Orcish MineHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Mine Functions

Orcish Mine enters the battlefield with three ore counters. Its countdown is tracked by two distinct triggers: one that occurs at the beginning of your upkeep, and one that fires every time the enchanted land becomes tapped. Because these triggers are separate, the land can lose multiple counters in a single turn if it is used for mana during your turn or by other tapping effects.

The Destruction Sequence

The final ability is a state-based trigger that waits for the last ore counter to be removed. Once the Aura has zero counters, the ability goes on the stack to destroy the land and deal 2 damage to that land's controller. Note that the Aura itself is destroyed as part of this resolution, so it cannot be reused without external effects.

Strategic Considerations

Players often forget that the upkeep trigger happens regardless of whether the land was tapped. If you enchant a land that is already tapped, it will still lose a counter at the start of your next upkeep. Conversely, if an opponent taps the land for mana in response to the upkeep trigger, the land will lose two counters in rapid succession.

Interaction examples

Setting the Fuse

You cast Orcish Mine on your opponent's Mountain. It enters with three ore counters. At the start of your next upkeep, the first counter is removed. If your opponent then taps the Mountain for mana, the second counter is removed. The land is now one step away from destruction.

Collateral Damage

Impact Tremors

While Orcish Mine is busy destroying lands, having Impact Tremors on the board ensures you are maintaining pressure. If you use a creature's ability to untap the enchanted land, you can force the Orcish Mine to trigger its 'whenever enchanted land becomes tapped' clause more frequently, accelerating the 2-damage explosion.

Recycling the Mine

Underworld Breach

Once Orcish Mine destroys a land and is put into the graveyard, you can use Underworld Breach to give it Escape. You may then recast Orcish Mine from your graveyard by paying its mana cost and exiling three other cards, allowing you to enchant a new land and start the countdown all over again.