Archetype of Imagination MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment Creature — Human Wizard
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Archetype of Imagination grants unblockable potential, setting the stage for unmatched aerial superiority in gameplay.
  2. Optimal in decks rich with creatures, it may limit deck diversity and has a specific six mana cost.
  3. Its ability to control the skies can decisively influence MTG combat-centric metagames and strategies.

Text of card

Creatures you control have flying. Creatures your opponents control lose flying and can't have or gain flying.

"Is it not the embodiment of our aspirations?" —Prokopios, astronomer of Meletis


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Archetype of Imagination comes into play, it not only provides a sizable aerial threat but also turns all your creatures into evasive menaces. This shift in board state can easily translate into card advantage as your opponents find themselves unable to block your newly unblockable army.

Resource Acceleration: Although Archetype of Imagination doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the form of adding mana, it does offer a form of tempo acceleration. By denying your opponents profitable blocks, you effectively set them back, making it easier to press your advantage and close the game swiftly.

Instant Speed: While Archetype of Imagination isn’t an instant-speed spell itself, it creates a strategic advantage by forcing your opponents to react to it on their turn. Its continuous effect means that every creature you play after Archetype of Imagination could enter the battlefield unblockable, keeping your opponents on their toes and potentially leading them to waste instant-speed removal on lesser threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When deck building with Archetype of Imagination, it’s essential to consider the balance between creatures and spells. Including this card in your deck without ensuring a creature-rich environment can reduce its effectiveness, as it thrives when complementing a wide range of creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Archetype of Imagination demands a commitment to both blue mana and a higher overall mana pool due to its specific casting cost of four generic and two blue mana. This can potentially constrain deck diversity and necessitate a heavier focus on mana fixing if you’re planning to integrate it into a multicolored deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost totaling six mana, Archetype of Imagination can be seen as a steep investment in games where speed is of the essence. Although the ability to grant flying to all your creatures is powerful, in some scenarios, players may opt for lower-cost cards that offer more immediate board impact or that can be cycled through quickly for greater tempo.


Reasons to Include Archetype of Imagination in Your Collection

Versatility: Archetype of Imagination elevates any deck that aims to bypass defenses by granting your creatures flying, making it difficult for opponents to block. Its presence also affects how opponents plan their defense, as it removes flying from opposing creatures, an excellent addition to the blue-focused decks looking to secure aerial superiority.

Combo Potential: This enchantment creature works wonders in combination with cards that capitalize on the number of creatures with flying. It can significantly enhance strategies centered around boosting creatures with specific abilities or those aiming for direct combat wins with evasion tactics.

Meta-Relevance: With strategies that often focus on board presence and creature abilities, Archetype of Imagination’s ability to control the skies can shift the tide in games where flying is a pivotal mechanic. In a meta that favors creatures and combat, introducing an element that disrupts typical blocking patterns can give you a decisive edge.


How to beat

Overcoming Archetype of Imagination in Magic: The Gathering can be a real game changer, especially since this card can turn the tides by granting all your creatures flying while stripping the opponent’s creatures of the same ability. Key strategies involve removal spells that can target the enchantment creature directly, such as Hero’s Downfall or Banishing Light. Efficiently dealing with it before your opponent can take advantage of flying superiority is paramount.

Another approach is to utilize cards that can bypass creature abilities. Supreme Verdict can wipe the board clean regardless of any abilities or protections the creatures might have. Counterspells like Negate or Dissolve should also be ready in your hand to prevent Archetype of Imagination from hitting the battlefield altogether.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of board presence. Outpacing your opponent with aggressive creatures or creating a formidable defense might force them to use resources other than Archetype of Imagination, making it less impactful when it finally comes into play. Adaptability and anticipation are your allies in this match-up.


BurnMana Recommendations

Stepping into the magical world of MTG, every card you choose can make an enormous difference in your gameplay. Archetype of Imagination is a niche card that sets the stage for an aerial onslaught, ensuring that your creatures are virtually unblockable. It’s a game-changer that seamlessly fits into blue-centric strategies aimed at gaining sky dominance. If integrating this enchantment creature into your deck sounds like the advantage you’ve been seeking, or if you are curious about creating unblockable creature synergies, delve deeper with us. Discover the full potential of Archetype of Imagination and other unique cards that can solidify your deck’s strengths and elevate your MTG experience. Let’s navigate these strategic waters together for your next victorious match.


