Extraplanar Lens MTG Card


It doubles mana output, making it key for decks that rely on big plays and resource advantage. The card’s specific mana cost and artifact nature require a strategic deck build and careful gameplay. Versatile and meta-relevant, Extraplanar Lens enhances mono-colored decks and combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Abilities Imprint

Text of card

Imprint When Extraplanar Lens comes into play, you may remove target land you control from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) Whenever a land with the same name as the imprinted card is tapped for mana, its controller adds one mana to his or her mana pool of any type that land produced.


Cards like Extraplanar Lens

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the Extraplanar Lens is a unique mana acceleration artifact. When sizing up similar cards, Gauntlet of Power is often part of the conversation. Both the Lens and the Gauntlet have the ability to double mana production but the Gauntlet offers an additional boost to creatures’ strength and toughness for a specific color. Also, it affects each player, not just the one who controls the artifact, quite different from the selective advantage given by the Extraplanar Lens through imprinting a single Snow-Covered land.

Caged Sun is another card that echoes the doublers’ capabilities, increasing mana output for lands of the chosen color while also giving a boost to creatures you control. The distinction here lies within Caged Sun’s one-sided effect, making it a more secure choice for players eager to avoid assisting their opponents. Despite this, the Extraplanar Lens has a lower mana cost, which can be critically advantageous when racing to establish board dominance early in the game.

Assessing these mana doublers, the Extraplanar Lens holds its ground as a specialized tool for players aiming to gain a substantial lead while avoiding giving the same benefit to opponents, a strategic edge that can indeed set the stage for victory.

Gauntlet of Power - MTG Card versions
Caged Sun - MTG Card versions
Gauntlet of Power - MTG Card versions
Caged Sun - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Extraplanar Lens by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
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Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
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Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Extraplanar Lens doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it offers a significant indirect advantage by potentially doubling your mana output. This increase in resources can lead to casting more spells than your opponents and gradually overwhelming them with your plays.

Resource Acceleration: Extraplanar Lens is a potent tool for resource acceleration. By imprinting a land, it effectively increases the mana provided by all lands of the same type. This can lead to explosive turns where you play high-cost cards much earlier than usual, shifting the game’s momentum in your favor.

Instant Speed: Although Extraplanar Lens itself is not an instant, it can indirectly influence instant-speed interactions. More mana available means being able to cast more or larger instants during your opponent’s turn, keeping you ready for whatever they might throw your way.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Carrying the burden of a pitched card, Extraplanar Lens asks for a land to be exiled from your hand. This can be a steep price tag in land-tight situations, potentially hamstringing your play options on subsequent turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Locking you into a specific mana archetype, Extraplanar Lens requires an investment of three mana all of one type. This may not fit seamlessly into decks that operate off a more diverse mana base or rely on color flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation fee that sets you back three, Extraplanar Lens enters the game at a point where competition for resource allocation is fierce. Players may find other ramp options more cost-effective as they manage their mana curve.


Reasons to Include Extraplanar Lens in Your Collection

Versatility: Extraplanar Lens is a potent artifact that can be incorporated into numerous deck archetypes. Its ability to double mana from snow lands makes it a perfect fit for mono-coloured decks, boosting your mana pool and accelerating your game plan.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combos, particularly with cards that tap for multiple mana or generate additional effects based on the amount of mana available. Its inclusion can lead to powerful plays and turn the tide in your favor rapidly.

Meta-Relevance: With the constantly shifting MTG landscape, having a card that adapts to various metagames is crucial. Extraplanar Lens remains relevant with its ability to match up well against slower control decks by ramping up your own threat density earlier in the game.


How to beat

The Extraplanar Lens is a unique mana acceleration artifact in Magic: The Gathering that doubles the mana output of snow-covered lands. To effectively counter this card, players should focus on land disruption and artifact removal strategies. A common tactic to dismantle this card’s advantage is by using targeted removal spells, such as Nature’s Claim or Fragmentize, which allows you to destroy the Lens directly, putting a quick end to the mana doubling effect.

Another approach is to attack the Lens user’s mana base directly. Employing land destruction cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can be particularly devastating, as they can specifically target the snow-covered lands that have been imprinted on the Extraplanar Lens. By eliminating these key lands, you negate the extra mana and potentially set back your opponent’s game plan significantly.

It is also beneficial to include versatile countermeasures in your deck to anticipate and neutralize this powerful artifact. Cards with generalized artifact control, such as Karn, the Great Creator, can also be potent as they not only deal with the Lens but other problematic artifacts your opponent might play. Keeping these strategies in mind will enhance your deck’s resilience against the Extraplanar Lens and similar threats.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG deck with the Extraplanar Lens can be a game-changing move, perfectly suited for mono-colored strategies aiming for rapid mana acceleration. The combative edge it bestows by doubling your snow lands’ output is undeniable. However, awareness of its vulnerabilities is key; smart opponents may target your amplified mana base or the artifact itself. Ensure you’re versed in both deploying and dismantling this powerful card. Curious to expand your mastery and explore deeper strategies? We encourage you to dive into our resources and solidify your arsenal with the Extraplanar Lens’s unique capabilities. Knowledge is power—harness it for triumph.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Extraplanar Lens MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Kaladesh Inventions, 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 Extraplanar Lens and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Extraplanar Lens Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1692003NormalBlackLars Grant-West
22016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 382015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
32023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 462015Art seriesBorderless
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3812015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6562015NormalBorderlessRon Spears
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6042015NormalBlackLars Grant-West

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Extraplanar Lens has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal