Geothermal Crevice MTG Card


Geothermal Crevice - Invasion
RarityCommon
TypeLand
Released2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameInvasion
Set codeINV
Number323
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJohn Avon

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by thinning the deck when sacrificed for mana in critical phases of the game.
  2. Crucial for mana fixing in multicolored decks, allowing access to red, green, or black mana.
  3. Offers instant speed flexibility for seamless response to opponents’ actions, enhancing strategic play.

Text of card

Geothermal Crevice comes into play tapped. oc T: Add o R to your mana pool. oc T, Sacrifice Geothermal Crevice: Add o Bo G to your mana pool.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Geothermal Crevice can be sacrificed to add a splash of mana to your pool, effectively thinning your deck and inching you closer to drawing into your key pieces. This subtle form of card advantage can streamline your deck’s performance over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: The ability of Geothermal Crevice to provide one mana of any color that your mountains or plains could produce, aids in fixing your mana base. This is crucial in multicolored decks where timely access to the right colors of mana can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Instant Speed: While it’s not a spell, the fact that you can sacrifice Geothermal Crevice at any time gives you flexibility similar to that of an instant. You can respond to your opponent’s actions or end-of-turn decisions, optimizing your mana usage and staying ready to react without missing a beat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Geothermal Crevice requires you to sacrifice it as a cost to access its mana-generating ability. This irreversible action can be a setback, especially when needing the land for future turns or to buffer against land destruction strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: When tapping into Geothermal Crevice’s mana ability, it provides only red, green, or black mana. This specificity makes it less flexible compared to lands that offer any color mana or have multiple usage options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Activating the mana ability of Geothermal Crevice comes at the high cost of sacrificing the land itself. In a game where mana efficiency can be crucial, there are alternative lands or mana sources that do not have such a costly activation requirement, potentially offering a more sustainable advantage over the course of a game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Geothermal Crevice adds flexibility to your mana base, fitting seamlessly into decks that require multiple colors. It’s particularly useful in formats where land destruction is rare, allowing more strategic plays.

Combo Potential: This card not only taps for mana but also can be sacrificed for a burst of color-specific mana, aiding in several combo executions where timing and color diversity are crucial.

Meta-Relevance: With land-hate cards not being prevalent in many metas, the ability to have a land that can pivot between color requirements makes Geothermal Crevice a sound choice for decks facing a diverse range of opponents.


How to beat

Geothermal Crevice presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its mana-generating ability and versatility as part of the Invasion set’s cycle of tricolor lands. To effectively counteract Geothermal Crevice, key strategies involve land destruction or direct denial of its activation. Land disruption spells like Stone Rain or Field of Ruin can remove it from play, curbing your opponent’s mana advantage and stalling their strategy. Alternatively, using cards like Leonin Arbiter that increase the cost of abilities can make it less feasible for your opponent to sacrifice Geothermal Crevice for a quick mana boost.

Beyond direct attacks on the land itself, adapting your playstyle can minimize the impact of that extra mana. Implementing a faster, more aggressive deck might suppress your opponent’s advantages by pressuring their life total before they can fully leverage the additional resources. Counterspells are also essential tools; strategically countering key spells your opponent casts with that mana can leave Geothermal Crevice’s sacrifice as a wasted effort.

Ultimately, dealing with Geothermal Crevice isn’t just about removal but also timing and strategic decision-making. By anticipating, reducing, or removing the land’s effectiveness, you can level the playing field. Understanding and reacting to your opponent’s patterns is the key to outmaneuvering the benefits Geothermal Crevice provides.


Cards like Geothermal Crevice

Geothermal Crevice stands out in the category of mana-fixing lands in Magic: The Gathering. Its function is akin to other lands like Sulfurous Springs, which also provides access to red and black mana. What sets Geothermal Crevice apart is its ability to be sacrificed for one mana of any color, thus offering a one-time mana fix in a pinch. Conversely, Sulfurous Springs can be a repetitive source of mana but comes at the cost of life points.

Within the same sphere, we find cards like Tainted Peak, which offers mana flexibility, but its activation is contingent on controlling a swamp. This condition can be limiting compared to the unconditional mana provided by Geothermal Crevice. Then there’s Bloodfell Caves, entering the battlefield tapped but offering life gain. While it provides mana stability, it lacks the immediacy and the sacrifice option available with Geothermal Crevice.

Ultimately, when evaluating utility and adaptability, Geothermal Crevice holds a unique position within mana-generating lands in Magic: The Gathering. Its sacrifice option is a distinctive feature that can support players in critical moments, despite it being a one-shot resource.

Sulfurous Springs - MTG Card versions
Tainted Peak - MTG Card versions
Bloodfell Caves - MTG Card versions
Sulfurous Springs - Ice Age (ICE)
Tainted Peak - Torment (TOR)
Bloodfell Caves - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)

Cards similar to Geothermal Crevice by color, type and mana cost

Koskun Keep - MTG Card versions
Darigaaz's Caldera - MTG Card versions
Ziatora's Proving Ground - MTG Card versions
Savage Lands - MTG Card versions
Koskun Keep - Homelands (HML)
Darigaaz's Caldera - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Ziatora's Proving Ground - Streets of New Capenna (SNC)
Savage Lands - Commander Masters (CMM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Geothermal Crevice MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Geothermal Crevice and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Geothermal Crevice has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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