Frostboil Snarl MTG Card

Frostboil Snarl grants consistent mana access without depleting the hand, crucial for maintaining card advantage. Its reveal condition for an untapped entry adds a layer of flexibility and surprise during play. The card’s dual-color specificity can limit its utility in non-red or non-blue decks.
Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand

Text of card

As Frostboil Snarl enters the battlefield, you may reveal an Island or Mountain card from your hand. If you don't, Frostboil Snarl enters the battlefield tapped. : Add or .

A smoldering storm of chilling fire.

Cards like Frostboil Snarl

Frostboil Snarl is a standout card within Magic: The Gathering’s assortment of dual lands, featuring in the Strixhaven set. It parallels cards like Inspiring Vantage and Spirebluff Canal, which also enter the battlefield untapped under certain conditions. Inspiring Vantage simply requires having two or fewer other lands, a straightforward criterion that can easily be met in the early stages of the game.

Meanwhile, Spirebluff Canal looks at the total number of lands you control, functioning optimally when you have fewer than three. Frostboil Snarl brings its own twist to the equation, with its conditional play hinging on revealing a land card of the relevant types from your hand. This characteristic has the potential to be less restrictive and allows for a tactical reveal to an opponent.

Assessing Frostboil Snarl in comparison to its peers, the card offers flexibility and strategic depth to MTG players. Its ability to tap for two types of mana without a direct cost, apart from the revealing requirement, makes it a valuable piece in decks that run red and blue spells. This land card offers a blend of utility and subtlety, providing a sound choice for players looking to optimize their mana base.

Inspiring Vantage - MTG Card versions
Spirebluff Canal - MTG Card versions
Inspiring Vantage - MTG Card versions
Spirebluff Canal - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet PhoenixIzzet Phoenix PioneerIzzet PhoenixPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event
Izzet ComboIzzet Combo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024
Izzet ControlIzzet Control GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024
Izzet MidrangeIzzet Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Izzet EmergeIzzet Emerge PioneerIzzet MidrangePeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event
Izzet PyromancerIzzet Pyromancer PioneerIzzet PyromancerPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event
Izzet TempoIzzet Tempo GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Jeskai ControlJeskai Control GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Frostboil Snarl enables players to optimize their mana base without expending extra cards from their hand, facilitating efficient card flow throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: By providing access to dual colors, this land allows for a smoother and quicker development of your board state, acting as a catalyst for casting more impactful spells sooner.

Instant Speed: Even though lands traditionally don’t operate at instant speed, the ability to play Frostboil Snarl untapped if you reveal a certain card from your hand offers flexibility that can be leveraged at critical gameplay moments, akin to the surprise element of instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Frostboil Snarl requires that you reveal a Mountain or Island card from your hand or have it enter the battlefield tapped. This can be an unwanted setback, especially if you aim to keep your hand private or if you are unable to fulfill the condition, slowing down your tempo significantly.

Specific Mana Cost: Designated for blue and red mana only, Frostboil Snarl is narrowly tailored for decks running both colors. While it enriches mana consistency within those color combinations, its utility is non-existent in mono-colored or other multicolor decks that don’t share these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although not specifically a mana-cost issue, its conditional untapped land entry can be compared to the setup cost. If the condition is unmet, it literally costs a turn’s tempo which can be considered high given the quick-paced competitive environment where every turn matters.

Reasons to Include Frostboil Snarl in Your Collection

Versatility: Frostboil Snarl shines in its ability to provide color fixing in decks that run both red and blue mana. Its flexibility makes it a must-have for players looking to optimize their mana base in two-color spell-heavy or control decks.

Combo Potential: This land card is not only great for color balancing—it can also be a key piece in setting up the perfect stage for combos. It ensures you have the right mana at the right time, which is crucial when looking to execute multi-card interactions.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting metagames, having a reliable mana source can make all the difference. Frostboil Snarl is relevant in the current meta, especially in formats where dual lands can make or break a game. Its presence in your deck increases consistency and enables you to keep up with meta decks that rely on a strong and stable mana base.

How to beat

Frostboil Snarl presents a strategic advantage in Magic: The Gathering, particularly in decks that demand reliable mana fixing to accommodate a mixture of red and blue spells. Yet, despite its utility, there are effective ways to mitigate its impact on the game. Land destruction is a potent countermeasure, with cards like Ghost Quarter offering a direct method to remove Frostboil Snarl from play, disrupting your opponent’s mana balance.

Players can also turn to colorless spells that don’t require specific mana types, thereby lessening the advantage provided by a dual land like Frostboil Snarl. Additionally, fast-paced aggro decks may simply outpace a strategy relying on tapped lands by applying pressure before Frostboil Snarl becomes relevant. In essence, the card’s advantages can be significantly diminished through swift gameplay, targeted removal, or strategic deck building that renders specific mana less critical.

Dismantling your opponent’s mana base by strategically timing the destruction of dual lands, including Frostboil Snarl, could be crucial to victory. In essence, recognizing and exploiting the brief window of vulnerability when Frostboil Snarl enters the battlefield tapped can give you the upper hand, making it a pivotal moment in your path to triumph.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frostboil Snarl MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Frostboil Snarl and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Frostboil Snarl Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 903462015NormalBlackSam Burley
22021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 2652015NormalBlackSam Burley
32021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 3602015NormalBlackSam Burley
42021-04-23Strixhaven Art SeriesASTX 47s2015Art seriesBorderlessSam Burley
52021-04-23Strixhaven Art SeriesASTX 472015Art seriesBorderlessSam Burley
62021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 265p2015NormalBlackSam Burley
72021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 265s2015NormalBlackSam Burley
82023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 4032015NormalBlackSam Burley
92023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 3122015NormalBlackAlexander Forssberg
102023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9982015NormalBlackSam Burley
112023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2822015NormalBlackWei Guan
122023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8732015NormalBlackWei Guan
132023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 10892015NormalBlackWei Guan
142023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 4982015NormalBlackWei Guan
152023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 3322015NormalBlackSam Burley
162024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 2982015NormalBlackSam Burley
172024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 3442015NormalBlackSam Burley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Frostboil Snarl has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 If a land card with an appropriate subtype is entering the battlefield from your hand at the same time as one of these lands, you may reveal the other land to have the "Snarl" enter untapped.
2021-04-16 If an effect instructs you to put one of these lands onto the battlefield tapped, it will still enter the battlefield tapped even if you reveal a land card from your hand.
2021-04-16 The "Snarl" itself doesn't have any land subtypes. You can't reveal one to satisfy the ability of another.
2021-04-16 You may reveal any land card with either or both of the appropriate subtypes. It doesn't have to be a basic land card.