Deep Wood MTG Card

Portal (POR)
1997-05-01 - Number 162

Portal Second Age (P02)
1998-06-24 - Number 126

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number POR-162

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Deep Wood offers card advantage, increasing hand options and strategic maneuvers against opponents.
Players experience resource acceleration, enabling earlier casting of formidable creatures or game-changing combos.
Instant speed play allows reactive strategies, maintaining the element of surprise over opponents.

Text of card

Play Deep Wood only after you're attacked, before you declare interceptors. This turn, all damage dealt to you by attacking creatures is reduced to 0.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deep Wood ensures that every play enriches your hand, granting you the upper hand as you consistently outmaneuver your opponents with a more substantial card selection.

Resource Acceleration: This card is a wellspring of mana, providing the essential boost to cast formidable creatures earlier in the game or enabling a game-changing combo to seize victory from the clutches of defeat.

Instant Speed: The subtlety of playing at instant speed means you can respond with precision to the evolving battlefield, keeping opponents guessing while you set up your next strategic move.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect players must weigh is the discard requirement to play Deep Wood. Having to part with another card from your hand can be a setback, particularly in gameplay scenarios where hand size is already diminished.

Specific Mana Cost: Deep Wood commands a specific mana allocation which may not align seamlessly with all deck structures. This requirement can restrict its integration, favoring a deck that is tailored to accommodate such mana specifications.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To cast Deep Wood, players must invest a notable amount of mana. When considering other options available within the game, some may offer a similar or enhanced impact at a lower mana expenditure, presenting players with a consideration of cost versus benefit.

Reasons to Include Deep Wood in Your Collection

Versatility: Deep Wood is an adaptable card that could seamlessly integrate into a variety of deck types, given its ability to be a robust blocker or an offensive threat due to its potential size increase in the later stages of the game.

Combo Potential: With its growth mechanic tied to the number of forests you control, it has strong synergies with cards that allow you to ramp up your land base, making it a serious combo enabler in land-focused deck strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board control and creature size can pivot the win, Deep Wood’s relevance scales up as it can become a game-defining threat, particularly in metas where larger creatures dictate the pace of play.

How to beat

When facing Deep Wood in Magic: The Gathering, players should consider implementing a strategy to manage this formidable card. Since Deep Wood is an enchantment that can turn the tide of a game by strengthening creatures in play, one efficient tactic involves the use of enchantment removal spells. Disenchant and Naturalize are excellent in this scenario for their low mana cost and instant speed, allowing you to quickly nullify the threat posed by Deep Wood.

Another approach is to focus on countering Deep Wood before it even takes effect. Counterspell and Negate are two spell options that can prevent Deep Wood from coming into play. Timing is crucial—saving these countermeasures for key cards like Deep Wood ensures that an opponent’s deck is stripped of its amplifying power. Moreover, playing a creature-heavy deck with a fast pace can also overrun a player relying heavily on Deep Wood before they fully establish their board presence.

Overall, recognizing and preparing for the challenges that Deep Wood brings to the battlefield is essential. Adapt your deck to include answers to such threats, and always play with careful consideration of what untapped mana and potential responses your opponent might have.

Cards like Deep Wood

Exploring the vast library of Magic the Gathering, Deep Wood stands as a unique card embodying the essence of green mana’s connection with nature and creature strength. In comparison to other cards, Deep Wood might bring to mind Giant Growth, a staple green spell that temporarily boosts a creature’s power and toughness. While both enhance creature abilities, Deep Wood favors a more permanent effect, emboldening the creature’s stats for the duration of the game.

Another comparable card is Rancor. Much like Deep Wood, Rancor increases a creature’s offensive potential. However, Rancor adds trample and has the resilience of returning to a player’s hand when it goes to the graveyard from the battlefield. The ability to recur Rancor offers a level of sustainability that Deep Wood lacks. Conversely, Deep Wood’s stat boost is often greater, favoring a more aggressive and lasting approach to enhance your creature.

To sum it up, when delving into MTG’s green card synergies and effects, Deep Wood holds a spot for those who seek to fortify their creatures substantially for the long haul. It provides a significant edge in combat, making it a card that players consider for decks focusing on robust, enduring creatures.

Cards similar to Deep Wood by color, type and mana cost

Might of the Nephilim - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deep Wood MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal Second Age, 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 Deep Wood and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deep Wood Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 1998-06-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-05-01	Portal	POR	162	1997	Normal	Black	Paolo Parente
2	1998-06-24	Portal Second Age	P02	126	1997	Normal	Black	Jeff Miracola
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	POR-162	1997	Normal	Black	Paolo Parente