Diamond Pick-Axe MTG Card


Diamond Pick-Axe - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip,Indestructible,Treasure
Released2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set nameThe Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set codeLCI
Number143
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDibujante Nocturno

Key Takeaways

  1. Diamond Pick-Axe offers sustained card advantage and creature empowerment.
  2. Equipping at instant speed provides flexibility in responding to threats.
  3. Resource acceleration and strategy factors make the Pick-Axe valuable.

Text of card

Indestructible (Effects that say "destroy" don't destroy this artifact.) Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has "Whenever this creature attacks, create a Treasure token." (It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.") Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delving into the world of artifact equipment, the Diamond Pick-Axe card shines by providing a persistent edge on the battlefield. When you equip a creature with this tool, not only does it gain an uptick in power, but you also secure an ongoing advantage. It’s like drawing an extra card each turn as the equipped creature continues to deliver more damage or become more formidable.

Resource Acceleration: In the landscape of resource management, the Diamond Pick-Axe accelerates your game beautifully. Equipping it can often mean the difference between staying ahead or falling behind, offering an additional layer of strategy. It sets the stage for bolder plays, giving you the power to outpace your opponent through superior resource utilization.

Instant Speed: The true power of any card in MTG often lies in its flexibility, and instant speed interactions are at the pinnacle of this concept. The ability to equip the Diamond Pick-Axe at instant speed enables dynamic plays that can drastically alter the course of a match. Leave your mana untapped, keep your options open, and when the moment is right, transform an unassuming creature into a significant threat out of nowhere.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to the Diamond Pick-Axe is the potential need to discard another card to leverage its abilities. For players who are already dealing with a scarce number of cards in hand, this can pose a tough decision and might hinder the card’s effectiveness in crucial moments.

Specific Mana Cost: The Diamond Pick-Axe comes with a specific mana requirement that can be restrictive. Players running multi-color decks may find it challenging to accommodate the mana needed to play it, potentially making it a dead card in hands devoid of the right mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a significant amount of mana to cast, the Diamond Pick-Axe may not be as economical compared to other options available in the game. For its mana cost, players might expect a more impactful or versatile effect, leading some to opt for alternatives that provide a more cost-efficient advantage.


Reasons to Include Diamond Pick-Axe in Your Collection

Versatility: Diamond Pick-Axe brings a valuable element of adaptability to a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to boost a creature’s power while also providing a landfall trigger can be a game-changer in decks designed to take advantage of these mechanics.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo opportunities by potentially increasing a creature’s power each turn. When paired with cards that benefit from power increases or landfall triggers, the synergy can become a vital part of your winning strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Given its functionality in decks that capitalize on landfall mechanics or aggressive play, Diamond Pick-Axe can be particularly effective in the current meta, where quick and substantial creature enhancement can tip the scales in your favor.


How to beat

Diamond Pick-Axe is an intriguing equipment in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique boost to creatures. As players look for strategies to overcome this card, it’s essential to understand its mechanics. Typically attached to creatures for a power enhancement, Diamond Pick-Axe can quickly turn a meager creature into a formidable threat. To counter this, removal spells are a player’s best ally. Instant speed spells like Disenchant or Nature’s Claim allow you to respond directly to the equipment being played, preventing the opponent from gaining the advantage.

Board control is another effective strategy. Utilizing sweepers such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the battlefield of creatures, rendering the Pick-Axe’s effect moot. This prevents the need to target the equipment directly and deals with multiple threats at once. Alternatively, keeping pressure on the opponent’s life total can make the tempo loss of equipping a creature too great a risk. By maintaining an aggressive stance, you force your opponent to defend rather than enhance their board state with equipment like the Diamond Pick-Axe.

In essence, staying one step ahead of the opponent either by removing their threats or applying sufficient pressure is key to neutralizing the advantage Diamond Pick-Axe can provide in a Magic: The Gathering game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG arsenal with the Diamond Pick-Axe means mining for victory with every landfall. This equipment can escalate any creature’s threat level, fitting perfectly into strategies that savor power boosts and synergies. With its unique edge in certain meta plays, it might just be the gem you need for that cutting advantage. In the quest to build a pivotal collection, considering this card’s potential is a must. Delve further into strategies, unearth advanced techniques, and add pivotal pieces to your roster, starting with this resourceful tool. Ready for your next victorious clash? Dive deeper with us and refine your deck to a masterful edge.


Cards like Diamond Pick-Axe

Exploring the tools for ramping up your mana in Magic: The Gathering, Diamond Pick-Axe presents as a notable option among equipment cards. When we compare it to other mana acceleration cards, such as Paradise Mantle, we notice differences that can impact your gameplay. Paradise Mantle doesn’t confer added power to the equipped creature, but it does provide a flexible way to tap for mana without needing the creature to engage in combat.

Turning our attention to another card, Sword of the Animist, we see some parallels with Diamond Pick-Axe in the equip costs and their ability to interact with land. Sword of the Animist is marginally more powerful in consistent land ramp, fetching a land directly onto the battlefield. However, Diamond Pick-Axe’s potential for power boost hones in on certain strategies, especially in decks that favor landfall triggers to amplify a creature’s capabilities.

In essence, while considering the optimization of your mana resources and creature advantages, Diamond Pick-Axe may not be the most potent equipment out there, but its synergy with landfall tactics provides a distinctive approach, cultivating a space where it can shine in the right MTG deck builds.

Paradise Mantle - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Animist - MTG Card versions
Paradise Mantle - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Animist - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Diamond Pick-Axe MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Diamond Pick-Axe and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Diamond Pick-Axe has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal