Watery Grave

A versatile and reliable dual land, Watery Grave excels at providing a fixed color source for blue and black mana. With its low mana cost of 0.0, it's an attractive option for ramping up to more expensive spells.

In Commander, Watery Grave is a staple in many Blue-Black (Azorius) and Black-Blue (Dimir) decks. Its ability to add either U or B allows players to maintain a consistent mana curve while exploring various combinations with cards like Snapcaster Mage or Doom Blade.

Watery Grave

This rare land from the Ravnica block enters tapped unless you pay 2 life as it comes into play. It provides flexibility by allowing you to add either blue or black mana when tapped.

Entering the Battlefield

As Watery Grave enters, its ability triggers. You have a choice: pay 2 life and it will enter untapped, or let it enter tapped without paying the cost. If the game is in a critical state and your life total is low, you might choose to tap Watery Grave immediately.

Interaction with Other Cards

Watery Grave can interact with cards that care about land entering tapped or untapped, such as Sylvan Caryatid or Golgari Findbroker. If you play Watery Grave without paying the 2 life cost, its enter-tapped state will be considered for these effects.

Colorless CMC and Taps

Watery Grave's mana value of 0.0 CMC allows you to use it as a colorless source of mana in addition to adding blue or black. This makes it an interesting inclusion in colorless decks, where taps can become crucial.

Commander Considerations

In Commander, the game mode where deckbuilding and strategic decisions are paramount, Watery Grave's life cost may be less significant than its flexible mana generation. In a well-designed deck, the opportunity to add either blue or black is valuable for casting spells.

The flexibility of adding both colors allows you to adapt your strategy depending on the current game state.

Watery Grave is a versatile land that provides dual color fixing for blue and black, making it an attractive addition to various Commander decks. Its ability to add either blue or black mana makes it particularly useful in combination with cards like Ancestral Vision and Dark Ritual, which can accelerate mana development.

In the Azorius colors (WU), Watery Grave can be used alongside Island and Swamp to create a robust manabase, allowing for smooth play into blue-black spells. This is especially true in decks featuring Counterspell and Doom Blade, which benefit from quick access to both colors.

In the Golgari colors (BG), Watery Grave pairs well with Swamp and Liliana's Cataclysm, forming a strong foundation for midrange strategies. Its ability to generate black mana can also synergize with cards like Golgari Findbroker and Dark Confidant. In this context, Watery Grave helps maintain a consistent board presence while enabling the use of powerful spells.

Watery Grave is often included in more aggressive decks, where its dual color fixing enables swift development of blue-black mana. This allows for plays like Vraska's Contempt and Sword of Feast and Famine, which can deal with early threats while setting up a strong board presence.

In the context of Commander, Watery Grave is particularly useful in decks that rely on blue-black synergies or midrange strategies. Its rarity and moderate price point make it an attractive addition to many Commander decks.

Watery Grave is a versatile and valuable land that offers several advanced uses for Commander players. Its ability to add either {U} or {B} makes it an excellent addition to any mono-blue or mono-black deck, providing a consistent source of mana.

One way to maximize Watery Grave's potential is by pairing it with cards like Simian Spirit Guide and Glimpse of Nature, which can provide additional mana acceleration. This allows you to play more expensive spells earlier in the game, putting pressure on your opponents from turn one.

Watery Grave also plays well with cards that benefit from tapping lands, such as Tatyova, Benthic Druid and Liliana's Cauldron. By sacrificing life, you can tap Watery Grave to generate mana, which can be used to fuel these powerful spells.

In more controlling decks, Watery Grave can be used in conjunction with cards like Vraska's Contempt and Abrupt Decay, which can help clear the board of threats while preserving your own creatures. By tapping Watery Grave to generate {B}, you can use Vraska's Contempt to destroy opposing spells while keeping your own under control.

Another advanced strategy involves using Watery Grave in combination with cards like Dreadhorde Arcanist and Sword of the Animist. These spells benefit from having multiple colors available, making Watery Grave an excellent choice for generating {U} or {B} mana. This can help you ramp into your more expensive spells, creating a powerful gameplan.

In deck-building terms, Watery Grave is particularly useful in mono-color and two-color decks that lack access to dual lands like Island and Swamp. Its flexibility allows it to serve as a substitute for these cards, providing a reliable source of mana without taking up valuable space in your deck.

Watery Grave is a versatile land that can add either blue or black mana to your pool, making it a valuable addition to any deck. However, there are some common mistakes players make when playing this card.

Mistiming the life payment

One mistake players often make is paying 2 life too late. The text states "As this land enters, you may pay 2 life," which implies that if you don't pay, it enters tapped. If you wait until your turn to pay the 2 life, you'll be playing a tapped Watery Grave, wasting one of your precious mana sources.

