Iraxxa, Empress of Mars MTG Card
Key Takeaways
- Offers card advantage and accelerates resources, significantly shaping gameplay when a land is played.
- Instant speed synergy allows for reactive play, aligning with the unpredictability of competitive MTG.
- Mana requirements and discard costs may limit Iraxxa’s deck compatibility and overall tempo.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Iraxxa, Empress of Mars MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 Iraxxa, Empress of Mars and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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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Text of card
Trample Battle cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.) Paradox — Whenever you cast a spell from anywhere other than your hand, create a 2/2 red Alien Warrior creature token.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Iraxxa, Empress of Mars ensures players can maintain a robust hand by potentially creating card advantage each time a land is played. This can be pivotal in outpacing opponents through superior options.
Resource Acceleration: Iraxxa provides an avenue for resource acceleration by allowing players to utilize lands more efficiently. This can lead to a swift development of board presence, enabling bigger threats or strategic plays earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: While not an instant herself, Iraxxa, Empress of Mars can synergize with instant speed spells by offering a steady land drop each turn. This keeps players prepared to interact during the opponent’s turn, aligning their strategy with the fluidity and unpredictability of highly competitive play environments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This card might hinder your hand by forcing a discard, often throwing valuable assets away, which could cost you momentum especially when your options are limited.
Specific Mana Cost: The particular mana needs to summon Iraxxa may not synergize well with all decks, hindering her inclusion in multi-colored builds that require a diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the significant resource investment needed to bring Iraxxa into play, you might find yourself at a tempo loss, especially if the board state doesn’t benefit from her presence immediately upon casting.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Iraxxa, Empress of Mars adapts to different playstyles with ease. As a commander or part of the 99, this card can elevate various strategies through its dynamic abilities.
Combo Potential: Iraxxa’s unique skill set opens up several combo avenues. Whether it’s leveraging red mana acceleration or synergizing with Mars-themed cards, the combo potential is immense.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, having a card that responds well to shifting metas is crucial. Iraxxa, Empress of Mars meets this need, providing adaptive responses to a wide range of opponents and scenarios.
How to beat
Iraxxa, Empress of Mars presents a unique challenge in the MTG arena. Her formidable presence on Mars—reflected in her card abilities—means players need a precise strategy to overcome her. To triumph against Iraxxa, focus on disabling her ability to generate value through red creature tokens. Counterplay such as spot removal or board wipes can be effective as they disrupt the cumulative advantage that she offers.
Controlling the pace of the game is essential. Strategies including exile effects, like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, prevent the card from recurring. Alternatively, utilizing cards that limit the number of nonland permanents a player can control, like Deputy of Detention, can also be an effective tactic.
Overall, the key to defeating Iraxxa, Empress of Mars lies in anticipating the swarm of red creature tokens and staying one step ahead. A combination of removal, control, and pace disruption can ensure that her imperial reign is carefully managed, giving you the upper hand in your MTG duels.
Cards like Iraxxa, Empress of Mars
Iraxxa, Empress of Mars stands as a formidable commander in MTG, echoing traits seen in other iconic creatures across the game. Its ability to tap for red mana evokes comparison with cards like Magus of the Coffers, which taps for an amount of black mana that’s proportionate to the number of Swamps you control. What sets Iraxxa apart is her focus on a specific gameplay interaction, emphasizing the red mana capability and Mars terrain advantage.
Additionally, we see parallels with Neheb, the Eternal, which offers extra red mana post-combat according to the total life lost by opponents during the turn. Unlike Neheb, Iraxxa allows for tapping to generate mana outside of combat phases, granting a more versatile mana boost. Furthermore, degrees of synergy with Mars-themed cards hint at a broader deckbuilding potential for Iraxxa that isn’t strictly tied to combat damage.
When scouting for a red commander with a knack for generating ample mana, Iraxxa, Empress of Mars provides a unique blend of strategic depth and Martian flavor, securing her spot as an intriguing choice for players looking to innovate within the MTG landscape.
Cards similar to Iraxxa, Empress of Mars by color, type and mana cost
Printings
The Iraxxa, Empress of Mars Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Borja Pindado.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 694 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Borja Pindado | |
| 2 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Borja Pindado |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Iraxxa, Empress of Mars has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Iraxxa, Empress of Mars card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-10-13 | A triggered ability that triggers when a spell is cast from anywhere other than your hand, such as that of The Thirteenth Doctor, functions only on the battlefield, so it doesn't trigger when you cast that spell from a zone other than your hand. |
| 2023-10-13 | An instant or sorcery that counts how many spells you've cast from anywhere other than your hand, such as Surge of Brilliance, counts itself if it was cast from a zone other than your hand. |
| 2023-10-13 | If a spell or ability allows you to copy a spell on the stack but doesn't specify that the spell is cast, that spell wasn't cast and won't be counted by paradox abilities. However, if a spell or ability allows you to cast a copy of a spell, that spell will be counted for paradox abilities. |
| 2023-10-13 | Paradox abilities count any spells cast from zones other than your hand. These are usually spells cast from exile, the graveyard, or the command zone. They also count spells cast from outside the game, such as spells cast with Wish or Garth One-Eye's ability. |