Ancient Tomb is a Mythic Rare land that adds two mana of any color when tapped, but deals 2 damage to the player. Its power level is relatively low due to its drawback, making it less appealing for casual play.

In competitive formats like Commander, Ancient Tomb sees some use in Golgari and Azorius strategies, where its ability to generate card advantage can be leveraged with cards like Tarmogoyf or Snapcaster Mage. However, its damage drawback can be a significant liability in these decks.

Ancient Tomb

Mana Cost: Type: Land Oracle Text: {T}: Add {C}{C}. This land deals 2 damage to you.

As a land, Ancient Tomb has no power or toughness. It's primarily used as a mana source and interacts with other cards in the game state.

Activated Ability:

• Tapped ability: When tapped, Ancient Tomb adds two colorless mana to your pool ({C}{C}). This is a simple, non-optional effect that always resolves.
• Trample: The second part of the oracle text states "This land deals 2 damage to you." when it's tapped. This is an optional effect, which means it only happens if Ancient Tomb is tapped as its activated ability.

Interactions:

• Ancient Tomb can be used as a mana source for any spell or ability that costs {C}{C} or less.
• If you have ways to reduce the cost of activating Ancient Tomb (e.g., Goblin Piledriver), you can tap it without dealing 2 damage to yourself.
• In some cases, tapping Ancient Tomb might be beneficial if your life total is already low, as you'll take an additional 2 points of damage anyway.

Edge Cases:

• If the game state changes after Ancient Tomb is tapped (e.g., a Liliana's Favor triggers), the 2 damage to you will still resolve.
• If Ancient Tomb would deal 2 damage to itself instead of you (e.g., due to a Serra's Quincunx effect), that doesn't happen.

Commander-Specific Quirks:

• In Commander games, players often have large life totals. Tapping Ancient Tomb might be less beneficial here, as the 2 damage dealt to you is relatively minor.
• Consider playing Ancient Tomb in decks with cards that benefit from having more mana available, such as Tarmogoyf or Griselbrand.

Strategic Applications of Ancient Tomb

Ancient Tomb is a powerful and versatile land that can be incorporated into various Commander decks, particularly those focused on aggressive strategies or high-tide game plans. Its ability to add two mana, regardless of the color combination, makes it an attractive addition to decks featuring Ancestral Recall, Mystic Remora, or other cards that benefit from early-game ramp.

Aggro Strategies

Aggressive decks often prioritize drawing into their win conditions quickly, and Ancient Tomb's ability to add mana in the early game is a valuable asset. For example, a Kethril, Sun of Oreskos deck can use Ancient Tomb to accelerate its mana development, allowing for faster draws into more powerful creatures.

High-Tide Game Plans

Commander decks that focus on high-tide strategies often aim to flood the board with creatures and spells to overwhelm their opponents. Ancient Tomb's ability to add two mana can help these decks reach their desired level of flood quickly, enabling them to unleash a barrage of Simian Spirit Guide-supported spells or other powerful effects.

Color Identity-specific Strategies

Ancient Tomb is particularly useful in Mono-Blue and Azorius-Control decks, which often rely on drawing into powerful spells quickly. In these colors, Ancient Tomb can be used to accelerate the development of one's mana base, allowing for faster draws into Counterspell or other control effects.

Competitive Builds

In competitive play, Ancient Tomb is often used in high-level Commander decks that focus on aggressive strategies or control. For example, a Mono-Blue deck featuring Ancestral Recall, Mystic Remora, and Simian Spirit Guide can use Ancient Tomb to fuel its game plan.

Casual Builds

In casual play, Ancient Tomb is often used in more experimental or niche decks that focus on aggressive strategies. For example, a Kethril deck featuring Goblin Rabblemaster, Trostani's Summoner, and other creatures can use Ancient Tomb to accelerate its mana development.

