Celestial Prism MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 234
1993-10-04 - Number 235
1993-12-01 - Number 235
1993-12-10 - Number 235
1993-12-10 - Number 235
1994-04-01 - Number 239
1994-04-01 - Number 239
1994-06-21 - Number 239
1995-04-01 - Number 304
1995-04-01 - Number 304
2022-11-28 - Number 527
2022-11-28 - Number 230
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
: Provides 1 mana of any color. This use can be played as an interrupt.
Cards like Celestial Prism
The Celestial Prism is a classic artifact from the early days of Magic: The Gathering that has seen many analogs in the card pool over the years. As a mana filter, it allows players to invest mana and convert it into a different color. This mechanism is not unique to Celestial Prism; there are cards like Prophetic Prism which not only filter mana but also draw a card upon entering the battlefield, offering additional value.
Mana Cylix is another example, simpler still, merely transforming mana without the card advantage of Prophetic Prism. Though Celestial Prism requires an investment of one mana for the conversion, it stands out because it can be a bridge for decks with demanding color requirements. Comparatively, cards like Chromatic Lantern go a step further, turning all lands into sources of any color automatically without any additional costs, providing a much higher utility especially in multi-colored decks.
Assessing their efficiency in gameplay, while Celestial Prism may not be the most mana-efficient card in this space, it has historical significance and occasional utility in formats that focus on artifacts or in decks that desperately need color fixing.
Cards similar to Celestial Prism by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Resource Acceleration: Celestial Prism offers a diverse mana source that can be essential for casting spells outside your deck’s primary colors. This can be particularly advantageous in multicolored decks where mana fixing is crucial.
Card Advantage: While the Prism doesn’t directly provide card draw, its ability to tap for any color of mana can indirectly lead to card advantage by allowing you to smoothly cast card-drawing spells regardless of color requirements.
Instant Speed: The Prism’s mana ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to the evolving game state. Whether it’s during your turn or your opponent’s, being able to access any color of mana at a moment’s notice can be decisively advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing this artifact doesn’t just tap into your mana resources; it also demands siphoning off potential mana from other cards in your hand due to its activation cost, which can hinder your gameplay when you’re trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Celestial Prism’s mana cost is set at three generic mana, which might seem flexible, but it’s specifically demanding when considering its ability cost and the overall investment for its moderate return.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana for its mere presence and an additional mana to utilize its function, Celestial Prism’s utility is overshadowed by more modern and efficient mana accelerators or color fixers available in the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Celestial Prism offers a color fixing option for decks that require mana of various colors. Its ability to convert one mana into another of any color makes it a utility card that can enhance a multicolored deck’s consistency.
Combo Potential: As an artifact, Celestial Prism can be a key piece in decks that capitalize on artifact synergies. Its ability to provide mana of any color can also be vital in enabling combos that require diverse mana expenditures.
Meta-Relevance: Although not at the pinnacle of competitive play, in certain formats like Commander, Celestial Prism can be an affordable and practical inclusion to ensure your deck operates smoothly, regardless of color restrictions, and it can be particularly relevant when facing decks that restrict mana availability.
How to beat
Celestial Prism can be a utility card in MTG, offering a flexible mana solution for decks that might struggle with color fixing. However, overcoming a Celestial Prism does not demand intricate strategies. Primarily, the card requires a mana investment to activate its ability, making it a less efficient source of mana acceleration. Cards with the ability to destroy artifacts, such as Naturalize or Shatter, can easily dismantle the Prism’s contributions to a player’s mana base.
Another angle of disruption targets the player’s reliance on artifacts. Efficient cards that restrict artifact abilities, like Stony Silence, can render Celestial Prism virtually useless without directly targeting it. Additionally, since Celestial Prism occupies an artifact slot in a player’s deck, it could also compete with more high-impact artifacts, indirectly weakening the deck’s overall strategy and thus providing an opportunity for an opponent to capitalize on a lighter board presence.
Overall, while Celestial Prism offers diversity in mana supply, it does so at the cost of tempo, and by capitalizing on this weakness, one can keep the advantage away from players who depend on this and similar utility cards. Knowing when to disrupt or ignore it is key to navigating matches where Celestial Prism is in play.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Celestial Prism MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Celestial Prism 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Celestial Prism Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Amy Weber.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 234 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 235 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 235 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 235 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 235 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 239 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 239 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 239 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 304 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 304 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 527 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 230 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Celestial Prism has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |