Earthblighter MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Released	2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Legions
Set code	LGN
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	68
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alex Horley-Orlandelli

Key Takeaways

Earthblighter can unravel opponents’ mana bases, offering significant board control and resource advantage.
Its instant speed allows for tactical plays, adjusting the pace and power balance of the game.
Demands careful hand management and precise mana, challenging players to maintain efficiency and momentum.

Text of card

, , Sacrifice a Goblin: Destroy target land.

"A single dedicated mind can bring about the greatest destruction. That, or goblins—goblins work too."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Earthblighter’s ability to potentially destroy multiple lands is a powerful disruption tactic. Not only can it set opponents back on resources, but it also offers the chance to swing the game’s momentum in your favor by reducing their options.

Resource Acceleration: By impacting mana bases, Earthblighter indirectly accelerates your resource advantage. With the opponent struggling to recuperate their land-based resources, you’re in a better position to capitalize on your existing board state and further your game plan.

Instant Speed: Earthblighter’s flexibility at instant speed is a significant advantage in any MTG player’s arsenal. This allows strategic players to wait for the opportune moment before unleashing its land-destroying ability, potentially in response to an opponent’s play, or at the end of their turn to maximize the tempo swing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Earthblighter card necessitates discarding another card as part of its casting cost. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleted or if you’re aiming to maintain a strategic hand composition.

Specific Mana Cost: Earthblighter demands a precise color combination of mana to cast. Deck builders must ensure they have the right mana sources, which might not always align well with multicolored or complex mana base strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment required to play Earthblighter is significant when compared to other cards with similar effects. This high cost can lead to potential tempo disadvantages, especially in faster-paced games where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Earthblighter presents a dynamic option for decks that focus on land control strategies. Its ability to target lands directly lets it adapt to various board states, ensuring your gamble pays off whether you’re slowing down opponents or setting up for a win.

Combo Potential: Known for its compatibility with land destruction tactics, Earthblighter adds depth to combos by offering repeatable land disruption. Pair it with cards that punish landless opponents or those that benefit from land graveyard recursion to optimize its potential.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where land-based strategies are prevalent, having Earthblighter in your arsenal gives you an edge. Its specific utility can be crucial in dismantling popular land-centric decks, ensuring your collection remains competitive in the ever-evolving meta.

How to beat Earthblighter

The Earthblighter card poses a unique challenge on the battlefield with its capacity to disrupt land-based strategies. To outmaneuver this menace, strategic foresight is key. One effective tactic is to prioritize spell-based land destruction over creatures, as this reduces Earthblighter’s impact on your land resources. Instant-speed removal spells are invaluable assets for quickly dispatching Earthblighter before its destructive ability can be activated. Counter spells also prove efficient, buffering your defense against it the moment it attempts to cast its ominous shadow on the game.

Maintaining a diverse array of lands in your deck enhances resilience against Earthblighter’s targeted ability. Furthermore, leveraging lands that can regenerate or self-sacrifice for benefit turns potential losses into strategic advantages. In addition, cards that provide land-based protection or recur lands from the graveyard will dilute Earthblighter’s effectiveness, assuring your mana base remains intact. Ultimately, understanding and preparing for Earthblighter’s land-crippling potential allows you to counteract its influence effectively, preserving your path to victory in the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Earthblighter

Earthblighter is a dynamic force in the realm of creature removal in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to removal staples like Terminate, as both cards provide a solid answer to threats on the battlefield. Earthblighter offers the bonus of targeting a land, putting it a notch above Terminate in terms of flexibility and board impact. This duality of purpose gives players more control over the game’s resources.

In the same category, there’s the infamous Sinkhole, which strictly destroys land, but at a lower cost. While Sinkhole can’t touch creatures, it’s famed for its efficiency in mana denial strategies. Players also compare Earthblighter to Icefall, which shares the traits of land destruction and creature removal. However, Icefall’s higher cost and sorcery speed make Earthblighter emerge as a more versatile and swift option, capable of disrupting opponents at a more critical pace.

Ultimately, Earthblighter holds a unique position, combining the best elements of creature elimination and land removal, offering MTG players an adaptable tool in their arsenal. Its utility in controlling game tempo and hindering opponent strategies makes it a noteworthy choice in deck-building.

Cards similar to Earthblighter by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Earthblighter MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Earthblighter and other MTG cards: