, which merely cycles for two mana, Dunes of the Dead provides that additional benefit without any cost, other than the land being destroyed or sacrificed. Then we have Zombie Infestation, which, while not a land, is relevant due to its ability to discard two cards to create a 2/2 black Zombie token. While it creates a similar end product, Dunes of the Dead does not require the card disadvantage that Zombie Infestation does. It’s also noteworthy that the in-game triggers and uses of these cards can impact your strategy in markedly different ways.

Ultimately, Dunes of the Dead holds a niche position among MTG cards that can operate both as mana sources and as a method to bolster your army, offering unexpected flexibility and utility in various game scenarios.

Desert of the Glorified - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dunes of the Dead by color, type and mana cost

Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions

Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dunes of the Dead provides a unique benefit when it leaves the battlefield. The land transforms into a reliable source of card advantage by granting you a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. This small bonus can be pivotal in outmatching your opponent in creature count, a subtle yet effective way to pull ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: As a land card, Dunes of the Dead is an essential part of resource acceleration in your deck. It adds to your mana pool with its ability to tap for colorless mana, which may not seem like a standout at first glance, but its real resource potential is unleashed upon being sacrificed. Whether it’s through your own strategy or as a result of your opponent’s actions, the land’s transformation into a creature provides additional value and turns a potential loss of resources into an opportunity.

Instant Speed: While Dunes of the Dead itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to provide a creature token does work at instant speed – activating whenever the land is put into a graveyard from the battlefield. This can throw off an opponent’s plan during their turn, especially if Dunes is sacrificed as a cost or destroyed unexpectedly, providing you with a creature ready to block or add pressure at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dunes of the Dead necessitates that a card be discarded in certain situations, which can be detrimental during gameplay where your hand size is already compromised.

Specific Mana Cost: This land produces only colorless mana, which might not synergize well with decks that are heavy on color-specific spells and abilities, sometimes leaving players with unusable mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card itself does not have a mana cost, the necessity to sacrifice this land can be a steep price in decks that rely on maximizing their mana base for late-game dominance.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dunes of the Dead stands out with its dual utility as both mana source and creature generator. It provides landfall triggers and supports strategies that capitalize on land sacrifice, ensuring it finds a place in a variety of decks.

Combo Potential: Upon its destruction, this card creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token, offering excellent synergy with decks emphasizing token generation or graveyard play. It pairs well with effects that require you to sacrifice lands, effectively turning a potential downside into an advantage.

Meta-Relevance: With graveyard strategies often in the meta-game spotlight, Dunes of the Dead aligns perfectly by providing additional board presence upon being cycled out of play. Its relevancy grows in environments where sacrificing lands can be turned into a tactical move.

How to beat

Dunes of the Dead serves as a unique land card within Magic: The Gathering, adding strategic depth to gameplay. Owning the ability to produce colorless mana, it seamlessly integrates into a variety of decks. However, it boasts an intriguing upside upon leaving the battlefield – summoning a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. This can provide a player with an unexpected blocker or an additional attacker after a land sacrifice or destruction.

Defeating a card like Dunes of the Dead requires a well-thought-out strategy. The key is to minimize the impact of the Zombie token it creates. Using graveyard disruption such as Scavenging Ooze could prevent the token from ever hitting the board. Another tactic is to employ removal spells targeting the token directly: Fatal Push or Bloodchief’s Thirst can swiftly handle the threat. Furthermore, by applying pressure and maintaining a dominant board presence, one can force situations where the token becomes less relevant. Timing is essential; dealing with Dunes of the Dead before your opponent wishes to sacrifice it could prevent them from gaining that additional creature advantage altogether.

Ultimately, recognizing the potential swing that Dunes of the Dead offers and preparing to counteract its effects is crucial in overcoming the challenges it presents in a match.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dunes of the Dead MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander, 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 Dunes of the Dead and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dunes of the Dead Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by E. M. Gist.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-07-14	Hour of Devastation	HOU		175	2015	Normal	Black	E. M. Gist
2	2024-04-19	Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander	OTC		291	2015	Normal	Black	E. M. Gist

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dunes of the Dead has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dunes of the Dead 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.
2017-07-14	Dunes of the Dead’s second ability doesn’t allow you to sacrifice it whenever you’d like. You must find another way to get Dunes of the Dead into the graveyard.
2017-07-14	If you sacrifice Dunes of the Dead to pay the activation cost of an ability, you’ll create the Zombie token before that activated ability resolves.