Karn's Sylex MTG Card
2022-09-09 - Number 234
2022-09-09 - Number 234p
2022-09-09 - Number 234s
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Artifact |
Text of card
Karn's Sylex enters the battlefield tapped. Players can't pay life to cast spells or to activate abilities that aren't mana abilities. , , Exile Karn's Sylex: Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value X or less. Activate only as a sorcery.
Cards like Karn's Sylex
Karn’s Sylex is a recent entrant in the world of Magic: The Gathering artifacts, known for its potentially game-ending ability. It bears a resemblance to Oblivion Stone, another destructive force among artifacts. Oblivion Stone allows for a selective wipe based on fate counters, whereas Karn’s Sylex provides no such discretion, aiming to level the playing field entirely.
When comparing to Nevinyrral’s Disk, which also clears the board of creatures, artifacts, and enchantments, Karn’s Sylex demands more strategic planning due to the historic condition required to trigger its ability. Despite that, both have a delay mechanic, giving opponents a brief window to respond. Another parallel can be drawn to Perilous Vault, which exiles all nonland permanents, but unlike Karn’s Sylex, it affects everything without the possibility of preservation.
In examining these comparisons, Karn’s Sylex stands out for its ability to preserve the historic aspect of a player’s board while resetting much of the opponents’ setup. This distinctive feature places Karn’s Sylex in a unique position within the pantheon of global reset cards in Magic: The Gathering, offering a nuanced approach to dominance through destruction.
Cards similar to Karn's Sylex by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Karn's Sylex. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Green Tron | Modern | Mono-Green Tron | Modern Preliminary 2024-03-04 (1) |
 | Grixis Control | Standard | Grixis Ramp | ~~ Izzet Explosive Experiment Event |
 | Mono-Black Control | Legacy | Mono-Black Pox | HBMO24 - Dave & Adams Legacy 2k |
| Mono-Black Pox | Legacy | Mono-Black Pox | Legacy League 2024-01-29 |
 | Prison Shops | Vintage | Prison Shops | Vintage Preliminary 2024-04-05 |
 | Eldrazi Tron | Modern | Eldrazi Tron | DEN24 Sat 9:00 - U.S. Regional Championship - presented by Laughing Dragon |
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Standard | Mono-Black Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 11, 2024 |
| Colorless Prison | Legacy | Colorless Cloudpost | Legacy League Mont |
| Colorless | Legacy | Legacy League 2024-02-29 | |
 | Mono-Blue Tron | Modern | Mono-Blue Tron | Modern Challenge 96 2024-02-24 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Karn’s Sylex has the power to reshape the board state by removing numerous permanents, which can leave you with a substantial card advantage. Its sweeping ability can prove to be a turning point by whittling down an opponent’s resources while you retain control of the game.
Resource Acceleration: Although Karn’s Sylex does not directly accelerate resources, its long-term effect sets back opponent’s board development, allowing you more time to build your mana base and advance your game plan unimpeded.
Instant Speed: The artifact operates at sorcery speed, promoting strategic planning for its devastating effect. This ensures that when you deploy Karn’s Sylex, you do so at a moment that ensures maximum impact on the game, allowing you to dictate the pace and flow of the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Karn’s Sylex necessitates letting go of another potentially valuable card in your hand, which can be problematic when you’re already strapped for options or trying to maintain card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of Karn’s Sylex demands a varied mana pool, including colorless mana, which could complicate its inclusion in mana bases that predominantly support multi-colored decks or those that rely heavily on one particular type of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing a sizeable chunk of mana to bring Karn’s Sylex to the battlefield and activate its abilities can be a significant setback, especially when facing faster-paced decks or when under pressure to stabilize the board or counter an opponent’s strategy.
Reasons to Include Karn’s Sylex in Your Collection
Versatility: Karn’s Sylex offers a powerful board-wipe option that can dismantle a wide array of threats on the battlefield. Its ability to reset the game state makes it a useful tool in decks that need time to set up their win conditions.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that aim to protect your own assets while decimating your opponents’. It can also be a key piece in decks that capitalize on graveyard mechanics post board-wipe.
Meta-Relevance: Given its impact on a wide range of permanents, Karn’s Sylex can be particularly effective in metas dominated by decks that overextend on the board, ensuring that you have a fighting chance regardless of the dominant deck types.
How to beat
Karn’s Sylex is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering that can significantly alter the state of the game. Its ability to wipe the board clean of all permanents except for itself demands immediate attention. To effectively counter this powerhouse, it is crucial to recognize its potential and to strategically plan your approach. Considering its four mana activation cost, one tactic is to prioritize mana denial strategies, impeding your opponent’s ability to gather the necessary resources.
Another effective method is to employ artifact destruction cards or counter spells to negate Karn’s Sylex before it can be activated. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can dismantle the Sylex efficiently, while a well-timed Negate may prevent your opponent from ever leveraging its sweeping effect. Additionally, utilizing instant-speed removal allows you to respond to the Sylex’s activation, safeguarding your valuable assets from its destructive capability. In essence, preemptive measures and a tight grip on your mana curve can steer you clear of Karn’s Sylex’s game-changing impact.
Employ these strategies to keep the board under your control and Karn’s Sylex from dictating the pace of play. By being one step ahead, you can ensure that your MTG matches remain in your favor, regardless of such formidable artifacts emerging on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Karn's Sylex MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United 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's Sylex 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
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Printings
The Karn's Sylex Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Adam Paquette.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 234 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 2 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 234p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 3 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 234s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Karn's Sylex has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Karn's Sylex card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keyword abilities are activated abilities (such as cycling) and will have colons in their reminder text. |
| 2022-09-09 | An activated mana ability is one that produces mana as it resolves, not one that costs mana to activate. |
| 2022-09-09 | If a spell or an activated ability that isn’t a mana ability has a cost that requires a player to pay life, that spell or ability can’t be cast or activated. |
| 2022-09-09 | Other things may still cause players to pay life, such as a resolving spell or ability. |
| 2022-09-09 | Players may always pay 0 life, even if an effect says they can’t pay life. |