Electropotence MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2009-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar |
| Set code | ZEN |
| Number | 122 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Christopher Moeller |
Text of card
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay . If you do, that creature deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.
Where life and force collide.
Cards like Electropotence
In the dynamic world of Magic: The Gathering, Electropotence finds itself amidst a range of cards designed to boost the damage dealt to opponents or creatures. Cards like Impact Tremors may come to mind, as they also leverage the power of creatures entering the battlefield. Electropotence, with its potency in delivering extra damage, requires additional mana to activate its ability. In contrast, Impact Tremors offers a more passive approach, automatically dealing damage without the need for extra mana, though it’s limited to one damage per creature.
Combustible Gearhulk is another powerful card that draws a parallel, with its ability to deal damage based on the top cards of your library when it enters the battlefield. While it doesn’t offer continuous utility like Electropotence, the Gearhulk has the advantage of being a substantial creature by itself with a potent one-time effect. It’s a trade-off between Electropotence’s ongoing threat and the Gearhulk’s immediate impact.
Considering these options, MTG players often weigh the consistency of Electropotence against the cost-effective but limited Impact Tremors, or the singular, high-impact potential of Combustible Gearhulk. Electropotence stands out for those looking to construct a strategy relying on consistent damage output every time a creature comes into play, provided the mana to support it is available. This makes Electropotence a valuable card for decks focusing on creature-based strategies and incremental advantage.
Cards similar to Electropotence by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Electropotence offers incremental advantage by turning each creature cast into potential direct damage, keeping your hand free for other strategies while continually pressuring the opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Electropotence itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of ramping mana, its ability to convert creatures into immediate damage enables faster depletion of your opponent’s resources, indirectly accelerating your path to victory.
Instant Speed: The flexibility to activate Electropotence at instant speed allows a player to maximize mana usage efficiency, waiting to assess if an opponent’s move necessitates a reaction or if it’s best to end the turn with a powerful burst of damage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To activate Electropotence’s ability, players must pitch another card, which can be detrimental during late-game scenarios when card options are limited.
Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a red color identity, Electropotence demands a dedicated mana base, potentially constraining deck construction and reducing its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting requirement of three mana and an additional three mana per use, it becomes challenging to utilize Electropotence efficiently, especially when compared to other cards that provide immediate impact on the game board without such a steep resource investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Electropotence offers a unique effect that can be incorporated into a variety of red-based decks. Its ability to deal extra damage when creatures enter the battlefield can enhance both aggressive and combo-centric playstyles.
Combo Potential: This card shines in setups that rapidly deploy creatures, turning each summon into a potential source of damage. Coupled with token generators or creatures with ETB effects, Electropotence can create powerful synergies and unexpected win conditions.
Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting metagame, Electropotence remains relevant by punishing decks that are slow to establish a board presence. Its potential for burst damage aligns well with metas that favor creature-based strategies, making it a sleeper hit in certain deck builds.
How to beat
Electropotence is a unique inclusion in red’s arsenal, setting the stage for explosive plays in Magic: The Gathering. To circumvent its ramping damage potential, understanding the mechanics and finding the right counters is crucial. Unlike straightforward removal spells, Electropotence’s strength lies in enhancing creatures after they’ve entered the battlefield. Efficiently dealing with the card involves preemptive actions such as using counter spells to prevent its resolution. In red’s color wheel, options like Red Elemental Blast can provide a direct solution before Electropotence becomes a threat on the board.
Another effective tactic is utilizing enchantment removal. Cards like Disenchant offer a simple yet powerful remedy by directly targeting and destroying Electropotence, regardless of how many creatures your opponent tries to empower. In multiplayer formats, leveraging the politics of the table can also prove beneficial. Encourage your allies to save their instant-speed removal, so when Electropotence is activated, the creature is dealt with before damage is done. By staying one step ahead, and ensuring swift elimination of either the enchantment or the electrified creatures, players can mitigate the extra voltage Electropotence brings to a match.
Remember, staying knowledgeable about Electropotence’s mechanics and keeping removal or counter spells at the ready can extinguish this card’s spark before it ignites a fire too wild to control.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Electropotence MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Electropotence 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Electropotence has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Electropotence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | Electropotence is the source of the ability, but the creature is the source of the damage. The ability couldn’t target a creature with protection from red, for example. It could target a creature with protection from creatures, but all the damage would be prevented. Since damage is dealt by the creature, lifelink, deathtouch, and wither are taken into account, even if the creature has left the battlefield by the time it deals damage. |
| 2009-10-01 | If you pay , the creature that entered the battlefield deals damage equal to its current power to the targeted permanent or player. If it’s no longer on the battlefield, its last known existence on the battlefield is checked to determine its power. |
| 2009-10-01 | Once you decide to pay , it’s too late for anyone to respond (such as by activating a regeneration ability the targeted creature has). |
| 2009-10-01 | You target a permanent or player when the ability triggers. You decide whether or not to pay as the ability resolves. |