Duskmantle, House of Shadow MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 277
2020-09-26 - Number RAV-277
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
| Abilities | Mill |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , : Target player puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
In a space where there is no room, in a structure that was never built, meets the guild that doesn't exist.
Cards like Duskmantle, House of Shadow
Duskmantle, House of Shadow operates in the realm of MTG strategy where controlling an opponent’s deck becomes a subtle but powerful tool. Often compared to other cards that manipulate libraries, such as Glimpse the Unthinkable, Duskmantle, House of Shadow presents a unique land-based option, allowing for steady milling turn after turn without requiring more than a nominal mana investment. Whereas Glimpse the Unthinkable provides an intense burst of milling, Duskmantle, House of Shadow offers consistency.
Another parallel can be drawn with Nephalia Drownyard, a land card that also enables targeted milling. Both are repeatable effects built into land cards, but Duskmantle, House of Shadow trades direct damage for the ability to choose from the top two cards, offering a granular level of control over what stays in an opponent’s library.
When evaluating milling tactics within MTG’s card pool, Duskmantle, House of Shadow stands out for its long-term strategic potential, especially in the context of a control deck that seeks to undermine the opponent’s opportunities by controlling their draws and gradually depleting their resources.
Cards similar to Duskmantle, House of Shadow by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Duskmantle, House of Shadow, with its milling capability, potentially disrupts your opponent’s strategy by moving key cards out of their deck and into their graveyard. As they lose access to these resources, your edge grows, establishing a subtle yet substantial card advantage over time.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, it works in a different vein of resource manipulation. By targeting your opponent’s library, you effectively accelerate the depletion of their resources, edging them closer to defeat through an alternative win condition—decking out.
Instant Speed: Although this isn’t an instant, the activated ability of Duskmantle, House of Shadow can be utilized at instant speed. This allows you savvy players to wait until the end of the opponent’s turn to activate the ability, keeping mana open for responses and creating a strategic advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in the shadowy tactics of Duskmantle often means parting ways with valuable cards in your hand. This card can make you discard your own tools of victory, which can backfire when your arsenal runs thin.
Specific Mana Cost: The spells and abilities of Duskmantle, House of Shadow, come at the cost of very particular mana requirements. Deck builders beware—you’ll need a consistent supply of both blue and black mana to harness its full potential.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding the forces of Duskmantle doesn’t come cheap. With a demanding mana cost for its abilities, players often find that their resources could be better spent elsewhere, casting spells that pack a more immediate punch on the game board.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Duskmantle, House of Shadow offers a unique utility ability to target an opponent’s library. This makes it quite adaptable as it can be included in mill decks or used as a tactical resource in control strategies.
Combo Potential: The ability to force opponents to put cards from their library into their graveyard pairs well with spells or abilities that capitalize on the size of a player’s graveyard or the number of cards in it, thereby setting up powerful combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where graveyard strategies are popular, disrupting an opponent’s carefully curated graveyard can be a decisive move. The card’s infrequent appearance in decks also gives it an element of surprise, potentially catching opponents off-guard.
How to beat
Duskmantle, House of Shadow presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield, with its ability to mill opponent’s decks and cause potential damage simultaneously. To effectively counter this, it’s vital to direct your strategy towards swift aggression. This means applying pressure with fast-paced creatures or utilizing direct damage spells to reduce your opponent’s life total before Duskmantle can have a substantial impact. Defensive play and life gain are also potent strategies, as increasing your life buffer can negate the incremental damage caused by Duskmantle’s effect.
Another angle is to include cards in your deck that benefit from having numerous cards in your graveyard, transforming what could be a disadvantage into an advantage. It’s about turning the tables on an opponent utilizing Duskmantle’s abilities against them. Remember that disruptively removing Duskmantle, House of Shadow itself from the field can be the most straightforward solution—targeted destruction or exile shifts the flow of the game back in your favor.
Overall, when facing the shadowy schemes of Duskmantle, staying on the offensive and having a few strategic counters tucked into your deck can turn this card from a daunting foe into a manageable aspect of your opponent’s game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Duskmantle, House of Shadow MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and The List, 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 Duskmantle, House of Shadow 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
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Printings
The Duskmantle, House of Shadow Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2005-10-07. Illustrated by Martina Pilcerova.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 277 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Martina Pilcerova | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | RAV-277 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Martina Pilcerova |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Duskmantle, House of Shadow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |