Into the Core MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2011-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirrodin Besieged |
| Set code | MBS |
| Number | 67 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Whit Brachna |
Text of card
Exile two target artifacts.
"They believe they're driving us back, but we're leading them to their doom." —Kethek, furnace stoker
Cards like Into the Core
Into the Core is a distinct entry in the realm of artifact control in Magic: The Gathering, bearing resemblance to powerful spells such as Shatter or Smelt. This spell is unique with its ability to exile two target artifacts, a step up from the usual artifact destruction offered by Shatter, which only targets one and places it into the graveyard rather than exile. Smelt also destroys a target artifact, yet it lacks the potency of dealing with multiple threats simultaneously.
Parallel cards like By Force allow a player to scale the destruction based on their mana investment, potentially handling numerous artifacts for a flexible cost. However, it too falls short in its inability to exile, merely sending the artifacts to the graveyard where they can be potentially retrieved. Into the Core stands out for ensuring that the targeted items do not make a return, securing a player’s advantage.
Examining the mechanics and strategic benefits, Into the Core shines in its category within Magic: The Gathering. Its precise and definitive resolution on the battlefield makes it a skillful choice for players looking to prevent recurring artifact-based threats.
Cards similar to Into the Core by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Into the Core offers a powerful removal mechanism, exiling two target artifacts. This can potentially eliminate key components of your opponent’s strategy and swing the momentum of the match in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Although Into the Core doesn’t directly provide mana or acceleration, the ability to efficiently deal with expensive or synergistically crucial artifacts can set your opponent back and effectively accelerate your path to victory by comparison.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Into the Core at instant speed cannot be overstated. This allows savvy players to react to threats as they emerge or during the opponent’s turn, preserving the element of surprise and maximizing strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Into the Core forces players to discard a card as part of its casting cost. This can be detrimental in situations where hand size is already compromised or when every card in hand is vital to maintaining board presence and strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a double red mana investment, making it a niche pick for decks that may not run heavily on red mana sources. As such, it might not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks that cannot consistently provide the necessary red mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two red mana plus two generic mana, Into the Core may be seen as having a high mana cost for its effect, especially when compared to other removal options. Players might opt for less restrictive or more cost-effective removal spells to optimize their deck’s mana curve and efficiency.
Reasons to Include Into the Core in Your Collection
Versatility: Into the Core is a highly adaptable card, capable of fitting smoothly into various deck archetypes. Its ability to remove multiple threats at instant speed makes it a versatile tool for players who prefer reactive strategies or need to maintain board control.
Combo Potential: This card can be a linchpin in decks that capitalize on exiling opponents’ permanents. It can synergize with strategies that benefit from opponents losing key combo pieces or artifacts, disrupting their plans and tipping the scales in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by artifact-heavy decks such as those incorporating Affinity or artifact synergy strategies, Into the Core can be a timely and effective countermeasure. Its capacity to exile two threats at once without being limited by color or size makes it a strategic inclusion against prevalent competitive deck builds.
How to beat
Into the Core presents a challenge for MTG players who rely heavily on artifacts. This instant card offers a straightforward solution for dealing with problematic artifacts by exiling not one, but two of them with no further costs or conditions. It’s an undeniably powerful move against decks that depend on artifact synergies or specific artifact-based strategies.
Contrasting Into the Core with other artifact removal options such as Disenchant or Naturalize reveals its potential for greater impact. Though these alternatives are lower in mana cost, they lack Into the Core’s ability to target multiple artifacts in a single stroke. Nevertheless, to effectively counteract Into the Core, a diversified strategy is key. Diversification mitigates the risk of losing crucial components to this potent removal and maintaining a mix of non-artifact threats can lessen Into the Core’s potential disruption to your game plan.
In essence, understanding and preparing for the impact of artifact removal like Into the Core is pivotal for players. By anticipating this card and adapting the deck composition accordingly, one can ensure that their strategy remains resilient in the face of such targeted exile abilities.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Into the Core MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Into the Core 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Into the Core has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Into the Core card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-06-01 | You must be able to target two different artifacts in order to cast Into the Core. |