Dark Depths was printed in the expansion “Coldsnap” to the  Magic the Gathering card game. Coldsnap was an out of place expansion to the game that wrapped up an unfinished plotline from a cycle of cards from 1995-1996. It’s primary purpose was to provide nostalgic cards for veteran players and to just be a “cool” chunk of retro-style cards. With very few of it’s cards combo-able with today’s strategies, the set was very inexpensive and was overlooked as a whole. One of the the most popular cards in the set however, was anything but subtle…

At the time of it’s printing, Dark Depths was already one of the most popular cards in the Coldsnap expansion. For 3 mana (or more) per turn, you could slowly pick the ice away on this card to eventually, after a net cost of 30 mana, dump a HUGE 20/20 creature into play.

Artist Stephan Martiniere did a good job of depicting the hugest creature in Magic’s existence trapped in a giant ice cube. Marit Lage is so big it is nearly faceless. The soldier in the picture is great reference to how large this monster really is. I’d really like to know what the little guy is thinking. The flavor of this card is truly genuine. Everything about it links it back to the good ol’ Ice Age block.

Marit Lage is, to this day, the largest individual creature available in the game. a 20/20 can take out an opponent in one turn! The problem with this card at the time of its printing was that 30 mana was a big cost and often this card hit the table and did nothing all game. It could be picked up at the corner store for the small price of 3-5 dollars… until recently…

With the release of the Zendikar expansion in mid 2009 came a card that changed the face of Dark Depths forever. Who knows if It slipped through during play testing or if Magic just wanted it’s baddest land to see more play. Either way, a playset of Dark Depths will cost you a pretty penny now, and it’s all thanks to this little guy:

Yikes. Vampire Hexmage turns Dark Depths into a third turn play. It spares you the cost to removing the ice counters. How is that for a combo? Dark Depths is now dominating tournaments around the world and is right up there with some of the most expensive lands in the game (Tolarian Academy, Fetch lands, Mutavault). Dark Depths is awesome. Even before the Hexmage came along and made it unreal, it was one of the most BA cards in the game! Check out the Coldsnap Pre-release participation bonus…

Its safe to say that Marit Lage is one of the scariest creatures in the game. Dark Depths is a one of kind card that shall continue to steal the show for years to come!