Kormus Bell MTG Card

Kormus Bell’s effect turns Swamps into creatures, vastly improving your board’s offensive potential. Works synergistically with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth for simultaneous land and creature play. Instant speed interactions with other cards can overwhelmingly surprise your opponent.

Kormus Bell - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
1993-08-05 - Number 256

Kormus Bell - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)

Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
1993-10-04 - Number 257

Unlimited Edition (2ED)
1993-12-01 - Number 257

Kormus Bell - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
1993-12-10 - Number 257

Collectors' Edition (CED)
1993-12-10 - Number 257

Kormus Bell - Foreign Black Border (FBB)

Foreign Black Border (FBB)
1994-04-01 - Number 260

Revised Edition (3ED)
1994-04-01 - Number 260

Kormus Bell - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)

Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
1994-06-21 - Number 260

Fourth Edition (4ED)
1995-04-01 - Number 332

Kormus Bell - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
1995-04-01 - Number 332

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 210

Kormus Bell - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 253

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 550

Card sets	Released in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact

Text of card

Treat all swamps in play as 1/1 creatures. Now they can be enchanted, killed, and so forth, and they can be tapped either for mana or to attack. Swamps have no color; they are not considered black cards.

Cards like Kormus Bell

Kormus Bell is an iconic piece within the array of Magic: The Gathering artifacts, drawing parallels to various other cards that manipulate land. This artifact has the unique function of turning all Swamps into 1/1 black creatures, which is somewhat reminiscent of Living Lands, another old card that gives all Forests the same animated properties. However, Kormus Bell’s specificity to Swamps offers a different tactical advantage, especially in mono-black strategies or in combination with cards like Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth which turns all lands into Swamps.

When it comes to utility, there’s also the enchantment Life and Limb, which blends lands with creatures by making all Forests and Saprolings into both. While it universally affects Forests unlike the selectivity of Kormus Bell, it has a broader impact on the battlefield by including Saprolings in its scope. Despite that, Kormus Bell stands out for its potential in specific land–creature synergy strategies.

Each of these cards shines in particular decks, where the choice depends on synergy, strategy, and the surrounding cards. Kormus Bell is a unique MTG card that continues to find its place in creative deck builds that look to exploit the dynamic of creatures and lands in novel ways.

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kormus Bell by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kormus Bell’s unique ability transforms all Swamps on the battlefield into 1/1 creatures, potentially turning your entire land base into a formidable army. This can drastically change the board state, offering an increase in your offensive resources.

Resource Acceleration: Combined with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, which turns all lands into Swamps, Kormus Bell can accelerate your resource availability. Without expending extra mana, your lands double as creatures that can attack and defend, offering a strategic advantage.

Instant Speed: Though Kormus Bell itself does not operate at instant speed, its transformative effect can be capitalized on at instant speed with other cards. Spells that instantly turn lands into Swamps, like Terraforming, can catch opponents off-guard when used in tandem with Kormus Bell, swinging the tide of battle suddenly in your favor.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Kormus Bell’s activation hinges on having an available four mana of any type. To integrate seamlessly into your strategy, your deck must be able to accommodate its mana demands without disrupting your gameplay flow.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana to enable the unique lands-as-creatures ability can be costly, especially when considering the pacing and mana efficiency of other cards that can be played at the same cost.

Discard Requirement: While Kormus Bell doesn’t directly ask you to discard, it can indirectly contribute to a higher discard rate if you’re unable to play other cards due to mana allocation. This can result in a disadvantageous hand size, putting you at risk of depleting your resources too fast.

Reasons to Include Kormus Bell in Your Collection

Versatility: Kormus Bell has a unique ability that transforms all Swamps on the battlefield into 1/1 creatures. This feature can be advantageous in various strategies, especially in decks that manipulate land types or benefit from high creature counts.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that can change land types or with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Kormus Bell can turn every land into a creature, opening up the door for various synergies and devastating combos, particularly with mass land animation.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where land destruction is less prevalent, Kormus Bell can become a sleeper hit, especially in metas where boards are crowded with creatures. Utilizing Kormus Bell can suddenly shift the power balance and provide unexpected win conditions in long-drawn matches.

How to beat

Kormus Bell is an intriguing artifact in MTG with the unique ability to turn all Swamps into 1/1 black creatures that still count as lands. This can be a double-edged sword, offering both an offensive potential and a vulnerability. To outmaneuver an opponent leveraging Kormus Bell, the key is to target the now creature-ified Swamps.

Land destruction spells, typically found in red or green decks, can be particularly effective by removing your opponent’s mana base while also dealing with potential threats. Cards like Shatterstorm or Creeping Corrosion suddenly become mass removal spells against a field of Swamps. Additionally, board wipes that do not discriminate by creature type, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, are capable of clearing a swath of Swamp creatures in one fell swoop.

Adaptability is crucial when facing Kormus Bell on the battlefield. Understanding the card’s strengths and its inherent weaknesses allows players to craft a strategy that negates its advantages, potentially turning the tide of the game. Remember, if Kormus Bell is in play, any card that can deal with multiple creatures or lands simultaneously gains a significant boost in value.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kormus Bell MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Kormus Bell and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kormus Bell Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Christopher Rush.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1993-08-05	Limited Edition Alpha	LEA	256	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
2	1993-10-04	Limited Edition Beta	LEB	257	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
3	1993-12-01	Unlimited Edition	2ED	257	1993	Normal	White	Christopher Rush
4	1993-12-10	Intl. Collectors' Edition	CEI	257	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
5	1993-12-10	Collectors' Edition	CED	257	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
6	1994-04-01	Foreign Black Border	FBB	260	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
7	1994-04-01	Revised Edition	3ED	260	1993	Normal	White	Christopher Rush
8	1994-06-21	Summer Magic / Edgar	SUM	260	1993	Normal	White	Christopher Rush
9	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition	4ED	332	1993	Normal	White	Christopher Rush
10	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border	4BB	332	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
11	2011-01-10	Masters Edition IV	ME4	210	1997	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
12	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	253	2015	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
13	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	550	1997	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kormus Bell has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kormus Bell card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	It affects Swamps controlled by any and all players.
2004-10-04	The lands are both lands and creatures at the same time. They are affected by anything that affects either permanent type.
2008-08-01	A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature.