Talisman of Indulgence MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables mana generation at instant speed, fitting for reactive play and surprise strategies.
  2. Limited to red and black mana, the Talisman suits specific deck builds and playing styles.
  3. Competitive players weigh its mana boost against the recurring life point cost for colored mana.

Text of card

: Add to your mana pool. : Add or to your mana pool. Talisman of Indulgence deals 1 damage to you.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Talisman of Indulgence doesn’t directly grant card advantage in the classic sense. However, it enables smoother draws through the flexibility of mana generation, enhancing access to the diverse spells in your deck.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact excels in ramping up your available resources. By providing an immediate boost in mana, it allows faster plays and the ability to cast more expensive spells earlier in the game. The Talisman offers a significant payoff for multi-colored decks needing both red and black mana.

Instant Speed: While the Talisman of Indulgence is a permanent that’s played at sorcery speed, its mana ability is usable at instant speed. This opens up opportunities for reactive play, enabling instant-speed spells to be cast unexpectedly during an opponent’s turn, all while leveraging the Talisman’s resource acceleration.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Talisman of Indulgence doesn’t require you to discard, it does have a drawback. Each time you tap it for colored mana, it deals 1 damage to you, which can add up over time, especially in lengthy games or against decks focused on dealing damage quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact is tailored for red or black mana acceleration, which limits its versatility. If your deck doesn’t heavily use these colors, you may find the Talisman of Indulgence less beneficial compared to more flexible mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Talisman’s initial casting cost isn’t excessive, competitive play often demands immediate impact. In formats where speed is critical, the one-time cost and the subsequent life point loss for colored mana can be significant disadvantages against decks that aim to optimize every mana spent.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Talisman of Indulgence offers flexibility to many deck archetypes by providing both red and black mana. This ability to tap for two different types of mana without a significant drawback makes it a solid inclusion for multicolored decks, especially in Commander format.

Combo Potential: As an artifact that can be used the moment it comes into play, Talisman of Indulgence seamlessly integrates into strategies that capitalize on mana acceleration. It can facilitate earlier plays of powerful spells and is a key piece for setting up combinations that require diverse mana sources.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors quick setup and versatile mana bases, having access to a reliable mana artifact like Talisman of Indulgence can be a game-changer. It’s particularly useful in environments where speed and efficiency are paramount, making it an asset in competitive matchups where establishing a strong mana foundation early on can lead to victory.


How to beat

The Talisman of Indulgence is a versatile mana artifact that finds its way into many decks across various formats of Magic: The Gathering. Efficacious in ramping and color fixing, the Talisman allows players to access both red and black mana, with the caveat of taking one damage if the mana is colored. Modest in cost, it’s an easy play on turn two, fueling early-game strategies effectively.

To edge out an opponent utilizing this card, targeted artifact removal is your staple; spells like Naturalize or Disenchant can eliminate the Talisman with ease. It’s also productive to exploit the life loss aspect. Aggressive decks can apply pressure, punishing the repeated usage of the Talisman for colored mana. Consider also rendering the Talisman ineffective through “stax” effects with cards like Stony Silence, which can shut down activated abilities of artifacts, stalling your opponent’s mana development altogether.

Understanding the role the Talisman of Indulgence plays in fueling multicolored decks and responding with precise sideboard choices can turn the tides in your favor. Efficient artifact control is key in keeping the Talisman’s indulgence at bay.


Cards like Talisman of Indulgence

In exploring the landscape of artifact mana generation within Magic: The Gathering, Talisman of Indulgence rides a unique wave of utility. Comparable artifacts in this space include the likes of Rakdos Signet. Both enable their wielders to ramp into more powerful spells ahead of the curve. However, Talisman of Indulgence edges out with the advantage that it doesn’t require another mana to be activated, offering immediate, albeit painful, resource access.

Another kin in form and function is Mind Stone, which also provides mana. Where Mind Stone offers a clear path with an ability to draw a card later by sacrificing itself, Talisman of Indulgence instead gives the user more versatility by generating two different types of mana, albeit with a minor health cost per use. Lastly, the Fire Diamond and Charcoal Diamond duo resonate with the Talisman’s theme, yet they intrinsically limit flexibility by providing mana of only one color and coming into play tapped, slowing down potential early game advancements.

As a result, Talisman of Indulgence claims its niche in MTG as a versatile color-fixing artifact, particularly fitting in aggressive strategies that value the immediate availability of dual-colored mana over the incremental value other similar cards might yield.

Rakdos Signet - MTG Card versions
Mind Stone - MTG Card versions
Fire Diamond - MTG Card versions
Charcoal Diamond - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Signet - Dissension (DIS)
Mind Stone - Weatherlight (WTH)
Fire Diamond - Mirage (MIR)
Charcoal Diamond - Mirage (MIR)

Cards similar to Talisman of Indulgence by color, type and mana cost

Rakdos Signet - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Riteknife - MTG Card versions
Demonspine Whip - MTG Card versions
Steelclaw Lance - MTG Card versions
Oni-Cult Anvil - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Signet - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Rakdos Riteknife - The List (PLST)
Demonspine Whip - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Steelclaw Lance - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Oni-Cult Anvil - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Talisman of Indulgence MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Archenemy: Nicol Bolas, 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 Talisman of Indulgence and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Talisman of Indulgence Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2552003normalblackMike Dringenberg
22017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 912015normalblackMike Dringenberg
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10541997normalblackDan Frazier
42021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 2192015normalblackMike Dringenberg
52022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 257★2015normalblackNikola Matkovic
62022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2572015normalblackNikola Matkovic
72023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8432015normalblackXabi Gaztelua
82023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2522015normalblackXabi Gaztelua
92024-03-08FalloutPIP 7762015normalblackBruno Biazotto
102024-03-08FalloutPIP 2482015normalblackBruno Biazotto

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Talisman of Indulgence has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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