Flowstone Sculpture MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 288
2014-06-16 - Number 268
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
, Choose and discard a card: Flowstone Sculpture gains flying, first strike, or trample permanently, or put a +1/+1 counter on Flowstone Sculpture.
The sculptor, weary of his work, created art that would finish itself.
Cards like Flowstone Sculpture
Flowstone Sculpture offers a unique dynamic to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It stands in a class with other artifact creatures like Razor Golem, sharing the trait of a cost-reducing affinity for a specific type of land. However, Flowstone Sculpture brings a different flavor to the table with its ‘pay life to pump’ ability, allowing on-the-fly attack and defense modulation that Razor Golem lacks.
Comparably, Steel Overseer is another artifact creature that manipulates power and toughness, but it does so in a way that benefits the entire board of artifact creatures. While the Overseer requires no life payment, its effect is broader but slower than the immediate, singular buff Flowstone Sculpture offers. Then there’s Phyrexian Colossus, a behemoth that also plays with life as a resource. Unlike the Sculpture, it avoids mana costs altogether at the expense of a hefty life payment, presenting a high-risk, high-reward strategy.
Ultimately, Flowstone Sculpture carves out a niche for itself, boasting a flexibility in combat that can be pivotal during key turns. Its abilities provide a sharp contrast to other artifact creatures, emphasizing the player’s strategy and willingness to leverage life for power.
Cards similar to Flowstone Sculpture by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Flowstone Sculpture distinguishes itself by including an ability to morph, revealing itself as a surprise and thus bypassing traditional summoning restrictions. This provides a strategic advantage by presenting opportunities to change the board’s dynamics in your favor without committing to a straightforward play.
Resource Acceleration: While not immediately evident, the card’s inherent synergy with artifact-focused decks could lead to indirect resource acceleration. By integrating with strategies that untap artifacts or make use of artifact creatures, Flowstone Sculpture can contribute to ramping up your mana availability or play into combos that accelerate your play.
Instant Speed: The ability to morph at instant speed gives Flowstone Sculpture added versatility. You have the flexibility to develop your board presence reactively in response to your opponent’s actions, catching them unprepared and potentially swinging the game’s momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Flowstone Sculpture is the need to discard a card to activate its abilities. This can be particularly challenging when hand size is critical, and each card is a valuable asset.
Specific Mana Cost: Flowstone Sculpture demands a precise combination of mana types to cast, specifically including red mana. This can restrict its incorporation into multicolored decks that might not always have the necessary mana readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side for its effects, Flowstone Sculpture may not be the most mana-efficient option available. Players might find other cards with similar functionality or better synergy at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Flowstone Sculpture in Your Collection
Versatility: Flowstone Sculpture offers unique flexibility to several build styles, slotting in as a powerful artifact creature that can adjust its power and toughness to suit the flow of the game.
Combo Potential: As part of a broader strategy, this card can synergize with various artifact or creature manipulations, enhancing both offense and defense depending on the board state and your tactical needs.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies prevail, Flowstone Sculpture’s adaptability can counteract an opponent’s moves, proving particularly potent in formats where control of the battlefield is crucial.
How to beat
Flowstone Sculpture presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This formidable artifact creature comes with the ability to adjust its power at a moment’s notice, making it a flexible threat. Facing off against it requires strategic adjustment and the right answers in your deck.
To effectively counter this shape-shifting behemoth, consider utilizing removal spells that aren’t dependent on the creature’s power, like Murder or Path to Exile. Direct damage isn’t always reliable due to the risk of sudden power increases. Enchantment-based removal, such as Pacifism or Darksteel Mutation, can neutralize the creature without having to contend with its variable power.
Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can also be decisive, as they overcome the Sculpture’s adaptable nature. In essence, preparing for the unexpected and having a diversified removal suite will serve you well against this challenging card and similar adaptable threats on the MTG battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flowstone Sculpture MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Vintage Masters, 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 Flowstone Sculpture 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Flowstone Sculpture Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Hannibal King.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 288 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Hannibal King | |
| 2 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 268 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Hannibal King |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flowstone Sculpture has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |