Karn, Silver Golem MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 298
1999-01-01 - Number 8
1999-08-04 - Number kb298
2010-08-27 - Number 6
2012-11-02 - Number 6
2014-06-16 - Number 270
2002-06-24 - Number 36106
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Whenever Karn, Silver Golem blocks or becomes blocked, it gets -4/+4 until end of turn. o1: Target noncreature artifact is an artifact creature with power and toughness each equal to its casting cost until end of turn. (That artifact retains its abilities.)
Cards like Karn, Silver Golem
Karn, Silver Golem is a unique artifact creature card in MTG with the ability to animate other noncreature artifacts. Comparable to this iconic card is Voltaic Construct, which also excels at manipulating artifacts. Although Voltaic Construct lacks the stat-changing abilities of Karn, it can untap a target artifact creature, a maneuver that can be repeatedly used to great effect when paired with a card like Karn, Silver Golem.
Similarly, Myr Welder shares the trait of interacting with artifacts, absorbing their abilities rather than bringing them to life. Unlike Karn, it does not turn artifacts into creatures, but it can consolidate multiple artifact abilities onto itself. Then there’s Sydri, Galvanic Genius, whose ability to give artifact creatures lifelink and deathtouch imbues them with combat potential, something that resonates with the utility Karn provides as an artifact creature enabler.
Each of these cards presents a varied approach to artifact manipulation, but Karn, Silver Golem stands out for its sheer ability to turn dormant artifacts into threatening board presences. Its versatility and the strategic depth it offers to players are what make it a standout choice among artifact-centric cards in the game.
Cards similar to Karn, Silver Golem by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Karn, Silver Golem. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prison Shops | Vintage | Prison Shops | Vintage League 2023-12-15 |
| Colorless Shops | Vintage | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Vintage Mainevent | |
| MUD | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Karn, Silver Golem provides a unique form of card advantage by turning non-creature artifacts into creatures. This ability allows players to exploit the full potential of artifacts that may otherwise sit idle on the battlefield. By giving these artifacts the ability to attack or block, you’re effectively increasing your board presence without depleting your hand.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable golem also acts as a form of resource acceleration. At a single mana to activate, your artifacts can be transformed into a threatening army, thereby accelerating your potential to deal damage or defend without the need for additional mana investment in casting creatures from your hand.
Instant Speed: The key strength of Karn lies in the ability to animate artifacts at instant speed. During the versatility of any match phase, you have the flexibility to adapt your strategy responsive to the unfolding game. This could mean creating a surprise blocker, enabling a swift counter-attack, or simply activating an artifact’s creature mode for other synergistic benefits, all on the fly and in response to your opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Karn, Silver Golem requires a player to have an artifact card on hand to fully utilize its ability to animate artifacts. This may force players to discard potentially useful cards to maintain a board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Karn, Silver Golem’s activation cost demands colorless mana, meaning it could be less flexible in mana bases that aren’t optimized for artifacts or lack diversity in producing colorless mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana and the additional mana required to activate its ability, Karn, Silver Golem can be a hefty investment in a game where speed and efficiency are often key to victory.
Reasons to Include Karn, Silver Golem in Your Collection
Versatility: Karn, Silver Golem can seamlessly switch roles from a formidable blocker to an aggressive threat. With the ability to animate artifacts, Karn can transform passive artifacts into potent offensive and defensive assets on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: The unique capability of turning other non-creature artifacts into creatures, allows for ingenious combo interactions. This opens up avenues for infinite loops with cards like Voltaic Construct, creating infinite mana with the right setup.
Meta-Relevance: In a format where artifacts are ubiquitous, having Karn in the deck can provide strategic edge. It enables you to capitalize on artifact synergies and offers a resilient win condition that can be difficult for opponents to prepare for.
How to beat
Karn, Silver Golem presents unique challenges when facing off against it in a game of Magic: The Gathering. This formidable artifact creature can easily turn other noncreature artifacts into creatures, which can quickly overwhelm opponents. However, one way to counter this is by utilizing artifact removal spells. Destroying key artifacts before they can be animated minimizes Karn’s impact on the battlefield.
Another strategy is to keep Karn from activating its ability by using creature removal spells or abilities that specifically target activated abilities. Increasing the cost of Karn’s ability to animate artifacts also serves as an effective hindrance, putting a strain on your opponent’s mana resources. Moreover, exploiting Karn’s turned creatures through board wipes ensures that any threat the card poses doesn’t escalate. Ensnaring Bridge is another effective card, preventing the animated artifacts from attacking if your hand is low on cards.
While Karn, Silver Golem has the potential to dominate the game, employing focused disruption and removal tactics can keep the card in check. Being aware of and readily equipped with these countermeasures in your deck can tilt the odds in your favor during a matchup. Always remember, with the right strategy, no singular card should dictate the outcome of your games.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Karn, Silver Golem MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Arena League 1999, 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, Silver Golem and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Karn, Silver Golem Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Mark Zug.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 298 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 2 | 1999-01-01 | Arena League 1999 | PAL99 | 8 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 3 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | kb298 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Mark Zug | |
| 4 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36106 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | ||
| 5 | 2010-08-27 | From the Vault: Relics | V10 | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 6 | 2012-11-02 | Commander's Arsenal Oversized | OCM1 | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 7 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 270 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Karn, Silver Golem has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Karn, Silver Golem card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The blocking ability triggers only once no matter how many blockers are declared. |
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |