Murk Dwellers MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Murk Dwellers trades well with creatures, persisting beyond single removals for ongoing board presence.
  2. Its low casting cost and lack of direct resource acceleration can influence early to mid-game plays.
  3. Surprising late-game blocker abilities at sorcery speed disrupt opponents’ combat strategies effectively.

Text of card

When attacking, Murk Dwellers gain +2/+0 if not blocked.

When Raganorn unsealed the catacombs, he found more than the dead and their treasures.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Murk Dwellers may not inherently grant card advantage in the traditional sense, such as drawing cards. However, under the right conditions, this card can repeatedly trade with opponents’ creatures and remain a persistent threat on the board, effectively outlasting singular removal spells.

Resource Acceleration: While Murk Dwellers doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration like mana ramp or treasure creation, its relatively low casting cost makes it accessible in the early to mid-game, allowing players to conserve resources for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: Notably, Murk Dwellers operates at sorcery speed. However, its ability to be a surprise blocker during the late game, especially after a regeneration effect, can be pivotal during crucial combat phases, potentially disrupting an opponent’s strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Murk Dwellers demands a discard from your hand to activate its potential pump effect. This can be a tough pill to swallow in a game where hand advantage often equates to winning.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s casting cost requires a precise combination of three black mana, making it less flexible and harder to cast outside mono-black decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana in total, there are alternative creatures that bring more to the table for a similar, if not lower, investment.


Reasons to Include Murk Dwellers in Your Collection

Versatility: Murk Dwellers boasts a flexible nature that allows it to slip into various black-themed decks. Its innate ability to get stronger when a spell is cast on it makes it a versatile piece in strategies built around instant and sorcery spells.

Combo Potential: This card offers a unique synergy with spells that target creatures. Strategically use inexpensive spells to buff Murk Dwellers in the middle of combat or to edge out an opponent’s creatures, maximizing your combo payoffs.

Meta-Relevance: In a game rich with creature-based tactics, Murk Dwellers can stand as a solid line of defense. Its potential buff during your turn makes it a relevant choice in a meta where strategically timing your plays can swing the game in your favor.


How to beat

Murk Dwellers might not be the most renowned creature in the vast universe of Magic the Gathering, but underestimating these swamp residents could lead to your downfall in a game. This card may appear straightforward, with its 2/2 body that gets a temporary boost during combat on your opponent’s turn, but it can surprise an unwary player. If you’re looking to neutralize the threat of Murk Dwellers, there are several strategies you can employ.

First and foremost, keeping your removal spells handy for when your opponent enters the combat phase can ensure that the Murk Dwellers don’t get a chance to leverage their attack bonus. Additionally, implementing creatures with reach or flying provides you a defensive edge, keeping you out of reach from their swampy grasp. Enchantments that pacify or otherwise prevent creatures from attacking can also be effective. Lastly, taking control of the board early on is key; a deck that can establish dominance before Murk Dwellers hits the field means you can dictate the pace and flow, making it harder for your opponent to execute their strategy.

With these tips in mind, Murk Dwellers become less intimidating, allowing you to maintain control and lead your deck to victory.


Cards like Murk Dwellers

Murk Dwellers from Magic: The Gathering weaves into the roster of creature cards designed to work in the shadows, reminiscent of fearsome nocturnal threats. When diving into the pool of creatures with synergistic effects in swamps or during your opponent’s turn, one may find Leaden Myr—a modest but reliable mana dork that gains additional value in swamp-heavy decks.

Similarly, the Veilborn Ghoul holds a kinship to Murk Dwellers, thriving in an environment rich with swamps, harnessing the power of the land to continuously return to the battlefield. Each of these cards bears its pros and cons, with Murk Dwellers offering a significant boost in power during your opponent’s turns, putting pressure on them to play around your untapped mana. While Leaden Myr doesn’t grow in strength, it provides acceleration for your deck, and Veilborn Ghoul offers tenacious board presence at the cost of swamps in your hand.

To conclude, while Murk Dwellers might not be the brightest star in the array of swamp-influenced creatures, it surely adds a layer of strategic depth, especially in formats where your opponents’ turn may offer ripe opportunities for combat tricks and power plays.

Leaden Myr - MTG Card versions
Veilborn Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Leaden Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Veilborn Ghoul - Magic 2013 (M13)

Cards similar to Murk Dwellers by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
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Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
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Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Murk Dwellers MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Murk Dwellers and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Murk Dwellers Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 1997-03-24. Illustrated by Drew Tucker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-08-01The DarkDRK 491993normalblackDrew Tucker
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1481993normalblackDrew Tucker
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1481993normalwhiteDrew Tucker
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 621993normalblackDrew Tucker
51996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 201993normalwhiteDrew Tucker
61996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 211993normalwhiteDrew Tucker
71997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1801997normalwhiteDrew Tucker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Murk Dwellers has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.

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