Contested War Zone MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Land
Released	2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin Besieged
Set code	MBS
Number	144
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Scott Chou

Key Takeaways

Contested War Zone provides dual utility as a land and a force multiplier, increasing battlefield impact.
Specific mana requirements and vulnerability upon activation are potential strategic drawbacks for its use.
Despite its cost, its synergy and meta relevance make it a powerful addition to aggressive decks.

Text of card

Whenever a creature deals combat damage to you, that creature's controller gains control of Contested War Zone. : Add to your mana pool. , : Attacking creatures get +1/+0 until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Contested War Zone doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it indirectly leads to potential card advantage by being a land that can turn into a formidable threat. This dual utility ensures that the card retains its value both early and late in the game, as it can contribute to the board state without costing a card from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: One of the key features of Contested War Zone is that it can contribute to resource acceleration by boosting the power of your creatures during combat. This can lead to more efficient trades or even game-ending attacks, effectively serving as a force multiplier on the battlefield rather than just a source of mana.

Instant Speed: Although Contested War Zone operates at sorcery speed since it’s a land, it still offers strategic flexibility akin to instant speed interaction. This is because its ability can be activated during the declare attackers step, catching an opponent off-guard and potentially altering the outcome of combat in your favor without prior commitment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Contested War Zone can provide a valuable boost to your attacking creatures, activating this ability requires the unwelcome trade-off of potentially losing the land to an opponent should they deal combat damage to you. This discard-equivalent drawback can be detrimental, especially when your defenses are down.

Specific Mana Cost: Contested War Zone has a distinct need for colorless mana to activate its ability. This specific mana requirement may not align well with decks that heavily rely on colored mana, thereby limiting its compatibility with various archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the tactical advantage it may offer, Contested War Zone’s activation cost is on the higher side when compared to other lands that augment creature power. Allocating resources to power up your attack each turn might compromise your strategic flexibility in the long run.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Contested War Zone offers a unique dynamic to any deck by transforming land slots into potential game-changers. It’s not just a mana source but also a tool for turning the tide of battle favorably.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergy-intensive decks. When coordinated with creatures that benefit from attacking, such as those with battalion or exert, Contested War Zone can be the key to unlocking devastating attacks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where board presence dictates victory, Contested War Zone becomes an asset. It fits seamlessly into aggressive strategies that aim to maintain pressure and overwhelm opponents, making it a staple in certain aggressive deck archetypes.

How to Beat Contested War Zone

The allure of a battle-centric land like Contested War Zone is undeniable in Magic: The Gathering. The card taps for colorless mana, bolstering your resources to deploy various spells and creatures. Yet, what makes it compelling is its ability to turn the tide of battle by granting your creatures a boost in power during combat phases.

Being aware of your opponent’s opportunity to boost their attack can be key to your strategy. Ensuring you have enough blockers to mitigate the potential surge in damage is crucial. You can also hold instant-speed removal or combat tricks to disrupt their plans before they declare attackers. This anticipates the use of the Contested War Zone’s ability and can limit its impact during critical turns.

Another effective strategy is employing land destruction or control elements to neutralize this powerful land. Direct land targeting spells or abilities that limit the type of mana that can be produced are especially potent. By countering the strategic advantages of Contested War Zone, you can maintain control of the game tempo and keep your opponent’s forces in check.

Cards like Contested War Zone

Contested War Zone is an intriguing land card in the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering. It has analogous functionality to other mana-generating lands but shines with its unique ability to boost attacking creatures. Similar to Contested War Zone, Pendelhaven is another land that can bolster your creatures, albeit targeting only 1/1s, enhancing a specific creature category without the global effect on your entire attacking force.

Mishra’s Factory takes the comparison in a different direction. It not only generates mana but can also transform into a creature, ready to defend or join the attack. This dual nature provides versatility but doesn’t grant the attacking bonus across the board that Contested War Zone offers. For those valuing the aggression in combat phases, Inkmoth Nexus steps up as an interesting counterpart. It not only becomes a creature but also carries the fearsome infect ability, turning it into a potential game-ender. However, the infamous nexus can’t empower an entire army like Contested War Zone can.

Each of these lands brings something distinct to the battlefield, and while there are others that tap for mana or morph into creatures, Contested War Zone’s collective combat boost often gives it a pivotal role in swarming strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Its capacity to sway the tide of battle by empowering a legion of attackers can be a game-defining advantage.

Cards similar to Contested War Zone by color, type and mana cost

Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions

Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Contested War Zone MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Contested War Zone and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Contested War Zone has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Contested War Zone card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2011-06-01	Gaining control of Contested War Zone doesn’t cause it to tap or untap.
2011-06-01	In some multiplayer formats, creatures controlled by different players may deal combat damage to you simultaneously. If this happens, you control each triggered ability and can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability to resolve will determine who ends up controlling Contested War Zone.
2011-06-01	The last activated ability affects all attacking creatures, not just those you control.
2011-06-01	The word “you” in a permanent’s trigger condition always refers to the permanent’s current controller.