Ring of Xathrid MTG Card


Ring of Xathrid - Magic 2013
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2012-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2013
Set codeM13
Number215
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byErica Yang

Key Takeaways

  1. The Ring offers board control by safeguarding key creatures, pivotal for long-term in-game advantages.
  2. Its instant speed activation provides tactical latitude, allowing for surprise defenses and counterplays.
  3. Despite mana and card costs, its inclusion can significantly deter opponent removal strategies.

Text of card

: Regenerate equipped creature. (The next time that creature would be destroyed this turn, it isn't. Instead tap it, remove all damage from it, and remove it from combat.) At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature if it's black. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ring of Xathrid presents a unique opportunity to maintain card superiority on the battlefield. Its regenerative ability can protect your key creatures from being destroyed, sustaining your board presence and conserving valuable creature cards in your hand for future turns.

Resource Acceleration: By equipping this artifact to a creature, you tactically invest in a long-term advantage on the field. Though not directly providing mana, its defensive utility hastens your game plan by ensuring pivotal creatures survive to accelerate your resources through consistent attacks or abilities.

Instant Speed: This card stands out with its activation potential at instant speed, allowing dynamic responses to threats during any phase of the game. Activate Ring of Xathrid’s regenerative property in response to removal or combat challenges, leading to advantageous battlefield exchanges, and providing you with unexpected leverage during crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The activation of Ring of Xathrid’s regeneration ability demands a card to be discarded, which could deplete your hand, especially in decks that rely on maintaining card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Ring of Xathrid’s casting cost requires one black mana, making it potentially less desirable for multi-colored decks that are not focused on black mana, thereby reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost to equip and use its ability, Ring of Xathrid can be considered mana-intensive compared to other equipment that could provide more immediate or impactful benefits for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ring of Xathrid can be a significant asset across various deck archetypes due to its ability to protect key creatures. By granting regeneration, it ensures your most valuable creatures have staying power in the face of board wipes and targeted removal.

Combo Potential: This card fits nicely into strategies that capitalize on creature longevity, such as those using undying or persist mechanics. Keeping your creatures on the battlefield longer can also synergize with cards that benefit from creature tap abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by removal spells, Ring of Xathrid proves its worth by turning your creatures into resilient threats. It can be particularly effective in decks that struggle against control archetypes, giving you an edge in maintaining a presence on the board.


How to beat

Ring of Xathrid is a unique artifact from the world of Magic: The Gathering that offers both resilience and gradual enhancement to your creatures. When it’s on the battlefield, the card can be problematic because it has the ability to regenerate the equipped creature. This means that dealing damage to the creature might not be enough to get rid of it permanently.

To effectively counter Ring of Xathrid, players should consider using artifact removal spells or abilities that can dispose of the Ring itself, rather than targeting the creature it’s equipped to. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can be great choices here, as they directly destroy target artifacts or enchantments. If your deck specialises in counter spells, keeping one handy for when your opponent casts Ring of Xathrid can prevent it from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Moreover, exile effects that remove the creature from play can bypass the regeneration ability, as regeneration only protects against destruction. Using cards that force the opponent to sacrifice artifacts can also be another way to eliminate the Ring’s influence from the game. Thus, a strategic approach focusing on direct artifact interaction is key to overcoming the resilience offered by Ring of Xathrid.


Cards like Ring of Xathrid

The Ring of Xathrid is an intriguing choice for those looking to fortify their creatures in MTG. It bears similarities to other equipment cards that focus on incremental growth and protection, such as the Darksteel Plate, which provides indestructibility to a creature but lacks the regeneration ability of Ring of Xathrid. The Ring not only increases a creature’s power over successive turns but also offers a regeneration shield, a valuable asset in maintaining a strong presence on the board.

Another card worth mentioning is Whisper Silk Cloak, which offers the dual advantages of making a creature unblockable and granting it shroud. While this cloak doesn’t boost power or toughness, the cover it provides against targeted spells and abilities makes it a formidable tool for evasion. Meanwhile, the incremental buffing aspect of Ring of Xathrid is echoed in Fireshrieker, which instead of fortifying a creature, grants it double strike, effectively doubling its damage capacity. However, it doesn’t contribute to the creature’s resilience like the Ring does.

In the grand scheme of creature enhancements, Ring of Xathrid stands out for its unique combination of boosting and protective features, offering MTG players a versatile option that contributes to both the longevity and the growing threat of their creatures.

Darksteel Plate - MTG Card versions
Fireshrieker - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Plate - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Fireshrieker - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Ring of Xathrid by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Jandor's Saddlebags - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Winter Orb - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Ankh of Mishra - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Jandor's Saddlebags - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Amulet of Kroog - Rinascimento (RIN)
Nacre Talisman - Ice Age (ICE)
Howling Mine - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Essence Bottle - Tempest (TMP)
Emerald Medallion - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Scrying Glass - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Cursed Totem - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Mask of Intolerance - Apocalypse (APC)
Tsabo's Web - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Millikin - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Swiftfoot Boots - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Ark of Blight - Scourge (SCG)
Surestrike Trident - Darksteel (DST)
Demon's Horn - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Energy Chamber - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Water Gun Balloon Game - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ring of Xathrid MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013, 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 Ring of Xathrid and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ring of Xathrid has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

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