Drannith Ruins
Land
: Add 
.
, : Put two +1/+1 counters on target non-Human creature that entered this turn.
- CMC
- 0
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- C
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- March of the Machine: The Aftermath
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #4928
Drannith Ruins enters tapped and produces colorless mana, but its payoff is generating +1/+1 counters on a creature whenever you cycle it — which makes it an engine piece, not just a land slot. In decks built around Omarthis, Ghostfire Initiate, that incidental counter production is exactly the fuel the commander needs, and the cycling cost keeps the card from being a pure tempo loss.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Omarthis, Ghostfire Initiate
Omarthis, Ghostfire Initiate cares about +1/+1 counters being placed on creatures, and cycling Drannith Ruins triggers that mechanic from the land slot itself — no spell required, just a land drop that doubles as counter generation.
Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp
Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp thrives on modular and counter-stacking synergies, and Drannith Ruins offers a repeatable, low-opportunity-cost way to seed counters onto artifacts without spending a spell slot.
Felisa, Fang of Silverquill
Felisa, Fang of Silverquill cares about non-token creatures dying with counters on them, and Drannith Ruins quietly distributes those counters from the land base — turning every cycle into a future death trigger setup.
Ayula, Queen Among Bears
Ayula, Queen Among Bears triggers off counters being placed on Bears, so Drannith Ruins can slot into a Bear-tribal shell and contribute to Ayula's fight and pump triggers simply by being cycled.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Drannith Ruins is legal in Commander, Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but its home is firmly Commander. In 60-card formats the enters-tapped penalty is steep for a land that only produces colorless, and the cycling trigger — placing a single +1/+1 counter — rarely pays off without a dedicated counter synergy shell. In Commander, the singleton rule and slower pace make the tap-in penalty tolerable, especially when you're building around the trigger rather than treating this as generic fixing. Outside counter-synergy builds, skip it regardless of format.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data for Drannith Ruins isn't currently available in the system — check Scryfall or your preferred retailer for the current market rate. Given its narrow application in counter-synergy Commander decks, it's unlikely to carry a premium unless demand spikes around a specific commander.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Omarthis, Ghostfire Initiate
- Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp
- Felisa, Fang of Silverquill
- Ayula, Queen Among Bears
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.