Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth Inclusion Rate and Win Probability in Commander

In TCG ·

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth card art (Masters Edition III)

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Unlocking the Power of Urborg: Inclusion Rates and Commander Win Odds

In the sprawling, swamp-hued world of Commander, every card that quietly stabilizes your game plan earns its keep. Urborg, a legendary land first seen in Masters Edition III, is one of those understated powerhouses. With a simple, twofold identity—

  • Tap: Add {B}
  • Tap: Target creature loses first strike or swampwalk until end of turn

that pair of abilities changes how you think about mana and tempo in multislot multiplayer. It isn’t flashy like a game-ending finisher, but it acts as a steady drumbeat in the background, carving out space for your longer-term plan 🧙‍♂️🔥. The card’s black mana production is the obvious hook for black-heavy or multi-color decks, and the situational ability to blunt a dangerous foe’s first strike or swampwalk can swing a stalled board in a single flip of the mana switch ⚔️.

Mana gravity and deck-building discipline

In a Commander deck, you’re juggling a 100-card sandbox where consistency is king. Urborg’s practical value comes from two veins: reliability and disruption. For mana reliability, Urborg’s single-tap B is a lifeline when your mana base is heavy on fetches, signets, or shock lands that may falter on turns two or three. The card’s presence expands your round-by-round options, letting you cast slower-black haymakers or inexpensive removal without fearing a mana drought 🧙‍♂️. For disruption, that second line—tapping Urborg to remove swampwalk from a troublesome aerial or swamp-loving threat—can flatten an opposing plan that was already conditioned to ride the terrain of your opponents’ defenses 🔥.

For inclusion rate, think of Urborg as a piece of mana acceleration that also provides a tactical defensive tool. In a 100-card deck, one copy is a baseline; two copies would blur the lines between mana fix and secondary effect—though in most printed Commander formats, you’re limited to one copy of a non-basic land in many casual groups. The real value emerges from synergies with other black staples—cards that want to drink deeply from a stable mana pool or that punish players who overextend into the late game. That’s where the odds start to tilt: Urborg nudges the deck toward more efficient turns, empowering big spells like forceful finishers, reanimator engines, or attrition-driven game plans 🧬💎.

“Resignedly beneath the sky/The melancholy waters lie./So blend the turrets and shadows there/That all seem pendulous in air, /While from a proud tower in town/Death looks gigantically down.” —Edgar Allan Poe, The City in the Sea

Flavor aside, the text of Urborg echoes a core truth in Commander: the board state is a living, breathing thing, and the ability to generate B on demand while poking at threats can be the line between a stumble and a win. The land’s uncommon status in Masters Edition III also reminds us of the collectible edge—this version sits in a niche where nostalgia and value intersect, especially for players who enjoy the historical arc of MTG’s land cycle 📜🎨.

Strategic tips: how to maximize the inclusion rate effect

Here are practical guidelines to get the most out of Urborg in your Commander table 🧙‍♂️:

  • Pair with black ramp: If your deck already leans into black mana acceleration, Urborg helps smooth the curve. Cards like Cabal Coffers, Dark Rituals, or Mana Dorks in multicolor shells enjoy the extra reliability, letting you lay down major threats ahead of curve.
  • Protect and pressure: Use Urborg to stabilize your mana while you threaten big plays. The ability to silence a problematic attacker or a leaky evasion creature by removing its swampwalk can buy you precious turns to assemble your win condition 🔔.
  • Mind the tempo: In Commander, tempo matters as much as raw power. Urborg’s tap ability is a tool—not a spell you want to cast every turn, but when timed well, it denies your foes a critical edge and creates a window for you to push through with a game plan ⚔️.
  • Spotlight moments: When urborg stays on the battlefield, you can leverage it for surprise finishes—casting a late-game beater or a global effect with adequate mana to spare, catching opponents off guard as they overcommit to the board.

Lore, art, and the design ethic

Urborg carries a mood that resonates with the gothic, shadowed corners of the MTG multiverse. The flavor text evokes Edgar Allan Poe’s City in the Sea, a perfect mirror to the card’s dual nature: a hidden, inexorable source of power paired with a subtle, misdirecting second function. The art by Bryon Wackwitz captures the hush of a tomb-lit landscape, where every ripple of shadow suggests a plan waiting to be enacted. It’s a reminder that some of the most effective cards aren’t loud; they’re quietly essential, the kind you reach for when the table is bleeding with potential and you need to stabilize the ship 🖼️💠.

A practical nod to cross-promotion

While you’re plotting your next big play, a comfortable surface to dwell on during long tabletop sessions is never a wasted investment. If you’re building out your strategy desk, consider the Custom Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7in Neoprene, Stitched Edges—the product linked below. It’s a small touch that can sharpen focus and keep your hand steady as the plan unfolds, just as Urborg steadies your mana curve. A little comfort goes a long way when you’re staring down a table full of legends and potential diffs 🧙‍♂️💎🎲.

Custom Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7in Neoprene, Stitched Edges

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