Cards like Archetype of Imagination

Archetype of Imagination holds a distinctive place in the arena of blue enchantments, offering creatures you control flying and stripping this ability from opponents’ creatures. This has echoes of Wonder, a card that also grants flying to your creatures, but it necessitates a different setup, relying on being in the graveyard with an island on the battlefield.

Another comparable enchantment, Levitation, uniformly grants flying to all your creatures. However, unlike Archetype of Imagination, it does not affect your opponents’ battle capabilities. Then, there’s Gravity Sphere, an older card that levels the playing field by ensuring all creatures lose flying, contrasting greatly with Archetype’s one-sided advantage.

The ability to dominate the aerial zone makes Archetype of Imagination a strategic card in commander and casual formats, creating opportunities for unblockable attacks, a trait its counterparts do not always guarantee. When evaluating such enchantments for deck building, Archetype’s exclusive blend of offensive and defensive capabilities stands out, offering a clear pathway for a flying victory.

Wonder - MTG Card versions
Levitation - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Wonder - Judgment (JUD)
Levitation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Gravity Sphere - Legends (LEG)

Cards similar to Archetype of Imagination by color, type and mana cost

Mind Over Matter - MTG Card versions
Confiscate - MTG Card versions
Extravagant Replication - MTG Card versions
Shark Typhoon - MTG Card versions
Eternity Snare - MTG Card versions
Forced Fruition - MTG Card versions
Hive Mind - MTG Card versions
Volition Reins - MTG Card versions
Mind Unbound - MTG Card versions
Rooftop Storm - MTG Card versions
Back from the Brink - MTG Card versions
Infinite Reflection - MTG Card versions
Conjured Currency - MTG Card versions
Well of Ideas - MTG Card versions
New Perspectives - MTG Card versions
Animate Library - MTG Card versions
In Bolas's Clutches - MTG Card versions
Serpent of Yawning Depths - MTG Card versions
Signature Spells - MTG Card versions
Storm of Saruman - MTG Card versions
Mind Over Matter - Exodus (EXO)
Confiscate - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Extravagant Replication - New Capenna Commander (NCC)
Shark Typhoon - Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit (SLC)
Eternity Snare - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Forced Fruition - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Hive Mind - Magic 2010 (M10)
Volition Reins - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Mind Unbound - Magic 2012 (M12)
Rooftop Storm - Midnight Hunt Commander (MIC)
Back from the Brink - Innistrad (ISD)
Infinite Reflection - Commander 2014 (C14)
Conjured Currency - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Well of Ideas - Double Masters (2XM)
New Perspectives - Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
Animate Library - The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) (ULST)
In Bolas's Clutches - Dominaria (DOM)
Serpent of Yawning Depths - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Signature Spells - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate (HBG)
Storm of Saruman - Tales of Middle-earth Promos (PLTR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Archetype of Imagination MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods and Commander 2018, 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 Archetype of Imagination and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Archetype of Imagination Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-02-07 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Robbie Trevino.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-02-07Born of the GodsBNG 322003normalblackRobbie Trevino
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 812015normalblackRobbie Trevino
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2902015normalblackRobbie Trevino
42020-09-26The ListPLST C18-812015normalblackRobbie Trevino

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Archetype of Imagination has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archetype of Imagination card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2014-02-01 Conversely, continuous effects generated by static abilities (such as an Aura that granted the appropriate ability) would resume applying if the Archetype left the battlefield.
2014-02-01 If you and an opponent each control the same Archetype, no creature controlled by any player will have the appropriate ability.
2014-02-01 The Archetype’s second ability applies to each creature controlled by any of your opponents, no matter when it entered the battlefield.
2014-02-01 While you control an Archetype, continuous effects generated by the resolution of spells and abilities that would give the specified ability to creatures your opponents control aren’t created. For example, if you control Archetype of Courage, a spell cast by an opponent that gives creatures they control first strike wouldn’t cause the creatures to have first strike, even if later in the turn Archetype of Courage left the battlefield. (If the spell has additional effects, such as raising the power of the creatures, those effects will apply as normal.)

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