Epicenter MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Sorcery |
Abilities | Threshold |
Released | 2001-10-01 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Odyssey |
Set code | ODY |
Number | 192 |
Frame | 1997 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Anthony S. Waters |
Text of card
Target player sacrifices a land. Threshold All players sacrifice all lands instead. (You have threshold if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)
Sometimes destruction is Dominaria's way of rebuilding. Sometimes it's not.
Cards like Epicenter
The Epicenter card carves its distinct niche within the land destruction category of Magic: The Gathering. It has a unique echo in the footsteps of cataclysmic spells such as Stone Rain and Molten Rain. These classic cards allow players to target and destroy a land at a cost-effective rate. Epicenter takes this concept to a grand scale by offering the potential to turn all lands into rubble, a much wider net than its contemporaries.
Looking at cards like Seismic Spike and Roiling Terrain, we find that they also dismantle an opponent’s mana base, but they additionally offer direct damage or have land retrieval elements respectively. Epicenter, conversely, is unconditional but requires the threshold condition to be met to affect all lands. This can be both a high-risk and high-reward strategy depending on the deck you’re piloting.
Evaluating the card’s impact, especially when threshold is met, Epicenter can unquestionably alter the pace and outcome of a game. It stands out for its potential to significantly disrupt all players’ strategies, making it a powerful option for MTG enthusiasts who enjoy wielding the capability to shake the very foundation of the battlefield.
Cards similar to Epicenter by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Epicenter offers a notable edge by potentially turning each land in your hand into a way to disrupt your opponent’s board, making each top-decked land late in the game a potent threat.
Resource Acceleration: This spell synergizes with land recursion mechanics, accelerating your resources by restoring lands from your graveyard to the battlefield after their initial destructive use.
Instant Speed: While Epicenter is a sorcery, it pairs well with instants that enable land plays on your opponents’ turns, thus setting up unexpected landfall triggers or end-of-turn shenanigans that can tip the scales in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Similar to other impactful spells, the Epicenter card demands a card to be discarded from your hand to unleash its effect. This can place players at a disadvantage, particularly during the late game where hand resources become scarce and every option is potentially game-changing.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana requirement that includes a commitment to red, this card fits primarily into red or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a diverse MTG meta where adaptability often translates to success.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Inefficient mana expenditure can be the downfall in a swift-paced match. The casting cost of Epicenter is on the higher side, which means you might find yourself foregoing other valuable actions in a turn or being outpaced by opponents with more mana-efficient strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Epicenter offers a dynamic game plan for decks that work with land destruction or benefit from opponents being land-starved. This card easily slots into various red-based strategies.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that limit the opponent’s ability to recover their land base, or with effects that punish players for not being able to produce mana, Epicenter can be a keystone in destructive and control-oriented combos.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where decks heavily rely on intricate land setups or when stall tactics dominate, the disruption that Epicenter brings can turn the tide of battle, making it a timely inclusion for any collector anticipating shifts in meta trends.
How to Beat
Epicenter is a unique spell that can cause a seismic shift in the game’s landscape, challenging players to adopt an effective strategy to withstand its impact. Essentially, Epicenter forces a sacrifice of lands, which can be a massive setback. However, there’s a strategy to overcome this powerful card. It’s crucial to prioritize land protection effects or utilize cards that can quickly regenerate your land base. Cards that grant you ‘indestructible’ status can shield your lands from such devastating effects.
Another approach is to maintain a robust hand to circumvent the discard cost that Epicenter necessitates for its devastating effect. Employing instant-speed land search to recover from the land loss or utilizing spells that can counter sorcery cards before they unfold their potential is vital. Moreover, submitting a diverse suite of lands that have secondary functions or can be sacrificed for greater benefits can help mitigate the damage done by this card. In short, while Epicenter can be monumental, with clever deck design and reactive play, you can dampen its earth-shattering blow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Epicenter MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Epicenter and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Epicenter has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |