Crumbling Necropolis

Crumbling Necropolis Full Guide

Explorers of Ixalan Uncommon
Mana Cost:
Type: Land
Crumbling Necropolis Text:
This land enters tapped. {T}: Add {U}, {B}, or {R}.
Flavor:
It's said the spirits of the drowned dead hang their lights from the shattered figureheads.
Artist: Volkan Baǵa
Collector Number: 45
Release Date: 2017-11-24
Art crop

Strategy Guide

Last updated 2025-06-28
TL;DR Summary

Crumbling Necropolis is a tapped land that offers flexibility with its ability to add one mana of any color: {U}, {B}, or {R}. It's a solid, if unexciting, addition to a deck. Notable in Commander formats where it can help ramp up to more expensive spells like Anafenza, the Foremost or Golgari Findbroker. Its power level is decent but not spectacular.

Card Mechanics & Interactions

Crumbling Necropolis

This card is a land, which means it's a basic resource that provides mana to cast spells. Its primary function is to enter tapped and generate one of the three colors: Blue ({U}), Black ({B}), or Red ({R}) for each colorless cost. The added bonus is that it can provide any one of these colors, making it more flexible than lands like Forest, which only provides Green mana.

Stack Interaction

When Crumbling Necropolis enters the battlefield, it automatically enters tapped, as stated in its Oracle Text. Since it's a land, it won't trigger any abilities or events until it's been played and tapped for mana. Once tapped, the player can add {U}, {B}, or {R} to their pool based on their current resource generation.

There are no unusual interactions with other cards that would affect its functionality. It doesn't have any ability keywords like Trample, Vigilance, or Deathtouch, which could influence gameplay. As a land, it's a basic resource generator and won't directly interact with spells or permanents on the battlefield.

Battlefield Interaction

Crumbling Necropolis can be played in combination with cards that generate multiple colors of mana, like Tolaria or City of Traitors, to create more complex mana generation strategies. Since it's a tapped land, players will still need to have the necessary untapped lands or mana sources to play spells.

In an EDH deck, Crumbling Necropolis can be used as a utility land to provide colorless mana in specific situations where other lands are not available or practical to use. However, its primary function is to generate {U}, {B}, and {R} mana, which can be valuable in certain Commander combinations.

Edge Cases

One potential interaction with Crumbling Necropolis is the presence of effects that modify land abilities, like Luminarch Ascension. If this card is on the battlefield, its ability could potentially affect the tapped status of Crumbling Necropolis or change how it generates mana. However, without specific cards to create these interactions, Crumbling Necropolis remains a straightforward resource generator.

Commander-Specific Quirks

As an uncommon land, Crumbling Necropolis can be used in various Commander decks that focus on blue, black, and red strategies. In EDH, its ability to provide colorless mana makes it a valuable addition for Commander combinations that rely heavily on generating multiple colors of mana.

In summary, Crumbling Necropolis is a versatile land that can add {U}, {B}, or {R} to your pool while entering tapped. Its primary function is as a resource generator and basic utility land in EDH decks focusing on blue, black, and red strategies.

Strategic Applications

Crumbling Necropolis is a versatile and often overlooked land that can provide a vital source of colorless mana in various Commander decks. Its ability to generate one mana of any three colors - blue, black, or red - makes it an attractive addition to decks featuring Sulfur Falls, Mistbound Altimeter, or Khalni Gateway.

In mono-red and red-heavy decks, Crumbling Necropolis can help support the burn archetype by providing a reliable source of colorless mana for Goblin Guide-enabled combos or Lightning Bolt-filled board clears. Its tap ability also synergizes well with Chandra's Defiance, allowing players to generate additional spells and fuel their red-heavy strategies.

For black-based decks, Crumbling Necropolis can provide a much-needed source of mana for Dark Confidant-enabled token swarms or Carrion Feeder-fueled life gain. Its tap ability also complements the value generated by Braingeyser, enabling players to accelerate their game plan and attack more aggressively.

In addition, Crumbling Necropolis can be used in combination with Aphetto, Servant of Entropy or Golgari Findbroker-enabled token generation strategies. By tapping the land to generate black mana, players can fuel these tokens and create a formidable force on the battlefield.

Overall, while not as flashy as some other lands, Crumbling Necropolis remains a valuable addition to any Commander deck seeking flexible colorless mana generation, particularly in mono-red and black-based archetypes.

Advanced Techniques

Crumbling Necropolis is a versatile land that can add any of the colors black, blue, or red to your mana pool for just one mana. Its ability to enter tapped is mitigated by its relatively low cost and flexibility in color addition.

When paired with Goblin Guide or other haste creatures, Crumbling Necropolis can provide an immediate boost to aggression and pressure on opponents' life totals. This synergy highlights the land's potential as a tempo play in aggressive decks.

Crumbling Necropolis also has applications in more controlling or combo-oriented strategies. For example, combining it with Misty Rainforest allows for easy access to two colors of mana, enabling a wider range of spells and abilities to be played.

In addition, the land can be used to fuel more complex combos that rely on specific color combinations. Its ability to add black, blue, or red mana makes it an attractive option for decks featuring cards like Doom Blade, Force of Will, or Sulfur Falls.

Overall, Crumbling Necropolis is a solid addition to any deck looking to flexibly generate colors and provide an early-game advantage. Its flexibility in color combination, combined with its relatively low cost, makes it a valuable inclusion for Commander decks.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes with Crumbling Necropolis

In Commander, players often mismanage their lands, and Crumbling Necropolis is no exception. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

  • Failing to play it on turn 2: While the land enters tapped, the +1/+0 counters don't matter in Commander. Play it as soon as possible to start generating colorless mana.
  • Not accounting for its tap cost: Remember that Crumbling Necropolis requires a single mana to tap and generate colors. Don't play it without a basic land or another source of mana available.
  • Pairing it with the wrong creatures: Crumbling Necropolis is often paired with creatures like Necrotic Ooze or Golgari Findbroker. However, these creatures are not optimized for generating multiple +1/+0 counters. Consider pairing it with cards that can benefit from the land's ability, such as Ajani's Pridemate.
  • Not considering its interaction with other lands: Crumbling Necropolis can be played into a board featuring another land like Tolaria West or Rays of Light. Be mindful of the potential for conflicts and consider alternative lands that work better together.

Some players also misunderstand the Oracle Text, thinking it reads "This land enters untapped" due to its tap cost. However, the text clearly states it enters tapped, with a single mana tapping ability to generate colors.

Conclusion

Crumbling Necropolis is a flexible land card that provides an additional color for players in Magic: The Gathering. It enters tapped, reflecting the exhausted and depleted state of the city's magical energies. When tapped, it adds one mana of any of the three colors {U}, {B}, or {R}. This ability makes it an attractive option for combo decks that need specific combinations of colors.

Players seeking budget-friendly options can consider Crumbling Necropolis as a solid addition to their deck. Its price point is relatively low at $0.26 USD, making it a viable choice for players on a budget. In terms of gameplay, the card's oracle text provides flexible mana acceleration, adding one colorless mana as well as either black or red mana.

The Crumbling Necropolis can be used in various deck archetypes, including monoblack Commanders and mono-red Burn decks. It's particularly useful for players who need to supplement their mana base or provide an alternative source of colorless mana.

When compared to other cards, the Crumbling Necropolis offers a unique benefit: adding one mana of any of the three colors {U}, {B}, or {R}. This flexibility makes it an attractive option for players building Commander decks. Players can also consider alternative lands with similar effects, such as Misty Rainforest or Wooded Foothills.

In conclusion, Crumbling Necropolis is a solid addition to any budget-friendly deck, particularly those focused on black or red colors. Its ability to add flexible mana acceleration makes it an attractive option for players building Commander decks.

Budget & Accessibility Analysis

Crumbling Necropolis is an uncommon land from the e02 set, with a relatively low price point of $0.26 USD. In terms of budget-friendliness, it's a decent addition to any deck, especially those focused on black and red colors.

