Avarice Totem MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Number	104
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ben Thompson

Key Takeaways

Avarice Totem’s swap ability can disrupt strategies and change board states at instant speed.
Five mana activation cost and permanent exchange can be double-edged, demanding strategic play.
Its unique mechanic offers combo potential and versatility in different gameplay situations.

Text of card

: Exchange control of Avarice Totem and target nonland permanent.

Souls and steel, the essence of Mirrodin. Memnarch lacks one but has an abundance of the other.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Avarice Totem can potentially offer a significant edge in card utility by allowing you to exchange a nonland permanent you control for a target permanent that’s one mana value more. Whether seeking a stronger board presence or disrupting an opponent’s strategy, this exchange can be a pivotal move.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to swap for permanents of a higher mana value, this artifact subtly accelerates your resource potential. By upgrading to a permanent worth more on the mana curve, you effectively leapfrog the usual progression of turns needed to deploy higher-cost assets.

Instant Speed: The totem’s strength is amplified by its activation at instant speed, offering flexibility to respond during an opponent’s turn. This feature allows for strategic plays and surprise factor, making it a versatile tool in maintaining momentum or in responding to imminent threats. In the vein of advanced MTG tactics, timing the activation right before the end of an opponent’s turn can be a game-changer.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Avarice Totem’s activation not only requires a significant mana investment but also necessitates an exchange of permanents. This can sometimes force players into unfavorable trades or to give up key resources they weren’t prepared to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: Engaging Avarice Totem’s ability demands precisely five mana, which includes generic costs but can still be a hurdle when you need to keep mana open for other plays or when you’re struggling to hit your land drops.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In terms of investment versus return, Avarice Totem’s activation cost is fairly steep. This can be quite demanding, especially in formats where maximizing mana efficiency is crucial. There are alternative ways to gain control of your opponent’s permanents or manipulate the board that don’t come with such an onerous price tag.

Reasons to Include Avarice Totem in Your Collection

Versatility: Avarice Totem offers a high level of flexibility as it can be a part of various deck archetypes. Whether you’re running a control deck that requires strategic swapping of permanents or a more aggressive setup that benefits from unexpected shifts in board state, this artifact can adapt to multiple strategies and scenarios.

Combo Potential: With its finely-tuned ability to exchange control of permanents, the Totem works beautifully in combination with other cards that either want to be sacrificed or have entered-the-battlefield effects that you can reuse. This unique exchange mechanic opens up a plethora of inventive gameplay tactics, making it a smart choice for crafty players who love to discover and execute new combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and permanent control are pivotal, Avarice Totem proves its worth. Its ability to disrupt opponent’s strategies by trading potentially insignificant tokens or low-value artifacts for more substantial threats can turn the tide of any game, making it a pertinent choice for players aiming to remain competitive.

How to beat

Avarice Totem poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, acting as a versatile tool that enables players to exchange control of nonland permanents. Understanding its exchange ability is crucial for navigating around it. Typically, a well-timed removal spell can disrupt the Totem’s swap effect. Removing the Totem in response to its activation leaves the opponent’s investment of five mana fruitless, effectively neutralizing the threat.

Alternatively, leveraging cards with enter-the-battlefield effects can turn the Totem’s ability in your favor. Should the opponent gain control of such a card, you can employ the Totem to snatch it back, re-triggering its effect. It’s essential to maintain appropriate mana reserves or instant-speed interaction to stay one step ahead.

The key to overcoming Avarice Totem lies in careful mana management, strategic use of removal, and exploiting synergies within your deck. Keep your guard up, pilot your strategy with foresight, and the Totem’s potential impact can be significantly diminished.

Cards like Avarice Totem

Avarice Totem is a unique card in the vast pantheon of artifacts available in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the switcheroo ability with cards like Vedalken Shackles, yet stands alone with its five mana activation cost to exchange control of itself and target nonland permanent. Unlike Vedalken Shackles, which requires an investment in blue mana and can repeatedly seize creatures, Avarice Totem’s exchange is not limited to creatures and can target any type of nonland permanent.

Moreover, compared to Liquimetal Coating, another artifact that can modify the board by turning permanents into artifacts, Avarice Totem can swap those permanents directly, potentially disrupting opponents’ strategies significantly. Liquimetal Coating sets up other interactions rather than providing immediate board impact.

Collectively, while there are artifacts like Switcheroo that also trade permanents, Avarice Totem’s versatility and ability to affect any nonland permanent without losing its own place on the field can be pivotal in specific deck builds. Its potential in intricate game states offers interesting strategies for MTG players to explore, cementing its unique place in particular artifact-centered decks.

Cards similar to Avarice Totem by color, type and mana cost

Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Avarice Totem MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Avarice Totem and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Avarice Totem has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Avarice Totem card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-12-01	It is possible to activate this ability in response to itself and generate some odd combinations. For example, if you control this card and another permanent, you can use this card’s ability and target the permanent you control. You can then use this card’s ability again and target a permanent your opponent controls. The second usage resolves first and you get your opponent’s permanent in exchange for this one. The first usage then resolves and swaps your other permanent for the Totem so you get it back. The net effect is that you can swap any non-land permanent you have for any of theirs if you can activate this ability twice. Note that your opponent does get the chance to use the Totem in between the resolutions of your two usages if they have the mana.