Aura Mutation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Converts enchantments into creature tokens, enhancing card advantage and on-field tactics.
  2. Retaliates at instant speed, seamlessly adapting to dynamic in-game scenarios.
  3. Demands careful mana management, aligning with green and white mana-reliant decks.

Text of card

Destroy target enchantment. Put X 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens into play, where X is its converted mana cost.

"Life can be found in all things, even things unnatural." —Multani, maro-sorcerer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aura Mutation brings a unique interaction to the table in terms of card advantage. By destroying target enchantment, you’re often trading one card (Aura Mutation) for an opponent’s valuable card, disrupting their game plan while potentially gaining yourself a surplus of tokens.

Resource Acceleration: Unlike many removals, Aura Mutation gives back resources proportional to the converted mana cost of the destroyed enchantment. The creature tokens you get in return serve as a resource turbocharge, accelerating your board presence and providing potential chump blockers or sacrificial pawns for other effects.

Instant Speed: The charm of Aura Mutation lies in its flexibility. As an instant-speed reaction, it allows you to react to ever-changing battlefield conditions. Whether eliminating an opponent’s threatening aura in combat or during their end step, it offers tactical depth and makes for exciting and unpredictable gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aura Mutation does not make you discard a card as an additional payment, hence, low on-hand resources may not be an immediate concern. However, this card’s effectiveness is conditional to an opponent’s card action that may limit your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: As with many other cards in MTG, Aura Mutation demands specific types of mana: one green and one white. This requires a strategic deck build where both types of mana are readily accessible. It may restrict its applicability, particularly in decks without the necessary mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost for employing the Aura Mutation card may seem steep. Costing two manas overall, there might be other options in your deck that could allow more effective plays or responses to your opponent’s moves for the same or lower mana cost. Timing and strategic execution of this card in a match are, therefore, crucial to maximize its potential.


Reasons to Include Aura Mutation in Your Collection

Versatility: Aura Mutation slots readily into a myriad of deck types, particularly those that capitalize on creature generation. The card’s ability to destroy an enchantment and replace it with equally many 1/1 creature saprolings offers wide gameplay utility. Whether for defense or aggressive strategies, these saprolings can become an unexpected asset.

Combo Potential: Aura Mutation shines in decks built around synergies with creature-based mechanics. The saproling tokens generated by the card can potentially trigger numerous abilities or amplify certain strategies focused on creature presence or creature sacrifice. Thus, Aura Mutation blends well into cohesive deck strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalent use of enchantments in the current meta of Magic the Gathering, Aura Mutation stands out as highly significant. By offering a means to counter and gain advantage from enchantment-heavy strategies, the card constitutes a tactical counterplay to frequent metagame trends.


How to beat

Aura Mutation, a well-known card in Magic: The Gathering, is renowned for its unique ability to destroy target enchantment and create X 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens, where X equals the enchantment’s converted mana cost. With its two mana cost and instant play ability, it can quickly dominate the battlefield and create an army of saplings in one swift move.

Counteracting Aura Mutation requires strategic gameplay. Consider stacking a few low-cost enchantments instead of a singular, high-cost one on your creature. This forces the Aura Mutation cardholder to only receive a few tokens, subsequently undermining their strategy. Alternatively, opt for a deck with less enchantments and more untapped creatures or instant kill spells. Prepare to respond quickly once Aura Mutation is revealed, using instant kill spells like Fatal Push or Murder. For green decks, Beast Within is another good option to convert the problem enchantment into a lesser threat.

To sum it up, the key to winning against Aura Mutation lies within strategic gameplay. By mitigating the card’s strengths through carefully chosen alternatives, it’s possible to make the tables turn in our favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

From deck building to actual gameplay, MTG is a game of depth, strategy, and adaptation. Aura Mutation exemplifies these elements with its enchantment disruption and token generation, proving to be a valuable card in the right context. Strengthen your deck’s response to enchantments and increase your army of creatures with this impactful card. Understanding the nuances of when and how to play Aura Mutation can undoubtedly enhance your gameplay. It’s more than just adding a card to your collection; it’s about integrating it strategically for maximum effect. Discover more ways to optimize your deck and gameplay with insights and tips right here.


Cards like Aura Mutation

The Aura Mutation card performs strongly in the realm of creature-based spells in Magic: The Gathering. A comparison can be drawn with cards such as Naturalize and Disenchant, both of which have the ability to destroy an enchantment. However, Aura Mutation stands out for its impressive power to transform any enchantment into a fleet of Saproling tokens. This unique aspect provides a tactical edge by increasing board presence.

In a somewhat related grouping, we have Sterling Grove. Although not destroying enchantments, Sterling Grove provides enchantments with protection and has the additional benefit of being able to search for an enchantment card. Similarly, Harmonic Sliver offers the ability to destroy artifacts and enchantments, albeit at a higher mana cost and without the bonus of creating creature tokens.

To sum up, when examining similar card abilities and assessing each card’s strategic value, Aura Mutation indeed holds a significant position among Magic: The Gathering’s creature-based spells. This is owing to its dual functionality – the destruction of opponent’s enchantments and the generation of your own creatures.

Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Sterling Grove - MTG Card versions
Harmonic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - Onslaught (ONS)
Disenchant - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Sterling Grove - Invasion (INV)
Harmonic Sliver - Time Spiral (TSP)

Cards similar to Aura Mutation by color, type and mana cost

Vitalizing Cascade - MTG Card versions
Wax // Wane - MTG Card versions
Heroes' Reunion - MTG Card versions
Eladamri's Call - MTG Card versions
Gerrard's Command - MTG Card versions
Ray of Revelation - MTG Card versions
Rite of Harmony - MTG Card versions
Seeds of Strength - MTG Card versions
Reknit - MTG Card versions
Sigil Blessing - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Charm - MTG Card versions
Sundering Growth - MTG Card versions
Dromoka's Command - MTG Card versions
Nature's Chant - MTG Card versions
Bind // Liberate - MTG Card versions
Vitalizing Cascade - Mirage (MIR)
Wax // Wane - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Heroes' Reunion - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Eladamri's Call - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Gerrard's Command - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
Ray of Revelation - Historic Anthology 5 (HA5)
Rite of Harmony - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Seeds of Strength - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Reknit - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Sigil Blessing - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Selesnya Charm - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Sundering Growth - Commander 2019 (C19)
Dromoka's Command - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Nature's Chant - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Bind // Liberate - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 (CMB2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aura Mutation MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Commander 2016, 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 Aura Mutation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aura Mutation Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 2321997normalblackPete Venters
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1802015normalblackPete Venters
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3282015normalblackOlivier Bernard

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aura Mutation has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 This spell doesn't resolve and you get no Saprolings if the enchantment is an illegal target on resolution.

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