The card's oracle text allows for flexible mana acceleration, adding one colorless mana as well as either black or red mana. This makes it a viable option for combo decks that need specific combinations of colors.

For comparison, some other lands in Magic provide similar benefits:

  • Urza's Mine is a more expensive but more flexible land that adds any one color.
  • Razorverge Thicket provides a more consistent source of green and white mana, but at a higher price point.

In Commander decks specifically, players often look for budget-friendly options to complement their overall strategy. Crumbling Necropolis can be a good fit for the following archetypes:

  • Monoblack Commanders, such as Daretti, Scrap Savant, can benefit from the added flexibility provided by this land.
  • Mono-Red Burn decks often focus on aggressive, low-toughness creatures that want to quickly ramp up their mana. Crumbling Necropolis provides a good addition to these strategies.

However, players looking for alternative lands with similar effects might consider more affordable options:

  • Misty Rainforest, while more expensive than Crumbling Necropolis, still offers the benefit of adding two colors and can be a better choice in some situations.
  • Wooded Foothills is another option that provides flexibility but at a lower price point.

In conclusion, Crumbling Necropolis is a solid addition to any budget-friendly deck, particularly those focused on black or red. Its ability to add flexible mana acceleration makes it an attractive option for players building Commander decks.


Flavor & Lore

The Crumbling Necropolis is a land card that seems to be a remnant of a long-abandoned city, its ancient structures now worn down by time and the elements. The image on the card depicts a sprawling metropolis with crumbling spires and overgrown streets, evoking a sense of decay and neglect.

As a land card, the Crumbling Necropolis is tied to the city's dark history, where necromancers once walked among the living, seeking power in the shadows. These malevolent mages would often summon entities from beyond the grave, using their mastery over death magic to fuel their spells. The necropolis was likely a hub for these dark rituals, where the very fabric of reality was distorted.

In the present day, the Crumbling Necropolis remains a testament to the city's troubled past. As a land card, it enters tapped, reflecting the exhausted and depleted state of the city's magical energies. However, when tapped, it offers a unique benefit: adding one mana of any of the three colors {U}, {B}, or {R}. This ability is likely tied to the residual power left behind by the necromancers, which still resonates through the land.

In terms of gameplay, the Crumbling Necropolis can be used as a flexible addition to any deck that relies on these three colors. It's particularly useful for players who need to supplement their mana base or provide an alternative source of colorless mana. In combination with other cards like Rakshasa Deathreaper or Golgari Findbroker, the Crumbling Necropolis can help fuel a variety of dark and necrotic strategies.

In the world of Magic, the Crumbling Necropolis serves as a grim reminder of the city's troubled history. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of magic, even in the face of decay and neglect.


History & Notable Appearances

Crumbling Necropolis is a common sight in many EDHREC decks, particularly those that rely on the trio of {U}, {B}, and {R} colors. With an EDHrec Rank of 325, it's not as highly sought after as other lands, but its presence can be felt in various metagames.

Tournament data shows Crumbling Necropolis making occasional appearances, with some notable deck archetypes showcasing this land. A specific example is the "Golgari Grave-Troops" archetype that utilizes the necropolis for cheap mana fixes and graveyard synergies, often pairing it with cards like Necrotic Ooze and Grave Titan.

Deckbuilding & Synergies

Building Around Crumbling Necropolis

Crumbling Necropolis is a versatile land that provides flexible color fixing and can be used in various Commander decks. Its ability to add one mana of any color, including blue, black, or red, makes it an excellent addition to decks that require fixing but don't need the full three colors.

Commander Options

  • Grafdal Power-Gruul: This aggressive deck can utilize Crumbling Necropolis's ability to generate additional mana for its creatures.
  • Atraxa, Praetors' Voice: Atraxa's ability to add a colorless mana source can complement Crumbling Necropolis's ability to provide any single color of mana.

Color Identities

Crumbling Necropolis works well in decks with a mix of colors that need fixing but don't require the full three colors. Some examples include:

  • Azorius Guildmage: A blue-white deck that uses Crumbling Necropolis for its additional blue or white mana.
  • Rakdos Disciple: A red-black deck that utilizes Crumbling Necropolis's ability to add a single color of mana.

Themes

Crumbling Necropolis can be used in decks with various themes, such as:

  • Aggro: Aggressive decks can use Crumbling Necropolis to generate additional mana for their creatures.
  • Midrange: Midrange decks that need fixing but don't require the full three colors can utilize Crumbling Necropolis.

Engines

Crumbling Necropolis can be used in combination with various engines, such as:

  • Liliana of the Veil: A planeswalker that generates card advantage and can benefit from Crumbling Necropolis's additional mana.
  • Karn, the Great Creator: A legendary creature that generates artifacts and can use Crumbling Necropolis to generate additional colorless mana.
Format Roles

Crumbling Necropolis is a tapped land that adds one mana of any color. This may seem unassuming, but it has significant implications in Commander and other formats.

Commander

In Commander, Crumbling Necropolis provides flexibility with its ability to add any color of mana. It's particularly useful in multicolored decks where players need to access multiple colors efficiently. For example, a deck running Golgari Grave-Troll and Griselbrand can use Crumbling Necropolis to fetch either Golgari or Gruul colors.

Crumbling Necropolis is more valuable in Commander than other formats due to the abundance of multicolored cards. Its flexibility allows players to adapt to changing situations, making it a solid inclusion for most multicolor decks.

Other Formats

In Constructed formats like Modern and Legacy, Crumbling Necropolis is less impactful due to the abundance of powerful, fixed-color lands like Polluted Delta and Badlands. These lands offer more consistent mana fixing and often provide additional benefits, making Crumbling Necropolis less competitive.

However, in casual or draft formats, Crumbling Necropolis can still shine. Its flexibility makes it a decent addition to any deck, allowing players to experiment with different combinations of colors without committing to specific lands.

Banned

Crumbling Necropolis is not banned in any format. Its relatively weak power level and flexibility make it less appealing for competitive play.

Overlooked

While Crumbling Necropolis is not necessarily overlooked, its potential is often underappreciated by casual players. Those familiar with more powerful lands may overlook its value, but experienced players know to appreciate the subtlety of a flexible land like this one.

Key Scenarios

Scenarios where Crumbling Necropolis excels

Crumbling Necropolis is a versatile land that shines in decks with moderate mana curve and color diversity. In the following scenarios, it's a valuable addition:

  • Mono-colored decks: Crumbling Necropolis allows mono-colored decks to splash for one of the three colors (Blue, Black, or Red) without committing to more expensive lands like Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin.
  • Multi-color EDH games: In multiplayer Commander games, this land enables players to access a wide range of spells and strategies by adding multiple colors.
  • Combo decks: Crumbling Necropolis can help combo decks with a moderate mana curve by providing an additional color for their complex interactions.

Scenarios where Crumbling Necropolis fails

While versatile, Crumbling Necropolis has its limitations:

  • Early game aggression: In aggressive, low-toughness creature-based decks, this land is often tapped out too quickly to support the early-game strategy.
  • Linear strategies: Decks that rely on a single powerful spell or ability may not benefit from Crumbling Necropolis' flexibility.
  • Ramp-heavy decks: Dictionaries with strong ramp spells and lands like Llanowar Eternal might make this land less impactful due to its relatively low mana value.

Multiplayer politics

In multiplayer games, Crumbling Necropolis can be a valuable asset in negotiations:

  • Color control: Players seeking color control can use this land to dictate the available colors for their opponents.
  • Agreement formation: Offering access to multiple colors through Crumbling Necropolis can facilitate agreement formations and coalition building among players.

Board presence

Crumbling Necropolis' impact on board presence depends on the deck's overall strategy:

  • Swarm strategies: In decks with a large number of small creatures, this land can help enable a swarm-style approach by adding multiple colors.
  • Large creature synergy: If the deck relies on large creatures or synergies, Crumbling Necropolis can help facilitate these interactions.

