Channeled Force MTG Card


Channeled Force - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Number180
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRandy Vargas

Key Takeaways

  1. Channeled Force excels in refilling your hand while also acting as instant-speed removal.
  2. Its mana specificity and high cost can limit deck inclusion but offer high impact.
  3. Effective strategies against it include hand disruption and protecting key creatures.

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, discard X cards. Target player draws X cards. Channeled Force deals X damage to up to one target creature or planeswalker.

Few monsters challenged Narset after they sensed her power.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Channeled Force is adept at refilling your hand. It provides an opportunity to discard unwanted cards and then draw that many cards, ensuring you are not at a disadvantage after dealing damage to a target.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a mana accelerator, by discarding excess lands or non-essential cards, Channeled Force effectively accelerates your use of resources, making your plays more efficient and streamlining your strategy for the turns that follow.

Instant Speed: The power of Channeled Force is significantly amplified by its instant speed. This allows you to adapt to the board state dynamically, using it as a removal or a way to draw cards in response to your opponent’s actions, keeping you one step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Channeled Force is the need to discard one or more cards to activate its effect. This can put players at a disadvantage, particularly if you’re already in a position where your hand is depleting, hence affecting your gameplay decisions and potential for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of the card is rather particular, demanding both blue and red mana. This specificity can restrain the card to more color-committed decks, potentially making it a less flexible option for players who run multicolored decks that don’t emphasize these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, with a casting cost of four mana, Channeled Force may seem costly when compared to other options available in the card pool. For the investment, players might expect a larger impact on the game state, which puts this card at odds with other spells that can provide more immediate or impactful advantages for the same, or lower, mana investments.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Channeled Force offers a flexible role, adept at fitting into strategies that call for direct damage or mass card draw. It’s a tool that can serve multiple purposes, enabling it to adjust on the fly to the changing tides of gameplay.

Combo Potential: As a spell with the ability to discard your hand, Channeled Force can synergize with decks that capitalize on graveyard strategies or cards with madness, jump-start, and similar effects, allowing for powerful play sequences.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to target any creature or planeswalker while also refueling your hand, Channeled Force displays its worth against creature-heavy decks or walker-intensive builds that dominate many game rooms.


How to beat

Channeled Force is a unique card in the MTG arsenal, primarily used to clear the board and refuel the hand. Approaching this card requires strategic planning and understanding its mechanics. Typically, players will discard several cards to maximize its damage output and card drawing capability. Remember, Channeled Force requires a target for both a creature or planeswalker and the player, making it less flexible compared to other removal spells in MTG.

To effectively counteract Channeled Force, prioritize hand disruption strategies that limit the cards your opponent can discard. This could include using cards like Thoughtseize or Duress to preemptively remove it from their hand. Permission spells like Counterspell or Mystical Dispute can also provide a strong line of defense by stopping Channeled Force before it takes effect.

Keep your important creatures protected with hexproof or indestructible abilities to sidestep the damage or utilize instant-speed removal to eliminate the threat before your opponent gets a chance to cast Channeled Force. By understanding its limitations and employing these techniques, you can maintain control over the game and diminish the impact of Channeled Force on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the MTG realm with Channeled Force, a versatile card suited for decks embracing both aggressive and strategic gameplay. While it’s true that casting this spell involves a careful dance of discarding and drawing, its instant speed and flexibility offer a unique edge. For players looking to harness this dynamic spell, understanding the nuances can turn the tides of the match in your favor. Seeking to refine your deck, or curious about potent combos? Explore further with us, uncovering the depths of strategy and card synergy that can propel you to victory within the vibrant world of MTG.


Cards like Channeled Force

Channeled Force is a dynamic spell within the MTG multiverse, sharing traits with a set of intriguing magic cards. The likeness to Windfall is evident as both cards allow for mass discarding and drawing, but Channeled Force introduces targeted damage as well, bringing removal capabilities to the table. Unlike Windfall, which can replenish hands substantially, Channeled Force’s damage aspect gives it a versatile edge in gameplay.

In comparison, Cathartic Reunion also encourages a draw after discard strategy, though at a significantly lower mana cost and with an immediate draw of three cards. This cost efficiency is crucial but lacks the direct damage nuance of Channeled Force. Another spell, Collective Defiance, allows players to scale their effects, including hand recycling and damage output. While it offers flexibility, Channeled Force’s potential for high-impact plays, particularly in controlling the board by removing threats, gives it a notable position.

Examining such spells reveals Channeled Force as an advantageous option for players seeking both board control and card advantage in MTG. Its ability to shape the pace of the game, while influencing both hand and battlefield states, highlights its unique role within the realm of multi-purpose spells.

Windfall - MTG Card versions
Cathartic Reunion - MTG Card versions
Collective Defiance - MTG Card versions
Windfall - MTG Card versions
Cathartic Reunion - MTG Card versions
Collective Defiance - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Channeled Force MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Channeled Force and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Channeled Force has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 If one of Channeled Force’s two targets becomes illegal, the other is still affected as appropriate.
2020-04-17 If you cast Channeled Force without paying its mana cost, you still choose a value for X and discard that many cards. This is because the spell doesn’t have in its mana cost.

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