Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 514
2023-06-23 - Number 558
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Land |
Text of card
Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress enters the battlefield tapped. : Add . , : Put a shadow counter on target creature. For as long as that creature has a shadow counter on it, it's a Wraith in addition to its other types. (A creature with shadow can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)
Cards like Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress
Exploring the depths of MTG’s expansive library, Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress emerges as a unique element in the landscape of land cards. When examining its characteristics and abilities, parallels can be drawn to other formidable lands like Cabal Stronghold which amplifies your mana pool based on the number of basic Swamps you control. Minas Morgul, however, takes a more tactical approach, focusing on buffing your creatures and offering an increase in power that can be pivotal in the late game.
Another worthy comparison is Castle Locthwain, celebrated for its card-draw aspect. While directly not influencing the board’s power dynamics like Minas Morgul, the ability to ensure card advantage can be just as crucial in long, drawn-out matches. And then there’s Crypt of Agadeem, which also caters to a strategy of exploiting creature cards in your graveyard—though Minas Morgul’s advantage lies in its immediate board impact without the setup Crypt requires.
Taking a thorough look at these alternatives highlights Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress’s unique place within MTG. It offers solid strategic advantages by supplementing your army, a trait not commonly found in such a card group. It stands out as a dark beacon of power, enhancing your battlefield presence with an aura of ancient force.
Cards similar to Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress is engineered to provide players with an ongoing supply of options by allowing them to consistently excavate the top card of their library, ensuring strategic depth with each turn taken.
Resource Acceleration: This card shines a spotlight on resource acceleration by offering an avenue to deploy powerful creatures or cast impactful spells sooner than expected, thanks to its ability to potentially unlock additional mana each round.
Instant Speed: The versatility of Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress extends to its instant speed capabilities. This feature empowers players to adapt swiftly to evolving board states, thereby maximizing strategic impact and catching opponents off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Like many other cards with powerful effects, Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress requires you to discard a card to fulfill its abilities. For players who might be holding onto key pieces of their strategy, this condition forces tough decisions and potential sacrifices that can impact the game’s outcome, especially if running low on hand options.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of this Dark Fortress is color-intensive, demanding a commitment to specific colors in your deck build. This stipulation can restrict deck flexibility, making it less appealing to those who favor a more versatile mana base or multi-colored strategies that might not align with the card’s mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost to get Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress onto the battlefield is on the higher end of the spectrum. When considering the pace of many current formats, allocating such a significant amount of mana may slow down your game plan compared to other cards with lower costs offering similar or even superior board impact.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress brings flexibility to the battlefield, easily slipping into a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to serve multiple roles, whether as a mana source or a strategic defensive option, makes it a strong contender in diverse game scenarios.
Combo Potential: The card thrives in environments that reward synergies with defensive structures or Dark-themed mechanics. The layer of strategy it introduces allows for intricate play sequences that could turn the tide of a game.
Meta-Relevance: As the competitive scene evolves, having a card that aligns with the darker, control-focused aspects could give players an edge. Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress’s unique attributes may offer solutions to common threats within the shifting metagame.
How to beat
Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress introduces a unique tactical challenge to the board. As a resilient land card, it provides strategic advantage by empowering certain creature types or providing mana acceleration. Confronting such a card requires a well-thought-out strategy. Artifact removal spells like Naturalize or Ghost Quarter can directly target critical land cards like Minas Morgul, mitigating their influence on the game.
Equally important is land management. Utilize cards that manipulate both players’ land resources to your advantage. Field of Ruin is an excellent example, as it can swap the Dark Fortress for a basic land, thus helping to keep your opponent’s board state in check. In a sense, countering Minas Morgul combines precise timing with the clever exploitation of land interaction mechanics.
In sum, while Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress might seem daunting, it can be answered effectively with targeted removal and strategic land control. Keeping these strategies in mind can help maintain the equilibrium of the battlefield against this formidable card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Campbell White.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 514 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Campbell White | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 558 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Campbell White |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |