Tunnel MTG Card

Tunnel provides sneaky card advantage by dispatching threats while maintaining hand parity. It enables reactive play at instant speed, crucial for dynamic strategies in MTG. The card stands out for its specific targeting of walls, making it a specialized tool.

Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
1993-08-05 - Number 178

Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
1993-10-04 - Number 179

Unlimited Edition (2ED)
1993-12-01 - Number 179

Tunnel - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
1993-12-10 - Number 179

Collectors' Edition (CED)
1993-12-10 - Number 179

Foreign Black Border (FBB)
1994-04-01 - Number 181

Revised Edition (3ED)
1994-04-01 - Number 181

Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
1994-06-21 - Number 181

Fourth Edition (4ED)
1995-04-01 - Number 227

Tunnel - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
1995-04-01 - Number 227

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 471

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 174

Card sets	Released in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Text of card

Destroys 1 wall. Target wall cannot be regenerated.

Cards like Tunnel

Tunnel is a card that offers strategic defensive utility in Magic: The Gathering. Within the realm of red spells, it finds parallels with other targeted removal options such as Lightning Bolt, yet contrasts in function and usage. Lightning Bolt, known for its versatility, deals 3 damage to any target, allowing players to eliminate creatures or directly reduce an opponent’s life total. Tunnel, however, is specifically designed to take down walls, limiting its scope but excelling within its niche by destroying wall creatures at a low cost.

Another card worth mentioning is Seismic Strike, which deals damage to creatures proportional to the number of Mountains you control. Unlike Tunnel that specifically targets walls, Seismic Strike’s potency scales with your mana base making it viable in a land-heavy red deck. Also in direct comparison is Red Elemental Blast, a sideboard staple that counters or destroys blue spells or blue permanents. While not a direct removal, it’s a potent answer to blue’s threats and strategies.

Ultimately, while Tunnel’s usage is highly situational, its specialization in wall destruction at an efficient cost puts it in a unique position, particularly in formats or metagames where wall defenders are prevalent.

Cards similar to Tunnel by color, type and mana cost

March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The key to outmaneuvering opponents in MTG often lies in card advantage. Tunnel shines by potentially letting you remove an opponent’s card while keeping parity in your hand, subtly tilting the balance of the game to your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Efficient utilization of mana resources is crucial for victory. Tunnel allows you to deal with threats early on without setting back your board development, a form of indirect resource acceleration that keeps you ahead of the pace.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed spells in MTG cannot be overstated. With Tunnel at your disposal, you can react swiftly to emerging threats or adapt your strategy on the fly, all without sacrificing the rhythm of your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tunnel demands that you discard a card, which can be a strategic setback. In situations where your hand size is critical, this requirement may force difficult decisions, potentially discarding a valuable piece of your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Tunnel’s casting cost includes a red mana. This specific color requirement means that it slots primarily into red decks or those with a smooth mana base capable of producing red mana consistently. It may not be a fit for all deck types, particularly those that are color-heavy elsewhere.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana, one of which is specifically red, means that Tunnel can be seen as having a high cost for its effect. This is especially true when compared to other removal options that might offer lower cost, increased flexibility, or additional benefits beyond just the destruction of target Wall.

Reasons to Include Tunnel in Your Collection

Versatility: Tunnel offers flexibility as it can be slotted into various deck archetypes. It is particularly effective in strategies requiring precise control over battles, allowing you to disable blockers and clear the way for crucial attacks.

Combo Potential: This card shines in setups that capitalize on card synergies, such as with creatures that benefit from the removal of potential blockers or decks that exploit land destruction to disrupt the opponent’s mana base.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where controlling the board is critical, Tunnel holds significant value. It provides an answer to walls and other troublesome blockers that can be prevalent depending on the current meta, giving your deck an edge during matches.

How to beat

The Tunnel MTG card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to disrupt creature strategies. Notably, its one-time effect to destroy any target Wall for a single red mana, provides a low-cost solution to what could otherwise be a formidable defensive barrier. It’s an early example of targeted removal, though its specificity to Walls is a significant limitation in the broader aspect of gameplay.

Overcoming the impact of Tunnel depends on a player’s overall deck composition and the ability to anticipate encountering defensive wall strategies. Counterspells and instant speed removal can negate the casting of Tunnel, while choosing creatures other than walls can nullify its unique targeting criteria. Diversifying the threats within a deck minimizes the chances of being critically affected by such a specialized removal card.

Ultimately, Tunnel represents the importance of adaptability and forethought in deck-building. It teaches players the value of preparing for specific answers among opposing strategies and the significance of backup plans when facing narrow, yet potentially impactful, challenges such as the destruction of key defensive creatures by a card like Tunnel.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tunnel MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Tunnel and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Tunnel Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1993-08-05	Limited Edition Alpha	LEA	178	1993	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
2	1993-10-04	Limited Edition Beta	LEB	179	1993	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
3	1993-12-01	Unlimited Edition	2ED	179	1993	Normal	White	Dan Frazier
4	1993-12-10	Intl. Collectors' Edition	CEI	179	1993	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
5	1993-12-10	Collectors' Edition	CED	179	1993	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
6	1994-04-01	Foreign Black Border	FBB	181	1993	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
7	1994-04-01	Revised Edition	3ED	181	1993	Normal	White	Dan Frazier
8	1994-06-21	Summer Magic / Edgar	SUM	181	1993	Normal	White	Dan Frazier
9	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition	4ED	227	1993	Normal	White	Dan Frazier
10	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border	4BB	227	1993	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
11	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	471	1997	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier
12	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	174	2015	Normal	Black	Dan Frazier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tunnel has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal