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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Strip Mine
Image from Wizards.com

Strip Mine
- Antiquities

Reviewed May 18, 2015

Constructed: 4.67
Casual: 4.00
Limited: 3.50
Multiplayer: 3.50
Commander [EDH]:  3.67

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale:
1 - Horrible  3 - Average.  5 - Awesome

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Strip Mine
 
Is it odd that the first thing I noticed about this card was that Vintage Masters, an online-only set, nonetheless has the holographic seal on the bottom of the card? I mean, if it's an online-only set, it can't be counterfeited, right? There's probably an official explanation of some sort, but I don't recall seeing it myself!
 
Aside from that, though, this is one of the most infamous cards in Magic for a good reason. As far as I know it's always been restricted in tournament Magic, but it didn't take long for people to discover how powerful it is in multiples (and it was not designed for the possibility of someone owning more than one). I assume at least one person made a 20 Strip Mine, 20 Mishra's Factory deck back in the days of such things, which would undoubtedly be incredibly annoying but probably not quite as powerful as it sounds. 
 
Joking aside, this card is basically restricted (and banned in Legacy) because you can't play around it with basic lands or fetchlands, unlike with Wasteland. It's still an interesting and often-imitated effect, because it illuminates deck design tension between tempo and disruption (ie. should I lose a land to deprive my opponent of his?) that a player might not always consider. Just make sure your playgroup restricts it, or at least has a gentleman's agreement to only target nonsense like Gaea's Cradle.
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2/5
Multiplayer: 2/5
Commander (EDH): 2/5

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Strip Mine which is a land that can tap for one mana or tap to be sacrificed and destroy a target land. This is the original form of land-based land destruction and has inspired several variations with cards like Dust Bowl, Wasteland, Tectonic Edge, Ghost Quarter, and Encroaching Wastes.  This is a direct one for one trade with no mana cost and the only additional payment of counting as a land drop for a turn.  This will always see play in formats it is legal in and it the fact that it is restricted in Vintage and banned in formats like Legacy is the clearest example of how strong and useful it really is.
 
Constructed: 5.0
Casual: 5.0
Limited: 5.0
Multiplayer: 5.0


Armuun

Strip Mine
 
Today's card is pretty cut and dry. Strip Mine is pretty much 
a 1 for 1 in terms of land destruction. Of course, it's banned or restricted in almost any format it would be legal in (I.E. Not modern or standard) because, well, it's incredibly strong against decks running more than one color. Even against mono-color. Want to kill that Gaea's cradle and stall green for more than a few times? Play this and watch your opponent restrain himself from smacking you. To be completely honest, it's just one of those cards that tests friendships. But as we know, there's no friends in magic. :P
 
Constructed: 5
Casual: 4
Limited: 3.5
Multiplayer: 1 (Because everyone may just try to pick you off for playing it)
Commander [EDH]: 5 (against multicolor), 4.5 (Mono)


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