Grim Backwoods MTG Card
2012-02-03 - Number 156
2013-11-01 - Number 292
2015-11-13 - Number 288
2017-06-09 - Number 254
2018-08-09 - Number 251
2020-04-17 - Number 278
2019-12-02 - Number 354
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , , Sacrifice a creature: Draw a card.
"I love what they've done with the place." —Liliana Vess
Cards like Grim Backwoods
Grim Backwoods stands out among lands in Magic: The Gathering with its unique blend of sacrifice and card advantage. It draws parallels to Phyrexian Tower, another land that sacrifices creatures for a different kind of resource – mana. Unlike Phyrexian Tower, Grim Backwoods forfeits the instant speed mana boost for card draw, and also requires additional mana investment.
High Market is another similar card, providing the ability to sacrifice a creature. However, it yields life instead of card draw, pitching itself in a more defensive position when compared to the card advantage that Grim Backwoods offers. Another related card is Diamond Valley, which also allows for creature sacrifice, providing life in return. Diamond Valley is especially noted for its lack of a mana cost for activation, yet it does not tap for mana nor provide the card draw that Grim Backwoods does.
Overall, within the landscape of MTG lands that provide indirect utility through sacrificing creatures, Grim Backwoods holds a place for those looking to increase their hand size rather than their mana pool or life total. Its specific combination of costs and effects give it a distinctive role in strategies that can afford both the mana and the creatures to fuel its ability.
Cards similar to Grim Backwoods by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grim Backwoods offers a handy utility by allowing players to draw a card whenever there is a surplus of creatures or a need to refuel the hand. This function provides a strategic edge by keeping the card flow consistent, which is especially useful in longer, grindy matches.
Resource Acceleration: This land taps for colorless mana and can be a critical part of mana-fixing strategies. Plus, when necessary, it can be sacrificed along with a creature to reap the card-drawing reward, turning excess or expendable creatures into new opportunities.
Instant Speed: The ability to use Grim Backwoods’ card drawing capability at instant speed cannot be understated. It allows flexibility for players to wait until just the right moment—such as the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to a creature being targeted for removal—to maximize the potential value gained from each play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Grim Backwoods to be activated, you must sacrifice a creature. This can be a major drawback, especially in decks that don’t have expendable creatures or those that rely heavily on maintaining a presence on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Grim Backwoods demands a precise combination of mana to use its ability—two general and one green and one black mana. This restrictive cost requires a dedication to a green-black color scheme, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion only to decks that can consistently meet this requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost for drawing a card with this land is steep, especially when compared to other card-drawing options. Four mana plus the additional cost of sacrificing a creature can be too slow and inefficient for many game scenarios where quicker card draw methods are preferred.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Grim Backwoods lends itself to a flexible role in deckbuilding. It can be inserted into various strategies that benefit from sacrificing creatures, whether for reanimating purposes or to enable death triggers.
Combo Potential: This card can become a key piece in engines designed to generate card advantage. By synergizing with token generators or creatures with persistent effects, Grim Backwoods boosts both board presence and hand resources.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where the battlefield can often stall with complex board states, the ability to turn any creature into a potential card draw can provide the edge needed to outmaneuver opponents, making it a smart choice for current play environments.
How to beat
Grim Backwoods is a unique land card in the realm of MTG, known for its ability to combine utility with card advantage. What sets Grim Backwoods apart is the special power to sacrifice a creature to draw a card, a move that can be crucial when in need of new strategies. However, to effectively counter this card, one must disrupt the opponent’s board presence.
Targeted removal spells or abilities that eliminate potential sacrifice fodder can weaken Grim Backwoods’s effectiveness significantly. Additionally, implementing land destruction tactics or land-specific counters can be a direct way to neutralize this card’s impact on the game. Controlling the battlefield and applying pressure can force the Grim Backwoods player to use the card at a less opportune time or even deter them from utilizing it altogether.
Ultimately, beating Grim Backwoods requires a strategy that limits the opponent’s creature count while keeping an eye on land-based threats. A well-timed response can turn this card from a threat into a liability for the opponent and swing the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grim Backwoods MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension and Commander 2013, 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 Grim Backwoods 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Grim Backwoods Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-02-03 | Dark Ascension | DKA | 156 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 2 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 292 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 3 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 288 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 4 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 254 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 5 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 251 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 6 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 354 | 2015 | Normal | Black | N.C. Winters | ||
| 7 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 278 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grim Backwoods has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |