Manascape Refractor MTG Card


Manascape Refractor provides access to all land abilities, significantly increasing strategic options. The artifact’s versatility in mana production makes it beneficial for multicolor decks. Manascape Refractor supports instant-speed land abilities, allowing flexible response to opponents.
Manascape Refractor - Commander 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Released2020-04-17
Set symbol
Set nameCommander 2020
Set codeC20
Number68
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byYeong-Hao Han

Text of card

Manascape Refractor enters the battlefield tapped. Manascape Refractor has all activated abilities of all lands on the battlefield. You may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to pay the activation costs of Manascape Refractor's abilities.


Cards like Manascape Refractor

Manascape Refractor is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that taps for any mana a land you control could produce. It mirrors the versatility of cards like Chromatic Lantern, offering a broad spectrum of mana options. Chromatic Lantern also enables lands to produce mana of any color, but it goes further by granting all your lands this ability without the need to tap, surpassing the Refractor’s singular capacity.

Another card with comparative value is Coalition Relic, which provides a drip-feed of any color mana. While Coalition Relic can bank a charge for future use, it doesn’t offer the same land-mimicking feature. Manascape Refractor pulls ahead with its ability to copy numerous land characteristics, not just their mana production. Prismatic Geoscope warrants a mention too, resonating with manifold color generation but it requires a diversified land base to truly shine, unlike the all-encompassing Manascape Refractor.

When set side by side with its rivals, it’s clear that Manascape Refractor commands a niche for players seeking extensive mana adaptability and interaction with land-based abilities, establishing its pivotal role in decks that capitalize on land synergies.

Chromatic Lantern - MTG Card versions
Coalition Relic - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Geoscope - MTG Card versions
Chromatic Lantern - MTG Card versions
Coalition Relic - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Geoscope - MTG Card versions

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Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Manascape Refractor offers a strategic edge by allowing you to utilize all the abilities of lands on the battlefield. This potentially gives you access to a variety of effects and mana sources, contributing to significant card advantage without physically increasing the number of cards in hand.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact can become a powerhouse for resource acceleration as it can tap for any mana that other lands could produce. In multi-color decks, especially, it provides exceptional versatility and can facilitate casting high-cost spells earlier than you might otherwise manage.

Instant Speed: While the Manascape Refractor itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it enables usage of any land’s abilities that are usable at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to adapt your strategy on the fly, responding to opponent moves or optimizing your plays at the end of their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Manascape Refractor does not directly require a discard to activate, its presence in a deck may mean sacrificing other cards that could otherwise be useful. This can often times inadvertently create card disadvantage if the utility of the Refractor does not outweigh the potential benefits of the cards discarded.

Specific Mana Cost: The artifact has a specific cost of three generic mana, making it accessible in any type of deck. However, this doesn’t preclude the high initial cost from being a potential issue for faster-paced decks that aim to optimize resource allocation early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Manascape Refractor’s ability to tap for mana of any type that a land you control could produce is powerful, its three mana entry fee is rather steep. Particularly when compared to other mana rocks or ramp mechanisms that are cheaper, it could be considered cumbersome for decks aiming for a quicker pace of play or those trying to establish board presence rapidly.


Reasons to Include Manascape Refractor in Your Collection

Versatility: Manascape Refractor is a dynamic addition to any Magic the Gathering arsenal due to its ability to copy the abilities of all lands on the battlefield. This flexibility allows it to seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, enhancing your mana base and enabling diverse strategic moves.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with lands that have powerful activated abilities. Whether you’re looking to double down on utility lands or enable surprising combos, Manascape Refractor’s unique ability to mimic these effects can turn the tide in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where land strategies can often dictate the pace and outcome, having a card that can adapt to the ever-changing meta can be invaluable. The Refractor keeps you one step ahead by accommodating new tactics and synergizing with a variety of powerful lands, ensuring your deck remains competitive.


How to beat

Manascape Refractor is a unique artifact from MTG that replicates the abilities of all lands on the battlefield. This card can be a powerhouse in the right setup, allowing players to access a vast array of mana abilities and potentially tip the scales in their favor.

To effectively counter this card, focus on limiting the number of lands with powerful abilities available to your opponent. Land destruction or land altering effects can be employed to ensure that the Refractor’s potential is minimized. Additionally, cards that restrict or deny the use of activated abilities can hamper the usefulness of the Refractor, turning it into a less threatening piece on the board. Lastly, having a good removal strategy to address artifacts directly is key to managing this versatile threat. Swiftly removing the Manascape Refractor from play before your opponent can capitalize on its benefits is a direct and efficient approach to negate its advantages.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Manascape Refractor MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020, 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 Manascape Refractor and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Manascape Refractor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “
-ost:
-ffect].” Some keyword abilities are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. Manascape Refractor won’t gain triggered abilities (which start with “when,” “whenever,” or “at”).
2020-04-17 If Manascape Refractor gains an activated ability that’s normally linked to a non-activated ability of the card it came from, the ability Manascape Refractor has isn’t linked to any ability.
2020-04-17 If Manascape Refractor gains an activated ability that’s normally linked to another activated ability of the card it came from, those two abilities Manascape Refractor gains are linked for as long as that card remains on the battlefield.
2020-04-17 Lands with a basic land type have an intrinsic activated mana ability corresponding to their basic land type. Manascape Refractor has those abilities, too.