Geomancer's Gambit MTG Card
2019-06-14 - Number 125
2019-11-07 - Number 946
2021-08-26 - Number 452
2020-09-26 - Number MH1-125
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Destroy target land. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle their library. Draw a card.
Telepathy changes minds, necromancy changes lives, but geomancy changes the world.
Cards like Geomancer's Gambit
Geomancer’s Gambit carves its niche in the landscape of land transformation spells within MTG. It echoes the fundamental mechanics found in cards like Seismic Shift and Tectonic Rift, which also deal with land manipulation. However, the Gambit distinguishes itself by allowing the player to replace the targeted land with a basic land card from their library, ensuring a land drop remains consistent after the swap.
When examining Chandra’s Ignition, a card that can shape the battlefield, we observe it too changes the game dynamics but via a different route. Chandra’s Ignition doesn’t interact directly with lands but instead focuses on a creature-based strategy to clear the board. Geomancer’s Gambit offers a more nuanced option, affecting the mana base without harming creatures. Raze is another similar card focused on land destruction; it comes at a lower cost but lacks the land-replacing benefit of Geomancer’s Gambit, which could be crucial for maintaining board presence.
While each of these cards has a distinct impact on the game, Geomancer’s Gambit’s unique offering of controlled land disruption paired with the ability to land tutor secures its position as a valuable strategic option for players looking to tactically manipulate the land resources within MTG.
Cards similar to Geomancer's Gambit by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Geomancer's Gambit. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Obosh Control | Modern | Obosh Control | Modern League 2023-12-01 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Geomancer’s Gambit not only transforms a land, which can disrupt your opponent’s mana base, but it also allows you to draw a card. This ensures that you’re not falling behind in card count and maintains pressure on your opponent by replacing itself in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: By turning any land into a basic land, Geomancer’s Gambit accelerates your own resource availability. This can be particularly beneficial if you use it on your own land, ensuring you get the color of mana you need most while staying ahead of your opponent in mana availability.
Instant Speed: While Geomancer’s Gambit is a sorcery, it’s important to note the strategic advantage of being able to play it on your main phase. This allows you to see how your opponent’s board develops and then decide on the best land to target, without the pressure of making the decision in haste.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Geomancer’s Gambit does not specifically require you to discard a card, cards with these types of requirements can be a setback when you’re holding a hand with key pieces you’d rather keep.
Specific Mana Cost: Geomancer’s Gambit has a mana cost that includes both red and colorless mana. This may not fit easily into multi-colored decks or those that don’t have a strong red mana base, potentially limiting its versatility in certain strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card costs three mana, which may compete with other pivotal three-mana spells you want to play. When taking into account the value of land destruction and a basic land fetch, it might not always present the most mana-efficient option, especially if the opponent does not heavily rely on nonbasic lands.
Reasons to Include Geomancer’s Gambit in Your Collection
Versatility: Geomancer’s Gambit isn’t just your average land destruction card; it allows you to replace the destroyed land with a basic land from your library, helping you to fix your mana while disrupting your opponent.
Combo Potential: This card works well in landfall decks where you can benefit from the land entering the battlefield, or with cards that reward you for destroying your own lands for strategic advantages.
Meta-Relevance: With an ever-evolving competitive scene, having Geomancer’s Gambit can give you an edge against decks that rely on special lands to execute their strategy. It’s a smart choice for a metagame packed with critical nonbasic lands.
How to beat Geomancer’s Gambit
Geomancer’s Gambit can be a game-changer in the nuanced gameplay of Magic: The Gathering. This red sorcery not only allows a player to destroy a land but also replaces it with a basic land, providing a subtle deck-thinning effect, and it draws a card, all of this for three mana. Commanding such transformative power on the battlefield, it might appear challenging to counter, but certain strategies can prove effective.
Players looking to outmaneuver Geomancer’s Gambit should focus on cards that counteract land destruction or benefit from land sacrifices. For instance, the use of instant-speed land regeneration spells preserves your precious mana base when opponents attempt a Gambit. Additionally, integrating cards that rapidly bounce lands back to your hand can mitigate the effect of land destruction, ensuring you don’t lose tempo.
Moreover, embracing strategies revolving around land sacrifice can turn an opponent’s Geomancer’s Gambit to your advantage. Cards that trigger landfall abilities or creatures that grow stronger when a land hits the graveyard can be beneficial. This way, a card designed to disrupt your play could very well become a catalyst for your victory in the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Geomancer's Gambit MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Mystery Booster, 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 Geomancer's Gambit 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
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Printings
The Geomancer's Gambit Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Adam Paquette.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 125 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 946 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | MH1-125 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | ||
| 4 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 452 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Geomancer's Gambit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Geomancer's Gambit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | If the target land is an illegal target by the time Geomancer’s Gambit tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. Its controller doesn’t search for a basic land card and you don’t draw a card. If the target is legal but not destroyed (most likely because it has indestructible), its controller does search and you do draw. |