Underground River — Magic: The Gathering card

Underground River

Land

{T}: Add {C}.<br>{T}: Add {U} or {B}. Underground River deals 1 damage to you.

Set Ice Age
Rarity Rare
Artist NéNé Thomas

Why Play Underground River

Dimir decks that need consistent early mana fixing often include Underground River as a reliable dual land option. The colorless mana option provides flexibility when you need generic mana without taking damage, making it particularly valuable in aggressive strategies where every life point matters. Fast combo decks appreciate the immediate access to both blue and black mana on turn one, even at the cost of life, since they aim to win quickly before the accumulated damage becomes relevant.

Format Notes

Underground River sees most play in Pioneer and Modern, where its speed outweighs the life loss in competitive metas focused on quick wins. Legacy occasionally features it in storm or combo shells that prioritize mana consistency over life total preservation. Commander players frequently include it in two-color Dimir decks where the life loss is negligible in multiplayer games, though many prefer the strictly better shock lands or check lands when budget allows.

Combos & Synergies

Pain lands like Underground River pair excellently with Thoughtseize and other black cards that already cost life, creating a unified aggressive strategy. Delver of Secrets decks benefit from the reliable mana base to support both cheap blue spells and black removal. Death's Shadow strategies can actually leverage the self-damage as an upside, using Underground River to enable larger Death's Shadow creatures while maintaining perfect mana consistency.

Learn More

Land Modern Pioneer Commander