Sunscorched Desert MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 249
2020-08-13 - Number 331
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land — Desert |
Text of card
When Sunscorched Desert enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to target player. : Add to your mana pool.
The only relief in sight is a mirage.
Cards like Sunscorched Desert
Sunscorched Desert is a distinctive land card within the pool of deserts in Magic: The Gathering. It closely resembles cards such as Ramunap Ruins, which also originates from the desert landscape. What sets Sunscorched Desert apart is its immediate impact, dealing one damage to any target as it enters the battlefield. While Ramunap Ruins requires some setup and mana investment to deal damage, Sunscorched Desert does so without such demands.
In the same habitat, we encounter Painted Bluffs, another land card which can generate any color of mana for a slight cost. Though it doesn’t deal direct damage, its mana fixing ability is invaluable for multicolored decks. On another spectrum, there’s Hostile Desert, a land card that can turn itself into a creature as a form of surprise defense or offense, yet it lacks the auto-ping ability Sunscorched Desert offers upon entry.
Breaking down the functionality, Sunscorched Desert holds its own for players looking to sneak in damage without expending precious spells or attacks. Its place in MTG is solid for strategies that hinge on incremental life point decreases and as a useful piece within land card synergies.
Cards similar to Sunscorched Desert by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Sunscorched Desert. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Calibrated Blast | Modern | Calibrated Blast | Modern League 2023-12-12 (1) |
 | Mono-Red Aggro | Pioneer | Mono-Red Aggro | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-01-14 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sunscorched Desert may not directly allow players to draw additional cards, but its ability to deal damage upon entering the battlefield provides a subtle form of card advantage. It can effectively remove small creatures or chip away at an opponent’s life total without costing you an extra card.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly generate additional mana, it effectively serves as a land card with a bonus effect. This means it can be included in a deck without sacrificing the essential development of your mana base, subtly accelerating your resources by providing both mana and an additional effect in one package.
Instant Speed: Although Sunscorched Desert’s ability is not at instant speed, its damage is dealt as a triggered ability when it comes into play. This makes it uncounterable through traditional counterspells that target instants and sorceries, and it can be a surprise play when combined with land-fetching effects during an opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Sunscorched Desert doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it may force players to choose between maintaining a consistent mana base or playing utility lands, which can lead to tough decisions regarding hand composition.
Specific Mana Cost: Sunscorched Desert provides colorless mana, which is not immediately conducive to meeting colored mana requirements. This can potentially hinder the casting of spells with specific color demands early in the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Sunscorched Desert enters the battlefield untapped and can be tapped for mana, it does not tap for a specific color, which might be less efficient compared to lands that tap for colored mana, considering its primary function is to deal one damage to a player once when it enters the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Sunscorched Desert in Your Collection
Versatility: Sunscorched Desert offers added value being a land card that can seamlessly fit into a variety of decks without taking up valuable spell slots. Its ability to deal damage upon entering the battlefield makes it a subtle, yet impactful tool in games.
Combo Potential: This land’s direct damage effect can be combined with cards that allow you to bounce or replay lands, resulting in recurring damage. It’s an excellent piece in a puzzle aiming to whittle down an opponent’s life total methodically.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where every point of damage counts, Sunscorched Desert can be the difference-maker. Especially in formats like Pioneer or Modern, where games can hinge on tight resource margins, that extra damage can secure critical victories.
How to beat Sunscorched Desert
Sunscorched Desert is a unique land card in Magic: The Gathering that can be a thorn in the side of many players. This card distinguishes itself by dealing damage to a player or planeswalker when it enters the battlefield, a trait not commonly found in land cards. However, overcoming the challenge it poses is not insurmountable. One approach to mitigate its impact is by using land destruction or bounce spells, effectively negating the damage dealt. Cards such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can remove Sunscorched Desert from the battlefield, nullifying its ability to cause incremental damage over time.
Life gain strategies can also provide a buffer against the damage. Implementing cards that allow you to gain life on a consistent basis can help offset the incremental damage Sunscorched Desert is capable of inflicting. Additionally, it’s crucial to maintain a robust life total when facing decks that utilize this card as a means to whittle down an opponent’s health. By staying ahead in life points, the desert’s damage becomes a minor inconvenience rather than a game-ending threat.
Ultimately, while Sunscorched Desert can be an irritant, it’s seldom game-deciding on its own. With the right strategies and responses, players can easily adapt and lessen its impact, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt the flow of the game or lead to unexpected losses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sunscorched Desert MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Sunscorched Desert and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Sunscorched Desert Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Min Yum.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 249 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Min Yum | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 331 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Min Yum |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sunscorched Desert has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sunscorched Desert card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-18 | Desert is a land subtype with no special meaning. It doesn’t grant the land an intrinsic mana ability. Other cards may care about which lands are Deserts. |