Ancient Tomb

Ancient Tomb first appeared in Tempest (TMP), 14 October 1997. The original record is TMP #315, at uncommon, illustrated by Colin MacNeil. Original finish availability: nonfoil only.

Use the curated shortlist for meaningful edition differences, then the shared explorer for the wider catalogue. Editorial records reviewed 4 November 2026; current prices and legality can change.

Ancient Tomb is a Land with no mana cost and a colourless colour identity. Its activated mana ability adds {C}{C} and deals two damage to you. The damage is part of the ability’s effect, not an additional cost paid to activate it.

That distinction is more precise than saying it produces mana “at the cost of life.” It helps identify the actual card without turning a printing guide into a deck-tech article. Every edition uses the same current Oracle rules, including versions with an alternate Middle-earth display name.

Tempest (TMP) #315 debuted on 14 October 1997 at uncommon, illustrated by Colin MacNeil and available only in nonfoil. The older frame and Tempest set identity make it the first-printing reference.

From the Vault: Realms #1 in 2012 reuses MacNeil’s illustration in a modern frame and a foil-only product. It offers the original painting on a different surface; it is not a Tempest booster foil.

Zendikar Expeditions #36 in 2016 introduces Howard Lyon’s illustration and a foil-only Expedition frame. Ultimate Masters #236 in 2018 changes the artwork again, to Yeong-Hao Han. Ultimate Box Topper #U31 expands Han’s presentation within the same release family and is foil-only.

Zendikar Rising Expeditions #21 follows in 2020 with Adam Paquette art and both nonfoil and foil. The two Expedition programmes therefore have different paintings and different finish availability.

Tales of Middle-earth Commander presents Ancient Tomb as Balin’s Tomb in the Realms and Relics treatment: LTC #357 and surge-foil #387 credit Anastasia Balakchina. The wider catalogue also includes Stellar Sights records from Edge of Eternities; the live explorer extends beyond this curated historical selection.

MacNeil: TMP #315 and V12 #1 preserve the original artwork across different frames and surfaces. If the original painting matters more than an original-set copy, those are the relevant two comparisons.

Lyon versus Paquette: EXP #36 and ZNE #21 are both called Expeditions, but their artists and illustrations differ. An offer described only as “Expedition Ancient Tomb” is not precise enough.

Han: UMA #236 and PUMA #U31 share an artwork family, with the Box Topper changing the presentation rather than commissioning another artist.

Balakchina: Balin’s Tomb is Ancient Tomb’s Middle-earth treatment. It is different from Cavern of Souls’ Path of the Dead and the homepage’s Minas Morgul / Cabal Coffers. Similar location styling does not make those cards interchangeable printings.

TMP #315 is nonfoil-only. V12 #1 provides a foil-only later version of MacNeil’s original artwork. EXP #36 and PUMA #U31 are also foil-only, but they use Lyon and Han artwork respectively.

UMA #236 and ZNE #21 offer nonfoil and traditional foil. The presence of a nonfoil ZNE #21 does not establish a nonfoil EXP #36; finish availability belongs to the exact record.

LTC #357 has nonfoil and traditional foil availability. LTC #387 is the separate surge-foil record with Balin’s Tomb artwork. An ordinary foil #357 does not become #387 when a digital shimmer is enabled.

For the first printing: TMP #315 keeps MacNeil’s illustration, older frame and 1997 set identity. Its original rarity is uncommon.

For the same art in foil: V12 #1 is the relevant later product. Inspect the actual foil surface and condition rather than accepting a generic “original foil” label.

For an Expedition: compare Lyon’s EXP #36 with Paquette’s ZNE #21. Choose the painting first; #21 also offers a nonfoil path.

For the Masters image: choose between UMA #236 and the expanded PUMA #U31 presentation. Only the regular UMA record offers both finishes in this shortlist.

For Middle-earth: compare LTC #357 with #387 specifically. The surge finish should be a deliberate choice, not a mistaken substitution for traditional foil.

Our starting pair is Tempest #315 nonfoil and Zendikar Rising Expeditions #21 nonfoil. Keeping the surface constant makes MacNeil’s older-frame original and Paquette’s Expedition interpretation easy to assess on artwork and framing.

For a themed display, Balin’s Tomb #357 is the next comparison. Choose #387 if the surge surface is part of that aim; this guide makes no unverified claim about which edition is cheapest or most valuable.

Cavern of Souls — Compare Expedition, borderless and Middle-earth land treatments.

Mana Crypt — Explore another colourless mana source’s unusual promo origin.

Sol Ring — Compare original and premium mana-rock artwork.

Grim Monolith — Compare early nonfoil and booster-foil artifact finishes.

Browse the complete Card Guides directory. For deck work, the shared Build a Deck action passes the selected printing to Deck Studio, where current legality and role eligibility are checked independently of this editorial guide.

Reviewed 4 November 2026 against accessible catalogue records and indexed catalogue extracts, with official product or policy references where applicable. Existing ManaScout text was audited rather than treated as evidence. Direct Scryfall API access was unavailable during this editorial review; the shared live explorer continues to use its existing integration.

• Catalogue: Tempest (TMP) #315
• Catalogue: From the Vault: Realms (V12) #1
• Catalogue: Zendikar Expeditions (EXP) #36
• Catalogue: Ultimate Masters (UMA) #236
• Catalogue: Ultimate Box Topper (PUMA) #U31
• Catalogue: Zendikar Rising Expeditions (ZNE) #21
• Catalogue: Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC) #357
• Catalogue: Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC) #387
• magery.com: ancient tomb
• magery.com: ancient tomb
• magery.com: ancient tomb
• magery.com: ancient tomb 387