Ashnod's Cylix MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 117
2008-09-22 - Number 203
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
o3, oc T: Target player looks at the top three cards of his or her library and puts one of them on top of that library. Remove the remaining two from the game.
Few remember that Ashnod's defilement of Terisiare's resources outstripped even that of her peers.
Cards like Ashnod's Cylix
Ashnod’s Cylix offers a unique twist to the realm of recurring card utilities in Magic: The Gathering. A parallel can be drawn with other cards like Crystal Ball or Codex Shredder, which also foster deck manipulation. Ashnod’s Cylix’s distinctive advantage is its ability to target any player’s graveyard, enabling the shuffling of key cards back into the library. This contrasts with cards such as Crystal Ball, which only scry the owner’s deck, but doesn’t provide the shuffle mechanic.
Another counterpart is Elixir of Immortality. This artifact offers a similar graveyard to library shuffle effect but with the added benefit of gaining 5 life — a boon for life-centric strategies. However, it lacks Ashnod’s Cylix’s ability to impact opponents. On a broader scale, Feldon’s Cane presents an unrestricted method to reshuffle one’s entire graveyard into their library, yet it doesn’t offer the pinpoint control over single cards afforded by Ashnod’s Cylix.
Assessing these comparisons, Ashnod’s Cylix occupies a niche role within Magic: The Gathering artifacts; it’s not just a tool for self-recycling, but an instrument to meddle with an opponent’s graveyard — potentially disrupting their strategy while subtly enhancing your own.
Cards similar to Ashnod's Cylix by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ashnod’s Cylix offers a unique utility in manipulating the top of your library, potentially setting up for advantageous draws that could sway the course of the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: By providing a repeatable effect for sorting through your deck, the card potentially thins less useful cards from your draws, allowing for more efficient access to key spells and lands when most needed.
Instant Speed: Its activation at instant speed gives players the flexibility to use the Cylix’s ability during the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to actions that would affect the top card of their library, keeping opponents guessing and strategies adaptable.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One aspect of Ashnod’s Cylix that might deter players is the discard requirement. Activating this artifact forces you to part with another card from your hand. This can prove particularly taxing in game situations where your hand size is already diminished and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Ashnod’s Cylix demands a specific mana setup to be utilized effectively. It requires not just any mana, but one of each color. This cost limits its integration into decks and can hamper players running mono or dual-color decks that might not have the mana diversity to consistently meet this requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to cast and an additional three for each activation, Ashnod’s Cylix sits at a higher end of the mana spectrum for artifacts offering similar effects. Players may find themselves gravitating towards more mana-efficient alternatives for their deck construction, favoring cards that offer greater flexibility or impact for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Ashnod’s Cylix in Your Collection
Versatility: Ashnod’s Cylix offers flexibility across various deck builds, working well in strategies that rely on graveyard management or need to cycle specific cards back into the library.
Combo Potential: With this artifact, there’s an opportunity to synergize with cards that benefit from shuffling the library or playing with the graveyard, expanding the avenues for intricate and powerful combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where decks exploit the graveyard, having Ashnod’s Cylix can provide a subtle yet effective way to disrupt those strategies, making it a timely addition to your arsenal.
How to beat
Ashnod’s Cylix may not be the most well-known artifact in MTG, but it can be an incredibly useful tool in the right deck, particularly in Commander format where recycling resources is crucial. This card allows players to look through their graveyard and shuffle any card from it into their deck. This ability to recur valuable spells and creatures can make it a tough nut to crack if you’re facing an opponent using it effectively.
To overcome the sustained advantage Ashnod’s Cylix could provide, consider running artifact removal spells like Abrade or Nature’s Claim, which can dismantle the Cylix before it becomes a persistent problem. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can also be game-changing, as they exile cards and prevent the Cylix from functioning efficiently. Remember, timing is imperative; it’s often best to wait until your opponent activates the Cylix’s ability to maximize disruption. Sideboard strategies to consider may include specific counterspells to prevent the Cylix from hitting the board in the first instance.
Ultimately, the key to beating an Ashnod’s Cylix deck lies in preparation and knowing when to deploy your disruption to hinder your opponent’s strategy effectively.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ashnod's Cylix MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Masters Edition II, 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 Ashnod's Cylix 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
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Printings
The Ashnod's Cylix Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Nicola Leonard.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 117 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Nicola Leonard | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 203 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Nicola Leonard |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ashnod's Cylix has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ashnod's Cylix card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the player has less than 3 cards in their library, look at as many as they have, put one back, and exile the others. |