Khalni Gem MTG Card

Khalni Gem’s land return can strategically benefit landfall mechanics and reuse of specific lands. Provides two mana of a chosen color, potentially escalating gameplay despite its four-mana cost. Competes with alternatives offering different mana ramp strategies without returning lands.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Number	205
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Franz Vohwinkel

Text of card

When Khalni Gem enters the battlefield, return two lands you control to their owner's hand. : Add two mana of any one color to your mana pool.

A fragment of ancient power lost in the heart of Ora Ondar.

Cards like Khalni Gem

Khalni Gem occupies a unique role within Magic: The Gathering as both a mana accelerator and fixer. However, when put alongside cards like Gilded Lotus or Thran Dynamo, we witness a different approach to ramping up mana. Gilded Lotus provides three mana of any one color without the need to return lands to your hand, which maintains board state progression. Thran Dynamo, swinging in with a purely colorless mana boost, outshines Khalni Gem in decks less concerned with color requirements.

Considering other options, such as Darksteel Ingot, which also offers any color mana but with indestructible resilience, Khalni Gem’s vulnerability comes to light. Then we can’t ignore the similarity with Mana Geode, entering the battlefield with the added scry benefit, albeit offering one less mana. Each of these cards shares the concept of mana ramp, yet their incorporation into a deck can pivot the strategy due to their differing secondary effects and costs.

Contextualizing these mana stones and rocks within MTG’s broad spectrum, Khalni Gem provides a particular balance of flexibility and utility, especially in decks designed to capitalize on bouncing lands back to the hand.

Cards similar to Khalni Gem by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Khalni Gem comes with the immediate benefit of replenishing your hand by allowing you to return two lands to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This can be strategically advantageous, especially in decks that can benefit from landfall triggers or need specific lands back in hand for reuse.

Resource Acceleration: Once on the field, Khalni Gem provides a substantial boost to your mana resources. It taps for two mana of any one color, which can significantly speed up your gameplay, allowing you to cast more expensive spells earlier or activate costly abilities without sacrificing your development for that turn.

Instant Speed: While the gem itself does not operate at instant speed, the lands you retrieve can be played and used during your turn for instant speed spells or abilities. This flexibility ensures that you retain the ability to react quickly to your opponent’s actions, maintaining a dynamic and responsive playstyle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Khalni Gem requires players to return two lands to their hand when it enters the battlefield. This can set a player back in terms of land development, negating the temporary mana boost gained, especially in the early game when land drops are crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Although it provides two mana of any one color, the initial cost to play Khalni Gem is a significant four mana total. This particular cost demands a considerable investment before reaping its benefits, limiting its inclusion to decks that can afford such a tempo loss.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four mana needed to cast Khalni Gem is substantial when compared with other available mana acceleration options in MTG. Many players seek alternatives that offer quicker or more impactful results for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Khalni Gem offers a unique blend of mana-fixing and ramp, capable of slotting into multicolor decks with ease. Its ability to return lands to your hand also works well with landfall mechanics or as a method to protect against land destruction.

Combo Potential: In decks that benefit from replaying lands or bouncing permanents, Khalni Gem can be a key component, offering endless possibilities to trigger enter-the-battlefield effects multiple times throughout a game.

Meta-Relevance: As players navigate a format with fluctuating mana requirements and complex board states, Khalni Gem stands out as a tool to refine mana bases and enhance long-term strategies, ensuring you’re never left behind in resource-intensive metagames.

How to beat

Khalni Gem is quite the utility card in MTG, offering a strong mana acceleration plus a fixer for multi-color decks. This card allows players to return two lands to their hand upon entering the battlefield, and in turn, it becomes a source for two mana of any one color. Understanding how to play against Khalni Gem requires a strategy that mitigates its advantages.

Artifact removal is key when facing a card like Khalni Gem. Since it is an artifact, cards like Naturalize or Shatter disrupt the tempo by removing the Gem before it can be used effectively. Hand disruption is another tactic. By using cards like Thoughtseize or Duress, you can preemptively remove Khalni Gem from your opponent’s hand, ensuring that the lands will remain on the field and the mana acceleration will be lost.

Controlling the battlefield is another approach. Since the Gem requires two lands to be returned to the player’s hand, if you can restrict the number of lands your opponent has in play, the impact of Khalni Gem is lessened. Overall, a combination of artifact removal, hand disruption, and land control can effectively counter the benefits that Khalni Gem brings to the table.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Khalni Gem MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Khalni Gem and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Khalni Gem has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Khalni Gem card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	If you don’t control any lands by the time Khalni Gem’s triggered ability resolves, nothing happens. If you control just one, you’ll have to return it to its owner’s hand. Khalni Gem isn’t affected in either case.