Karn, Scion of Urza MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 1
2018-04-27 - Number 1p
2018-04-27 - Number 1s
2018-10-05 - Number RA1
2019-12-02 - Number 1419
2019-12-02 - Number 1419★
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Karn |
| Loyalty | 5 |
Text of card
+1: Reveal the top two cards of your library. An opponent chooses one of them. Put that card into your hand and exile the other with a silver counter on it. −1: Put a card you own with a silver counter on it from exile into your hand. −2: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with "This creature gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control."
Cards like Karn, Scion of Urza
Karn, Scion of Urza finds its place among Magic: The Gathering’s powerful planeswalkers, offering a unique mix of abilities that cater to artifact-centric strategies. When placed beside other planeswalkers like Tezzeret, Artifice Master, differences and similarities become noticeable. Tezzeret’s ability to draw a card for each artifact you control can lead to substantial card advantages similar to what Karn accomplishes with his constructs that grow stronger with your artifacts.
Another parallel could be drawn with Ugin, the Ineffable. Both Karn and Ugin’s colorless identity allows them to fit into various decks, with Ugin’s passive providing cost reductions for colorless spells, complementing Karn’s affinity for artifacts. Ugin’s creature destruction contrasts with Karn’s more utility-based approach, yet they share the trait of generating card advantage and impactful board presence.
Crafting decks around these iconic planeswalkers requires a strategic balance of synergy and raw power. Karn, Scion of Urza’s unique ability to create powerful constructs and manipulate the card advantage sits at a sweet spot in MTG, where versatility and power converge, marking its distinctive position in the multiverse of collector card options.
Cards similar to Karn, Scion of Urza by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Karn, Scion of Urza. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
 | Gruul Control | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 14 2024 | |
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
 | Jeskai Control | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024 | |
 | Mono-White Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Mono-Blue Affinity | Modern | Affinity | Spring Modern Championship |
| Jeskai Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
 | Boros Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024 | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Urza ThopterSword | Modern | Thopter Combo | 2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Karn, Scion of Urza shines in generating card advantage through its ability to reveal the top two cards of your library and allowing you to choose one. Not only does this capability bolster your hand by providing options, it also pressures your opponent as they must account for the growing threat of your resources.
Resource Acceleration: This planeswalker aids in resource acceleration by creating a sizeable Construct artifact creature token that gets stronger with each additional artifact you control. These tokens are not only substantial threats on the battlefield but also increase the power of your artifact synergy, accelerating your path to victory.
Instant Speed: Though Karn itself is not an instant, its versatility comes into play by deploying threats or resources at crucial times. With the ability to plus it up on your turn for card selection and minus to create a threat anytime it becomes significantly powerful, Karn’s flexibility offers tactical advantages akin to instant speed interactions in disrupting your opponent’s strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Karn, Scion of Urza doesn’t directly require discarding cards for its abilities, this aspect can still be a downside. Its minus ability, for example, can put valuable cards into your graveyard if not managed correctly; hence, this indirect discard effect can sometimes mimic an explicit requirement.
Specific Mana Cost: Even though Karn, Scion of Urza has a generic mana cost, it requires a solid commitment to colorless mana sources. Players will need to ensure their mana base can consistently meet this demand, which may not always align with multi-color deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, there are other planeswalkers or impactful cards that could potentially be played at a similar or lower cost. This fact makes Karn, Scion of Urza a strategic choice, demanding players to weigh its cost against the potential benefits it brings to the board.
Reasons to Include Karn, Scion of Urza in Your Collection
Versatility: Karn, Scion of Urza is a card that seamlessly integrates into various deck archetypes. It’s not bound by color requirements, making it a universal fit for any deck needing a boost in utility and resilience.
Combo Potential: This powerful planeswalker has the unique ability to create Constructs that grow with your artifact count, providing a robust synergy with artifact-centric strategies and enhancing the strength of your board presence.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, Karn remains a relevant choice due to its ability to generate card advantage and board control—key components in outmaneuvering opponents in a variety of meta scenarios.
How to Beat
Karn, Scion of Urza is a dominant planeswalker card that can quickly take over a game of Magic: The Gathering if left unchecked. Its ability to churn out card advantage and create powerful Construct tokens makes it a formidable presence on the battlefield. But fear not, there are strategic ways to overcome this mechanical mastermind.
Firstly, direct removal spells like Cast Down or Vraska’s Contempt can dispatch Karn before its controller derives significant value. Secondly, pressure from aggressive creatures can force a Karn player to use their resources defensively, limiting its impact and providing you with a window to attack their life total directly. Moreover, using discard spells like Thoughtseize early on can preemptively handle Karn before it ever hits the board, disrupting your opponent’s game plan.
Evasive or haste creatures can also be crucial since they can bypass the Constructs and chip away at Karn’s loyalty. Lastly, enchantment-based removal such as Conclave Tribunal can offer a permanent solution, eliminating Karn’s influence from the game. By incorporating these tactics into your deck, you stand a good chance of negating Karn, Scion of Urza’s advantage and securing victory in your Magic: The Gathering duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Karn, Scion of Urza MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Dominaria Promos, 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 Karn, Scion of Urza and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Karn, Scion of Urza Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 1 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | |
| 2 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria Promos | PDOM | 1p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | |
| 3 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria Promos | PDOM | 1s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | |
| 4 | 2018-10-05 | Mythic Edition | MED | RA1 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Adam Paquette | |
| 5 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1419 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Uta Natsume | ||
| 6 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1419★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Uta Natsume |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Karn, Scion of Urza has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Karn, Scion of Urza card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-27 | A token created by Karn’s last ability will count itself, so it’ll be at least 1/1. |
| 2018-04-27 | Karn is colorless but not an artifact. The Construct tokens created by Karn’s last ability don’t count Karn. |