Dwarven Demolition Team MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 142
1993-10-04 - Number 143
1993-12-01 - Number 143
1993-12-10 - Number 143
1993-12-10 - Number 143
2003-07-28 - Number 184
2003-07-28 - Number 184★
2022-11-28 - Number 436
2022-11-28 - Number 139
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dwarf |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Tap to destroy a wall.
Foolishly, Najib retreated to his castle at El-Abar; the next morning he was dead. In just one night, the dwarven forces had reduced the mighty walls to mere rubble.
Cards like Dwarven Demolition Team
Dwarven Demolition Team brings a unique flare to Magic: The Gathering’s classic creature cards. This red card offers players a way to directly take down walls, pioneering an ability highly specialized within MTG’s strategic play. It’s akin to other creatures that provide utility beyond mere battlefield presence, such as Goblin Tinkerer. The latter card allows players to destroy artifacts, showing the same targeted removal strength as Dwarven Demolition Team, albeit in a different category.
Comparably, the Aven Cloudchaser stands out with the ability to destroy enchantments upon entering the battlefield. Although it serves a different removal purpose, it showcases similar utility in disrupting opponents’ strategies. Similarly, the Reclamation Sage is renowned for its enter-the-battlefield effect that targets artifacts or enchantments, providing versatility against a broader range of permanents compared to the narrow but potent wall-destroying capability of the Dwarven Demolition Team.
When considering the utility each creature offers, Dwarven Demolition Team is a force against defensive strategies heavy on wall-type creatures, carving a distinct niche for itself in MTG’s diverse array of creature abilities.
Cards similar to Dwarven Demolition Team by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dwarven Demolition Team allows you to dismantle your opponent’s defensive lines by granting the ability to destroy walls. This tactical edge can often lead to card advantage, as it forces your opponent to use more resources to defend their position or rebuild, essentially causing them to lose cards in the process.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, the Dwarven Demolition Team’s wall destruction ability can act as a form of resource acceleration. By clearing potential blockers, it paves the way for your other creatures to directly attack your opponent, effectively hastening your victory and saving resources that would otherwise be allocated for dealing with pesky walls.
Instant Speed: Although the Dwarven Demolition Team’s ability is not at instant speed, its presence on the battlefield can influence how your opponent plays. Knowing that their walls could be brought down at any moment may force them to play more conservatively or divert instant speed responses to the Dwarven Demolition Team, rather than to your other, potentially more dangerous threats.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Dwarven Demolition Team requires a dedicated slot in your deck that could otherwise go to cards with more immediate impact or versatility in a variety of situations.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes red mana, this card is tailor-made for red or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its inclusion in other deck types that might not benefit from or support red mana as effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for a creature that must tap to destroy a wall, it presents a higher cost compared to other creatures or spells that offer more immediate or flexible destruction capabilities.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Dwarven Demolition Team thrives in game formats where land destruction can strategically dismantle an opponent’s board presence. This card can be a key inclusion in decks that aim to disrupt mana bases, giving it a functional edge in various matchups.
Combo Potential: When coupled with cards that can untap creatures or proliferate activation costs, the Dwarven Demolition Team can become a recurrent threat, potentially locking opponents out of their crucial lands and strategies each turn.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames heavy with utility lands or decks that are reliant on specific nonbasic lands, the Dwarven Demolition Team offers a means to handle these important pieces. Its ability to target specific lands makes it a tactical choice against decks that might otherwise leverage their land base to dominate the game.
How to beat
The Dwarven Demolition Team presents an interesting challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering. This red creature card has the specific ability to destroy walls, which can be utilized strategically to dismantle your opponent’s defenses. However, overcoming this card comes down to understanding the battlefield. Hovering over the Demolition Team with removal spells before they can activate their ability is a smart move, as cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch them swiftly.
An alternative strategy is altering your deck to reduce reliance on walls or similar defense mechanisms. Swapping in cards that offer protection from red or indestructible creatures can neutralize the Dwarven Demolition Team’s advantage. Additionally, a strong offense is often the best defense in MTG—focusing on swift, aggressive plays can outpace the demolition-oriented strategy and pressure your opponent before their Dwarven cards can impact the game’s outcome.
All in all, recognizing the need to adapt your tactics and deck composition in anticipation of cards like the Demolition Team could be the difference in maintaining control over the game’s flow, leading to a more fortified position on the MTG battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Demolition Team MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Dwarven Demolition Team 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 Dwarven Demolition Team Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 142 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kev Brockschmidt | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 143 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kev Brockschmidt | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 143 | 1993 | Normal | White | Kev Brockschmidt | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 143 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kev Brockschmidt | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 143 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kev Brockschmidt | |
| 6 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 184 | 2003 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 7 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 184★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 8 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 436 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Brockschmidt | |
| 9 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 139 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Brockschmidt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dwarven Demolition Team has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |