God-Pharaoh's Statue MTG Card


Increases opposing spell costs, causing a strategic setback and resource struggle for your opponents. Demands a high mana investment but compensates by fitting into defensive strategies across formats. Can be countered by quick aggression, artifact removal, or counterspells to prevent its game-altering effects.
God-Pharaoh's Statue - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Artifact
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Number238
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byIgor Kieryluk

Text of card

Spells your opponents cast cost more to cast. At the beginning of your end step, each opponent loses 1 life.

A dictator's infuriating smirk, an affront to everything Ravnica stood for.


Cards like God-Pharaoh's Statue

God-Pharaoh’s Statue is a unique artifact within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, presenting a significant impediment to opponents. A close comparison can be drawn with Winter Orb, a classic artifact that restricts players to only untapping one land during their untap phase. While God-Pharaoh’s Statue doesn’t affect the untapping of lands, it burdens the opponent with spells costing more to cast, which can drastically alter their strategy.

Loxodon Gatekeeper offers a creature-based approach to controlling the pace of the game, even though it’s not an artifact. This card increases the casting cost of the opponent’s spells as well, but being a creature, it is more vulnerable to removal. Trinisphere, while more global in effect, also shares a similar oppressive function by making all spells cost a minimum of three mana to cast, affecting the flow of the entire game, not just hamstringing the opponent.

In summary, God-Pharaoh’s Statue stands out due to its ability to impact opponents’ resources and game strategy while simultaneously evading some common removals that might easily deal with creature-based alternatives.

Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Trinisphere - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Trinisphere - MTG Card versions

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Celestial Sword - MTG Card versions
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Serpent Generator - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using God-Pharaoh's Statue. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Prison ShopsPrison Shops VintagePrison ShopsVintage Challenge 32 2023-12-16
Colorless ShopsColorless Shops VintagePrison Shops2023 NA Vintage Champs
Other ShopsOther Shops VintageOther ShopsVintage Challenge 32 2023-12-16
4c Tinker4c Tinker VintageBlue TinkerVintage Preliminary 2024-01-09
Golos StaxGolos Stax VintagePrison Shops2023 NA Vintage Champs

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When God-Pharaoh’s Statue hits the battlefield, it immediately tips the scales of the game by making all spells your opponents cast cost 2 more. This subtle yet impactful advantage can strain their resources, potentially denying them the ability to play multiple spells in a turn and leading to a favorable accumulation of cards in your hand while they’re struggling to deploy theirs.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Statue itself does not directly accelerate your resources, the indirect effect of slowing down your opponents acts as a pseudo-acceleration for you. This space allows you to develop your board without the constant pressure of keeping pace, effectively giving you a lead in the race of resource development.

Instant Speed: While God-Pharaoh’s Statue is not an instant, its presence on the board creates a feeling similar to what instants provide in a game. Your opponents must consider the additional cost for every spell they cast, which impacts their decisions on whether or not to hold mana open for instant speed interaction. This added layer of strategy can steer the game in your favor as you navigate through turns with more ease than your taxed adversaries.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While God-Pharaoh’s Statue doesn’t directly require a discard, it weighs on your hand by demanding an extensive setup before you can successfully play it, potentially causing strategic discards to manage your resources effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact demands six mana, a significant investment in any stage of the game. Its specific need for six generic mana might clash with multicolor deck strategies, making it less flexible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of six mana, the Statue stands alongside costly alternatives that may present more immediate impact or versatility. For its mana value, players could also opt for creatures or spells that offer direct answers to threats on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: God-Pharaoh’s Statue is a dynamic card that can slide into various deck builds, particularly those looking to slow down the opponent. Its ability to make spells cost more for adversaries means it can fit a defensive strategy across multiple formats.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that capitalize on artifacts. Its static ability chips away at opponents’ life totals, pairing well with strategies that extend the game or benefit from long-lasting on-board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games tend to stretch and become a battle of resources, God-Pharaoh’s Statue ensures you’re tipping the scales in your favor. With its cost-increasing effect, it can be pivotal in disrupting finely-tuned decks that rely on casting numerous spells in a single turn.


How to beat

Overcoming God-Pharaoh’s Statue can be crucial within the strategic framework of Magic: The Gathering. This artifact poses a significant threat, enforcing a higher cost for spells your opponents cast and chipping away at their life total each turn. To effectively neutralize this advantage, one must employ artifact removal spells or abilities. Naturalize, Disenchant, or casual play favorite – Abrade, can dismantle the statue swiftly. Agility is key, allowing you to dismantle it before its cumulative effect takes a profound toll.

Another strategy lies in the counterspells domain. By negating God-Pharaoh’s Statue’s entrance onto the battlefield with a spell like Negate or Counterspell, you prevent its taxing effect altogether. This preemptive approach saves precious resources and keeps the game flow under your control. Finally, one should not underestimate the value of a quick, aggressive deck. By applying pressure early in the game, you can render the statue less impactul, pushing for a win before its influence fully manifests.

Ultimately, understanding the timing and choosing the right counteraction can turn the tide of the game. Navigating around God-Pharaoh’s Statue efficiently can showcase a player’s adaptability and strategic insight within Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG enthusiasts who revel in the depth and strategy of the game, we recognize the formidable presence that God-Pharaoh’s Statue brings to the battlefield. Its taxing ability on your opponents’ resources can be the cornerstone of control decks, or any strategy aiming to prolong the game and set a sluggish pace for adversaries. While it carries a considerable mana cost, the potential payoff in hampering your opponents’ plans can be well worth the investment. If you’re eager to incorporate this tactical artifact into your deck or want to understand its strategic uses and counters further, we’ve got you well-covered. Let’s dive deeper into the game of wits and patience that God-Pharaoh’s Statue can introduce to your MTG battles.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase God-Pharaoh's Statue MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 God-Pharaoh's Statue and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where God-Pharaoh's Statue has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering God-Pharaoh's Statue card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-05-03 In a Two-Headed Giant game, the last ability of God-Pharaoh’s Statue causes the opposing team to lose 2 life.
2019-05-03 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases (such as that of God-Pharaoh’s Statue’s first ability), then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.