Keening Stone MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 219
2016-11-11 - Number 259
2022-11-18 - Number 89
2022-11-18 - Number 89z
2022-11-18 - Number 26
2022-11-18 - Number 64
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Mill |
Text of card
, : Target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is the number of cards in that player's graveyard.
As it spins, dead voices shriek in an ever-increasing cacophony, rending the mind asunder.
Cards like Keening Stone
Keening Stone, a notable artifact in Magic: The Gathering, offers players a unique mill strategy, making it a formidable card in the right deck. It stands in line with other heavy-hitting deck depletion cards like Sands of Delirium. While both cards can target an opponent’s library, Keening Stone has an exponential impact as the game progresses, potentially milling half of an opponent’s remaining deck at once. Sands of Delirium, on the other hand, allows for more controlled milling, with the flexibility to spend any amount of mana to chip away at a library.
Moving forward, we see Mind Funeral as a distinct player in the mill category. It lacks the reusability that Keening Stone boasts but is capable of a significant one-time effect at a lower mana cost. Mind Grind is another relevant comparison, which can excavate a library based on the amount of mana invested, resembling the mana flexibility of Sands of Delirium.
Ultimately, while each card offers a different approach to the mill strategy, Keening Stone distinguishes itself with a potentially more devastating late-game presence. For players who enjoy controlling the pace and pushing games to last longer, Keening Stone can be a game-ender in the MTG landscape.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Keening Stone has the ability to potentially mill a significant number of cards from an opponent’s library. In games that stretch into many turns, this can lead to a substantial library depletion, offering a path to victory through decking your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Keening Stone itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its mere presence on the battlefield can indirectly pressure opponents to misallocate resources. They might spend mana and cards to deal with it, which can give you a resource advantage.
Instant Speed: While Keening Stone itself does not operate at instant speed, its activation can be used at the end of an opponent’s turn. By holding back mana, you can bluff counterspells or removal, and if not needed, sink the mana into milling just before your turn begins – keeping your options open without sacrificing the opportunity to use your resources effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Keening Stone demands a hefty toll from your graveyard to activate its ability. This could pose a challenge in the late game when you might be running low on cards to exile, limiting its usefulness just when you need it the most.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires not only a significant amount of generic mana to cast but also an investment to activate its effect. Decks that aim to maintain a more efficient and lean mana curve may find accommodating Keening Stone’s mana demands challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six and an activation cost that’s also hefty, Keening Stone might not always align with the pace of your game plan. Other cards in MTG may provide mill effects or serve as win conditions without such a substantial investment, potentially offering greater flexibility and efficiency for your deck.
Reasons to Include Keening Stone in Your Collection
Versatility: Keening Stone offers a unique ability to accelerate milling strategies, diverse enough to fit into various decks that aim to deplete an opponent’s library. It’s equally useful in commander games where players often have a larger library to work through.
Combo Potential: This card works well with any strategy focused on decking the opponent out. When paired with other mill cards, Keening Stone’s ability can quickly end the game. Its synergy with cards that fill an opponent’s graveyard rapidly, like Hedron Crab or Fraying Sanity, is particularly notable.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, Keening Stone not only serves as a win condition but also as a tool to disrupt opponents’ tactics. It’s particularly effective in a metagame with decks that utilize the graveyard as a resource.
How to beat Keening Stone
The Keening Stone card emerges as a formidable artifact in the landscape of MTG, harnessing the power to relentlessly mill an opponent’s deck. This can often lead to a swift and daunting route to victory if left unchecked. This milling artifact stands out with its ability to exponentially increase the number of cards a player puts into their graveyard, based on the amount already present there.
Yet, there is strategy in navigating around the looming threat of Keening Stone. Key is prioritizing the destruction or neutralization of artifacts, which are essential in dismantling the potential threat posed by Keening Stone. One can employ instant speed artifact removal spells like Nature’s Claim or the versatile Krosan Grip, each capable of disrupting the Stone’s formidable milling function. Forethought and quick response are vital, as the longer Keening Stone remains on the battlefield, the greater the peril it orchestrates.
Considering the strategies to counteract Keening Stone, an informed player can develop a strong defense. Whether it’s through swift removal, employing counterspells like Negate, or even utilizing artifact suppression cards, the key lies in anticipation and prompt action to keep this powerful artifact at bay and maintain the upper hand in your MTG match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Keening Stone MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Commander 2016, 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 Keening Stone 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Keening Stone Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 219 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jung Park | |
| 2 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 259 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jung Park | |
| 3 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 89 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Warren Mahy | |
| 4 | The Brothers' War Art Series | ABRO | 64 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 5 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 89z | 1997 | Normal | Black | Warren Mahy | |
| 6 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 26 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jung Park |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Keening Stone has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Keening Stone card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | The value of X is determined as the ability starts to resolve. If the targeted player has five cards in their graveyard at that time, for example, this ability will put five more cards into that graveyard from the top of that player's library. |