In summary, Ancient Tomb is a versatile land that can be incorporated into various Commander decks, particularly those focused on aggressive strategies or high-tide game plans. Its ability to add two mana makes it an attractive addition to decks featuring early-game ramp cards or control effects.

Ancient Tomb is a versatile and iconic land in Magic: The Gathering, particularly well-suited for Commander decks. One of its primary uses is as a mana acceleration tool, allowing players to add two colorless mana on tap.

Ancient Tomb with Liliana of the Veil

One strategy involves pairing Ancient Tomb with Liliana of the Veil. Liliana's ability to sacrifice creatures to draw cards can be augmented by using the mana generated from Ancient Tomb to play more aggressive, smaller creatures. These creatures can then be sacrificed to fuel Liliana's ability, creating a cycle that accelerates both board presence and card advantage.

Interactions with Mox Opal

Another interaction worth noting is the combination of Ancient Tomb with Mox Opal. Since Mox Opal allows players to add one mana of any color to their pool whenever they generate two colorless mana, it complements Ancient Tomb perfectly. This synergy enables players to accelerate their mana development and play more expensive spells earlier in the game.

Strategies Involving Vedalken Archmage

Vedalken Archmage is a card that benefits from the additional mana generated by Ancient Tomb. Vedalken Archmage's ability can be tapped to generate an additional two colorless mana, which can then be used to accelerate further or to play more expensive cards. This interaction demonstrates how Ancient Tomb can serve as a key component in combo decks that rely on rapid mana acceleration.

Considerations for Ad Nauseam

Ad Nauseam is another strategy that benefits from the accelerated mana generation provided by Ancient Tomb. By creating an environment where players can generate large amounts of life and card advantage, Ancient Tomb becomes a crucial part of Ad Nauseam's success. This interaction highlights the land's potential to enable complex strategies in competitive gameplay.

In summary, Ancient Tomb offers several creative opportunities for advanced play, from accelerating mana development with Mox Opal to enabling combo strategies like those seen with Vedalken Archmage or Ad Nauseam.

Ancient Tomb: Common Mistakes and Misplays

In Commander, Ancient Tomb is a highly sought-after land due to its ability to add two mana for a single colorless mana cost. However, players often overlook the potential drawbacks of playing this card.

Timing Issues

• Failing to account for the damage dealt by Ancient Tomb: The card's oracle text states that it deals 2 damage to you as soon as it's tapped. This can be problematic if you're low on life and don't have a way to recover the lost life points.
• Not considering the timing of additional mana: Players often tap Ancient Tomb early in the game, thinking they'll get an immediate advantage from the added mana. However, this can backfire if they don't have a suitable outlet for the extra mana or are tapped out.

Misunderstood Rules

• Confusing Ancient Tomb's ability with other lands: Some players assume that Ancient Tomb allows them to tap it multiple times without paying its mana cost. However, this is not the case – you still need to pay the colorless mana cost each time you want to use its ability.
• Ignoring the damage dealt by Ancient Tomb: The card's damage effect is often overlooked in favor of its mana-generating ability. However, it can be a significant threat if left unchecked.

Poor Synergies

• Pairing Ancient Tomb with too many life-total-focused strategies: While Ancient Tomb does deal 2 damage to you, this can be problematic when paired with strategies that focus on maintaining a high life total. In such cases, the card's benefits are often outweighed by its drawbacks.
• Neglecting to include removal spells or other ways to mitigate the damage dealt by Ancient Tomb: Players may assume that the card's mana-generating ability is sufficient to offset its drawbacks. However, this can lead to a fragile deck that struggles against opponents with removal.

Best Practices

To get the most out of Ancient Tomb in Commander:

• Consider including ways to mitigate or remove the damage dealt by the card.
• Be mindful of your life total and have strategies in place to recover lost life points.
• Use Ancient Tomb's ability judiciously, taking into account your mana curve and available outlets for additional mana.

Ancient Tomb is a mythic rare land from the Lorwyn-Treachery Card Set (LTC) that adds two mana of any color when tapped, dealing 2 damage to you in the process. The foil version of this card comes with a hefty price tag, retailing for around $245.18 USD.

