Altar of the Brood MTG Card


Altar of the Brood excels in decks with frequent permanent play, rapidly milling opponent’s libraries. Limited impact when permanents are scarce; needs strategic play for optimal usage. Ideal for multiple-deck strategies, offering indirect resource control and wide-reaching mill effects.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Abilities Mill

Text of card

Whenever another permanent enters the battlefield under your control, each opponent puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

Supplicants offer flesh and silver, flowers and blood. The altar takes what it will, eyes gleaming with unspoken promises.


Cards like Altar of the Brood

Altar of the Brood stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique artifact focused on milling opponents’ libraries. It shares similarities with cards like Mesmeric Orb which mills cards for each untapped permanent, but Altar of the Brood activates its milling ability each time another permanent enters the battlefield under your control, costing only one mana to cast. On the other hand, Mesmeric Orb requires no action to keep milling, but comes with a higher cast cost and affects all players uniformly.

Another card in this milling realm is Hedron Crab, a creature that mills three cards whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control. While Hedron Crab targets a single opponent, Altar of the Brood affects each opponent, providing a wider net of influence across the game. Additionally, Hedron Crab relies on land drops to trigger, whereas Altar of the Brood responds to any permanent, making it potentially more versatile in a broader range of strategies.

In terms of efficiency and potential impact, Altar of the Brood has a significant place amongst mill-centric cards in Magic: The Gathering, capable of reshaping the board state and applying pressure to all opponents in a match.

Mesmeric Orb - MTG Card versions
Hedron Crab - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Orb - MTG Card versions
Hedron Crab - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Altar of the Brood by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
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Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
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Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Altar of the Brood. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black ScamMono-Black Scam ModernMono-Black ScamModern Preliminary 2024-03-11 (1)
Jeskai AscendancyJeskai Ascendancy PioneerJeskai AscendancyPioneer Challenge 32 2024-02-25
Jeskai Ascendancy ComboJeskai Ascendancy Combo PioneerJeskai AscendancyMIT Championship -
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern League 2023-12-08 (1)
Abzan TokensAbzan Tokens ModernAsmo Food$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Pittsburgh - Saturday - 9:00 am

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Altar of the Brood has the potential to put multiple cards from opposing players’ libraries into their graveyards, not only dwindling their resources but also paving the way for strategies that capitalize on opponents having a well-stocked graveyard.

Resource Acceleration: This powerful artifact synergizes exceptionally well with decks that focus on token generation or creatures that frequently enter the battlefield. Each time a new creature arrives, Altar of the Brood triggers, effectively accelerating the strategic advantage of seeing opponents’ key cards hit the graveyard sooner.

Instant Speed: While Altar of the Brood doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it does trigger instantaneously whenever any permanent enters the battlefield under your control. This aspect provides a consistent and immediate influence on the game state, making it a stealthy accelerator of your long-term strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Altar of the Brood doesn’t directly require discarding, it hinges on you playing other permanents to trigger its milling effect. If your hand is empty or you’re unable to cast permanents, Altar becomes a dormant artifact with no immediate impact on the game state.

Specific Mana Cost: Altar of the Brood has a colorless mana cost, which makes it broadly accessible, but in decks focused on high synergy around a specific color or theme, it might not be the most efficient use of that one mana slot. Plus, the artifact status could be a vulnerability in a meta where artifact removal is prevalent.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing one mana might not seem high, the overall investment required to make Altar of the Brood effective could be substantial. To fully utilize its ability, you’ll need to consistently play multiple permanents per turn, which, without the right setup, could strain your resources in other areas.


Reasons to Include Altar of the Brood in Your Collection

Versatility: Altar of the Brood is a unique piece that enhances a variety of decks known for milling opponents as it triggers with each permanent entering the battlefield under your control. This trait allows it to be a constant threat in decks that can generate multiple tokens or play numerous lands per turn.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, such as those with ‘Field of the Dead’ to rapidly mill opponents, or pairing with ‘Sculpting Steel’ for potentially game-ending sequences. By utilizing its synergies, you could turn the tide in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: Given the persistent appearance of graveyard-based strategies and utility of mill tactics, having Altar of the Brood in your arsenal means you’re well-equipped to target your opponent’s resources indirectly, substantially impacting games against a variety of deck archetypes.


How to beat

Altar of the Brood stands out in MTG as a powerful mill artifact, gently reshaping the battlefield with each permanent your opponents cast. Its unique ability can quickly deplete an opponent’s deck, inching them towards defeat through card exhaustion. To counteract this, strategies that target artifacts become crucial in dismantling its power. Cards with direct artifact removal, such as Naturize or Shatter, are effective tools against Altar of the Brood. Alternatively, leveraging graveyard shuffling effects, like those found in Gaea’s Blessing or Elixir of Immortality, can help mitigate the milling impact the Altar imposes.

Additionally, employing strategies that limit the number of permanents entering the battlefield can also throttle the efficiency of Altar of the Brood. Effects that create tokens or repeatedly bounce permanents to the hand should be minimized to reduce the milling. Playing strategic combo pieces that either outpace the milling or completely ignore it, such as decks centered around the ‘Dredge’ mechanic or cards like Nexus of Fate which shuffle back into the library, can neutralize the threat posed by this potent artifact.

By understanding Altar of the Brood’s strengths and building a deck prepared to counter those, MTG players can ensure they remain one step ahead in the game. Thus, a thoughtful approach to deck building and a keen sense of the meta can help any player overcome the challenge posed by Altar of the Brood.


BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG enthusiasts aiming to outwit and outplay opponents, incorporating Altar of the Brood into your collection can be a crafty move. With its ability to whittle down an opponent’s deck and enhance graveyard strategies, it reigns as a subtle yet powerful artifact. For those favoring intricate combos or token-spawning tactics, Altar of the Brood becomes an invaluable tool. Crafting a deck that magnifies its potential can shift the tides of battle in your favor. Dive deeper with us to unravel the secrets of Altar of the Brood and master mill strategies that could leave your opponents with a dwindling deck and a sense of dread. Discover more and refine your MTG arsenal for that next victorious march.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Altar of the Brood MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Altar of the Brood and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Altar of the Brood Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2014-09-26. Illustrated by Erica Yang.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 557872015NormalBlackErica Yang
22014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 2162015NormalBlackErica Yang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Altar of the Brood has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Altar of the Brood card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-09-20 If Altar of the Brood enters the battlefield under your control at the same time as other permanents, its ability will trigger for each of those permanents.