Phantasmal Terrain MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 68
1993-10-04 - Number 69
1993-12-01 - Number 69
1993-12-10 - Number 69
1993-12-10 - Number 69
1994-04-01 - Number 70
1994-04-01 - Number 70
1994-06-21 - Number 70
1995-04-01 - Number 89
1995-04-01 - Number 89
1997-03-24 - Number 107
1999-04-21 - Number 84
2000-10-02 - Number 65
2011-01-10 - Number 56
2022-11-28 - Number 68
2022-11-28 - Number 365
| Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Target land changes to any basic land type of caster's choice. Land type is set when cast and may not be further altered by this enchantment.
Cards like Phantasmal Terrain
Phantasmal Terrain occupies a unique space in MTG’s vast array of enchantments. It closely mirrors cards like Sea’s Claim and Spreading Seas – both of which also change the land type of a targeted land card. The distinction lies in Phantasmal Terrain’s flexibility, allowing the caster to choose the new basic land type. Sea’s Claim and Spreading Seas, meanwhile, force the land to become an Island. However, they compensate by drawing a card upon entering the battlefield, a feature Phantasmal Terrain lacks.
Convincing Mirage is another card that changes a land’s type, but like the aforementioned Sea’s Claim, it’s limited to transforming lands into Islands without providing the versatility offered by Phantasmal Terrain. Another related enchantment, Contaminated Ground, turns the land into a swamp with an added unhealthy twist – it deals damage to the controller if that land is tapped for mana. Here, we observe a strategy not just of land manipulation but also of subtle player aggression.
In comparison, while Phantasmal Terrain offers a tailor-made approach to land alteration, it doesn’t enrich a player’s hand or inflict direct penalization on opponents. It stands out for its adaptability, making it a strategic gem for those who require precise control over land types on the board.
Cards similar to Phantasmal Terrain by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Phantasmal Terrain allows players to alter the battlefield subtly, potentially disrupting your opponent’s mana base while keeping your hand equipped for future strategies.
Resource Acceleration: With the capability to change any land’s type, this card can be used as a form of resource acceleration by converting a land into the type that produces the color of mana currently needed, which can be essential for multicolored decks.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Phantasmal Terrain can be coupled with cards that allow you to play sorceries as though they had flash, giving it an unexpected flexibility during crucial moments of gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Phantasmal Terrain does not require a card to be discarded.
Specific Mana Cost: Phantasmal Terrain has a specific mana cost that includes blue mana, potentially limiting its inclusion to decks that run blue or have mana fixing capabilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana including one blue, some players might consider it on the high side for an effect that changes a land’s basic land type without providing additional benefits.
Reasons to Include Phantasmal Terrain in Your Collection
Versatility: Phantasmal Terrain offers a unique approach to land interaction by allowing you to change the basic land type of any land. It suits various strategies, from mana disruption to enabling domain abilities and can be a tactical play in any deck that manipulates land types for advantage.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with effects that penalize certain land types. Imagine transforming an opponent’s critical land into a type for which they have no use, or setting up a landwalk ability to ensure an unblockable attack.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where lands play a pivotal role, such as formats with nonbasic land-heavy decks, Phantasmal Terrain can act as a tech choice to disrupt your opponents’ mana bases subtly, enhancing your deck’s flexibility in handling various threats.
How to beat
Phantasmal Terrain is a classic card in Magic The Gathering, allowing players to transform any land into a basic land type of their choice. This might seem like a simple spell, but it can be strategically used to hinder an opponent’s mana base, especially if they rely on specific land types for multicolored spells. This card serves as a reminder of the importance of land types and their role in enabling a deck’s strategy.
To counteract the effects of Phantasmal Terrain, it is essential to have a flexible mana base that either doesn’t depend heavily on one type of land or utilizes cards that can retrieve the appropriate land from your deck. Including cards that can undo land type changes or simply provide any color of mana can mitigate the impact of Phantasmal Terrain on your game plan. Adept deck building, foreseeing the potential disruption Phantasmal Terrain represents, will always be your best defense against this type of land manipulation.
Therefore, incorporating versatile land cards, utilizing mana-fixing artifacts, or enchantments that protect your lands will arm you against the subtleties of Phantasmal Terrain, maintaining the rhythm of your mana flow and ultimately securing your winning conditions.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Phantasmal Terrain MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Phantasmal Terrain 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
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Printings
The Phantasmal Terrain Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 68 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 69 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 69 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 69 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 69 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 70 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 70 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 70 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 89 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 89 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 107 | 1997 | Normal | White | David A. Cherry | |
| 12 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 84 | 1997 | Normal | White | David A. Cherry | |
| 13 | 2000-10-02 | Invasion | INV | 65 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dana Knutson | |
| 14 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 56 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 15 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 68 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 16 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 365 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Phantasmal Terrain has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Phantasmal Terrain card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-10-15 | Will not add or remove Snow Supertype to or from a land. |