Alchor's Tomb MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 272
2011-01-10 - Number 178
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
oc T: Change the color of target permanent you control to a color of your choice. Use counters. Cost to cast, tap, maintain, or use a special ability of card remains unchanged.
Exploring Alchor’s Tomb in Depth
The magic of Alchor’s Tomb is shrouded in both mystery and allure. This artifact pairs its transformative ability with a steep mana cost, making it a card for the strategic planner who knows just when to turn creatures into colorless ones, evading targeted spells or slipping past color-specific obstacles.
Cards like Alchor's Tomb
When considering Alchor’s Tomb, it’s hard not to think of cards such as Amulet of Unmaking or Mycosynth Lattice. Amulet of Unmaking also provides utility through manipulating the board, allowing you to exile a card until the amulet leaves play. Where Alchor’s Tomb requires a mana investment for each activation, the amulet’s use is a one-time cost for potentially indefinite impact. Mycosynth Lattice, however, is a game-changer making all permanents colorless which synergizes well with colorless-themed decks, similarly unlocking new avenues for gameplay strategy like Alchor’s Tomb but on a larger scale.
Each alternative presents unique approaches to managing the battlefield. While none may boast the exactly same utility as Alchor’s Tomb, their conditional uses create parallel roles within any MTG deck looking to craft the perfect counter-strategy or combo play. Card enthusiasts will appreciate Alchor’s Tomb for its unique, albeit niche role.
Cards similar to Alchor's Tomb by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Alchor’s Tomb grants an advantage by converting your less impactful permanents into more relevant cards, which helps refill your hand and maintain the tempo.
Resource Acceleration: This card offers a unique form of acceleration by allowing you to transform excess lands or unused artifacts into threats or necessary spells, effectively ramping up your potential to make impactful plays.
Instant Speed: Alchor’s Tomb’s ability to be activated at instant speed provides a strategic layer, giving you the power to adapt during an opponent’s turn or in response to actions that could otherwise be detrimental to your board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Alchor’s Tomb mandates that you discard a card as part of its activation. This can deplete your hand, particularly detrimental when you’re trying to maintain card advantage or if your strategy relies on having multiple options to play each turn.
Specific Mana Cost: To utilize Alchor’s Tomb, you must have access to four mana, which includes a requirement for one of each color. This not only demands a diverse mana base but also makes the card less flexible, restricting its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce all types of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana to cast, and additional investments to activate its ability, Alchor’s Tomb can be considered mana intensive. This is particularly notable when compared to other cards in the game that could provide a more immediate or impactful effect for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Alchor’s Tomb in Your Collection
Versatility: Alchor’s Tomb offers the unique ability to change the color of your creatures. This flexibility is essential for dodging targeted removal or enabling color-specific interactions within your deck.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, this artifact can unlock powerful combinations. It works exceptionally well with cards reliant on color-specific conditions, bolstering strategies that otherwise might be too rigid.
Meta-Relevance: In environments heavy on color-based hate cards or protection abilities, Alchor’s Tomb becomes an invaluable tool. It can be the key to circumventing common protective strategies, ensuring your creatures make an impact regardless of opponents’ defenses.
How to beat
Alchor’s Tomb is a unique artifact in the world of MTG, presenting both opportunities and challenges on the battlefield. This particular card has the ability to turn all nonland permanents into the color of your choice until end of turn. While it might seem daunting at first to face such a versatile tool, there are several strategies to topple its influence on the game.
Firstly, take advantage of its activation delay. Since the ability is not at instant speed, players can plan their turns to minimize the impact of the color shift. Moreover, incorporating artifact removal in your deck is a wise tactic. Cards like Naturalize or Shatter can dismantle Alchor’s Tomb before its power can be leveraged significantly. Lastly, embrace colorless spells or permanents that remain unaffected by color changes – cards like Eldrazi are immune to the Tomb’s magic.
Addressing Alchor’s Tomb with foresight allows for a tactical advantage. Anticipating your opponent’s moves, prepared with the right counters, turns the challenge of Alchor’s Tomb into an opportunity to demonstrate strategic superiority on the MTG battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Alchor's Tomb MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition IV, 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 Alchor's Tomb and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Alchor's Tomb Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Jesper Myrfors.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 272 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jesper Myrfors | |
| 2 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 178 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jesper Myrfors |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Alchor's Tomb has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |