Subterranean Tremors MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. It offers sweeping board control, removing creatures and potentially artifacts for strategic advantage.
  2. Generates a Lizard token at higher mana levels, enhancing your board presence.
  3. Effective against artifact-heavy or creature-centric metagames, maintaining relevance and versatility.

Text of card

Subterranean Tremors deals X damage to each creature without flying. If X is 4 or more, destroy all artifacts. If X is 8 or more, put an 8/8 red Lizard creature token onto the battlefield.

The market is now closed.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Subterranean Tremors offers a sweeping effect that can deal with multiple creatures at once, giving you a significant edge over your opponents by potentially clearing their side of the battlefield. Additionally, when cast with enough mana, it allows you to destroy artifacts as well, potentially stripping opponents of their key resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Subterranean Tremors is not a card aimed at directly accelerating your resources, its higher mana-cost versions grant you a Lizard token that can become a powerful asset on the board, contributing to your creature presence and potential for board control.

Instant Speed: Although this card operates at sorcery speed, its versatility in handling multiple types of permanents and the potential to shift the game state radically gives you a tactical advantage, as you can strategically choose the right moment to cast it for maximum impact during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Subterranean Tremors demands that you have a significant mana investment before its most impactful effects kick in. Requiring a major portion of your resources in a single turn, it potentially leaves you vulnerable on your opponent’s next move.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell asks for a precise blend of mana, including a heavy reliance on red. This cost can be prohibitive for multicolored decks that may not consistently produce the necessary red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you factor in the mana needed to reach the peak of this card’s potential, particularly to create a 4/4 red Beast creature token, you may find that the initial investment is steep compared to other board wipe options available that can be cast for less and without the attached bonus condition.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Subterranean Tremors offers superb flexibility for deck builders. Not only does it serve as a scalable sweeper, able to clear away pesky small creatures early game, but it can also demolish larger threats and even artifacts when more mana is invested.

Combo Potential: This card shines in conjunction with strategies that seek to break parity. By decimating artifact-based boards while you strategically avoid committing to nonland permanents, you can capitalize on the asymmetry to your advantage.

Meta-Relevance: As a powerful tool when facing artifact-heavy or creature-centric decks, Subterranean Tremors stays relevant in metagames where such strategies dominate. The ability to tailor its impact based on the stage of the game renders it a solid choice for decks seeking to control the board state.


How to beat

Subterranean Tremors is a versatile card that can upend the game’s dynamics, particularly in formats where artifacts are prevalent. To outsmart this spell, players should focus on flexible strategies. Maintaining a diverse board state without overcommitting to artifacts allows for recovery if Subterranean Tremors is played. Enchantment-based control or relying on indestructible creatures can mitigate the damage caused by this potent sweeper. Additionally, employing instant-speed removal or counterspells ensures you can thwart the Tremors before they can reshape the battlefield.

Another effective tactic is to bait the spell out early if you suspect an opponent has it. Present a threatening but expendable board presence, forcing your rival to use the Tremors prematurely, further safeguarding your vital resources. Endurance in the face of such removal is key, so include regeneration or reanimation capabilities in your deck as well. A deck with a strong late-game potential and the ability to operate on limited resources will consistently outlast the destructive capacity of Subterranean Tremors.

Ultimately, beating Subterranean Tremors demands strategic planning and a deck adaptable enough to withstand seismic changes on the battlefield. This creates a thrilling challenge for players who must strike a delicate balance between threat manifestation and prudent resource management.


Cards like Subterranean Tremors

Subterranean Tremors is a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering that presents a unique twist on the classic board wipe. Comparable to Earthquake, Subterranean Tremors can deal damage to each creature without flying, but where it diverges is its ability to destroy artifacts for more mana spent. This puts it in a league similar to Shatterstorm, although the latter lacks the direct creature damage component.

In contrast to Wrath of God or Damnation, which simply clear the battlefield of creatures, Subterranean Tremors offers the added flexibility of artifact removal, albeit in a limited range based on mana input. Additionally, when cast for a high enough mana cost, it even generates an enormous Lizard creature token, an advantage neither Wrath of God nor Damnation can claim.

Subterranean Tremors stands out among red board wipes particularly for its scalability. Cards like Blasphemous Act provide cost-effective creature destruction but don’t offer strategic artifact removal. When examining the various board wipes available to players, Subterranean Tremors reveals itself as a formidable option for those seeking a dynamic response to a cluttered battlefield.

Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Shatterstorm - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Damnation - MTG Card versions
Blasphemous Act - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Shatterstorm - Antiquities (ATQ)
Wrath of God - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Damnation - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Blasphemous Act - Innistrad (ISD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Subterranean Tremors MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Treasure Chest, 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 Subterranean Tremors and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Subterranean Tremors Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Filip Burburan.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 582015normalblackFilip Burburan
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 302015normalblackFilip Burburan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Subterranean Tremors has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

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