Understanding the tap penalty

Many players forget or overlook the "As this land enters, you may" clause and assume Watery Grave is an untapped land on its own. However, if you don't pay the 2 life, it's worth noting that the land will enter tapped, which can be a drawback in some situations.

Synergy with lands like Evolving Wilds

Players often combine Watery Grave with cards like Evolving Wilds to create a "fetch" effect. While this combination is not inherently wrong, players should be aware that it's more efficient to use Evolving Wilds to find a basic Island or Swamp instead of relying on Watery Grave to add the necessary mana.

Ignoring the format implications

In Commander, players often forget that Watery Grave can be a liability in certain situations. For example, if you're playing against an opponent with many lifelink creatures, paying 2 life every turn can quickly add up and become unsustainable.

In summary, players should carefully consider when to pay the 2 life for Watery Grave, understand the tap penalty that comes with not paying it, and be mindful of its synergy with other lands in their deck.

Watery Grave

• Type: Land
• Mana Cost: \0
• Rarity: Rare
• Set: Ravnica (2005)
• Flavor Text: "The watery graves of Ravnica's undercity hold secrets and dangers, but also opportunities for those who dare to venture in."
• Power/Toughness: None

Card Text:

• ({T}: Add \U or [B].)
• (As this land enters the battlefield, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters the battlefield tapped.)

Rulings:

1. The tap ability can be used at any time, including during the untap step.
2. If Watery Grave is played without paying the 2-life cost, it will enter the battlefield tapped and unable to be tapped until its mana abilities are used.
3. If a player pays the 2-life cost, Watery Grave enters the battlefield with its mana abilities active.

Flavor:

• Watery Grave represents a place where water and death coexist, reflecting the city of Ravnica's unique blend of architecture and nature.

History:

• First printed in Ravnica (2005)
• Reprinted in several sets, including Modern Masters 2017 and Commander Legends

Watery Grave is a versatile land card that can be used to generate life loss or drain, depending on the situation. It's an excellent addition to any deck that requires blue or black mana generation.

Budget-Friendliness:

• Watery Grave is relatively affordable due to its moderate play in Commander formats.
• Players can find it at reasonable prices, making it a good addition to budget-friendly decks.

Similar Options:

• Polluted Delta offers similar functionality as a dual land and is more affordable.
• Marsh Flats and Verdant Catacombs are also cheaper alternatives that can be used in place of Watery Grave.

Watery Grave is a versatile land that provides flexible color fixing and can be used in various Commander decks. Its ability to add either blue or black mana makes it an attractive addition to decks featuring commanders from those colors.

Blue-Black Color Identity

Watery Grave's dual-colored nature makes it an excellent fit for Blue-Black (UB) decks, particularly those focused on control, combo, and removal strategies. Consider pairing it with:

• Commanders like Tatyova, Benthic Druid or Estrid, the Masked, which reward blue and black mana development.
• Creatures like Liliana of the Veil or Jace, the Mind Sculptor, which benefit from additional blue and black mana sources.

Combo Potential

Watery Grave can be used to enable powerful combos in UB decks. For example:

• Use it to accelerate into a Bolas's Citadel combo with Liliana of the Veil or Estrid, the Masked.
• Employ its ability to add blue mana and tap it down to create an Oketra's Monument combo with Sorin, Lord of Innistrad.

Removal and Control

Watery Grave can also be used in removal-heavy UB decks. Pair it with:

• Creatures like Liliana of the Veil or Jace, the Mind Sculptor, which benefit from additional blue and black mana sources.
• Removal spells like Abrupt Decay or [Vraska's Contempt, which can be played more efficiently when Watery Grave is tapped.

Black-Only Decks

Watery Grave can also find a home in Black-only (B) decks, particularly those focused on sacrifice and removal strategies. Consider pairing it with:

• Commanders like Erebos, God of the Dead or Golgari Findbroker, which reward black mana development.
• Creatures like Liliana of the Veil or [Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca, which benefit from additional black mana sources.

Tips and Tricks

When using Watery Grave in your deck:

• Make sure to pay the 2 life when entering, as this will allow you to tap it down immediately.
• Consider including other dual-colored lands like Polluted Delta or [Expedition Map to create a more robust mana base.

Watery Grave is a rare land from the Ravnica block, specifically from the original Ravnica set. This dual-colored land provides black and blue mana, making it an essential part of many midrange and control decks.

