Mizzium Mortars MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Overload

Key Takeaways

  1. Mizzium Mortars grants card advantage by clearing multiple threats with its Overload ability.
  2. The card’s mana-specific demand limits its use but offers unmatched impact in the right decks.
  3. Having Mizzium Mortars in your collection equips you with a versatile response to a creature-heavy meta.

Text of card

Mizzium Mortars deals 4 damage to target creature you don't control. Overload (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mizzium Mortars offers a considerable edge when it comes to card advantage, especially with its Overload ability. By potentially clearing multiple creatures off the board with a single card, this powerful spell can sway the game in your favor by diminishing your opponent’s resources while conserving your own.

Resource Acceleration: While Mizzium Mortars isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, it effectively slows down your opponents’ board development. This allows you to utilize your mana more efficiently in subsequent turns, playing out your strategy with less pressure from opposing creatures.

Instant Speed: While Mizzium Mortars operates at sorcery speed, it compensates with the ability to target creatures selectively or clear the board with its Overload option. This flexibility makes it a versatile inclusion in any deck, ensuring you can respond to various situations as the game unfolds.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Not applicable for Mizzium Mortars, as it does not include a discard mechanic.

Specific Mana Cost: While Mizzium Mortars offers flexible damage output, its red mana requirement can be restrictive. Players without red in their deck colors will find it difficult to integrate this spell into their strategies. This narrows down the card’s usability to primarily red or multicolored decks that can accommodate its mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The base mana cost for Mizzium Mortars may be considered acceptable for its base effect, but the overload cost, which turns the spell into a board-wiping force, is significantly higher. At six total mana, including three red mana, it requires a substantial mana investment. As such, players might find themselves unable to cast it at a critical moment, or they may compare it unfavorably with other spells that can achieve similar or better effects at a lower or more flexible mana investment.


Reasons to Include Mizzium Mortars in Your Collection

Versatility: Mizzium Mortars is a dynamic card that serves dual purposes. In its basic form, it’s a manageable-cost sorcery that can deal 4 damage to a single creature. This allows it to deal with a variety of threats. When overloaded, it transforms into a game-changer, capable of clearing multiple creatures off the board and often swinging the game in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in decks that are based on spellslinger strategies. By dealing damage to multiple creatures, it can help trigger abilities or power up spells that benefit from casting or from creatures being dealt damage. This makes it a potential engine in red-based combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta-game where creature-based decks are prevalent, Mizzium Mortars excels. Its ability to act as both a targeted removal or a mass board wipe makes it relevant against a variety of popular decks. Whether you face swarms of tokens or individual titans, Mizzium Mortars can provide an answer within the same card slot, which is highly effective in adaptable deck building.


How to beat Mizzium Mortars

Mizzium Mortars is a potent spell in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to deal extensive damage and potentially clear a swath of creatures off the board with its Overload feature. When facing a deck that utilizes Mizzium Mortars, it’s critical to adopt strategies that mitigate its impact. Consider employing creatures with indestructible or those that can regenerate to withstand the Mortars’ onslaught. Instant-speed spells that grant hexproof or indestructible can also preserve your key creatures in a pinch.

Moreover, diversifying the toughness of your creatures can be advantageous. Since Mizzium Mortars deals four damage, creatures with a toughness of five or higher remain safe from a single Mortar. Another effective counter is to apply pressure and reduce your opponent’s life total before they accumulate enough mana to cast Mortars with Overload. Lastly, always be mindful of the match state — if an opponent is likely holding back the spell, it might be wise to commit fewer creatures to the board and keep some in reserve.

Ultimately, while Mizzium Mortars can be a formidable card, adapting your gameplay and utilizing cards that can either endure or negate its effect will greatly enhance your chances of overcoming a strategy built around this powerful removal card.


BurnMana Recommendations

The might of Mizzium Mortars in MTG cannot be overstated—whether you’re aiming for precision strikes or a sweeping victory. With a card that adapts to the ebbs and flows of your matches, incorporating this spell into your arsenal can tip the scales in your favor. Our guide has walked you through the pros, cons, and strategic counters, arming you with the knowledge to wield or withstand this powerful spell. Curious to uncover deeper insights and innovative strategies? Join us and expand your command of the game, ensuring your deck is not just a collection, but a force to be reckoned with.


Cards like Mizzium Mortars

Mizzium Mortars is a popular card for delivering powerful board impact in MTG. It stands out with its flexible mana cost, allowing you to deal 4 damage to a single creature or overload it for six mana to hit all creatures your opponents control. In comparison, cards like Flame Slash offer lower mana cost removal at one red mana to deal 4 damage to a target creature, but lack the versatility of targeting multiple creatures like Mizzium Mortars does when overloaded.

Another peer in this space is Bonfire of the Damned, which can be miraculously cast for its miracle cost and potentially clear the board of creatures while inflicting damage to the opponent. However, it doesn’t offer the reliable targeting at a basic level that Mizzium Mortars provides. Lastly, Blasphemous Act is worth mentioning, as it can be a game-changer in a creature-heavy board. Although it has a significant base cost, each creature on the battlefield lowers it, making it a potentially low-cost board wipe, in contrast to Mizzium Mortars’ consistent overhead for its sweeping effect.

All in all, Mizzium Mortars offers a balanced solution for MTG players who need a controlled removal option or a game-swinging board clear at a pivotal moment in their matches, making it a staple in many red decks.

Flame Slash - MTG Card versions
Bonfire of the Damned - MTG Card versions
Blasphemous Act - MTG Card versions
Flame Slash - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Bonfire of the Damned - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Blasphemous Act - Innistrad (ISD)

Cards similar to Mizzium Mortars by color, type and mana cost

Scent of Cinder - MTG Card versions
Spitting Earth - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Hammer - MTG Card versions
Fanning the Flames - MTG Card versions
Strategy, Schmategy - MTG Card versions
Disorder - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Oath - MTG Card versions
Last Chance - MTG Card versions
Tribal Flames - MTG Card versions
Breath of Darigaaz - MTG Card versions
Incendiary Flow - MTG Card versions
Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions
Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Burning Wish - MTG Card versions
Mana Seism - MTG Card versions
Yamabushi's Storm - MTG Card versions
Face to Face - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sleigh Ride - MTG Card versions
Molten Disaster - MTG Card versions
Scent of Cinder - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Spitting Earth - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Volcanic Hammer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Fanning the Flames - Stronghold (STH)
Strategy, Schmategy - Unglued (UGL)
Disorder - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Warrior's Oath - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Last Chance - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Tribal Flames - Modern Masters (MMA)
Breath of Darigaaz - Commander 2015 (C15)
Incendiary Flow - Friday Night Magic 2017 (F17)
Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Nahiri's Lithoforming - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Pyroclasm - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
Burning Wish - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mana Seism - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Yamabushi's Storm - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Face to Face - Unhinged (UNH)
Goblin Sleigh Ride - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Molten Disaster - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mizzium Mortars MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Return to Ravnica, 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 Mizzium Mortars and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mizzium Mortars Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 996671997normalblackDeruchenko Alexander
22012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1012003normalblackNoah Bradley
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1632015normalblackNoah Bradley
42017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1012015normalblackNoah Bradley
52018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 322015normalblackNoah Bradley
62022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8032015normalblackChristina Davis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mizzium Mortars has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 Because a spell with overload doesn't target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with hexproof or with protection from the appropriate color.
2013-04-15 Casting a spell with overload doesn't change that spell's mana cost. You just pay the overload cost instead.
2013-04-15 Effects that cause you to pay more or less for a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while casting it for its overload cost, too.
2013-04-15 If you are instructed to cast a spell with overload “without paying its mana cost,” you can't choose to pay its overload cost instead.
2013-04-15 If you don't pay the overload cost of a spell, that spell will have a single target. If you pay the overload cost, the spell won't have any targets.
2013-04-15 Note that if the spell with overload is dealing damage, protection from that spell's color will still prevent that damage.
2013-04-15 Overload doesn't change when you can cast the spell.

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