Watery Grave MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 286
2013-02-01 - Number 249
2015-10-02 - Number 7
2018-10-05 - Number 259p
2018-10-05 - Number 259
2022-10-07 - Number 278
2022-10-07 - Number 529
2024-01-12 - Number 301
2024-01-12 - Number 415
2024-01-12 - Number 415z
2024-01-12 - Number 291
2024-02-23 - Number 283
2002-06-24 - Number 72299
2019-12-02 - Number 124
| Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land — Island Swamp |
Text of card
(: Add or to your mana pool.) As Watery Grave comes into play, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, Watery Grave comes into play tapped instead.
Cards like Watery Grave
Watery Grave stands as a pivotal piece in the landscape of land cards in MTG, drawing parallels to other shock lands like Breeding Pool and Blood Crypt. These lands provide the versatility of choosing between coming into play tapped without harm or untapped for an immediate strategic advantage at the cost of 2 life. This choice mirrors the flexibility that Watery Grave offers, catering to decks that require mana stability and speed. However, each of these lands supports different color combinations, making Watery Grave a preferred fit for blue-black-focused strategies.
Likewise, cards such as Hallowed Fountain also follow the same life-for-mana trade-off, which is a staple in multicolored decks that hinge on tempo and color fixing. Though tied to the white-blue palette, it serves a similar purpose by offering dual mana access. Comparatively, Watery Grave is uniquely suited for dimir-schemed decks where control and manipulation reign.
Ultimately, Watery Grave is a testament to its utility in MTG, seamlessly integrating into decks that demand a delicate balance of life preservation and proactive play, which is emblematic of its dual land category.
Cards similar to Watery Grave by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Watery Grave. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dimir Death's Shadow | Modern | Death's Shadow | Modern League 2024-04-25 |
 | Death's Shadow | Legacy | Death's Shadow | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-24 |
 | Esper Control | Modern | Esper Control | Modern Preliminary 2024-04-24 (1) |
 | Niv to Light | Pioneer | Niv to Light | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-23 (1) |
| Grixis Scam | Modern | Grixis Scam | Modern Preliminary 2024-04-24 (1) |
 | Grixis Control | Modern | Grixis Control | Modern Challenge 32 2024-04-23 |
 | Rogues | Pioneer | Rogues | Pioneer League 2024-04-23 |
 | Esper Scam | Modern | Esper Scam | Modern Preliminary 2024-04-24 |
 | Esper Reanimator | Modern | Esper Reanimator | Modern League 2024-04-24 |
 | Domain Zoo | Modern | Domain Zoo | Modern League 2024-04-24 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Utilizing Watery Grave in your deck doesn’t just contribute to your mana base—it ensures you stay on par with your deck’s strategy by not losing card tempo. Since it can be searched with fetch lands or any land search spell that specifies ‘Swamp’ or ‘Island,’ it can effectively thin your deck, subtly increasing the chances of drawing into non-land cards you need to outmaneuver your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: As a land that taps for both blue and black mana, Watery Grave provides exceptional resource acceleration. This dual nature facilitates a smoother and more flexible game, allowing multicolor decks to run more efficiently and casting pivotal spells a turn earlier can sometimes sway the game. Access to two colors of mana from a single land makes it a powerful asset in any deck that includes its colors.
Instant Speed: Watery Grave has the basic land types Island and Swamp, enabling it to be brought into play untapped at instant speed using various effects like those of fetch lands. This invaluable trait allows players to keep mana open for crucial interactions or surprise plays, thus effectively utilizing the land drop for the turn during an opponent’s end step, thereby not sacrificing the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Watery Grave offers good utility, it comes with the potential downside of requiring a card discard. When you play Watery Grave untapped, you’ll be sacrificing two life, a form of card disadvantage in terms of health points which can be costly in the early game when resource preservation is key.
Specific Mana Cost: The card taps for either blue or black mana, which makes it a perfect fit for decks that operate within those colors. However, this specific mana cost can be restrictive as it doesn’t cater to multicolor decks that do not include blue or black, thereby limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In scenarios where you need to play Watery Grave untapped to keep up the tempo, the two life may seem steep compared to other lands that enter the battlefield untapped without such a cost. There are lands with life gain or other beneficial effects that provide an immediate advantage without the life penalty, which may warrant consideration over Watery Grave in some deck builds.
Reasons to Include Watery Grave in Your Collection
Versatility: Watery Grave is not just a land card — it’s a staple in decks that run blue and black mana. Its ability to come into play untapped by paying 2 life makes it a flexible choice for setting up your plays without losing tempo.
Combo Potential: This card is essential for enabling combinations in various archetypes, including reanimator or control decks. It provides immediate access to two core colors needed for pivotal spells.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where the mana base can mean the difference between victory and defeat, Watery Grave holds a firm place across multiple formats. Its presence can strongly influence the dynamics of gameplay, making it a reliable component in competitive scenes.
How to beat
Watery Grave is a staple land in many MTG decks, revered for its ability to tap for both blue and black mana without requiring any prerequisites. Its versatility is a compelling advantage, especially in an environment where mana fixing is crucial. Nonetheless, despite its benefits, it does come with the significant downside of entering the battlefield tapped unless you pay 2 life. This presents an opportunity for opposing players to capitalize on the momentary slow down in gameplay.
One way to counter Watery Grave is by employing land destruction or land manipulation strategies. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can forcibly replace it, interrupting your opponent’s mana base and setting back their development. Alternatively, aggressive decks can take advantage of the life loss incurred from Watery Grave to accelerate their damage output, turning the opponent’s mana efficiency into a liability. While Watery Grave is undoubtedly powerful, it’s not without its weaknesses that can be exploited through tactical planning and a well-constructed deck.
Being aware of these strategies can be the key to outmaneuvering decks that lean heavily on this dual land, ensuring your gameplay remains one step ahead. By using the right tools and tactics at the opportune moment, you can turn Watery Grave from a formidable asset into a manageable obstacle.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Watery Grave MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Watery Grave 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
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Printings
The Watery Grave Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 8 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 72299 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | ||
| 2 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 286 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 3 | 2013-02-01 | Gatecrash | GTC | 249 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 4 | 2015-10-02 | Zendikar Expeditions | EXP | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Min Yum | |
| 5 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica Promos | PGRN | 259p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs | |
| 6 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 259 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs | |
| 7 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 124 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | ||
| 8 | 2022-10-07 | Unfinity | UNF | 278 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Chris Ostrowski | |
| 9 | 2022-10-07 | Unfinity | UNF | 529 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Chris Ostrowski | |
| 10 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 301 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 11 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 415 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 12 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 415z | 2015 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 13 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 291 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 14 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 283 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Alexander Forssberg |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Watery Grave has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Watery Grave card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-10-05 | If an effect puts this land onto the battlefield tapped, you may pay 2 life, but it still enters tapped. |
| 2018-10-05 | Unlike most dual lands, this land has two basic land types. It's not basic, so cards such as District Guide can't find it, but it does have the appropriate land types for effects such as that of Drowned Catacomb (from the Ixalan set). |