In Commander formats, Watery Grave is considered competitive due to its ability to add one mana of either color when tapped. This flexibility makes it a valuable addition to decks that need to generate blue or black mana. In particular, it pairs well with cards like Umezawa's Jitte and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, which benefit from having both colors available.

Watery Grave can be found in various Commander decks, often alongside other lands that provide similar functionality, such as Polluted Delta and Verdant Catacombs. Its price is relatively high, with a USD value of around $18.93 for a non-foil version.

In casual play, Watery Grave's versatility makes it an attractive option for players who want to try out different deck archetypes without investing in a large collection of lands. However, its rarity and higher price point may deter more casual players from including it in their decks.

Overall, Watery Grave is a solid addition to any Commander deck that requires blue or black mana generation. Its impact on gameplay is moderate due to its relatively simple functionality, but its importance lies in providing flexible mana options for midrange and control strategies.

Key Scenarios & Matchups

Watery Grave excels in situations where having a flexible dual-color land is crucial. Consider the following scenarios:

• Mono-blue or mono-black decks: In these decks, Watery Grave can serve as a one-drop mana fixer, allowing for more efficient casting of spells and reducing the need for additional lands.
• Dual-color aggro decks: Decks running aggressive creatures like Dark Confidant or Golgari Findbroker will appreciate having access to both blue and black mana through Watery Grave.
• Control and combo decks: In slower, more strategic formats, Watery Grave provides a consistent source of either-colored mana, enabling the casting of complex spells and combos.

When it comes to matchups, consider the following:

• Against aggressive decks: Watery Grave can help control opponents' aggressive starts by providing an additional color-fixing land.
• Against midrange or control decks: Watery Grave's flexibility in generating either-blue or black mana allows for a more adaptive game plan against these types of decks.
• In multiplayer games: Watery Grave's ability to provide a reliable source of either-colored mana can be particularly valuable, as it enables players to adapt to changing circumstances and play to their opponents' weaknesses.

However, there are also situations where Watery Grave struggles:

• Against mono-color or monored decks: Decks with only one color may struggle with the tap penalty associated with Watery Grave's "pay 2 life" clause.
• In very aggressive or linear deck archetypes: In these cases, the tap penalty and potential for life loss from Watery Grave can hinder a player's ability to keep up with their opponents' rapid development.

Watery Grave, a rare land from the Ravnica block, has had a steady presence in Magic: The Gathering. Its mana-fixing ability, allowing for the addition of either blue or black mana, makes it a versatile addition to any deck.

Print-wise, Watery Grave was first printed in the original Ravnica set in 2005 and has since been reprinted in several sets, including Modern Masters 2017 and Commander Legends. Its relatively low price point makes it accessible to players of various budgets.

In terms of tournament presence, Watery Grave is not typically considered a competitive card outside of casual and multiplayer formats. However, its ability to generate life loss can be beneficial in certain situations, such as in combination with cards like Liliana of the Veil or Sylvan Caryatid.

EDHREC ranks Watery Grave 58th among all lands by popularity, indicating it is still a relatively niche card. Nonetheless, its inclusion in several iconic Commander decks showcases its utility in certain archetypes.

Watery Grave is a haunting reminder of the dark, watery depths that lie beneath the surface of Ravnica's sprawling cityscape. This rare land card is a stark illustration of the dangers and mysteries that lurk in the shadows of this Gothic-inspired metropolis.

As you place Watery Grave onto your battlefield, you're immediately drawn into the eerie atmosphere of its surroundings. The ability to add either blue or black mana when tapped allows for flexibility in color combinations, but it's the secondary effect that truly sets this land apart: as it enters play, you have the option to pay 2 life to avoid having Watery Grave enter the battlefield tapped.

This decision has significant implications, particularly when paired with cards like Mistbind Clique, which benefits greatly from a tapped Watery Grave. By choosing not to pay the 2-life cost, you're essentially creating a 'dead' land that will require additional mana to tap and utilize its abilities – a clever trade-off in exchange for the reduced life total.

Watery Grave's lore is deeply connected to the watery graveyards of Ravnica's undercity. These dark, forgotten places are where the city's inhabitants dispose of their dead, often beneath the murky waters that flow through the city's canals and sewers. The card's design echoes this setting, with its eerie and foreboding atmosphere reflecting the dangers and mysteries that lie within these hidden watery graves.

In terms of building a deck around Watery Grave, consider incorporating cards like Carrion Feeder, which leverages the land's tapped state to create additional life gain or drain. Alternatively, pairing it with more aggressive creatures can create an explosive tempo advantage when the land is tapped and available for use.

In summary, Watery Grave is a versatile land card that offers strategic flexibility while reflecting the dark, mysterious atmosphere of Ravnica's undercity.