Etched Champion MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 154
2015-05-22 - Number 209
2022-11-18 - Number 140
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Soldier |
| Abilities | Metalcraft |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Metalcraft — Etched Champion has protection from all colors as long as you control three or more artifacts.
Its predecessors were etched with the wisdom of ancients; its own etchings bear warnings of a future fraught with war.
Cards like Etched Champion
The Etched Champion is a unique creature card known for its resilience on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Standing side by side with other artifact creatures, such as Spellskite or Vault Skirge, Etched Champion shines due to its Metalcraft ability. While Spellskite offers the ability to redirect spells or abilities and Vault Skirge provides lifelink, the Etched Champion, with Metalcraft activated, becomes nearly invulnerable to all colors, basically ensuring its perseverance through most removal spells.
Another card worth comparing is Mirran Crusader, which shares the protection ability but is limited to protecting from green and black. Although it doesn’t require other artifacts to enable its protection, it doesn’t provide the widespread safeguarding against all colors like the Etched Champion does. Additionally, Palladium Myr comes into discussion often for its artifact synergy but serves a vastly different role, mainly for mana acceleration, thus not directly competing with the role of Etched Champion in your deck.
Considering its role in decks focusing on artifact synergy, Etched Champion can be a cornerstone in many aggressive and midrange strategies, its Metalcraft ability placing it at a formidable stance against a swath of common removal spells found in Magic: The Gathering games.
Cards similar to Etched Champion by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Etched Champion. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Etched Champion is an asset in situations where the board is cluttered with cards. Due to its Metalcraft ability, it can often remain uncontested on the field, providing a steady source of damage and pressure without costing additional resources. The ability to keep Etched Champion in play turns it into an indirect form of card advantage because it’s less susceptible to removal spells, saving the cards in your hand for other strategic plays.
Resource Acceleration: While the Etched Champion itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, it synergizes well with decks that utilize artifacts. It becomes a key player in artifact-heavy decks, encouraging strategies that capitalize on the artifacts for ramping up mana. This allows players to deploy threats more quickly and efficiently while maintaining a creature that’s often difficult for opponents to deal with once Metalcraft is activated.
Instant Speed: Etched Champion’s real strength lies in its permanence and resilience on the battlefield, rather than instant speed interactions. However, having a reliable creature like Etched Champion allows players to keep mana open for other instant speed reactions and interactions, secure in the knowledge that their board presence is maintained by a robust and protective creature.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Etched Champion does not have a discard requirement, its Metalcraft ability can be less effective if you don’t control enough artifacts, making it feel like you’re discarding potential by not fulfilling its requirements.
Specific Mana Cost: Though Etched Champion’s mana cost is entirely colorless, this can sometimes pose a challenge for multicolor decks looking to maintain a balanced mana base, especially when trying to cast it early in the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana to play, Etched Champion’s initial investment can be steep considering it’s a 2/2 creature without Metalcraft. Furthermore, in aggressive or fast-paced games, that mana could potentially be allocated to more impactful plays.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Etched Champion is a staple in artifact-based decks and is easily integrated into various strategies because of its metalcraft ability. Whether used as a reliable blocker or an unassailable attacker, it adapts to multiple roles on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy with other artifacts. Its resilience to removal once metalcraft is active makes it an excellent companion to combo pieces that require protection to ensure their effects come to fruition.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy on targeted removal or control strategies, Etched Champion shines. Its inherent protection from all colors provided by metalcraft ensures it remains a persistent threat against decks that rely heavily on spot removal.
How to beat
Etched Champion is a resilient creature in Magic: The Gathering, boasting protection from all colors as long as you control three or more artifacts. This makes dealing with it a challenge, as most targeted removal spells won’t suffice. To overcome this metal warrior, consider using colorless spells or ones that don’t specify a target, such as board wipes like “All Is Dust” or “Ugin, the Spirit Dragon’s” minus ability, which can circumvent Etched Champion’s protective armor.
Artifact removal is also a key strategy in dismantling the Champion’s defenses. Cards like “Karn Liberated” or “Ghost Quarter” can disrupt the artifact count, stripping the Champion of its protection and making it vulnerable. Additionally, leveraging combat tricks to outnumber or overpower the Champion in battle can turn the tides in your favor. It’s about altering the playing field; without its protection, Etched Champion becomes just another creature in the fray.
In essence, tactically addressing the Champion’s support system rather than the Champion itself is often the most straightforward path to victory. By focusing on these strategies, you can better prepare your deck to handle what Etched Champion brings to the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Etched Champion MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Etched Champion 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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Printings
The Etched Champion Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 154 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 2 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 209 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 3 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 140 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Etched Champion 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 Etched Champion card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | “Protection from all colors” means protection from white, from blue, from black, from red, and from green. (In other words, it doesn't just mean “protection from objects that have all five colors.”) |