Budget-Friendliness

As a mythic rare, Ancient Tomb is not budget-friendly, especially considering its relatively low utility compared to other lands that can produce multiple colors. In contrast, more affordable options like Tolaria West or Badlands offer similar mana fixing capabilities without the steep price tag.

Commander Considerations

In Commander decks, it's essential to balance the cost of a card with its playability and impact on gameplay. Given Ancient Tomb's high price, players might be better off exploring alternative lands like Polluted Delta or Watery Grave, which provide similar benefits without breaking the bank.

Alternative Options

Some budget-friendly alternatives to Ancient Tomb include:

• Tolaria West
• Badlands
• Polluted Delta
• Watery Grave

These cards offer varying degrees of mana fixing and can help build a more affordable Commander deck.

Deckbuilding Around Ancient Tomb

Ancient Tomb is a mythic rarity land card from the Lorwyn-Tivolli (LTC) set. This card has seen play in various formats and can be built around with specific Commanders, color identities, themes, or engines.

Color Identity

Ancient Tomb's ability to add 2 mana of any color makes it an excellent addition to decks that rely on ramping up their mana output quickly. The following color combinations are particularly well-suited for this card:

• Mono-Color Ramp: Decks focused on ramping into big spells, such as Akiri, Fearless Voyager, can greatly benefit from Ancient Tomb.
• Three-Color Decks: Combos that involve three colors and need a quick way to develop their mana base will find Ancient Tomb invaluable.

Commanders

Some notable commanders that pair well with Ancient Tomb include:

• Gorion, Voice of Atavus: A two-color commander with a high power level, Gorion can take advantage of Ancient Tomb's ability to accelerate its mana development.
• Arnisael, Voice of the Deep: This commander is particularly suited for three-color decks and will appreciate the flexibility that Ancient Tomb provides.

Synergies and Combos

Ancient Tomb has been used in various combo decks, including:

• Ramp Combo: Pairing Ancient Tomb with a card like Mana Confluence can quickly accelerate a deck's mana development, enabling access to big spells.
• Token Generation: Decks that generate tokens on the stack, such as those featuring Ajani, Unyielding Witness, will benefit from the increased mana availability provided by Ancient Tomb.

Some notable synergy cards with Ancient Tomb include:

• Mox Opal: A powerful artifact that accelerates mana development and pairs well with Ancient Tomb.
• Ancestral Recall: This classic card provides an excellent way to accelerate a deck's mana output, particularly when combined with Ancient Tomb.

Notes on Interactions

Keep in mind that Ancient Tomb's drawback of dealing 2 damage to the player is relatively minor compared to its benefits. However, be aware that this can interact negatively with certain cards or effects that trigger on lands being played.

Ancient Tomb is a powerful and versatile land in Commander and other formats. Its unique ability to add two mana of any color, Sol Ring style, makes it an attractive inclusion for decks relying on expensive spells.

Commander

In the Commander format, Ancient Tomb sees play in various strategies that focus on ramping up to big spells quickly. Its primary drawback is its cost: every time a player casts Ancient Tomb and adds two mana, the land itself deals 2 damage to them. This can be mitigated by playing it with Ancestral Vision or other effects that reduce life loss.

Other Formats

Outside of Commander, Ancient Tomb sees some play in formats like Modern and Legacy, where players are looking for ways to accelerate their mana development. However, its value is generally lower compared to more targeted ramp spells like Forsage.

Availability and Pricing

Ancient Tomb's price point is relatively high due to its rarity (mythic) and popularity among Commander players. The foil version can be quite expensive, with a USD foil price of $245.18 as of now.

Rarity and Availability

Given its power level and versatility, it's not surprising that Ancient Tomb has been printed in several sets since its original release in the Lorwyn-Tempting Timeless (LTC) set.

Ancient Tomb is not banned in any format and remains a valuable addition to Commander decks.

