Urborg MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 310
2009-09-07 - Number 214
2023-06-23 - Number 519
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Land |
Text of card
oc T: Add o B to your mana pool oc T: Remove first strike ability or swampwalk ability from target creature until end of turn.
"Resignedly beneath the sky/The melancholy waters lie./So blend the turrets and shadows there/That all seem pendulous in air,/While from a proud tower in town/Death looks gigantically down." —Edgar Allan Poe, "The City in the Sea"
Cards like Urborg
Exploring the depths of powerful yet specialized lands in Magic the Gathering, Urborg stands out amongst its category. By directly comparing it to other land cards, we notice similarities yet distinct advantages that Urborg offers. A card like Cabal Coffers, for instance, has the ability to generate a significant amount of black mana, especially when paired with Urborg which turns all lands into Swamps in addition to their other types. This synergy ramps up your mana pool exponentially and opens up strategies dependent on heavy mana resources.
Then we take a look at other influential lands like Crypt of Agadeem which also thrives on the graveyard mechanic, yet it requires a build-up to become impactful, while Urborg offers an immediate universal effect on lands without the need for such set up. Furthermore, for black mana-focused decks, Lake of the Dead can offer a massive mana boost, albeit at a steeper cost compared to the passively beneficial Urborg.
Considering the ability to enhance mana availability and to enable high mana-demanding cards, Urborg holds a special place. It’s the bread and butter in black-centric or multi-color decks craving for a reliable mana base, proving its unique supremacy in the land card group.
Cards similar to Urborg by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Urborg is an iconic land that can turn any land you control into a Swamp in addition to its other types. This unique ability can synergize with cards and strategies that benefit from having many Swamps, indirectly translating to card advantage as it enhances the utility of each land you draw.
Resource Acceleration: This transformational power of Urborg also serves as a form of resource acceleration. By ensuring that all your lands can produce black mana, it enables smoother mana curves and allows you to play high-cost spells sooner than you might otherwise be able to, particularly in multicolor decks that require heavy black mana investment.
Instant Speed: While Urborg itself does not operate at instant speed, it allows for greater flexibility with your other instant speed spells. Knowing that you can rely on any land to produce black mana means keeping options open for that crucial removal or counterspell when you need it most, without having to worry about having the right lands untapped.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Urborg is that some variations might make you discard a card in order to harness certain abilities. This can be particularly problematic if you’re already facing a hand-size pressure or aiming to maintain card advantage in a tight match.
Specific Mana Cost: Urborg often comes with a cost that is heavily skewed towards black mana. This makes it less flexible for multicolored decks that may not have the required mana base to consistently use Urborg’s abilities to their full potential.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Urborg offers powerful land-related effects, its mana cost can be on the higher end when compared to other land cards or mana-fixing options in MTG. This can slow down your game, especially in the early stages where setting up a strong mana base is crucial for success.
Reasons to Include Urborg in Your Collection
Versatility: Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is a unique land card that can seamlessly fit into a variety of decks. Its ability to turn all lands into Swamps, without replacing their other types, means it can aid in both color fixing and mana ramp, providing essential versatility to your land base.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with cards that benefit from having an abundance of Swamps on the field, such as Cabal Coffers for massive mana generation or Dread Presence for continuous card draw and life-draining effects.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where non-basic lands are prevalent, Urborg can disrupt opponents’ strategies while bolstering your own. Its relevance is not only limited to enabling your plays but also in acting as a subtle form of control over the battlefield.
How to beat
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is a unique land card that has the powerful ability to turn all lands on the battlefield into Swamps in addition to their other types. This can be advantageous for decks that rely heavily on black mana or cards that benefit from the presence of Swamps. Nevertheless, there are several strategies players can employ to counteract the implications of an opponent’s Urborg.
One effective method is to use land destruction cards to take Urborg off the battlefield, disrupting your opponent’s mana base and strategy. You can also utilize enchantment removal cards to disable any benefits your opponent might be deriving from Urborg being in play, such as with Cabal Coffers. It’s also worth noting that because Urborg turns all lands into Swamps, including your own, you can potentially utilize this to your advantage with spells that target Swamps or require Swampwalk.
To sum up, while Urborg presents a unique challenge, it can be tactically outmaneuvered by prepared players. By including strategic land or enchantment removal in your deck and remaining adaptable, you can mitigate the advantages Urborg provides to your opponent and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Urborg MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition III, 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 Urborg 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
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Printings
The Urborg Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 310 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Bryon Wackwitz | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 214 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Bryon Wackwitz | |
| 3 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 519 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Urborg has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Urborg 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 | The ability can be used on a creature without First Strike or Swampwalk but has no effect. |
| 2008-04-01 | If a creature loses first strike after first strike combat damage has been assigned, it won’t deal damage during the second combat damage step. |
| 2009-10-01 | Causing a creature to lose swampwalk is useful only during the declare attackers step or earlier. Once the declare blockers step begins, it’s too late to block the creature. |
| 2009-10-01 | Urborg’s second ability affects only the first strike ability, not the part of the double strike ability that acts like first strike. |
| 2009-10-01 | You choose whether the targeted creature loses first strike or swampwalk as the ability resolves. If the creature has both abilities, it will lose just one of them. |