Altar of Mogis MTG Card

Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Hero's Reward
Released	2014-03-01
Set symbol
Set name	Battle the Horde
Set code	TBTH
Number	11
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Aaron Miller

Key Takeaways

Altar of Mogis grants card advantage by forcing opponent sacrifices, disrupting their strategies.
Instant speed activations of Altar of Mogis allow for flexible, tactical gameplay advantages.
Despite its strengths, the discard requirement and precise mana cost may limit its utility.

Text of card

At the beginning of the Horde's precombat main phase, reveal an additional card from the top of the Horde's library. The Horde casts that card. Hero's Reward — When Altar of Mogis is put into a graveyard from anywhere, the Horde sacrifices two Minotaurs.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Altar of Mogis offers a strategic benefit by potentially stripping your opponent of valuable cards, leading to a gain in card advantage. This can disrupt the opponent’s planned moves and offer you a significant upper hand as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: By compelling sacrifices from your opponent, Altar of Mogis indirectly accelerates your own resources. As your opponent loses creatures or cards, your relative board presence becomes stronger, allowing you to further your game plan while hindering theirs.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate the Altar at instant speed provides a layer of tactical flexibility. You can respond to your opponent’s actions on their turn, which can lead to favorable trades and interrupted strategies, giving you a clear advantage during crucial moments of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Altar of Mogis prompts you to bid farewell to a card from your hand which can be quite punitive when your hand is already diminished or the card you’re discarding has higher value in the current matchup.

Specific Mana Cost: This arcane artifact necessitates both generic and red mana for activation. Decks that don’t primarily use red mana might find it cumbersome to integrate and employ Altar of Mogis efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, including a double red, there are considerations to be made about opportunity cost. Other cards in the same mana range could potentially offer greater impact or versatility to your strategy without the added setback of discarding.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Altar of Mogis is a card that can seamlessly weave into various deck archetypes. This card is particularly appealing for players seeking to infuse their decks with consistent damage output and a sacrifice outlet.

Combo Potential: The intrinsic ability of Altar of Mogis to sacrifice creatures can be the cornerstone for combo decks centered around death triggers and reanimation tactics. It facilitates powerful interactions, especially in multiplayer formats.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, Altar of Mogis stands out as a power piece. It can alter board states and provide an edge in games where incremental damage can tip the scales in your favor.

How to Beat Altar of Mogis

Altar of Mogis has emerged as a captivating piece in MTG, challenging players to adapt their strategies effectively. To overcome this troublesome enchantment, one must navigate its ability to potentially skew the game state if left unchecked. Adept players might look towards enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize, which are straightforward solutions to dismantle the Altar’s influence swiftly.

On the other side of the coin lies the tactic of damage mitigation. Tools such as lifegain spells or creatures like Kitchen Finks can bolster your resilience against the direct life loss incurred from the Altar. Furthermore, redirecting or preventing damage through cards like Deflecting Palm or Aegis of the Gods might save a player from a precarious situation, turning the tables back in their favor.

Considering the crux of MTG play dynamics, it is essential to engage with versatile responses when facing cards like Altar of Mogis. Whether you’re dismantling it directly, diluting its impact, or even utilizing counter play mechanics like copying or stealing, always ensure that your sideboard is equipped with answers for such game-altering cards.

Cards like Altar of Mogis

Altar of Mogis introduces a unique dynamic to sacrifice-driven strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It finds kinship with effects like Goblin Bombardment which allows players to sacrifice a creature to deal damage to any target. The distinct aspect of Altar of Mogis is its potential to fuel both aggressive and control tactics through its damage-dealing ability tied to sacrificing nonland permanents, not just creatures.

When considering cards with a similar flavor, one could look at Ashnod’s Altar. While this artifact offers the benefit of generating colorless mana instead of dealing damage, the sac-for-value theme reverberates. Another comparison would be Phyrexian Altar, trading damage for colored mana facilitation, broadening the spectrum of synergy within a deck’s mana base.

Overall, Altar of Mogis stands out in decks that thrive on sacrifice for profit. Its balance of cost, damage output, and permanent sacrificing flexibility serves as an excellent utility in the right deck, echoing the tactical depth of its sacrificial forebears in MTG lore.

Cards similar to Altar of Mogis by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Altar of Mogis MTG card by a specific set like Battle the Horde, 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 Altar of Mogis and other MTG cards: