Energy Refractor MTG Card


Enables a smoother draw strategy, providing excellent deck filtering for reaching pivotal cards. Acts as a resource accelerator, enhancing your capacity to utilize energy counters and mechanics. Grants instant speed adaptability, offering strategic responses to your opponent’s moves.
Energy Refractor - The Brothers' War
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact
Released2022-11-18
Set symbol
Set nameThe Brothers' War
Set codeBRO
Number234
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMaria Poliakova

Text of card

When Energy Refractor enters the battlefield, draw a card. : Add one mana of any color.

"Raw energy contains infinite possibility." —Urza


Cards like Energy Refractor

Energy Refractor is a novel addition to the battlegrounds of Magic: The Gathering, offering a versatile twist on mana generation. When looking at its kin, the Chromatic Lantern stands out. Both cards allow for mana of any color to be tapped, but the Lantern also extends this ability to all other lands you control, potentially granting a broader utility across your entire mana base.

On the other side of the spectrum, we encounter the Prismatic Geoscope. Like Energy Refractor, it banks on diversity, providing one mana of any color for each type of land you have in play. Where these two diverge is in their scalability – Energy Refractor can scale up as the game progresses, whereas Prismatic Geoscope offers a sizable, yet fixed, mana boost.

Another parallel can be drawn with Manalith, which also taps for one mana of any color. However, Energy Refractor edges it out with additional benefits that can steer the game in your favor. Observing the subtle intricacies and advantages that Energy Refractor brings to the table, it’s clear it can be a key card in decks that value flexible mana sources and incremental advantages.

Chromatic Lantern - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Geoscope - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Chromatic Lantern - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Geoscope - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Energy Refractor by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
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Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Wurm's Tooth - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Wurm's Tooth - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Energy Refractor. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Ephemerate TronEphemerate Tron PauperEphemerate TronPauper League 2024-04-19
TronTron PauperTronPauper League 2024-04-21
Altar TronAltar Tron PauperTron5° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana
Flicker TronFlicker Tron PauperEphemerate Tron5° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana
UBGUBG PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-19

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Energy Refractor has a unique ability to filter through your deck, effectively smoothing out your draws and potentially granting you access to your key pieces sooner. This translucid device shines by bridging the gap between your current hand and the tools you need to outmaneuver opponents.

Resource Acceleration: One of the core strengths of Energy Refractor lies in its capacity to ramp up your resources swiftly. Its synergy with energy counters not only propels your game but also unlocks the full potential of energy-dependant mechanics, giving you a decisive boost in both tempo and options.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is the name of the game, and Energy Refractor excels by operating at instant speed. This quality allows strategic players to adapt on the fly, making it possible to respond to opponents’ actions with precision or simply capitalize on unspent mana at the end of their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect that may deter players from including Energy Refractor in their decks is the discard requirement. Having to part with another card from your hand can be counterproductive, especially in situations where your hand size is critical to your game plan or when each card held has a pivotal role.

Specific Mana Cost: Energy Refractor demands a precise mana color for its activation, which could potentially complicate its integration into multi-colored decks. This requirement can limit flexibility and force players to make adjustments to their mana base, which might not always align with their overall deck strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to cast Energy Refractor may be considered steep when evaluating the overall mana efficiency. In decks where tempo plays a crucial role, the mana invested in playing Energy Refractor could be seen as a significant commitment, potentially slowing down the player’s momentum or hindering the development of their board state.


Reasons to Include Energy Refractor in Your Collection

Versatility: Energy Refractor has the ability to seamlessly integrate into decks that capitalize on energy counters or need color fixing. Its ability to provide any color of mana for energy counter expenditure makes it a flexible addition to many archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with energy-centric cards or abilities, offering the potential for explosive turns where mana otherwise unavailable suddenly becomes accessible. It serves as an engine part in intricate combos, pushing the envelope of what’s possible on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating meta where energy strategies might rise to prominence, Energy Refractor is a preemptive investment that could become a staple in powerful, synergistic decks harnessing the mechanic. It ensures your deck remains adaptable and combat-ready against various opposing strategies.


How to beat

The Energy Refractor card brings a unique dynamic to MTG gameplay. Its ability to filter and store energy counters can set the stage for commanding plays later in the game. To thwart this, focusing on removal or negating abilities is essential. Quick removal spells can eliminate the Refractor before it becomes a central threat. Alternatively, countering the card when it’s cast can prevent its abilities from being activated altogether. Strategies should revolve around keeping the battlefield clear of cards that synergize with energy counters, as the Refractor can snowball if left unchecked. Additionally, cards that restrict or drain energy counters can be a bane to this artifact’s efficacy, so consider incorporating them into your deck. Proper timing and a good understanding of how your opponent may utilize Energy Refractor can save you from its potentially game-shifting effects.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Energy Refractor MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Energy Refractor and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Energy Refractor has restrictions

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