Ifnir Deadlands MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 179
2020-08-13 - Number 302
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land — Desert |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , Pay 1 life: Add to your mana pool. , , Sacrifice a Desert: Put two -1/-1 counters on target creature an opponent controls. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Cards like Ifnir Deadlands
Exploring utility lands within Magic the Gathering, Ifnir Deadlands offers a unique blend of land utility and creature control. This card finds its parallels in lands like Grasping Dunes, which also serves as both mana source and a means to weaken creatures. While Ifnir Deadlands requires a sacrifice of life and other Desert lands to place two -1/-1 counters on a creature, Grasping Dunes provides a smaller impact, placing only a single -1/-1 counter, but at a lower cost and without the life penalty.
Another card to consider is Spawning Bed, which exchanges creature control for creature creation, giving players an alternate avenue for utilizing their lands. Spawning Bed does demand a higher activation cost but offers three Eldrazi Scion tokens in return, which are useful both for mana acceleration and as blockers. However, it lacks the direct interaction with opponent’s creatures provided by Ifnir Deadlands.
From the viewpoint of strategic flexibility and board impact, Ifnir Deadlands has a solid position among versatile utility lands in Magic the Gathering, enabling players to influence the state of the battlefield while maintaining land-based mana generation.
Cards similar to Ifnir Deadlands by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ifnir Deadlands. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Pioneer | Mono-Black Midrange | Pioneer League 2024-03-15 |
 | BG | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-26 | |
 | Mono-Black Aggro | Pioneer | Eldrazi | UOL MKM Pioneer League |
 | Golgari Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The utility of Ifnir Deadlands extends beyond the field of battle. As a land that doubles up with an ability to weaken your opponent’s creatures, it effectively acts as an additional spell in your deck. This multi-functionality offers a subtle form of card advantage, as it saves a slot in your deck that might otherwise be occupied by a dedicated removal spell.
Resource Acceleration: Although Ifnir Deadlands does not directly accelerate your mana resources, it provides versatility by fitting into your land base. Its inclusion ensures that every draw is potentially more impactful, allowing you to advance your board position without sacrificing the consistency of hitting your land drops.
Instant Speed: The strength of Ifnir Deadlands lies in its activation at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to respond to threats in a dynamic game state or utilize your mana efficiently if you choose not to cast other spells during your turn. By being able to activate Ifnir Deadlands at the end of your opponent’s turn, you can maintain the element of surprise and make informed decisions based on your opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When leveraging Ifnir Deadlands for its -1/-1 counters effect, you must sacrifice another Desert card or pay additional mana, effectively reducing your in-game assets.
Specific Mana Cost: Its activation requires one black mana, which might not be as flexible in a multicolor deck that might need mana of different types at various stages of the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost totaling four mana, including the sacrifice of a Desert, the card can be seen as a hefty investment when there might be other land cards offering more value or utility for a lower cost.
Reasons to Include Ifnir Deadlands in Your Collection
Versatility: Ifnir Deadlands offers flexibility as it is a land card with an added ability to place -1/-1 counters on creatures. This dual nature allows for mana fixing and board control within the same card slot, making it an efficient choice for various deck builds.
Combo Potential: The -1/-1 counter mechanic works well with strategies that capitalize on weakening opposing creatures or that synergize with counters. It can be a pivotal piece in decks that exploit these counters for various effects and advantages.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies often dominate the game, Ifnir Deadlands provides a relevant tool for control and midrange decks to manage the battlefield. Its ability to be both a mana resource and a removal option ensures it stays relevant across different metas.
How to beat
Ifnir Deadlands is a versatile piece in the puzzle of land cards within Magic the Gathering. Its ability to put -1/-1 counters on creatures gives it a tactical advantage, acting as a way to weaken or eliminate threats on the board. To counteract this strategic land, pay close attention to land destruction or land-specific control spells. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can directly target Ifnir Deadlands, removing it from play altogether.
Additionally, consider the timing of your plays. Since activating Ifnir Deadlands’ ability requires a significant mana investment, including the sacrificing of lands, preemptively dealing with creatures likely to be targeted or employing counterspells to disrupt your opponent’s plans can be effective. Creatures with indestructibility or hexproof can also bypass the threat posed by Ifnir Deadlands, making your board less susceptible to its influence.
Focusing on these strategies, one can mitigate the impact of Ifnir Deadlands in a game. By incorporating land interaction and careful planning into your deck, the potential setbacks this desert land presents can be skillfully navigated, ensuring your creatures’ longevity and your continued control of the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ifnir Deadlands MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Ifnir Deadlands and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Ifnir Deadlands Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Jonas De Ro.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 179 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 302 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ifnir Deadlands has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ifnir Deadlands card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-18 | Desert is a land subtype with no special meaning. It doesn’t grant the land an intrinsic mana ability. Other cards may care about which lands are Deserts. |
| 2017-07-14 | If a Desert has an ability with a cost of “Sacrifice a Desert,” you can sacrifice that Desert to pay the cost for its own ability. |