Magmatic Core MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Abilities	Cumulative upkeep
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Number	91
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

Boasts card advantage by offering a sustainable method to manage threats without depleting your hand.
Accelerates game pace by clearing potential blockers, making way for unimpeded attacks each turn.
Instant-speed use during any upkeep grants flexibility and strategic board disruption on opponents’ turns.

Text of card

Cumulative upkeep (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.) At the end of your turn, Magmatic Core deals X damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures, where X is the number of age counters on it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Magmatic Core stands out in its card advantage capabilities. By offering a repeatable effect to deal damage to creatures or planeswalkers, it allows for continuous board control without sacrificing cards from your hand. This enables a player to keep their hand stocked while managing the opponent’s threats effectively.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, Magmatic Core facilitates resource acceleration by clearing the way for your attacks. By removing blockers or threats each turn, you can consistently deal damage to your opponent, accelerating the pace of the game in your favor. This indirect acceleration can be as impactful as generating additional mana when it comes to shifting the tide of the game.

Instant Speed: While Magmatic Core itself isn’t an instant, its effect can be utilized in any player’s upkeep step. This translates to having the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. The ability to affect the board without waiting for your own turn grants you a significant strategic advantage, keeping your opponents on their toes at all times.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Magmatic Core demands a card discard to evoke, often putting a strain on your hand size, especially in situations where retaining resources is crucial for maintaining your board presence and options.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting requirements purely in red mana can be restrictive, not only pigeonholing the card into mono-red or specific multicolor decks but also potentially clashing with your mana base when trying to cast multiple spells in one turn.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card’s initial impact can be powerful, Magmatic Core’s cost is significant and can be seen as an investment that may delay development of your strategy. Players should weigh this against alternative cards that offer similar effects without the heavy mana commitment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Magmatic Core is a dynamic addition to any deck that thrives on manipulating damage and controlling the board. Its ability to spread damage across multiple creatures lends flexibility in dealing with a variety of threats.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Magmatic Core can become a strategic lynchpin, working in tandem with cards that capitalize on damage effects or creature removal to clear the way for your victory.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where swarms of creatures or token strategies are prevalent, Magmatic Core provides a consistent answer, disrupting your opponent’s board presence turn after turn.

How to beat

Magmatic Core is a compelling card that brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal incremental damage across creatures each turn can quickly become a thorn in the side of opponents relying on creature-heavy decks. To effectively neutralize this persistent threat, one method is to prioritize enchantment removal spells in your deck. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant that can target and destroy artifacts and enchantments are key in dismantling the Magmatic Core’s influence.

Alternatively, decks that focus on indestructible or high-toughness creatures can also negate the burn from Magmatic Core, ensuring your key creatures stay protected while also pressuring your opponent. Another strategy includes employing instant-speed spells that can counteract or bounce Magmatic Core upon casting, like Negate or Chain of Vapor. Such spells not only disrupt the initial play but can also give you the advantage of timing and resource management.

Of course, in the fast-paced environment of MTG, speed can be of the essence. Prioritizing a swift and aggressive approach can often overrun a Magmatic Core before it accumulates enough damage to be a significant problem. Focusing on these strategies can greatly increase your chances of trumping a Magmatic Core and claiming victory.

Cards like Magmatic Core

Magmatic Core is a distinctive enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that offers players a unique method to control the board. When scrutinizing other cards with comparable functionalities, cards like Pyrohemia and Pestilence come to mind. Both allow for the potential to deal damage across the board whenever you play mana. Magmatic Core, however, differentiates itself with its cumulative aspect – the ability to stack damage counters that can later be strategically distributed as a player sees fit during their upkeep.

Another card worth comparing is Ratchet Bomb, which also deals with counters and has the capacity to remove tokens or low-cost permanents from the field. Whereas Ratchet Bomb requires no mana to increment counters, it isn’t as flexible as Magmatic Core in handling threats over time. Instead, it provides a one-time, potentially devastating clear when activated. Additionally, we have Sweltering Suns, which presents an instant and universal approach to deal 3 damage to each creature; yet it lacks the recurring, nuanced control Magmatic Core executes turn after turn.

Ultimately, Magmatic Core offers a unique persistent control tactic that, while slower, gives players the power to manipulate the tide of battle in increments, illustrating a solid place within Magic: The Gathering’s array of board-dominating spells.

Cards similar to Magmatic Core by color, type and mana cost

Uncontrollable Anger - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Magmatic Core MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Magmatic Core and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Magmatic Core has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-07-15	Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage.
2006-07-15	If Magmatic Core has no age counters on it, the only number of targets the ability can have is zero.
2006-07-15	The damage is divided when Magmatic Core’s ability triggers. Increasing or decreasing the number of age counters on Magmatic Core after the ability triggers but before it resolves has no effect on the amount of damage that’s dealt.
2019-07-12	You can choose zero targets. In this case, Magmatic Core deals no damage.