Power Armor MTG Card
2000-10-02 - Number 309
2010-03-19 - Number 62
2020-09-26 - Number INV-309
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Domain |
Key Takeaways
- Power Armor enhances deck performance by improving card draw and increasing mana availability.
- Instant speed allows for adaptability, responding to in-game changes without turn commitment.
- Mana and card discard requirements may limit the card’s inclusion in varied decks.
Text of card
o3, oc T: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.
"Great peril demands formidable weaponry." —Urza
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Power Armor enables you to manipulate the top of your deck, ultimately offering an increase in your hand options and overall card quality during the match.
Resource Acceleration: This card can provide an uptick in your mana resources, allowing you to deploy larger threats or answer opponent moves more efficiently, thereby tipping the scales in your favor as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: With the flexibility of instant speed, Power Armor can be activated in the most critical moments, giving you the upper edge by adapting to the game’s flow without having to commit during your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Power Armor commands you to discard a card upon activation. For players who are already grappling with a depleted hand, the added discard could be a detrimental setback, forcing you to lose potentially crucial assets.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s requirement for a particular blend of mana might pose a challenge. With its necessity for specific mana types, it may not easily slot into a deck that runs a diverse color palette, potentially curbing its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The expenditure to get Power Armor on the battlefield is not insubstantial. Decks aiming for faster tempo might find the cost inhibitive, as the mana could instead be allocated to developing the board or disrupting opponents more efficiently in the early stages of the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Power Armor brings flexibility to deck building, easily integrating into artifact-centered strategies or decks that leverage equipment synergies.
Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with creatures that benefit from equipment, setting the stage for powerful interactions and enabling explosive turns in the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that prioritizes permanents on the battlefield, Power Armor’s ability to fortify your creatures could provide a significant advantage, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.
How to beat Power Armor
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Power Armor stands out as a formidable artifact card that can provide its controller with a significant advantage. To overcome an opposing player wielding this potent piece of equipment, understanding its mechanics and finding effective strategies is key. Typically, Power Armor adjusts a creature’s power and toughness based on the number of lands you control, turning even the smallest creatures into major threats on the battlefield.
One efficient method to combat Power Armor includes using removal spells that can target artifacts or enchantments, such as Naturalize, Disenchant, or the more recent Krosan Grip with its split second ability to prevent your opponent from responding. Keeping the board clear of creatures can also help, as Power Armor requires a creature to equip to. For this approach, board wipe spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can be invaluable. Preventing your opponent from ramping their land count is another angle, disrupting the very engine that powers the Armor’s effectiveness. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can directly hinder their land-based strategies. By preparing your deck with these countermeasures, you increase your chances of dismantling the Power Armor threat and claiming victory.
Ultimately, it boils down to being proactive and adaptive in your game plan. By anticipating the appearance of Power Armor and having an answer ready, you can neutralize its impact and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Power Armor
The introduction of Power Armor into the vast library of Magic: The Gathering adds another layer of strategic depth to the game. When comparing Power Armor to similar artifacts that boost creature abilities, we can look at the likes of Cranial Plating. Both of these cards amplify a creature’s might on the battlefield; however, Power Armor offers a more flexible benefit, adapting to the number of artifacts you control, whereas Cranial Plating’s power is linked directly to the number of artifacts you have in play. The distinction lies in whether you value adaptability or immediate impact.
Another card to consider is Whispersilk Cloak, which also serves to enhance a creature, but with a different twist. While Power Armor focuses on ramping up attack power in tune with artifacts, Whispersilk Cloak provides the double advantage of unblockability and protection from targeting, making it a classic choice for evasion strategies. Although it doesn’t mirror the power-boosting aspect of Power Armor, it offers a different route towards victory.
In examining the ability to tilt the scales in favor of your creatures, Power Armor aligns well with artifacts that bolster creature attributes. It offers adaptability—particularly in artifact-centric decks—making it a formidable option that could see significant play in formats where artifacts reign supreme.
Cards similar to Power Armor by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Power Armor MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition, 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 Power Armor and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Power Armor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2010-03-19. Illustrated by Doug Chaffee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-10-02 | Invasion | INV | 309 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee | |
| 2 | 2010-03-19 | Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition | DDE | 62 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | INV-309 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Power Armor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Power Armor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-02-01 | A number of nonbasic lands have basic land types. Domain abilities don’t count the number of lands you control — they count the number of basic land types among lands you control, even if that means checking the same land twice. For example, if you control a Tundra, an Overgrown Tomb, and a Madblind Mountain, you’ll have a Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest among the lands you control. Your domain abilities will be maxed out. |
| 2009-02-01 | How many lands you control of a particular basic land type is irrelevant to a domain ability, as long as that number is greater than zero. As far as domain is concerned, ten Forests is the same as one Forest. |
| 2009-02-01 | To determine the number of basic land types among lands you control, look at the lands you have on the battlefield and ask yourself whether the subtypes Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest appear within that group. The number of times you say yes (topping out at five) tells you how powerful your domain abilities will be. |
