Benthic Djinn MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Djinn
Abilities	Islandwalk,Landwalk
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	5
Toughness	3
Number	257
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Key Takeaways

Islandwalk provides consistent opponent damage and subtly pressures their mana resources.
Demands a card discard each turn, potentially straining your hand’s resources.
Fits best in blue-centric decks due to its specific mana cost.

Text of card

Islandwalk (If defending player controls any islands, this creature is unblockable.) During your upkeep, lose 2 life.

"In all my years I've only met one mage who successfully trapped a djinn—and none who tried and failed." —Talibah, embermage

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Benthic Djinn may not explicitly allow you to draw more cards, but it commands a notable presence by often becoming an overlooked threat due to its shadow mechanic, enabling you to gradually take control of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Islandwalk gives Benthic Djinn an edge in resource acceleration as it can bypass blockers entirely on a crowded board, ensuring consistent damage to opponents and indirectly pressuring their mana base if they’re using Islands.

Instant Speed: Though Benthic Djinn itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its mere presence can influence your instant-speed decisions. Knowing you have a reliable source of damage that can avoid most direct confrontation allows you to more effectively save instant-speed removal or counterspells to deal with other threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This aquatic creature demands an offering; you must discard a card to keep it afloat from turn to turn, which might capsize your strategy if you’re already treading water with a scarce hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The Benthic Djinn necessitates a deep dive into mana specifics, needing not just three mana but specifically three islands in play. This requirement can be restrictive, locking it into blue-centric decks and submerging your flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For four mana, the Djinn swims up against a current of lower-cost creatures and powerful four-cost spells, often making it feel like you’re paying a premium for a 5/3 body that could be outclassed or countered by more mana-efficient options.

Reasons to Include Benthic Djinn in Your Collection

Versatility: Benthic Djinn offers flexibility in deck-building, fitting well into control or midrange decks. It’s particularly useful in blue and black combinations, providing both a solid defensive body and offensive capabilities.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with various graveyard mechanics and strategies that capitalize on having powerful creatures. It can be a key component in decks that benefit from self-mill or reanimation tactics.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Benthic Djinn can act as an effective blocker with its substantial toughness. Moreover, any meta where islandwalk can be reliably leveraged makes Benthic Djinn an unblockable threat against many popular decks.

How to beat

Benthic Djinn from Magic the Gathering poses a unique challenge with its intrinsic islandwalk ability, making it unblockable as long as the opponent controls an island. To outmaneuver this underwater threat, a key strategy is altering the battlefield terrain. Instead of traditional removal spells that might fall short against its protection from red, players may consider cards that change land types or remove islands from play altogether. Utilizing land modification spells such as Quenchable Fire or Spreading Seas can effectively negate the Djinn’s islandwalk advantage.

Another approach is to deploy creatures with reach or those that can block flying creatures as Benthic Djinn does not inherently have the flying ability. Crafting a defensive line with such creatures can provide a barrier against the Djinn’s attacks. Moreover, since the Djinn obliges you to sacrifice an island during your upkeep, balancing the number of islands in your deck is a tactical aspect to consider. Cards that replenish your lands or allow you to play additional lands can mitigate this sacrificial cost, ensuring a steady mana flow while keeping the aquatic adversary at bay.

In conclusion, while Benthic Djinn can be a formidable opponent in Magic the Gathering, strategic deck building and clever play can turn the tide of the game in your favor, ensuring victory on the mystical planes where land and sea converge.

Cards like Benthic Djinn

Benthic Djinn stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a peculiar yet captivating monoblack control creature. It draws parallels to Abyssal Specter, with both demanding four mana to cast and both flying. However, the Benthic Djinn offers a unique edge with its Islandhome ability, which, while restrictive, enables potential unblockability against non-blue decks. That said, the Abyssal Specter doesn’t carry such a limitation, though it lacks in power compared to the Benthic Djinn.

Erg Raiders is another creature that often comes into comparison due to its aggressive early presence for a lesser mana investment. While not as robust in power and toughness, Erg Raiders does not tether its user to the Islandhome mechanic, granting it more consistent usability across various matchups.

In essence, while each of these cards brings its own advantages to the table, Benthic Djinn is notable for its potential to become an uncontested threat. Players weighing these options should consider the deck’s ability to accommodate the Islandhome mechanic and capitalize on Benthic Djinn’s strengths in the battlefield dynamic of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Benthic Djinn by color, type and mana cost

Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - MTG Card versions

Wydwen, the Biting Gale - MTG Card versions

Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - MTG Card versions

Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - MTG Card versions

Drunau Corpse Trawler - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Benthic Djinn MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Benthic Djinn and other MTG cards: