Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Abilities | Delirium,Mill,Transform |
| Released | 2016-04-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Set code | SOI |
| Number | 194 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Transform |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jaime Jones |
Text of card
: Put the top card of your library into your graveyard. Delirium — At the beginning of your end step, if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, transform Autumnal Gloom.
Cards like Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox provides a unique blend of utility and transformation. It mirrors the likes of Ludevic’s Test Subject // Ludevic’s Abomination in its ability to evolve from a relatively modest beginning into a formidable threat. Both cards start as unassuming permanents and, upon meeting specific conditions, morph into powerhouses with the potential to dominate the board.
Similarly, Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration reflects this transformative nature but with a shift towards a swifter metamorphosis and aggression, needing only a single instant or sorcery reveal to flip. By contrast, Skinshifter is another transformative card but allows players to decide its form turn by turn, adding a layer of adaptability, albeit without the permanent transformation Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox offers.
When exploring the range of transform cards in the game, Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox stands out for its ability to provide defensive value as an enchantment before becoming a hard-hitting creature, giving it a special niche in MTG deck-building strategies.
Cards similar to Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox enables a continuous transformation mechanism, giving players not one, but two distinct functional phases to utilize over the course of the game. The front side provides an enchantment that can churn out formidable 1/1 black Human tokens, adding extensive and resilient offensive options to your side of the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Once flipped, the Ancient of the Equinox becomes a robust 4/4 Treefolk with trample at no additional cost. This transition doesn’t require mana investment and thus propels you ahead in the race to deploy powerful creatures, maintaining pressure on your opponent and optimizing your resource allocation.
Instant Speed: The transformative capability of the card can be activated at instant speed, granting the savvy player the flexibility to change tactics at a moment’s notice. This swift shift in board presence can surprise an adversary, potentially disrupting their carefully laid plans by forcing them to deal with a new threat without warning.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox demands you to discard another card to transform it. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already dwindling and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s requirement for both black and green mana could restrict its inclusion to only certain types of decks, hindering its flexibility. Players using a more varied mana base may find the card less appealing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one green and one black, there are alternative cards that could provide immediate impact or more cost-effective benefits. Considering the additional investment to fulfill the discard condition, some players may prefer more straightforward options.
Reasons to Include Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox in Your Collection
Versatility: Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox offers a unique transformative ability that brings flexibility to your gameplay. Initially, it can serve as an enchantment that strengthens over time, then becomes a formidable creature once enough card types are in your graveyard.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks designed around self-mill and graveyard mechanics. Its ability to turn into the powerful Ancient of the Equinox creature can synergize with strategies that capitalize on having big creatures or creatures with specific types.
Meta-Relevance: Given that many players construct their decks to manage or utilize the graveyard, this card’s dual nature means it’s well-positioned to adapt to these prevalent dynamics. Moreover, as a 4/4 creature with trample and indestructibility at night, it can be a solid answer to decks that struggle with such resilient threats.
How to beat
Confronting Autumnal Gloom, which can morph into the formidable Ancient of the Equinox, presents a unique challenge in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This versatile card initially operates as an enchantment that can accumulate +1/+1 counters, later transforming into a potent 4/4 creature with trample and hexproof at the onset of night. This duality can catch unprepared players off guard.
Effectively countering this threat requires proactive strategies. Engaging in battles during the day phase can prevent the transformation into Ancient of the Equinox. Utilizing instant-speed removal when Autumnal Gloom is still an enchantment can be crucial. Additionally, spells that specifically target enchantments, like Disenchant, are particularly useful before nightfall. Given that the creature form has hexproof, one potential counter is board sweepers or global effects that bypass targeting.
Successfully overcoming this card also hinges on managing the day-night cycle to your advantage. Disrupt the transition to night whenever possible, and deploy creatures or spells that can outmatch or neutralize the Ancient of the Equinox’s strengths. An understanding of the mechanics behind Autumnal Gloom will go a long way in ensuring that this seasonal terror remains but a fleeting chill in your quest for victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox and other MTG cards:
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | Because you consider only the characteristics of a double-faced card’s front face while it’s not on the battlefield, the types of its back face won’t be counted for delirium. |
| 2016-04-08 | In some rare cases, you can have a token or a copy of a spell in your graveyard at the moment that an object’s delirium ability counts the card types among cards in your graveyard, before that token or copy ceases to exist. Because tokens and copies of spells are not cards, even if they are copies of cards, their types will never be counted. |
| 2016-04-08 | Most triggered delirium abilities use an intervening “if” clause. There must be four or more card types among cards in your graveyard in order for these abilities to trigger, otherwise they never trigger at all. There’s no way to have the ability trigger if there aren’t enough card types, even if you intend to raise that number in response to the triggered ability. The number of card types is checked again as the trigger resolves, and if it has become too low somehow, the ability does nothing. If which card types are in your graveyard changes but the quantity of card types stays the same (or increases), then the delirium triggered ability will still resolve. |
| 2016-04-08 | The card types in Magic are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal (a card type that appears on some older cards). Supertypes (such as legendary and basic) and subtypes (such as Human and Equipment) are not counted. |
| 2016-04-08 | The number of card types matters, not the number of cards. For example, Wicker Witch (an artifact creature) along with Catalog (an instant) and Chaplain’s Blessing (a sorcery) will enable delirium. |
| 2016-07-13 | For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics). |