Marsh Gas MTG Card
1994-08-01 - Number 48
1995-04-01 - Number 146
1995-04-01 - Number 146
1995-08-01 - Number 59
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
All creatures get -2/-0 until end of turn.
"Comes right outta th' ground. If ya can smell it, it's too late." —Keevy Bogsbury
Cards like Marsh Gas
Exploring the depth of quick disruption cards in Magic: The Gathering, Marsh Gas stands out with its unique trait of hitting all creatures on the board with a temporary -2/-0. A comparative spell is Darkness, which also serves to stifle an opponent’s creatures by preventing all combat damage that would be dealt that turn. While both fill the role of hindering enemy forces, Marsh Gas’s nonselective power reduction potentially affects the dynamics of the entire board.
Another similar card is Holy Day, a notorious combat trick that also prevents damage like Darkness, but is aligned with the white magic spectrum. This card functions well in a very different strategic context compared to the black-aligned Marsh Gas. Additionally, one can’t overlook something like Fog, which mirrors Holy Day’s functionality in green. While Marsh Gas might not entirely negate combat like its counterparts, its early game impact by weakening creatures across the board can be crucial for gaining control.
In essence, understanding each card’s unique contribution to the game is key. Marsh Gas, unlike outright damage prevention spells, offers a rare universal power debuff, a strategic option that can be decisive in the early to mid-game skirmishes of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Marsh Gas by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Marsh Gas may at first glance not seem like a typical card advantage tool, but by weakening your opponent’s creatures, it can help maintain board control. This can lead to more favorable trades and enable you to keep your own creatures on the board while disrupting the opponent’s plans.
Resource Acceleration: Although Marsh Gas isn’t a direct resource acceleration card, by delaying the opponent, it can effectively buy you time to reach your critical mana thresholds and deploy heavier spells ahead of schedule, implicitly accelerating your game plan.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Marsh Gas at instant speed gives you a significant tactical advantage. You can wait to see how your opponent plays their turn before deciding the most opportune moment to weaken their creatures, allowing for more strategic plays and potentially ruining your opponent’s combat calculations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Marsh Gas requires that you have open mana, which means you may need to forgo casting another spell. This may not always be optimal, especially when you’re trying to develop your board or maintain tempo.
Specific Mana Cost: Marsh Gas demands black mana to be cast. This can be restrictive as it can only fit comfortably within black decks or those with a sufficient mana base to accommodate black spells, potentially limiting its versatility in multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its capability to give all creatures -2/-0 until end of turn might seem useful, Marsh Gas can be costly for the effect it provides. There are alternative cards that can offer more impactful board control or creature debuffs at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Marsh Gas is capable of fitting into a variety of deck archetypes that prioritize control and disrupting opponent’s strategies.
Combo Potential: This card can work well in strategies centered on debilitating opponents’ creatures, potentially clearing the way for decisive moves or complementing a larger control scheme.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta-game where the board is frequently crowded with creatures, Marsh Gas can serve as a cost-effective method to temporarily weaken opposing forces, giving you a tactical edge.
How to Beat Marsh Gas
Marsh Gas is an intriguing card that can change the flow of combat in Magic: The Gathering. This black instant can give all creatures -2/-0 until end of turn. This subtle shift can mean the difference between surviving a pivotal turn or succumbing to an overwhelming attack. Strategically timing plays and countermeasures will be essential when facing this spell.
To overcome the effects of Marsh Gas, you might consider strategies such as keeping mana open for instant-speed buff spells to negate or lessen its impact. Cards like Giant Growth can off-set the temporary debuff. Alternatively, deploying creatures with higher toughness can ensure their survival against such effects. If you can predict your opponent holding this card, playing less aggressively may lead to them wasting the card at an inopportune moment, giving you a clear advantage.
It’s also worth noting the importance of card advantage. Since Marsh Gas targets all creatures, opponents could be affecting their own board as well, which may allow for favorable trades on your side. In examining your approach to mitigating spells like Marsh Gas, a direct answer might not always be necessary — sometimes a strategic playstyle adjustment is all it takes to emerge victorious.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Marsh Gas MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition, 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 Marsh Gas 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Marsh Gas Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 1995-08-01. Illustrated by Douglas Shuler.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-08-01 | The Dark | DRK | 48 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 146 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 146 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 59 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Marsh Gas has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |