2The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration
2Touch the Spirit Realm
3Wedding Announcement // Wedding Festivity
4Hallowed Haunting
2Prayer of Binding
2Sigarda's Splendor
4Behold the Unspeakable // Vision of the Unspeakable
Lands(24)
2Caves of Koilos
1Deserted Beach
4Dismal Backwater
3Island
1Otawara, Soaring City
3Plains
1Raffine's Tower
1Shattered Sanctum
1Shipwreck Marsh
2Swamp
1Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
4Tranquil Cove
Creatures(8)
4Spirited Companion
4Zur, Eternal Schemer
Lands(24)
2Caves of Koilos
1Deserted Beach
4Dismal Backwater
3Island
1Otawara, Soaring City
3Plains
1Raffine's Tower
1Shattered Sanctum
1Shipwreck Marsh
2Swamp
1Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
4Tranquil Cove
Enchantments(28)
2The Modern Age // Vector Glider
3Borrowed Time
2Citizen's Arrest
2Curse of Leeches // Leeching Lurker
2The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration
2Touch the Spirit Realm
3Wedding Announcement // Wedding Festivity
4Hallowed Haunting
2Prayer of Binding
2Sigarda's Splendor
4Behold the Unspeakable // Vision of the Unspeakable
Sideboard(15)
Instants(7)
1Essence Scatter
2Infernal Grasp
2Negate
2Hero's Downfall
Sorceries(6)
3Duress
2Sanctify
1Farewell
Enchantments(2)
2Temporary Lockdown
Instants(7)
1Essence Scatter
2Infernal Grasp
2Negate
2Hero's Downfall
Sorceries(6)
3Duress
2Sanctify
1Farewell
Enchantments(2)
2Temporary Lockdown
Competitive insights for Dismal Backwater
Overview
Dismal Backwater appears in 107 competitive decklists in our database. Standard accounts for 75.7% of lists. Coverage spans September 2020 to August 2026.
Competitive format breakdown
Format
Decks
Share
81
75.7%
Other ingested formats (not in the competitive breakdown): 24.3%
Often played with
Recent events
Pro Tour March of the Machine Standard Decklists F-K — 1 deck (5/5/2023)
May Strixhaven League Weekend – MPL Historic Decklists — 5 decks (5/15/2021)
May Strixhaven League Weekend – Rivals Historic Decklists — 7 decks (5/15/2021)
Frequently asked questions
How many competitive decks play Dismal Backwater?
Our database currently tracks 107 competitive decklists that include this card.
What formats use Dismal Backwater most?
Standard is the most common format (75.7% of tracked lists).
What cards pair with Dismal Backwater?
Top co-played cards include Negate (60%) and Duress (49%).
When was Dismal Backwater last seen in the data?
The most recent ingested list was at Pro Tour March of the Machine Standard Decklists F-K (May 5, 2023).
What time range does this data cover?
Tracked lists span September 2020 through August 2026.
Is Dismal Backwater played in Standard?
Yes — 81 competitive Standard lists include Dismal Backwater (75.7% of tracked lists).
About competitive deck data
Lists are sourced from competitive Magic: The Gathering events ingested from magic.gg and related feeds. Card names, oracle text, and images are provided via Scryfall. Synergy rates show how often another card appears in the same decklist. Data is updated as new events are imported.
Data updated through August 2026 · Last decklist seen: Pro Tour March of the Machine Standard Decklists F-K, May 5, 2023
