Dwarven Ruins MTG Card
1994-11-01 - Number 94
1996-05-02 - Number mj94
1997-03-24 - Number 415
1999-04-21 - Number 323
2000-10-01 - Number 71
2008-09-22 - Number 227
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Comes into play tapped. oc T: Add o R to your mana pool. oc T: Sacrifice Dwarven Ruins to add o Ro R to your mana pool.
Cards like Dwarven Ruins
Dwarven Ruins is an intriguing land card in Magic: The Gathering with the ability to provide a boost in mana acceleration. This card has a likeness to other cards that facilitate mana ramping, such as the Temple of the False God. Both tap for additional mana, but Dwarven Ruins requires an initial investment by sacrificing itself, while Temple of the False God has a requirement of controlling five lands before it becomes beneficial.
Moreover, Ancient Tomb stands out as another comparative land card. It provides two colorless mana without the need for sacrifice, but it deals 2 damage to the controller each time it’s tapped. Dwarven Ruins offers a safer alternative, although with a one-time use. In addition, Crystal Vein also has a similar mechanic to Dwarven Ruins, with the option to sacrifice itself for an immediate mana advantage. However, it offers colorless mana, while Dwarven Ruins gives access to red mana, proving advantageous in red-centric or multicolor decks focusing on early game threats.
Analyzing these alternatives highlights Dwarven Ruins as a solid choice for decks looking for an early game edge with minimal downside, especially in aggressive strategies seeking to utilize red mana efficiently.
Cards similar to Dwarven Ruins by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dwarven Ruins offers strategic depth in deck building by allowing players to optimize land slots for more utility, often pulling ahead in resource management when played effectively.
Resource Acceleration: The ability to sacrifice Dwarven Ruins for an extra burst of mana can be pivotal in casting key spells earlier than expected, potentially changing the tide of a match.
Instant Speed: While Dwarven Ruins itself does not operate at instant speed, the mana it provides can facilitate impactful instant-speed interactions, keeping opponents guessing and allowing for surprise plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dwarven Ruins demands that you sacrifice a land to unlock its mana-generating ability. This requirement could set you back by decreasing your land count, making it harder to play high-cost spells later.
Specific Mana Cost: Tapping for red mana exclusively means Dwarven Ruins offers no flexibility in mana generation, potentially restricting its placement to mono-red or two-color decks where red mana is a priority.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Dwarven Ruins provides an extra burst of mana, the fact that it enters the battlefield tapped and requires a turn to activate can be too slow in a fast-paced game where immediate mana availability is crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Dwarven Ruins offers a unique flexibility by providing an alternative source of mana in the early game, or a sacrifice option later to ramp into powerful spells quicker. This makes it suitable for various deck archetypes from aggro to control.
Combo Potential: As a land with the ability to generate two mana at a critical moment, Dwarven Ruins can be a key component in setting up game-winning combinations or enabling multi-color decks to execute their strategies more efficiently.
Meta-Relevance: With a dynamic MTG meta where mana efficiency can be crucial, Dwarven Ruins slots in perfectly. It adapts well against slower decks, allowing for a faster escalation that can tip the scales in your favor during matches.
How to beat
Dwarven Ruins is a land card that holds a special place in the landscape of mana-generating assets in Magic: The Gathering. With the ability to sacrifice itself for an extra burst of mana, it can be a tactical advantage for the player controlling it. This card, much like the city lands from the Fallen Empires set, acts as an accelerant, pushing forward faster plays or casting of high-cost spells ahead of schedule.
Confronting Dwarven Ruins requires strategic planning. Players must consider land destruction options or strategies that limit the usefulness of sacrificing lands. Cards like Stone Rain or Ghost Quarter can directly target and eliminate Dwarven Ruins before its ability is activated. Additionally, playing non-basic land hate cards such as Blood Moon can turn Dwarven Ruins into a basic Mountain, neutralizing its special ability and mitigating the advantage it provides.
Ultimately, when pinpointing the strategies to counter Dwarven Ruins, one must assess the timing and impact of the Ruins’ sacrifice ability. Addressing it swiftly with appropriate removal or turning its non-basic nature against it forms the cornerstone of an effective response in gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Ruins MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Pro Tour Collector 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 Dwarven Ruins and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Dwarven Ruins Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-11-01 | Fallen Empires | FEM | 94 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | mj94 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 415 | 1997 | Normal | White | Liz Danforth | |
| 4 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 323 | 1997 | Normal | White | Liz Danforth | |
| 5 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 71 | 1997 | Normal | White | Liz Danforth | |
| 6 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 227 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dwarven Ruins has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |