Lead Golem MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 306
1999-04-21 - Number 296
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
If Lead Golem attacks, it does not untap during your next untap phase.
Slow and heavy swings the club.
Cards like Lead Golem
Lead Golem stands out as a unique card in the pantheon of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s worth looking at cards like Guardians of Meletis and Clay Statue to appreciate what makes Lead Golem different. Guardians of Meletis, an artifact creature like Lead Golem, provides a sturdy defensive option, but it lacks the ability to become untapped unless additional resources are spent.
Clay Statue shares the ability to untap itself, similar to Lead Golem; however, it requires a mana investment, contrasting with Lead Golem’s automatic untap during each player’s upkeep. This makes Lead Golem particularly engaging, as it offers a level of activity on both your turn and your opponent’s without any mana cost. Moreover, its higher power compared to the Guardians suggests a greater offensive potential that is balanced by the untapping feature.
In terms of versatility and board presence, Lead Golem finds a sweet spot. While not as defensively geared as Guardians of Meletis, it’s not as resource-intensive as Clay Statue, presenting a more autonomous option for players seeking a self-managing artifact creature for their deck.
Cards similar to Lead Golem by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Lead Golem itself may not directly influence your card count, its respectable presence on the battlefield can force your opponent into unfavorable trades. Successfully defending with Lead Golem or thwarting your opponent’s strategy can indirectly lead to a card advantage as you’re maintaining board control.
Resource Acceleration: Lead Golem doesn’t offer outright resource acceleration in the traditional sense, but its low-cost investment for a substantial body allows you to allocate resources elsewhere, accelerating your development in other areas of play.
Instant Speed: Lead Golem operates at sorcery speed. Nevertheless, its affordable mana cost enables flexibility in your strategy, allowing you to cast other instant-speed interactions within the same turn, thus keeping the momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lead Golem comes with the drawback of needing a card from your hand to be discarded whenever it becomes tapped. This effect can put players at a significant disadvantage, particularly in situations where maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck building flexibility suffers due to Lead Golem’s requirement of two specific colorless mana in its cost. This makes it less accessible and sometimes challenging to cast, especially in multicolored decks that may not prioritize colorless mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana to cast, Lead Golem’s abilities may not be as cost-efficient compared with other creatures at a similar mana value. This can be a substantial setback for players looking to optimize their mana usage throughout the game.
Reasons to Include Lead Golem in Your Collection
Versatility: Lead Golem can be a valuable addition to artifact-centric decks or those that seek to manipulate untap mechanics. Its ability to become untapped could be tactically used to your advantage in various situations.
Combo Potential: This card offers interesting interactions with cards that benefit from untapping creatures or artifacts. It could slot into a combo where its untap cost becomes a beneficial trigger for other card abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts play a significant role, Lead Golem could gain importance due to its inherent synergies with such strategical frameworks. Its affordable cost also makes it a potentially useful piece in formats where maximizing utility for each mana spent is crucial.
How to beat
Lead Golem is a unique artifact creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, presenting a particular challenge with its intrinsic ability to automatically untap during each other player’s untap step. This means it’s perpetually ready to block, making it a reliable defensive unit. Nevertheless, Lead Golem has its vulnerabilities that players can exploit to gain the upper hand.
To effectively counter Lead Golem, it’s crucial to bear in mind its 3/5 stats and comprehend that it won’t be able to easily block creatures with power greater than 5. As a tactic, employing creatures with trample can be particularly effective, as these can potentially deal damage to the player or planeswalker, even if blocked by the golem. Further strategic plays involve bypassing the creature entirely, perhaps by leveraging flying or unblockable creatures that can evade the Golem’s defensive posture.
In essence, while Lead Golem may pose an obstacle with its consistent untapping, it certainly isn’t insurmountable. With thoughtful card selection and a tactical approach, players can navigate around or through this auto-untapping force on the battlefield, maintaining the flow of their strategy towards victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lead Golem MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Lead Golem and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Lead Golem Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1999-04-21. Illustrated by Hannibal King.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 306 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Hannibal King | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 296 | 1997 | Normal | White | Hannibal King |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lead Golem has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |