Essence of Antiquity MTG Card


Offers card advantage by improving deck accessibility and ensuring vital cards are in hand. Generates additional mana, enabling faster play and complex combos for competitive advantage. Allows instant speed casting, adding surprise and adaptability to gameplay strategies.
Essence of Antiquity - Murders at Karlov Manor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Abilities Disguise
Released2024-02-09
Set symbol
Set nameMurders at Karlov Manor
Set codeMKM
Power 1
Toughness 10
Number15
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCaio Monteiro

Text of card

Disguise (You may cast this card face down for as a 2/2 creature with ward . Turn it face up any time for its disguise cost.) When Essence of Antiquity is turned face up, creatures you control gain hexproof until end of turn. Untap them.

In a city as old as Ravnica, history takes on a life of its own—even when you least expect it.


Cards like Essence of Antiquity

Essence of Antiquity finds its place in decks that seek to exploit the powers of graveyards. It shares a thematic and functional resemblance with cards like Eternal Witness, as both allow you to retrieve cards from your graveyard. Still, Essence of Antiquity offers the advantage of being an enchantment, creating an ongoing effect that can be triggered multiple times throughout the game. Eternal Witness, while providing a similar effect, is a one-time use as it’s a creature.

Another peer to Essence of Antiquity is the card Pull from Eternity. Though Pull from Eternity doesn’t return the card to your hand or battlefield, it does have the unique ability to target cards in exile, giving it leverage in situations that Essence of Antiquity wouldn’t address. Comparably, Regrowth is a classic spell that also allows the retrieval of a card from the graveyard, however, lacking the enchantment’s repeatability. Its one-off nature contrasts with the sustainable advantage that Essence of Antiquity could provide over multiple turns.

These parallels help us understand the nuances and strategic depths that Essence of Antiquity introduces to Magic: The Gathering. Its unique positioning as a repeatable resource reclamation tool gives it a distinct edge in formats where such effects are valued.

Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Pull from Eternity - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Pull from Eternity - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Essence of Antiquity by color, type and mana cost

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Platoon Dispenser - MTG Card versions
Bronze Guardian - MTG Card versions
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Norn's Annex - MTG Card versions
Bastion Mastodon - MTG Card versions
Cataclysmic Gearhulk - MTG Card versions
Rules Lawyer - MTG Card versions
Chivalrous Chevalier - MTG Card versions
Ironsoul Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Assembled Ensemble - MTG Card versions
Tocasia's Onulet - MTG Card versions
Mirran Bardiche - MTG Card versions
Unstable Glyphbridge // Sandswirl Wanderglyph - MTG Card versions
Illustrious Wanderglyph - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formUOL MKM Sealed League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Essence of Antiquity offers a significant boost in card accessibility by potentially digging deeper into your deck, ensuring you have the right answers or threats at the crucial moments.

Resource Acceleration: This card can provide a considerable advantage by generating additional mana, which can be pivotal for outpacing opponents by deploying bigger threats or enabling complex combos much earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Essence of Antiquity at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows players to adapt to an ever-changing battlefield by making crucial decisions during the opponent’s turn, thereby keeping the element of surprise and strategic depth on their side.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Essence of Antiquity is the discard requirement it imposes on the player. Having to part with another card from your hand can be a setback, particularly when your hand size is dwindling or the cards in hand are key to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a specific arrangement of mana types for casting, which can be restrictive for decks that don’t consistently generate the required colors. This specific mana cost can make it less flexible and harder to incorporate into multi-colored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is considered on the higher end for its effects, Essence of Antiquity may not be as efficient as other options. Players looking for similar effects may find alternative cards with lower mana costs more appealing for achieving the same outcomes faster or with less resource commitment.


Reasons to Include Essence of Antiquity in Your Collection

Versatility: Essence of Antiquity offers flexibility as it can be easily integrated into decks that capitalize on enchantments or direct damage. Its inherent adaptability makes it a handy choice for a variety of MTG strategies.

Combo Potential: This card showcases the ability to complement synergies with cards that trigger upon casting spells or that interact with the graveyard, thus encouraging the development of intricate and powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that continuously shifts, the Essence of Antiquity could emerge as a crucial tool, particularly in formats where enchantments hold significant sway and spells that offer multiple uses are valued for their efficacy over time.


How to beat Essence of Antiquity

Essence of Antiquity can be a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering, particularly in games that drag on, allowing its power to grow over time. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to remove it from play swiftly before it becomes too overwhelming. Dealing with it directly through removal spells like Path to Exile or Vindicate can be an efficient way to handle the threat it poses. Additionally, strategies that limit graveyard interactions can be highly effective, as Essence of Antiquity relies on the number of cards in graveyards to gain strength.

Employing graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus or Grafdigger’s Cage can stifle its potential by preventing the growth of its power and impact on the game. Players may also opt for creature-based solutions like Scavenging Ooze to manage graveyard resources directly, nullifying Essence of Antiquity’s influence. Keeping the pressure high and closing the game swiftly with aggressive tactics can also prevent the card from becoming a significant factor. It is crucial to disrupt your opponent’s strategy and eliminate Essence of Antiquity immediately to preserve control of the game’s pace.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Essence of Antiquity MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Essence of Antiquity and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Essence of Antiquity has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal