Sunken Hollow MTG Card

Sunken Hollow ensures a smooth mana flow when paired with two basic lands, preventing tempo loss. Versatile mana from Sunken Hollow aids multi-color decks, particularly in early to mid-game. The card’s dual-land advantage enhances instant spell flexibility, keeping players on pace.
Card setsReleased in 30 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand — Island Swamp

Text of card

(: Add or to your mana pool.)Sunken Hollow enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more basic lands.

On the continent of Tazeem, rushing waters plunge through narrow canyons into mist-cloaked lakes.

Cards like Sunken Hollow

In the realm of dual lands in Magic: The Gathering, Sunken Hollow stands as a valuable option for decks delving into blue and black mana. When compared to other lands like Watery Grave, Sunken Hollow offers a less painful entry into play, potentially entering untapped without the shock of losing life. Yet, it lacks the consistency of a Watery Grave, which can always come into play untapped if you’re willing to pay the lifepoint price.

Contrasting Sunken Hollow with other duals, Drowned Catacomb is noteworthy. Though similar in function, Drowned Catacomb doesn’t have the basic land type clause. It revolves around controlling either an Island or Swamp to be utilised to its full potential. Thus, Sunken Hollow may have an edge in decks abundant with basics, allowing more flexible plays early in the game. Then we have Temple of Deceit, which always enters the battlefield tapped but provides a scry benefit, gently nudging the odds in your favor by helping define future draws.

Deciding on the best land card depends largely on your deck’s structure and play style. Sunken Hollow, with its synergy with basic lands, offers a strategic benefit for specific deck builds, cementing its place within the landscape of multicolored land cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sunken Hollow by color, type and mana cost

Underground Sea - MTG Card versions
River Delta - MTG Card versions
Underground River - MTG Card versions
Salt Marsh - MTG Card versions
Dimir Aqueduct - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Darkwater Catacombs - MTG Card versions
Dreadship Reef - MTG Card versions
Secluded Glen - MTG Card versions
Jwar Isle Refuge - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Darkslick Shores - MTG Card versions
Tainted Isle - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Depths - MTG Card versions
Submerged Boneyard - MTG Card versions
Dismal Backwater - MTG Card versions
Choked Estuary - MTG Card versions
Dimir Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Fetid Pools - MTG Card versions
Underground Sea - MTG Card versions
River Delta - MTG Card versions
Underground River - MTG Card versions
Salt Marsh - MTG Card versions
Dimir Aqueduct - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Darkwater Catacombs - MTG Card versions
Dreadship Reef - MTG Card versions
Secluded Glen - MTG Card versions
Jwar Isle Refuge - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Darkslick Shores - MTG Card versions
Tainted Isle - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Depths - MTG Card versions
Submerged Boneyard - MTG Card versions
Dismal Backwater - MTG Card versions
Choked Estuary - MTG Card versions
Dimir Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Fetid Pools - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Sunken Hollow. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Tainted PactTainted Pact LegacyDoomsdayBerlin Double Up Legacy IV im Brettspielplatz 04.04.24
Sultai MidrangeSultai Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Five-color ComboFive-color Combo LegacyPainterCharlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1
Dimir ScamDimir Scam ModernDimir ScamModern Challenge 96 2024-03-30
Dimir ControlDimir Control ModernDimir ControlModern Preliminary 2024-02-05
DecklistDecklist DecklistThe Arena Coliseum - Timeless Trials $1K #002
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern League 2024-03-10
Grixis WizardsGrixis Wizards ModernGrixis ControlF2F Tour Championship - Ottawa Round 5 (Regional Championship)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sunken Hollow enters the battlefield untapped if you control two or more basic lands, allowing you to maintain a smooth mana base and prevent losing tempo, essential for keeping up with the game’s pace and securing your strategies.

Resource Acceleration: As a dual land card that can provide either blue or black mana, Sunken Hollow offers versatile mana acceleration that can be crucial in the early to mid-game phases for decks relying on multiple colors.

Instant Speed: While Sunken Hollow itself doesn’t act at instant speed, it provides immediate access to mana that can be used for instant speed spells. This capability to quickly adapt to the board state by having the necessary mana for a timely counter or removal can turn the tides in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sunken Hollow enters the battlefield untapped if you control two or more basic lands, in the early game, this requirement can delay your tempo, especially when you’re unable to meet the condition.

Specific Mana Cost: Sunken Hollow provides access to both blue and black mana, but it necessitates a heavy commitment to a two-color deck which may not synergize well with decks that have a broader color requirement or mono-colored strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In situations where you are looking to optimize your mana base, there might be alternative dual lands or utility lands that come into play untapped without conditions, providing immediate access to the mana you need without the potential for a slowed start.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sunken Hollow, with its ability to tap for blue or black mana, complements numerous deck archetypes. Particularly in two-color strategies, it ensures mana consistency, crucial in pulling off your game plan smoothly.

Combo Potential: As part of a land base in a deck with graveyard synergies or delirium, Sunken Hollow has inherent combo potential. Its type as both an Island and a Swamp makes it searchable with various land-fetching cards, integrating seamlessly into multi-faceted strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting MTG metagame, a card’s value can fluctuate. Sunken Hollow remains a staple in formats that permit dual lands as it can be easily included in a range of competitive decks, ensuring your deck construction stays relevant and adaptable.

How to beat

Sunken Hollow is a land card that can both bolster a player’s mana base and streamline their deck’s color consistency, especially in dual-color black and blue decks in Magic: The Gathering. Possessing the ability to tap for either blue or black mana, it’s a valuable asset for players looking to execute multi-color strategies. Its conditional entrance into play untapped depending on controlling two or more basic lands ensures it remains a highly versatile land card.

Overcoming the advantages Sunken Hollow provides requires a strategic approach. One effective method is employing land destruction or denial strategies to disrupt your opponent’s mana base and delay their ability to play key spells. Utilizing cards such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin to remove Sunken Hollow from the game can be a decisive move. Additionally, leveraging colorless spells that don’t depend on specific mana requirements allows you to build a resilient deck that is less affected by your opponent’s mana setup.

A good strategy can revolve around capitalizing on the early game when Sunken Hollow may enter the battlefield tapped, potentially giving you a tempo advantage. By forcing plays that make your opponent react or by advancing your board presence quickly, you can often navigate around the benefits Sunken Hollow offers.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sunken Hollow MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Battle for Zendikar Promos, 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 Sunken Hollow and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sunken Hollow Magic the Gathering card was released in 22 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 2492015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
22015-10-02Battle for Zendikar PromosPBFZ 249s2015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
32015-10-02Battle for Zendikar PromosPBFZ 249p2015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
42015-10-02Zendikar ExpeditionsEXP 22015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
52015-10-02BFZ Standard SeriesPSS1 2492015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
62019-08-23Commander 2019C19 2782015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
72020-04-17Commander 2020C20 3182015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
82021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 2652015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
92021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 1822015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
102022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 4312015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
112022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 9182015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
122022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 2352015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
132022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 295★2015NormalBlackCalder Moore
142022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2952015NormalBlackCalder Moore
152022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 2041997NormalBlackAdam Paquette
162023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 4282015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
172023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 3352015NormalBlackPavel Kolomeyets
182023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 10382015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
192023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 1682015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
202023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 11132015NormalBlackSean Vo
212023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 5222015NormalBlackSean Vo
222023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 3122015NormalBlackSean Vo
232023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 9032015NormalBlackSean Vo
242023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 3552015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
252024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2992015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
262024-03-08FalloutPIP 10422015NormalBlackDaarken
272024-03-08FalloutPIP 5142015NormalBlackDaarken
282024-03-08FalloutPIP 8242015NormalBlackDaarken
292024-03-08FalloutPIP 2962015NormalBlackDaarken
302024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 3252015NormalBlackAdam Paquette

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sunken Hollow has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-08-25 Even though these lands have basic land types, they are not basic lands because "basic" doesn't appear on their type line. Notably, controlling two or more of them won't allow others to enter the battlefield untapped.
2015-08-25 However, because these cards have basic land types, effects that specify a basic land type without also specifying that the land be basic can affect them. For example, a spell or ability that reads "Destroy target Forest" can target Canopy Vista, while one that reads "Destroy target basic Forest" cannot.
2015-08-25 If one of these lands enters the battlefield at the same time as any number of basic lands, those other lands are not counted when determining if this land enters the battlefield tapped or untapped.