Crackling Perimeter MTG Card


Crackling Perimeter enables direct damage, leveraging land-heavy decks for a sustained offensive strategy. Despite being mana-intensive, its instant-speed ability provides strategic flexibility and pressure on opponents. Inclusion in decks depends on its utility in specific metas and synergy with tap mechanics.
Crackling Perimeter - Gatecrash
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameGatecrash
Set codeGTC
Number88
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byYeong-Hao Han

Text of card

Tap an untapped Gate you control: Crackling Perimeter deals 1 damage to each opponent.

As the path he sought came into focus, Niv-Mizzet took steps to prevent others from approaching it.


Cards like Crackling Perimeter

The Crackling Perimeter card earns its place in the MTG arena by offering a unique spin on dealing damage to each opponent. When paralleled with cards like Circle of Flame, both serve the purpose of hindering opponent forces, yet Crackling Perimeter’s ability to deal damage without relying on creatures attacking you is a strategic edge. Unlike Circle of Flame, which provides a defensive barrier, Crackling Perimeter takes an offensive route, making use of a player’s surplus of land cards.

Goblin Bombardment is another card that transforms resources into direct damage, allowing players to sacrifice creatures for a similar effect. While Goblin Bombardment can be more flexible due to its use of creatures, Crackling Perimeter requires no sacrifice, providing a steady and resourceful means of exhausting opponents’ life totals. Additionally, the latter can suit decks that are focused on tapping and untapping lands, creating synergies with cards enhancing land abilities.

In essence, Crackling Perimeter stands out amongst damage-dealing cards in MTG by providing consistent damage output and serving as a useful tool for control decks, maximizing the value of lands late in the game when card draws might not be as impactful.

Circle of Flame - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Circle of Flame - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Crackling Perimeter by color, type and mana cost

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Underworld Breach - MTG Card versions
Lightning Rift - MTG Card versions
Power Surge - MTG Card versions
Raging River - MTG Card versions
Smoke - MTG Card versions
Goblin Kites - MTG Card versions
The Brute - MTG Card versions
Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Lightning Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Consuming Ferocity - MTG Card versions
Agility - MTG Card versions
Errantry - MTG Card versions
Heat of Battle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Festival - MTG Card versions
Scald - MTG Card versions
Cave Sense - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Surge - MTG Card versions
Maniacal Rage - MTG Card versions
Battle Strain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Underworld Breach - MTG Card versions
Lightning Rift - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crackling Perimeter may not directly allow you to draw cards, but it can contribute to card advantage by bypassing potential blockers and dealing damage directly to opponents. This persistent threat can force opponents to deal with it, potentially using up more resources than they would like.

Resource Acceleration: While Crackling Perimeter itself doesn’t accelerate your resources, it works extremely well with land-heavy decks or those that utilize the ‘tap an untapped Gate’ mechanic. This synergy can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by consistently dealing damage without the need to invest additional mana for that turn.

Instant Speed: The activated ability of Crackling Perimeter can be used at instant speed, giving you flexibility. You can decide to activate it during your opponent’s end step or in response to their actions, maintaining pressure while keeping mana available for other instant-speed interactions during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Utilizing Crackling Perimeter requires you to have a land card to toss, which might not always be convenient. Pitching lands can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re strategizing for a long game with ample resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Activating the ability of Crackling Perimeter calls for red mana. This stipulation can restrict its integration to only those decks that can generate that specific mana type, potentially excluding it from a variety of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost to get Crackling Perimeter into play and its activated ability could be deemed high considering its output. Players might find that other cards offer more impactful effects or advantages for an equal or lesser mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crackling Perimeter offers unique gameplay as it can be incorporated into a variety of deck builds, particularly those revolving around tap abilities or those dealing frequent damage. Its capability to damage each opponent makes it a versatile addition to multiformat matches as well.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that amass numerous gates. With the right setup, Crackling Perimeter becomes a consistent source of damage, turning your lands into a toolbox of direct damage to wear down opponents over time.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where games may extend due to control or stall decks, this card can be a game-changer. The consistent damage output from Crackling Perimeter can bypass creature-based defenses, offering a reliable strategy to close out prolonged matches.


How to beat

Crackling Perimeter is an unusual card that can be a persistent source of damage in Magic: The Gathering, as it taps your gates for direct damage to each opponent. Overcoming this card requires a strategy to either outpace the damage or neutralize the card altogether. One approach is to use land destruction cards to remove the gates, such as Field of Ruin, which disrupts the mana base and thus the damage potential of Crackling Perimeter. Alternatively, countering this enchantment when it’s on the stack with spells like Negate or Disenchant once it’s on the battlefield can efficiently handle the threat.

Another effective tactic to consider is increasing your life gain to diminish the impact of the incremental damage. Cards with lifelink, or spells that can provide life, are invaluable against this strategy. Ultimately, it’s about recognizing the reliance Crackling Perimeter has on gates and either going aggressive early on or maintaining control with removal and life gain to limit its effectiveness.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crackling Perimeter MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Crackling Perimeter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crackling Perimeter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-01-24 You can’t tap an untapped Gate you control for mana and tap it to activate Crackling Perimeter’s ability at the same time. You must choose one or the other.