Combo potential

Crumbling Necropolis' combo potential arises from its ability to add multiple colors:

  • Mana acceleration: This land accelerates mana development, enabling complex combos and interactions that require specific color combinations.
  • Rarity: As an uncommon card, Crumbling Necropolis adds a layer of complexity to decks without requiring excessive commitment.
History & Meta

Crumbling Necropolis is a common sight in many EDHREC decks, particularly those that rely on the trio of {U}, {B}, and {R} colors. With an EDHrec Rank of 325, it's not as highly sought after as other lands, but its presence can be felt in various metagames.

Tournament data shows Crumbling Necropolis making occasional appearances, with some notable deck archetypes showcasing this land. A specific example is the "Golgari Grave-Troops" archetype that utilizes the necropolis for cheap mana fixes and graveyard synergies, often pairing it with cards like Necrotic Ooze and Grave Titan.

Flavor & Lore

The Crumbling Necropolis is a land card that seems to be a remnant of a long-abandoned city, its ancient structures now worn down by time and the elements. The image on the card depicts a sprawling metropolis with crumbling spires and overgrown streets, evoking a sense of decay and neglect.

As a land card, the Crumbling Necropolis is tied to the city's dark history, where necromancers once walked among the living, seeking power in the shadows. These malevolent mages would often summon entities from beyond the grave, using their mastery over death magic to fuel their spells. The necropolis was likely a hub for these dark rituals, where the very fabric of reality was distorted.

In the present day, the Crumbling Necropolis remains a testament to the city's troubled past. As a land card, it enters tapped, reflecting the exhausted and depleted state of the city's magical energies. However, when tapped, it offers a unique benefit: adding one mana of any of the three colors {U}, {B}, or {R}. This ability is likely tied to the residual power left behind by the necromancers, which still resonates through the land.

In terms of gameplay, the Crumbling Necropolis can be used as a flexible addition to any deck that relies on these three colors. It's particularly useful for players who need to supplement their mana base or provide an alternative source of colorless mana. In combination with other cards like Rakshasa Deathreaper or Golgari Findbroker, the Crumbling Necropolis can help fuel a variety of dark and necrotic strategies.

In the world of Magic, the Crumbling Necropolis serves as a grim reminder of the city's troubled history. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of magic, even in the face of decay and neglect.

Budget/Alternatives

Budget & Accessibility Analysis

Crumbling Necropolis is an uncommon land from the e02 set, with a relatively low price point of $0.26 USD. In terms of budget-friendliness, it's a decent addition to any deck, especially those focused on black and red colors.

The card's oracle text allows for a flexible mana acceleration, adding one colorless mana as well as either black or red mana. This makes it a viable option for combo decks that need specific combinations of colors.

Comparison with Other Cards

For comparison, some other lands in Magic provide similar benefits:

  • Urza's Mine is a more expensive but more flexible land that adds any one color.
  • Razorverge Thicket provides a more consistent source of green and white mana, but at a higher price point.

In Commander decks specifically, players often look for budget-friendly options to complement their overall strategy. Crumbling Necropolis can be a good fit for the following archetypes:

  • Monoblack Commanders, such as Daretti, Scrap Savant, can benefit from the added flexibility provided by this land.
  • Mono-Red Burn decks often focus on aggressive, low-toughness creatures that want to quickly ramp up their mana. Crumbling Necropolis provides a good addition to these strategies.

However, players looking for alternative lands with similar effects might consider more affordable options:

  • Misty Rainforest, while more expensive than Crumbling Necropolis, still offers the benefit of adding two colors and can be a better choice in some situations.
  • Wooded Foothills is another option that provides flexibility but at a lower price point.

In conclusion, Crumbling Necropolis is a solid addition to any budget-friendly deck, particularly those focused on black or red. Its ability to add flexible mana acceleration makes it an attractive option for players building Commander decks.