Key Scenarios & Matchups

Ancient Tomb excels in situations where it can be played early to ramp up mana quickly and generate a large amount of life gain. This makes it particularly effective in combo decks that rely on explosive starts.

• Combo Decks: Ancient Tomb is a staple in many combo decks, allowing for fast and efficient mana generation. It pairs well with cards like Mox Opal and Lotus Petal, enabling players to accelerate their combo pieces.
• Ramp Strategies: The land's ability to add two colorless mana makes it an excellent choice for ramp strategies, particularly those that utilize cards like Orzhov Basilica and Urza's Power Plant. This combination allows players to generate massive amounts of life gain while also developing a robust board presence.

On the other hand, Ancient Tomb struggles in situations where its drawbacks outweigh its benefits. This includes:

• Control Decks: Ancient Tomb can be problematic for control decks that rely on maintaining a high life total and disrupting opponents' plans. The land's tendency to deal 2 damage to its controller can significantly hinder these strategies.
• Linear Aggro: Ancient Tomb may not provide the necessary value in linear aggro decks, as its primary benefit is mana acceleration, which may not be as impactful in these aggressive archetypes.

In multiplayer games, Ancient Tomb's politics and board presence become even more significant. Players must carefully consider their life total management and make strategic decisions about when to play this card.

• Multiplayer Politics: When playing with multiple opponents, Ancient Tomb can have a profound impact on the game state. Its ability to generate mana quickly and deal 2 damage to its controller creates opportunities for complex multiplayer interactions.
• Board Presence: The land's effect on the board is more pronounced in multiplayer games, where life totals are often lower and every point of damage counts.

Overall, Ancient Tomb excels in combo and ramp strategies, but can struggle in control decks and linear aggro archetypes. Its politics and board presence become even more critical in multiplayer environments.

Ancient Tomb has a storied history, having been first printed in the original Lorwyn (Lor) block back in 2007 as part of the classic set. This mythic rarity land was designed to provide an efficient way to generate mana in the early days of Magic: The Gathering.

Tournament presence: The EDHREC popularity rankings show Ancient Tomb at a respectable 59th place, indicating it is still considered a viable and relevant card in Modern and Commander formats.

Iconic decks: One notable example of Ancient Tomb's inclusion is in the popular deck archetypes such as "Mox Zoo" and "Goblin Anarch" from the early days of Magic. In these decks, Ancient Tomb was often paired with cards like Mox Sapphire and Mox Jet to accelerate mana development.

EDHREC stats: EDHREC ranks Ancient Tomb at 59th place in terms of overall popularity. While this is not a particularly high ranking, it indicates the card still sees play in many decks.

Printings and reprints: In addition to its initial printing in Lorwyn (Lor) back in 2007, Ancient Tomb has seen various reprints throughout Magic: The Gathering's history.

The Ancient Tomb, a relic from a bygone era. This mythic land is said to be the final resting place of an ancient civilization, where powerful mages and sorcerers once wielded dark magic to bend reality to their will. The air is thick with the weight of history, as if the very fabric of time has been worn thin in this forgotten place.

The tomb itself is a labyrinthine complex of crumbling stone and overgrown vegetation, its entrance guarded by ancient statues that seem to watch and wait for unsuspecting travelers. As one ventures deeper into the heart of the tomb, they may stumble upon hidden chambers containing ancient artifacts and forbidden knowledge. Tolarian Academy, with its emphasis on arcane research, would likely view such discoveries as invaluable resources.

Despite its ominous reputation, the Ancient Tomb is not without its allure. For those willing to brave its dangers, the tomb offers a glimpse into the past, where powerful entities once wielded unfathomable power. This land deals 2 damage to you upon play, a constant reminder that this is no place for the faint of heart.

In the world of Dominaria, Ancient Tombs like this one serve as a testament to the civilization's catastrophic downfall, a grim reminder of the cost of hubris and ambition.