Tectonic Edge MTG Card
2010-02-05 - Number 145
2014-11-07 - Number 313
2015-10-02 - Number 44
2019-11-07 - Number 1690
2024-06-14 - Number 384
2002-06-24 - Number 43069
2012-01-01 - Number 3
2020-09-26 - Number C14-313
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , , Sacrifice Tectonic Edge: Destroy target nonbasic land. Activate this ability only if an opponent controls four or more lands.
"We move because the earth does." —Bruse Tarl, Goma Fada nomad
Cards like Tectonic Edge
Tectonic Edge is a potent land card in Magic: The Gathering, offering players strategic land destruction capabilities. It shares similarities with the infamous Ghost Quarter, another land capable of destroying target nonbasic lands. However, Tectonic Edge demands that the opponent possesses at least four lands, presenting a timing constraint unlike the more immediate application of Ghost Quarter.
Field of Ruin is yet another comparable card, requiring both players to search for a basic land as a replacement after destruction. This opens avenues for mana fixing and is less restrictive compared to Tectonic Edge, which doesn’t replace the destroyed land. What makes Tectonic Edge stand out is its ability to selectively disrupt complex mana bases without immediately benefiting the opponent.
Drawing comparisons, we notice Tectonic Edge offers a mix of precision and timeliness. Given the conditions it imposes, it is most optimal when facing decks that heavily rely on nonbasic lands for their strategy. While not as versatile as Ghost Quarter or as benevolent as Field of Ruin, Tectonic Edge makes its mark by being a reliable tool for controlling the pace of the game against land-dependent decks.
Cards similar to Tectonic Edge by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Tectonic Edge. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Death & Taxes | Modern | Death & Taxes | Modern League 2024-03-28 |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Mono-Blue Tron | Modern | Mono-Blue Tron | Modern Challenge 64 2023-12-23 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tectonic Edge enables you to disrupt your opponent’s mana base while potentially stripping them of a key land, which can set them back and indirectly lead to an advantage in the game state.
Resource Acceleration: Although Tectonic Edge itself does not directly accelerate your resources, it is an essential tool in managing the pace of the game, ensuring that your opponents don’t get too far ahead with their lands, especially if they rely on nonbasic lands to execute their strategy.
Instant Speed: One of the strengths of Tectonic Edge lies in its ability to be activated at instant speed. This means you can wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to disrupt their land, without having to commit to the play early on and potentially miss out on more advantageous plays on your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tectonic Edge doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, but its land destruction may force you to choose between maintaining a land-based strategy or disrupting your opponent’s, leading to a potential tactical disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating Tectonic Edge’s ability requires one colorless mana, which is generally accessible but can still be restrictive when you need to leverage your mana pool for other spells or multi-colored strategies within your turn.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost, including both the activation fee and the need for an opponent to control four or more lands, can be high when compared to other land destruction options. There are times when faster or less conditional alternatives would allow for a more aggressive disruption strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tectonic Edge is a land card with an ability to destroy other lands, making it a flexible inclusion in decks looking to manage opposing strategies that rely on crucial nonbasic lands.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with land destruction strategies and can be combined with effects that allow you to reuse or recur it from the graveyard, amplifying its impact on the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where land-based strategies like Tron or multicolor decks are prevalent, Tectonic Edge can be an instrumental sideboard or main deck card to disrupt your opponent’s mana base and slow down their plan.
How to beat
Tectonic Edge is a formidable nonbasic land card in Magic: The Gathering that can disrupt an opponent’s mana base. It has the prowess to dismantle crucial lands, limiting strategies reliant on a vast array of nonbasic lands. To effectively counter Tectonic Edge, it’s wise to balance your land base between basic and nonbasic lands. This lessens the impact of the Edge’s destruction ability.
Additionally, employing cards that can regenerate lands or allow you to fetch lands from your library can help mitigate the effects of Tectonic Edge. Spells like Life from the Loam or Crucible of Worlds provide a recurring advantage, enabling you to return lands from your graveyard to your hand or play them directly from the graveyard respective. Moreover, cards that grant lands indestructible, such as Terra Eternal, or those that can counter land destruction abilities, can serve as strong protective measures.
In summary, Tectonic Edge poses a threat to complex land configurations in the game, but with strategic deck building and the inclusion of cards that can fortify your land base or recover from disruption, players can effectively neutralize this threat and maintain a stable mana flow throughout their matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tectonic Edge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Worldwake, 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 Tectonic Edge 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 Tectonic Edge Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 43069 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | ||
| 2 | 2010-02-05 | Worldwake | WWK | 145 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 3 | Friday Night Magic 2012 | F12 | 3 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | ||
| 4 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 313 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 5 | 2015-10-02 | Zendikar Expeditions | EXP | 44 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 6 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1690 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 7 | The List | PLST | C14-313 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | ||
| 8 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 384 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tectonic Edge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tectonic Edge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-03-01 | Assuming you can activate Tectonic Edge’s second ability, you can target any nonbasic land with it (not just one controlled by an opponent that controls four or more lands). |
| 2010-03-01 | Tectonic Edge’s second ability checks how many lands an opponent controls only at the time you activate the ability. |