Overload MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Kicker
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Number	157
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gary Ruddell

Key Takeaways

Overload provides major card advantage with its board-wide impact, potentially altering the game’s momentum.
The mechanic demands strategic hand management due to the extra discard requirement for activation.
Counterplay against Overload includes instant-speed interactions and prioritizing shroud/hexproof permanents.

Text of card

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you play this spell.) Destroy target artifact if its converted mana cost is 2 or less. If you paid the kicker cost, destroy that artifact if its converted mana cost is 5 or less instead.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Overload mechanics enable a spell to scale in power, impacting multiple targets instead of one, granting a substantial uptick in card advantage. This can shift the game’s momentum in your favor by dealing with several threats simultaneously.

Resource Acceleration: Overload cards are often aligned with strategies that employ resource acceleration. A player may use mana rocks or ramp spells to tee up for a game-changing Overload spell, efficiently utilizing their resources to control the board state.

Instant Speed: The instant-speed Overload spells offer the flexibility to disrupt the opponent’s strategy during their turn. This timing provides tactical advantages, allowing players to react promptly to changes on the battlefield and capitalize on the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Overload demands that you discard an extra card to activate its alternative effect. In situations where your hand is already dwindling, the choice between holding critical cards or achieving a potentially game-altering Overload can be quite the dilemma.

Specific Mana Cost: Overload cards typically have a specific mana color requirement that can be quite restrictive. For instance, if the ability needs a heavy blue mana investment, it could detract from the card’s flexibility, especially for multi-color decks not centered around blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Overload’s alternative cost is generally higher than the card’s normal casting cost. This means players often pay a premium for the escalated effect. When constructing a deck, it’s important to weigh the benefits of Overload against other cards with lower mana requirements that might offer similar board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Overload cards offer flexibility in handling the board state which allows players to toggle between a single target or multiple targets based on their need.

Combo Potential: These cards create opportunities to chain with other spells or abilities for devastating effects, easily tipping the game in your favor during critical turns.

Meta-Relevance: With the dynamic nature of MTG’s competitive scene, having Overload cards can be a game changer against decks that swarm with creatures or strategies that rely on wide board states.

How to Beat

Overload is a potent mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that can swing games by altering a single target spell to affect all similar targets. Taking on an Overload card requires strategic foresight and the right counters. To navigate against this, you’ll want to hold onto cards in your hand that offer instant-speed interaction or have spells that provide hexproof to your permanents, preventing them from becoming collateral in an Overload sweep.

Counterspells are a player’s best friend when facing cards with Overload. By countering an Overloaded spell, you effectively neutralize a massive threat that could wipe clean your side of the board. It’s critical to assess the match and determine the perfect moment to play your counters, ensuring your key permanents remain safe from the wide-reaching effects of Overload.

Additionally, prioritizing permanents that can’t be targeted by spells or abilities, commonly referred to as shroud or hexproof, can be a reliable way to maintain board presence. By calculating the risk and employing a disciplined defense, the Overload mechanic can be deftly managed, allowing you to turn the tide and secure victory.

Cards like Overload

Overload stands out in the realm of magic spells in MTG with its powerful ability to scale effects. This ability shares a conceptual lineage with the mechanic of Kicker, which also allows for an upgraded version of the spell at an additional cost. However, Overload takes it to the next level by changing a spell’s targets from a single point to every applicable one. Where Kicker adds more power or a side effect to the spell, Overload fundamentally alters the spell’s reach during the late game stages.

Another relative in this category is the mechanic of Replicate, found on spells like Gigadrowse. Replicate also allows players to pay more to multiply the effect. Similar to Overload, this can vastly widen a spell’s impact. On the other hand, Overload tends to change ‘target’ to ‘each,’ providing a distinct tactical advantage when dealing with multiple threats simultaneously. It’s a key tactical distinction for players who prefer comprehensive control over wide-ranging targets rather than the versatility in the number of effects.

Looking at the broader framework, Overload is a strategic game-changer in MTG, offering a unique and expansive way to influence the board, which solidifies its place among the more dynamic spell mechanics in the game.

Cards similar to Overload by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Overload MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Overload and other MTG cards: