Gruul Turf MTG Card
2006-02-03 - Number 158
2009-09-04 - Number 134
2010-11-08 - Number A130
2011-06-17 - Number 276
2012-06-01 - Number 119
2015-05-22 - Number 244
2016-11-11 - Number 300
2016-11-25 - Number 119
2017-11-17 - Number 239
2018-08-09 - Number 252
2019-02-15 - Number 104
2019-08-23 - Number 250
2020-04-17 - Number 279
2020-09-25 - Number 131
2021-07-23 - Number 243
2022-02-18 - Number 170
2022-06-10 - Number 895
2022-07-08 - Number 407
2022-07-08 - Number 325
2024-02-09 - Number 265
2024-02-23 - Number 238
2002-06-24 - Number 102357
| Card sets | Released in 22 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Gruul Turf comes into play tapped. When Gruul Turf comes into play, return a land you control to its owner's hand. : Add to your mana pool.
Cards like Gruul Turf
Gruul Turf presents an interesting dynamic within the range of dual lands in MTG. Like other bounce lands, such as Azorius Chancery or Rakdos Carnarium, it returns a land you control to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This mechanic can be a strategic advantage for landfall triggers or simply to reuse lands with valuable enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects.
Comparing it to the simplicity of Guildgates like Gruul Guildgate, Gruul Turf offers a bigger mana boost by providing two mana of different colors in one tap. However, it enters the battlefield tapped, much like the Guildgates, delaying immediate use. The difference lies in Gruul Turf’s ability to potentially ramp up your mana resources over time, at the cost of setting you back a land drop.
When matched against basic lands, Gruul Turf doesn’t put you ahead in terms of the land count, but it does allow for a diverse mana base, which is essential in multi-colored decks. This makes Gruul Turf a valuable addition for players looking to maximize their color fixing and mana acceleration in a slower-paced game setting.
Cards similar to Gruul Turf by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gruul Turf. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Amulet Titan | Modern | Amulet Titan | Modern League 2024-04-30 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gruul Turf enters the battlefield tapped but allows you to return a land you control to your hand. This can prove advantageous by enabling you to reuse land with beneficial entry effects or simply ensure a land drop in your next turn, aiding in maintaining a steady flow of resources.
Resource Acceleration: When Gruul Turf is untapped, it provides you with two types of mana—one red and one green. This effectively doubles the mana provided by a single land, propelling your resource acceleration and allowing for more significant plays earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: While Gruul Turf doesn’t operate at instant speed, its benefits when played tactically can set you up for instant speed plays later. By bolstering your mana base, you can keep sufficient mana open to react with instant speed spells during your opponent’s turn, thereby maintaining control and tempo.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Gruul Turf itself doesn’t mandate a discard, it requires you to return a land you control to your hand upon entering the battlefield. This can be a setback in early game turns when you’re trying to develop your mana base and maintain tempo against your opponents.
Specific Mana Cost: As a land that provides only red and green mana, Gruul Turf may not be versatile enough for multi-colored decks seeking a wider range of mana access. Decks that don’t utilize both of these colors won’t find Gruul Turf as beneficial, potentially making it a dead draw in certain situations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although not directly attributing to a high mana cost, its presence can slow you down as it enters the battlefield tapped. This inherent characteristic is crucial to consider, as it could delay your important plays by a whole turn, a considerable disadvantage in games where speed is essential.
Reasons to Include Gruul Turf in Your Collection
Versatility: The Gruul Turf land is an asset to several deck archetypes, especially those that revolve around landfall mechanics or benefit from having access to both red and green mana. Its ability to bounce another land back to your hand can also be tactically used to your advantage.
Combo Potential: Coupled with cards that allow you to play multiple lands per turn or cards that have effects when lands enter the battlefield, Gruul Turf can be a key component in powerful and game-winning combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where mana-fixing and land strategies are prevalent, Gruul Turf offers a reliable solution. It provides an immediate two-color mana base that can be critical for casting multi-colored spells or ramping up to powerful creatures and spells ahead of schedule.
How to beat
Gruul Turf presents an interesting dynamic in Magic: The Gathering as it belongs to the bounce land category, offering both mana acceleration and fixing. Unlike basic lands, Gruul Turf enters the battlefield tapped and returns another land you control to your hand, a slight delay that can be exploited. To gain an edge over players utilizing Gruul Turf, consider incorporating land destruction or denial strategies in your deck.
Effective use of cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can disrupt your opponent’s mana base by targeting their Gruul Turf, which additionally costs them the land they bounced upon its entry. Additionally, incorporating counterplay such as Aven Mindcensor, which limits their ability to search their library, can further impede their progress. Strategies like these force opponents to play on your terms, slowing them down and giving you the upper hand.
Overall, tackling a Gruul Turf-based deck requires a bit of patience and strategic planning. By prioritizing land interference and limiting search capabilities, you can diminish the advantage Gruul Turf provides and steer the game in your favor, making it easier to secure victory against decks that rely heavily on this mana-fixing card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gruul Turf MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Guildpact, 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 Gruul Turf 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 Gruul Turf Magic the Gathering card was released in 21 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 102357 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | ||
| 2 | 2006-02-03 | Guildpact | GPT | 158 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 3 | 2009-09-04 | Planechase | HOP | 134 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 4 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | A130 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 5 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 276 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 6 | 2012-06-01 | Planechase 2012 | PC2 | 119 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 7 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 8 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 300 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 9 | 2016-11-25 | Planechase Anthology | PCA | 119 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 10 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 239 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 11 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 252 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 12 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 13 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 250 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 14 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 279 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 15 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Commander | ZNC | 131 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 16 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 243 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 17 | 2022-02-18 | Neon Dynasty Commander | NEC | 170 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 18 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 895 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 19 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 407 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Ron Spencer | |
| 20 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 325 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 21 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 265 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 22 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 238 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gruul Turf has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gruul Turf card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If this land enters the battlefield and you control no other lands, its ability will force you to return it to your hand. |