Ground Seal MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
When Ground Seal comes into play, draw a card. Cards in graveyards can't be the targets of spells or abilities.
"Let all we have buried be buried forever." —Seton, centaur druid
Cards like Ground Seal
Ground Seal has a unique spot in Magic: The Gathering as a card that can both neutralize threats from graveyards and offer card draw. It is not alone, though, in its graveyard-targeting effects. One could look at Grafdigger’s Cage, which prevents creatures from being cast from graveyards or libraries and halts the return of graveyard cards. While it doesn’t provide the card draw that Ground Seal does, the Cage has no mana cost after it’s played and can be more comprehensive in its restriction.
For a similar effect with a broader range, Rest in Peace is another primary contender. Unlike Ground Seal, which only affects creature cards, Rest in Peace exiles all cards from all graveyards upon entry and prevents any new cards from going there. It doesn’t allow you to draw a card but its sweeping effect can be a game-changer. Lastly, there’s Leyline of the Void, starting the game on the battlefield if it’s in your opening hand and exiling any opponent’s card that goes to the graveyard.
In essence, Ground Seal offers an elegant blend of targeted graveyard disruption with the upside of card advantage, distinctive from its peers primarily in its precision and ability to fit well into strategies that only worry about certain types of graveyard-based interactions.
Cards similar to Ground Seal by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ground Seal. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ground Seal has a unique ability that can draw you a card upon entering the battlefield, ensuring that the card replaces itself in your hand and maintains your card flow.
Resource Acceleration: While Ground Seal itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it supports decks that aim to use the graveyard as a resource without fear of interference, indirectly speeding up your strategy.
Instant Speed: Although Ground Seal is not an instant, its presence on the battlefield works continuously, like a passive shield, offering ongoing protection for your graveyard that doesn’t require additional mana or actions to utilize.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Ground Seal doesn’t directly force a discard, its presence might not always be useful, especially if your strategy relies on interacting with the graveyard. Having it on the field could sometimes feel as though it’s taking up space that could be utilized by more immediately impactful cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Ground Seal requires both green mana and generic mana to play, which could potentially restrict its inclusion to green-centered or multicolored decks. Players running decks without green may find it difficult to incorporate this card effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Ground Seal has a relatively low casting cost at two mana, there are situations where even this might be considered high. In high-speed or aggressive play environments, using two mana to potentially stall your own graveyard interactions, or to put out a card that might not have an immediate board impact, could be a drawback compared to other two-cost cards that advance your board presence or disrupt opponents more directly.
Reasons to Include Ground Seal in Your Collection
Versatility: Ground Seal is a unique card that can be worked into various deck builds, serving as both graveyard disruption and a card draw engine. It’s an excellent tool for decks that want to mitigate the efficacy of opponents’ graveyard strategies while still providing its controller an incremental advantage.
Combo Potential: While seemingly a straightforward card, Ground Seal possesses the ability to indirectly support combos by negating opponent’s strategies that rely on targeted graveyard removal, safeguarding your own graveyard-based synergies for a turn or an entire game.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where graveyard tactics are prevalent, Ground Seal shines by rendering cards like reanimation spells or targeted graveyard hate ineffective. Deck builders savvy to the meta can leverage Ground Seal to gain an edge against decks that are heavily reliant on accessing graveyard resources.
How to beat Ground Seal
Ground Seal is known for its ability to shut down graveyard strategies with its simple yet powerful passive effect that prevents players from targeting cards in graveyards with spells or abilities. This can hamstring decks reliant on graveyard interaction, making Ground Seal a thorn in the side of many MTG players.
To counter Ground Seal, consider using mass removal spells that don’t target, such as Return to Nature or Fracturing Gust, which can destroy Ground Seal without specifically targeting it. Alternatively, wait for the right moment to play a removal spell on Ground Seal itself—bide your time until you can safely remove it without losing momentum in your game plan. Also, adapt your playstyle to be less reliant on the graveyard while Ground Seal is active. Prioritize casting spells from your hand and keep pressure on your opponent in other ways.
Ultimately, beating Ground Seal involves a mixture of strategic patience, board control, and a slightly altered approach to your gameplay, ensuring that you can overcome the obstacle it presents and continue to advance your position in the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering your MTG deck means understanding the fine balance between card advantage, resource acceleration, and strategic defense. Ground Seal stands as a multifaceted ally, drawing cards for you while sheltering your graveyard from prying spells. Its passive protection is a continuous boon in the right environment, blending versatility with meta relevance. To maximize your deck’s potential, consider the shell where Ground Seal thrives and always keep in mind alternatives like Grafdigger’s Cage for different tactical approaches. Winning in MTG isn’t just about the cards you play; it’s about the strategy you weave around them. Learn more with us and optimize your deck to prominence.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ground Seal MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Magic 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 Ground Seal 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 Ground Seal Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 242 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
2 | 2012-07-13 | Magic 2013 | M13 | 176 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Charles Urbach | |
3 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 149 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Charles Urbach | |
4 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales | WOT | 54 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | BEMOCS |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ground Seal has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ground Seal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2012-07-01 | Only spells and abilities that target cards in graveyards will be affected. Abilities that don’t target cards in graveyards (like the one Tormod’s Crypt has) can still affect those cards. |
2012-07-01 | The last ability only works when Ground Seal is on the battlefield. |