Icatian Moneychanger MTG Card

Provides significant life gain as a resource management tool, offsetting early damage in games. Fits well in decks capitalizing on life gain synergies, enhancing strategic versatility. Vulnerable to removal spells; requires understanding of timing to effectively counter.

Icatian Moneychanger - Fallen Empires (FEM)

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 10c

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 10b

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 10a

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human
Power	0
Toughness	2

Text of card

Moneychanger deals 3 damage to you when summoned; put three credit counters on Moneychanger at that time. During your upkeep, put one credit counter on Moneychanger. : Sacrifice Moneychanger to gain 1 life for each credit counter on it. Use this ability only during your upkeep.

Cards like Icatian Moneychanger

Icatian Moneychanger holds a unique position among life-gain cards in Magic: The Gathering. When drawing parallels to other cards, one might think of Ajani’s Welcome, which provides one life each time a creature enters the battlefield under your control. Unlike Icatian Moneychanger, this enchantment offers ongoing benefits rather than a one-time life boost.

Another card to consider is Soul Warden, a creature that also gives you one life whenever another creature comes into play. In contrast, Icatian Moneychanger delivers a larger life gain upfront, but at the cost of sacrifice and without the potential for repeated triggers. Where Soul Warden continues to offer value, the Moneychanger is a one-and-done deal but can provide a significant life total increase the moment it departs.

Examining these cards reveals the strategic diversity available: while Ajani’s Welcome and Soul Warden reward you for playing multiple creatures, Icatian Moneychanger is a self-contained life gain mechanism that may support a different kind of deck strategy focused on immediate survival or setting up a life total cushion for specific combo setups or synergies within the game of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Icatian Moneychanger by color, type and mana cost

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Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Icatian Moneychanger is an asset for those seeking life point boosts rather than raw card draw. In a format where life can be a resource just as crucial as cards in hand, this card indirectly contributes to your ability to withstand pressure and set up for longer games.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly ramp up your mana pool, the Icatian Moneychanger can influence your resource management. As you gain life, you may find yourself in a better position to utilize cards or abilities that require life payment, effectively accelerating your access to certain strategies.

Instant Speed: Although the Icatian Moneychanger operates at sorcery speed, it’s the immediate life gain upon entering the battlefield that can be pivotal. This instant boost can be seen as a precautionary measure, preparing you for subsequent turns or mitigating damage from unexpected sources.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Icatian Moneychanger demands you to sacrifice it, putting you at an initial disadvantage in terms of board presence. This foregone value could be critical, especially if you’re already behind.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires white mana, which means it is exclusively playable in white or multicolor decks, potentially limiting its versatility across diverse deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though it is a one-mana investment, its later investment for a delayed gain can be costly considering the fast-paced nature of many MTG games. In environments where speed is key, the Icatian Moneychanger’s cost-effectiveness diminishes.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Icatian Moneychanger is a unique addition for decks that thrive on life manipulation mechanics. Its ability to provide a life buffer can be instrumental in formats where early game survival is critical.

Combo Potential: In tandem with cards that profit from life gain or require life payment as part of their cost, Icatian Moneychanger can become a key component that enables such synergies, enhancing your deck’s performance.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having Icatian Moneychanger can offer you a significant early-game advantage, potentially offsetting damage from quick starts by opponents and buying you crucial turns to stabilize and execute your strategy.

How to beat Icatian Moneychanger

The Icatian Moneychanger poses quite the unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering. Upon entering the battlefield, it brings forth some immediate life gain which can put a timer on aggressive strategies. However, this card’s true vulnerability lies in its very core mechanics, particularly its dependence on fading counters for survival and function.

To overcome the Moneychanger, consider incorporating removal spells that can swiftly deal with it before those life points can influence the game’s pace. Delaying your more potent threats until after the Moneychanger’s counters are depleted might also be an effective tactic, allowing you to face a less fortified opponent. Strategies that don’t rely on direct damage to win the game, such as mill or combo decks, can also bypass the life gain hurdle entirely, rendering the Moneychanger’s primary advantage moot. Additionally, as the Moneychanger must sacrifice itself when it runs out of counters, patience is a viable method—simply wait it out, and the card will eventually take care of itself.

Understanding when to neutralize the Moneychanger and when to divert your focus is key in maintaining control over the match while this card is in play.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Icatian Moneychanger MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Icatian Moneychanger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Icatian Moneychanger Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 1994-11-01. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	10c	1993	Normal	Black	Melissa A. Benson
2	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	10b	1993	Normal	Black	Edward P. Beard, Jr.
3	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	10a	1993	Normal	Black	Drew Tucker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Icatian Moneychanger has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal