Darksteel Reactor MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 114
2019-11-21 - Number 20
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Indestructible |
Text of card
Darksteel Reactor is indestructible. ("Destroy" effects and lethal damage don't destroy it.) At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a charge counter on Darksteel Reactor. When Darksteel Reactor has twenty or more charge counters on it, you win the game.
Cards like Darksteel Reactor
Darksteel Reactor stands out in the landscape of alternate win condition cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares its philosophical space with cards like Helix Pinnacle, which also offers a win strategy not reliant on reducing an opponent’s life total. Helix Pinnacle demands a significant mana investment to reach its threshold of one hundred counters, a task that tends to be faster than the steady accumulation of counters on Darksteel Reactor.
Another card in this comparison is Azor’s Elocutors, which focuses on filibuster counters to secure victory. It demonstrates a different approach; winning relies on maintaining a presence on the battlefield without being addressed by opponents, as opposed to Darksteel Reactor which is indestructible. This makes Darksteel Reactor a more durable option, although slower to reach its win condition.
Darksteel Reactor’s indestructibility and passive win condition capability make it a unique piece in MTG decks that aim to outlast opponents. While not the fastest route to victory, its resilience in the face of removal spells gives it a distinct place among cards that present an alternate path to winning the game.
Cards similar to Darksteel Reactor by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Provides a win condition independent of card interactions, steadily advancing towards a game-ending 20 counters without requiring additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: Combines seamlessly with proliferate strategies or counter-doubling effects, expediting its victory countdown.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Darksteel Reactor’s indestructible nature allows you to play defensively, keeping up mana for instant-speed interaction while your win condition remains untouched.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Darksteel Reactor demands a specific combination of four mana which includes generic mana, potentially limiting its immediate play in multicolored or mana-intensive decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At an investment of four mana, the reactor competes with other high-impact permanents and spells, which may offer more immediate board presence or disruption.
Discard Requirement: Although Darksteel Reactor does not require discarding directly, its slow accumulation of charge counters might force players to discard other cards at the end of the turn due to hand size limits while waiting for the Reactor to reach its win condition.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Darksteel Reactor is a card that provides an alternative win condition, which can be a game-changer in formats like Commander where games tend to last longer. Its indestructible nature makes it resilient to most removal spells, ensuring that it stays on the board as a persistent threat.
Combo Potential: This card shines when used with proliferate mechanics or doubling counters strategies. Teaming up Darksteel Reactor with cards that add or multiply counters can expedite victory, rewarding creative deck builders who see the inherent synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where games are drawn out and control decks are prevalent, Darksteel Reactor offers a solid win condition that can bypass traditional creature combat. This makes it a smart inclusion for those looking to outlast opponents with durable, non-traditional threats.
How to Beat
Darksteel Reactor is a unique indestructible artifact in Magic: The Gathering that can pose a significant challenge with its alternate win condition. Unlike other cards that chip away at life totals or construct overwhelming board presence, the Reactor depends on accumulating charge counters, inevitably ticking its way towards an unstoppable victory. To effectively counteract this, one must employ disruption strategies or alternative win conditions.
Effectively dismantling your opponent’s strategy involves stifling their ability to add counters or bypassing the Reactor’s indestructibility. Cards like Pithing Needle can be instrumental by preventing the Reactor’s abilities from activating. Strategic use of clock control and resource denial can also disrupt the synergy and flow necessary for a Reactor-centric strategy to succeed. Subsequently, engaging in a faster race to win or using direct player elimination mechanics, such as poison counters or milling decks, can offer a workable solution. For those able to flex in response to such threats, it becomes possible to outpace and undermine the slow but steady pressure of a Darksteel Reactor win condition.
The key lies in dynamic play, recognizing the inevitability of the Reactor’s mechanism and preparing answers that either hasten your path to victory or hinder your opponent’s. Should you find yourself facing down this formidable artifact, swift aggression or cunning control are your best avenues to ensure the Reactor never reaches critical mass.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Darksteel Reactor MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Historic Anthology 1, 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 Darksteel Reactor 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
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Printings
The Darksteel Reactor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2019-11-21. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 114 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2019-11-21 | Historic Anthology 1 | HA1 | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Darksteel Reactor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |