Thermokarst MTG Card

Ice Age (ICE)
1995-06-03 - Number 268

Masters Edition II (ME2)
2008-09-22 - Number 183

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery

Key Takeaways

Thermokarst can skew resource balance by denying opponents’ land, indirectly granting card advantage.
Its land destruction fuels strategies that thrive on hampering the opponent’s mana base.
While potent, Thermokarst requires careful deck construction to be effectively utilized.

Text of card

Destroy target land. If that land is a snow-covered land, gain 1 life.

"Finally we understand the lesson of our home: loss begets renewal." —Kolbjörn, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Thermokarst can significantly disrupt your opponent’s mana base by destroying a land. In doing so, you can potentially cause them to lose critical plays or lock them out of a color, which indirectly acts as card advantage by denying them the use of the cards in their hand that require that mana.

Resource Acceleration: Thermokarst sets the stage for resource acceleration by removing an opponent’s land. Although it does not directly accelerate your resources, it slows your opponent down, offering you an indirect boost in the resource race.

Instant Speed: While Thermokarst itself is not at instant speed, its disruption effect paired with real instant-speed spells in your deck can keep your opponent off-balance. This synergy allows you to optimize the timing of your plays and maintain control of the game tempo.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate its effects, Thermokarst requires you to already have—and then discard—a snow land, which can put you at a disadvantage by reducing the potential plays or responses you have on hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Thermokarst’s casting cost includes both green mana and generic mana, demanding a dedicated color commitment that can restrict its playability in multicolored or non-green deck archetypes, potentially disrupting your mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost demanding both a land card from your hand and three mana, including one green, Thermokarst’s land destruction effect can be seen as costly when compared with other land destruction cards that might offer a similar effect with a lower or more flexible casting cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thermokarst offers a unique advantage in a wide array of decks, particularly those striving for control over opponents’ lands. Its ability to destroy a land and potentially hinder your opponent’s mana base makes it a versatile sideboard option in formats where land strategies dominate.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with land recursion tactics or in decks that benefit from lands entering the graveyard. The combo potential with cards like Crucible of Worlds or Ramunap Excavator, allows for repeated land destruction, disrupting your opponent’s plans turn after turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where decks are heavily reliant on nonbasic lands, Thermokarst can serve as a powerful tool to break apart finely-tuned mana bases. Its relevance increases in environments where limiting the opponent’s resources is key to securing victory.

How to beat

Thermokarst is a card that can disrupt land strategies in MTG, targeting nonbasic lands and providing a measure of resource denial. However, don’t fret, as every card has its weaknesses. To effectively counteract Thermokarst, consider incorporating land regeneration abilities or spells that can protect your lands from targeting effects. Cards that grant hexproof or shroud to lands ensure that Thermokarst’s ability is nullified, securing your precious mana base.

Another strategy is to rely on basic lands more heavily in your deck composition. Since Thermokarst specifically targets nonbasic lands, a deck with a greater proportion of basic lands is naturally resilient against it. Additionally, cards that can quickly retrieve lands from the graveyard back to the battlefield or your hand can mitigate the loss from this green sorcery, keeping your land drops consistent throughout the game.

Understanding the potential impact of land destruction and adapting your deck to withstand such tactics could be the key to maintaining a strong board presence against cards like Thermokarst. Keep your deck flexible, with a plan to protect or recover your lands and you’ll be well prepared to take on challenges that come your way.

Cards like Thermokarst

Thermokarst stands out in the array of land disruption spells in Magic: The Gathering. It closely mirrors the functionality of cards such as Ice Storm, which also allows players to destroy target lands, disrupting the opponent’s mana flow. Yet, Thermokarst distinguishes itself by not only setting back your opponent’s land resources but also giving you the advantage of potentially fitting into a snow deck framework due to its flavor and mechanical synergy.

Another competitor in this space is Sinkhole, which, for one less mana than Thermokarst, offers land destruction. Although Sinkhole is more affordable regarding mana cost, it is limited to black mana, while Thermokarst requires green, reflecting the characteristic flexibility in resource denial that green has in MTG. Adding to the comparison, we have Acid Rain, which destroys all forests, making it potentially a more powerful sweep against decks heavy on green mana. However, the broader impact of Acid Rain comes with the drawback of a higher mana cost and a less selective approach.

Taking a broader look, Thermokarst holds its ground among land destruction cards, balancing cost and effect, and presenting a strategic option for players looking to include such tactics in their green decks. Its specific use case can prove distinctly advantageous in the right context.

Cards similar to Thermokarst by color, type and mana cost

Rosethorn Acolyte // Seasonal Ritual - MTG Card versions

Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thermokarst MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition II, 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 Thermokarst and other MTG cards: