Territorial Dispute MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Number | 217 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mike Ploog |
Text of card
Players can't play lands. At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Territorial Dispute unless you sacrifice a land.
Bit by bit, Mercadia City had forced the Cho-Arrim from their ancestral lands. They would be pushed no further.
Cards like Territorial Dispute
Territorial Dispute stands out in the world of land control strategies. It’s akin to cards like Overburden, which impedes players from flooding the battlefield with creatures by forcing a land return to their hand whenever a creature enters the battlefield. Unlike Overburden, Territorial Dispute challenges players by limiting land plays to only one per turn, regardless of creature presence, shifting gameplay dynamics entirely.
Another comparable card is Mana Breach; it too, returns a land to a player’s hand when they cast a spell. However, Territorial Dispute’s continuous pressure of single land play presents a unique obstacle. It also echoes the effects of Winter Orb, which restricts players to only one untapped land per turn but does so through a different method, focusing on the untap phase rather than the play itself. While Winter Orb can be more stifling, Territorial Dispute allows players to tap out and still maintain its land restriction.
Evaluating these cards side by side, Territorial Dispute secures a solid spot among cards that regulate mana resources in MTG. Its consistent and simple rule can dramatically alter the ebb and flow of matches, making it an impactful choice in decks that emphasize land control.
Cards similar to Territorial Dispute by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Territorial Dispute is designed to be a powerhouse in gaining card advantage. By limiting each player to just one land play per turn, the game shifts from its usual pace, emphasizing the importance of each card and land in your hand. If a player has a means to circumvent the one-land rule, they gain a significant edge in card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: In a more subtle way, Territorial Dispute can accelerate your resources by fundamentally altering the pace of land development. When played strategically, this card puts you at an advantage, essentially by slowing your opponents down, thereby acting as acceleration in comparison. With clever deck building, this can transform into an effective resource acceleration strategy.
Instant Speed: While Territorial Dispute doesn’t operate at instant speed, understanding when to deploy this enchantment is critical to maximizing its effect. Timing its play effectively disrupts opponents who might rely on instants or have plans for instant-speed land plays. It’s all about controlling the tempo and making the most out of your lands and spells at the right moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A challenge comes into play when considering Territorial Dispute’s requirement for a strategic discard that can potentially diminish your hand advantage. Navigating this obstacle is crucial for maintaining momentum in the match.
Specific Mana Cost: Territorial Dispute calls for a precise blend of mana to cast, which could hinder deck flexibility. Adapting your mana base to accommodate this could be necessary for integrating the card effectively into your strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a more substantial mana investment needed for Territorial Dispute, players might ponder its opportunity cost. The impact on gameplay has to be evaluated against other options available within the same mana range, ensuring that every card aligns with your winning tactics.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Territorial Dispute can serve as a powerful tool in decks that aim to control the battlefield. Its ability to limit each player to one land play per turn can heavily disrupt opponents’ strategies, especially in formats where land acceleration is key.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with land destruction or denial strategies, enabling you to lock opponents out of the game. Coupled with cards that allow you to bypass its restrictions, it can give you a significant advantage and control the pace of the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where ramp decks are prevalent, Territorial Dispute can be an essential sideboard card. It’s particularly effective against decks that rely on playing multiple lands per turn to outpace the opposition, making it a strategic choice for tournament play.
How to beat Territorial Dispute
Territorial Dispute, a card that can be found in decks across the Magic: The Gathering metagame, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This card primarily affects land control, making it a strategically potent play. To effectively counteract Territorial Dispute, players need to focus on land management and ensure that their own lands can be leveraged effectively given the constraints that Territorial Dispute imposes.
One tactic to overcome this card is to utilize spells and abilities that allow for the ramping of lands without triggering Territorial Dispute’s limitations. This might include relying on artifacts or creatures that let you put lands onto the battlefield. Moreover, including cards in your deck that destroy or return enchantments can directly counteract and eliminate the threat of Territorial Dispute. Keeping a versatile and responsive mana base can also mitigate the card’s impact, making sure you have access to diverse options even under restriction.
In essence, defeating Territorial Dispute requires a good balance of enchantment removal, adaptive land strategies, and forethought in deck building. Overcoming the constraints it presents is a testament to a player’s ability to anticipate and strategically outmaneuver obstacles posed by the metagame landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Territorial Dispute MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Territorial Dispute and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Territorial Dispute has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Territorial Dispute card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Does not stop lands from being put onto the battlefield by a spell or ability. It only stops players from taking the action of playing a land. |