Grindstone MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 290
1998-08-12 - Number rb290sb
2015-05-06 - Number 223
2016-09-30 - Number 39
2024-04-19 - Number 79
2024-04-19 - Number 62
2002-06-24 - Number 62423
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Mill |
Text of card
o3, oc T: Put the top two cards of target player's library into that player's graveyard. If both cards share at least one color, repeat this process.
"Memory is a burden that wears at the soul as weather wears at stone." —Crovax
Cards like Grindstone
Grindstone is an intriguing card in Magic the Gathering that initiates a potent mill mechanic. Its closest comparison is Painter’s Servant, which, when combined with Grindstone, allows a player to mill their opponent’s entire library. The synergy between the two is a classic combination that has seen play in several competitive formats. Painter’s Servant sets all cards to be the same color, enabling Grindstone to mill continuously provided the cards share a color.
Another card that shares the mill strategy is Sphinx’s Tutelage. While this card mills whenever a player draws a card and can be triggered multiple times in a single turn, it lacks the immediate game-winning potential of a Grindstone combo. Codex Shredder is also a relevant comparison in that it provides recurring mill effects; however, it’s limited to one card per activation, making it a slower alternative to the explosive capability of Grindstone.
Indeed, when analyzing the effectiveness and synergy potential among mill cards in Magic the Gathering, Grindstone’s ability to potentially end the game upon activation places it in a league of its own, especially when combined with the right cards such as Painter’s Servant. This makes it a formidable tool in the arsenal of players looking to employ a mill strategy.
Cards similar to Grindstone by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Grindstone. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grindstone possesses the distinct ability to potentially remove an opponent’s entire library from the game. When paired with cards like Painter’s Servant, Grindstone turns into a formidable combo, offering a significant and often game-ending card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Grindstone itself doesn’t provide mana, the combination it enables can quickly end games, effectively accelerating you towards your winning condition far sooner than many other strategies.
Instant Speed: Grindstone’s activation can be utilized at the convenience of the player, allowing for strategic planning and response to the opponent’s actions. This quality ensures that even during an opponent’s turn, the threat of a library-depleting combo is always imminent, keeping opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside to including Grindstone in a deck is its unintended synergy – unlike other cards that benefit your strategy, it can give your opponent an angle to capitalize on your discarded cards, especially if graveyard retrieval is a part of their game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Although Grindstone’s initial mana cost may seem light on the surface, its activation cost requires colorless mana, which can be tricky for multicolor decks that might not have access to colorless sources as easily as mono-decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Grindstone has the potential to mill an opponent out with the right library composition, it’s important to consider its cumulative cost. To be effective, Grindstone often requires a significant mana investment each turn, which can be too slow compared to the faster pace of many current competitive formats.
Reasons to Include Grindstone in Your Collection
Versatility: Grindstone offers a broad application across various strategies, functioning well in artifact-centric or mill decks due to its universal ability to target any player, including yourself, for potential strategic advantages.
Combo Potential: The card pairs infamously with Painter’s Servant, enabling a lethal two-card combination that can mill an opponent’s entire library, positioning it as a linchpin in competitive combo builds.
Meta-Relevance: In a format where decks often hinge on finely-tuned synergy and specific strategies, Grindstone holds the capacity to disrupt opponents by milling key components of their deck, remaining a relevant sideboard option or even a mainboard threat in the right metagame.
How to beat
Grindstone is a powerful artifact that carries potential for an instant-win combination with Painter’s Servant. When facing a Grindstone, incapacitating this combo should be a top priority. A straightforward strategy is targeting the Grindstone itself, using artifact removal spells like Abrade or Nature’s Claim, deactivating its pairing before the combo can be initiated. Beyond direct destruction, cards such as Pithing Needle can shut down its abilities without the need to remove it from the battlefield.
Discard strategies against Grindstone can be equally effective. Forcing your opponent to discard combo pieces like Painter’s Servant can disrupt their game plan. Duress and Thoughtseize are essential to this strategy, giving you the chance not only to remove threats but also to peek at the opponent’s hand and prepare for what’s coming. Counterspell measures, with cards like Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto, provide an additional layer of defense against this relentless artifact.
In the end, dismantling the Grindstone combo requires a multi-pronged approach that includes removal, disruption, and counters. Recognizing the imminent threat it poses and responding swiftly is essential in any game against this formidable card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grindstone MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Grindstone 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 Grindstone Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 290 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Simanson | |
| 2 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | rb290sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Greg Simanson | |
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62423 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | ||
| 4 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 223 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Simanson | |
| 5 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Inventions | MPS | 39 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 6 | 2024-04-19 | Breaking News | OTP | 79 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Alejandro Mirabal | |
| 7 | 2024-04-19 | Breaking News | OTP | 62 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Alejandro Mirabal |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grindstone has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grindstone card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the two cards are both colorless, then the effect does not repeat. It only repeats if both cards have at least one color and at least one color is shared between them. |
| 2004-10-04 | The effect repeats as many times as it takes to meet the end condition. |