Lonely Sandbar MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 320
2011-06-17 - Number 281
2012-09-07 - Number 35
2013-11-01 - Number 305
2014-06-16 - Number 304
2014-11-07 - Number 304
2016-11-16 - Number 65863
2017-10-24 - Number 27
2018-06-08 - Number 257
2018-08-09 - Number 264
2019-06-14 - Number 242
2020-03-12 - Number 23
2020-04-17 - Number 287
2021-04-23 - Number 298
2023-06-23 - Number 319
2024-02-09 - Number 273
| Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
| Abilities | Cycling |
Text of card
Lonely Sandbar comes into play tapped. oc T: Add o U to your mana pool. Cycling o U (o U, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.)
Cards like Lonely Sandbar
Lonely Sandbar holds a unique position within the array of lands available in Magic: The Gathering. Like its counterparts from the “Cycling Lands” family, Lonely Sandbar offers versatility that is similar to cards like Secluded Steppe or Forgotten Cave. What makes it stand apart is its water-bound theme, fitting seamlessly into blue decks that favour strategic card draw and manipulation.
Each of these lands can be cycled for a single mana, allowing players to replace them with a new card from their deck. Secluded Steppe provides a white color mana option, whereas Forgotten Cave offers a red one. However, Lonely Sandbar cycles for a blue mana, aligning it with the classic blue archetype of carefully curating one’s hand to control the flow of the game.
Drawing comparisons further, Barren Moor is another similar land that cycles, but for black mana. It stands out in decks that hinge on graveyard interactions and setting up combo plays. While each cycling land integrates with its respective color strategies, Lonely Sandbar particularly excels in decks that are keen on ensuring consistent access to blue mana and drawing capabilities.
All considered, Lonely Sandbar is a flexible choice especially for blue-focused players looking for an accessible way to fine-tune their hand while still developing their land plays in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Lonely Sandbar by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Lonely Sandbar. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Twiddle Storm | Modern | Twiddle Storm | Modern Challenge 96 2024-02-03 |
 | Twiddle Breach | Modern | Twiddle Storm | #5 Last Chance Qualifier: Modern |
 | URG | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-04-14 | |
 | Turbo Fog | Pauper | Turbo Fog | Pauper League 2024-02-24 |
| 4c Omnath | Modern | 4/5c Omnath | Modern Challenge 64 2024-03-04 |
 | Azorius Flash | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024 | |
 | Mono-Blue Faeries | Pauper | Mono-Blue Faeries | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-02-17 |
| All Other Decklists | Modern | Twiddle Storm | #30 Last Chance Qualifier: Modern |
 | Azorius Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lonely Sandbar offers the benefit of cycling to draw a card, aiding in ensuring a steady flow of resources and mitigating the likelihood of drawing into a land late in the game when you’re in need of actionable spells.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating resources, it facilitates mana flexibility. As a land, it taps for blue mana, critical for decks that require consistent color availability to execute their strategies effectively.
Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Lonely Sandbar can be activated at instant speed, which allows you to wait until the most opportune moment—such as the end of your opponent’s turn—to draw and potentially improve your hand without preemptively committing to a different line of play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lonely Sandbar requires you to discard a card upon cycling. This cost can set you back if your hand is already sparse, stripping away a potential game-changer for uncertain future draws.
Specific Mana Cost: Although the cycling cost is generic, putting this card into play requires blue mana. This can restrict its seamless integration into multi-colored decks that might not have consistent blue mana availability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Lonely Sandbar does offer a cycling option for one mana, playing it as a land provides less immediate value as it enters the battlefield tapped. Other land cards or mana sources are available without this tempo setback, potentially offering faster and more efficient mana usage.
Reasons to Include Lonely Sandbar in Your Collection
Versatility: The Lonely Sandbar offers flexibility in deck construction, as it serves as both a land and a card-drawing mechanism. It’s especially useful in decks that prioritize maintaining a healthy hand size while managing resources efficiently.
Combo Potential: This card can be paired with landfall abilities to trigger effects or integrated into cycling-themed decks to activate synergies. It also works well with effects that return lands from the graveyard to the hand or battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where games go long and resources are tightly contested, Lonely Sandbar ensures that you’re not drawing dead lands late in the game. It provides ongoing value, making it a sound choice for control and combo decks that thrive on card advantage.
How to beat
When facing off against a player employing Lonely Sandbar in Magic: The Gathering, it’s crucial to assess how this cycling land impacts the game. As part of a control deck’s arsenal, Lonely Sandbar offers a versatile option, enabling card draw when necessary or serving as a land drop to smoothly progress their mana base.
Against Lonely Sandbar, employ strategies that focus on disrupting your opponent’s card access and resources. Land destruction can be effective – removing their option to cycle or play the land, though this isn’t often a high priority target. More refined strategies involve pressure and threat deployment. By keeping a steady pace and presenting significant threats, you force the control player to use mana on responses rather than cycling this card for better options.
Aggressive decks capitalize on the slower start that Lonely Sandbar suggests, offering an opportunity to flood the board whilst your opponent is potentially caught cycling instead of interacting. With a proactive game plan and relentless pressure, Lonely Sandbar can be outmatched. Reducing the efficiency of such a resource is one of the keys to overpowering a deck with this subtle but powerful card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lonely Sandbar MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Commander 2011, 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 Lonely Sandbar and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Lonely Sandbar Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 320 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 2 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 281 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 3 | 2012-09-07 | Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari | DDJ | 35 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 4 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 305 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 5 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 304 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 6 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 304 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 7 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 65863 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 8 | 2017-10-24 | Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins | DDT | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 9 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 257 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 10 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 264 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 11 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 242 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 12 | 2020-03-12 | Historic Anthology 2 | HA2 | 23 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 13 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 287 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 14 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 298 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 15 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 319 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pierre Raveneau | |
| 16 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 273 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lonely Sandbar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |