Underground River MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 362
1997-03-24 - Number 426
1997-08-13 - Number js426
1998-08-12 - Number bs362
1999-04-21 - Number 330
2001-04-11 - Number 350
2001-04-11 - Number 350★
2001-08-08 - Number ar350
2001-12-01 - Number 41
2002-08-14 - Number cr350
2005-07-29 - Number 326★
2005-07-29 - Number 326
2007-07-13 - Number 362
2016-11-11 - Number 335
2018-06-08 - Number 275
2022-11-18 - Number 300
2022-11-18 - Number 267
2023-06-23 - Number 342
2024-04-19 - Number 338
2024-06-14 - Number 400
2002-06-24 - Number 105876
| Card sets | Released in 21 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
oc T: Add o1 to your mana pool. oc T: Add o U to your mana pool. Underground River deals 1 damage to you. oc T: Add o B to your mana pool. Underground River deals 1 damage to you.
Cards like Underground River
Underground River stands as a versatile land card in Magic: The Gathering, much akin to other dual lands like Darkslick Shores. Both offer access to both blue and black mana, which is crucial for decks that run on a Dimir color scheme. The edge of Underground River lies in its immediate utility, not entering the battlefield tapped, thereby allowing for an instantaneous mana boost. Darkslick Shores, alternatively, enters tapped if you control three or more other lands, potentially disrupting your tempo.
Reflecting on Caves of Koilos, another similar card, it’s easy to see the equivalency in function, providing both white and black mana without entering tapped. Yet, Underground River grants players blue mana instead of white, which might be preferred in control or combo archetypes. And much like Underground River, using Caves of Koilos for colored mana comes at the cost of 1 life, a minor drawback for a significant advantage in deck flexibility.
Ultimately, Underground River exemplifies the balance cards must strike between accessibility and impact within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to provide immediate, flexible mana at the mere expense of life makes it a strategic inclusion in many decks that prioritize a fast and adaptive mana base.
Cards similar to Underground River by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Underground River. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Esper Midrange | Standard | Esper Midrange | Standard Super Qualifier 2024-04-28 |
 | Dimir Vampires | Pioneer | Dimir Vampires | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-29 |
 | UB | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 29, 2024 | |
 | WUB | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 29, 2024 | |
 | Rogues | Pioneer | Rogues | Pioneer League 2024-04-28 |
| Esper Control | Standard | Esper Control | Standard Super Qualifier 2024-04-28 |
 | Dimir Control | Standard | Dimir Control | Standard Challenge 64 2024-04-28 |
 | Dimir Midrange | Standard | Dimir Midrange | Standard Super Qualifier 2024-04-28 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Underground River doesn’t directly influence the number of cards in hand; however, as a land, it offers the key utility of mana fixing without taking up a spell slot in your deck. This indirectly contributes to card advantage by allowing more consistent plays and minimizing the chances of being unable to cast the spells you draw.
Resource Acceleration: This card offers a dual mana source, tapping for both blue and black mana. It can be incredibly valuable for early game plays, helping you to establish a strong board presence by providing the necessary resources to accelerate your game plan.
Instant Speed: While the land itself is not an instant, it supports playing cards at instant speed by providing unwavering access to two types of mana. This ensures that you can keep mana open for crucial instant-speed interactions, thus allowing decisive responses to your opponent’s moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike other lands, Underground River’s option to produce colored mana comes with the detriment of taking 1 damage. This can be a disadvantage in the long run, especially in formats where life totals are essential.
Specific Mana Cost: Underground River provides only blue or black mana which, while flexible within those colors, may not be as versatile for multicolored decks that do not use these specific colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a land, the implicit cost of life loss for mana fixing could be considered high when compared with other lands that don’t have such a drawback or have the ability to come into play untapped without a cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Underground River affords flexibility in mana generation, serving dual-color decks with a need for both blue and black mana. Its ability to tap for colorless or colored mana without entering the battlefield tapped makes it a valuable asset in various situations.
Combo Potential: As a land with the potential to provide two different colors of mana, it can be crucial for setting off combos in decks that rely on color diversity. It’s a staple in enabling casting of spells across multiple colors with less constraint on mana availability.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that demands fast and efficient mana bases, Underground River can be incredibly significant. Its seamless integration into decks without the downside of coming into play tapped makes it a competitive choice for players looking to capitalize on speed and consistency.
How to beat
Underground River is a dual land card that has been an asset for many Magic: The Gathering players, especially in decks necessitating blue and black mana without a significant drawback. Its ability to provide either color of mana at the cost of 1 life renders it a subtle yet powerful component in multicolored deck strategies. However, its strength can be mitigated.
To counteract Underground River, one effective tactic is to use land destruction cards or effects that can specifically target nonbasic lands. By removing the card from the battlefield, you not only deprive your opponent of mana resources but you might also disrupt their strategy, especially if they rely heavily on the dual land for color fixing. Cards with abilities to tax or restrict the utilization of lands can force opponents into tough decisions regarding their life points and mana usage. Moreover, incorporating strategies that capitalize on life point loss, such as leveraging the damage caused by Underground River itself, can turn the tide of the game in your favor.
In essence, challenging Underground River involves being proactive in controlling the field and taking advantage of the incremental losses that a player may overlook as they tap for mana, turning a minor setback into a winning edge.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Underground River MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Underground River 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Underground River Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 6 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 362 | 1993 | Normal | Black | NéNé Thomas | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 426 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jeff Miracola | |
| 3 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | js426 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Jeff Miracola | |
| 4 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | bs362 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | NéNé Thomas | |
| 5 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 330 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jeff Miracola | |
| 6 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 350 | 1997 | Normal | White | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 7 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 350★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 8 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ar350 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 9 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 41 | 1997 | Normal | White | NéNé Thomas | |
| 10 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105876 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | ||
| 11 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | cr350 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 12 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 326★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 13 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 326 | 2003 | Normal | White | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 14 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 362 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 15 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 335 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 16 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 275 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 17 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 300 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Rob Alexander | |
| 18 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 267 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 19 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 342 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Logan Feliciano | |
| 20 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 338 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 21 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 400 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Underground River has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |