Magnetic Mountain MTG Card
1993-12-17 - Number 41
1994-04-01 - Number 163
1994-04-01 - Number 163
1994-06-21 - Number 163
1995-04-01 - Number 209
1995-04-01 - Number 209
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Blue creatures do not untap as normal. During their untap phases, players must spend o4 for each blue creature they wish to untap. This cost must be paid in addition to any other untap cost a given blue creature may already require.
Cards like Magnetic Mountain
Magnetic Mountain is an intriguing presence in the roster of land-affecting cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its close relative in functionality is Blood Moon, which also transforms nonbasic lands. However, while Blood Moon changes them into basic mountains without further effects, Magnetic Mountain goes further by increasing the upkeep cost of blue creatures. This unique aspect can disrupt an opponent’s strategy, quite different from Blood Moon’s terrain equalizing approach.
Comparatively, we observe Pyrostatic Pillar, which impacts the game differently by dealing damage for noncreature spells with low casting costs, rather than targeting lands or creature types like Magnetic Mountain. Conversely, while Ankh of Mishra deals damage to players for playing lands, Magnetic Mountain specifically targets opponents with blue creatures, therefore occupying a unique niche. This card offers a different strategic angle against decks heavy in blue creatures compared to its counterparts.
So, in measuring the strategic implications of Magnetic Mountain versus similar disruption cards, it stands out by selectively hamstringing blue-creature-heavy decks, showcasing its value for players seeking to neutralize those particular threats in the MTG universe.
Cards similar to Magnetic Mountain by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the subtle benefits of wielding Magnetic Mountain in your deck is the possibility of disrupting your opponent’s card flow. By ensuring their red sources don’t untap as readily, you can potentially slow down their game, giving you the upper hand and keeping your resources safer.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly providing mana, Magnetic Mountain can serve as a form of resource acceleration by hindering the opponent’s ability to develop their board. This can effectively give you more time to deploy your resources and advance your game plan without facing immediate retaliation from red spells.
Instant Speed: Even though Magnetic Mountain itself is not an instant, it interacts significantly with instant speed play. With this card on the field, your adversaries must think twice before tapping out for an instant on their turn, knowing their red lands may not untap, thus restricting their ability to respond to your moves swiftly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Magnetic Mountain necessitates careful hand management as it doesn’t demand an immediate discard but can indirectly cause card disadvantage over time—especially troubling when your hand is depleting fast.
Specific Mana Cost: The exclusive red mana cost of this spell can make it a challenging fit in multi-colored decks that may struggle with color fixing, limiting its versatility across different deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Magnetic Mountain’s casting cost is not on the lower end of the spectrum, and for the mana investment, players often expect a more impactful board presence or immediate game-changing effect, which this card does not provide directly.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Magnetic Mountain offers uniqueness as it mainly affects older formats where mana bases rely heavily on nonbasic lands, challenging opponents and changing rhythm of the game.
Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on land disruption, this card can serve as a cog in a machine designed to stifle your opponent’s mana while you advance your board state.
Meta-Relevance: With the right deck construction, it can play a vital role against decks that utilize a high volume of nonbasic lands, keeping you one step ahead in the game’s flow.
How to beat
Magnetic Mountain, within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, presents an intriguing obstacle for players leaning heavily on blue spells and strategies. This red enchantment passively taxes your opponents, requiring an additional 3 mana for their blue creatures to untap. At first glance, it seems like a daunting card to overcome, especially if you’re piloting a blue-centric deck replete with iconic creatures from the depths of the ocean or the skies above.
To outmaneuver this card, versatility and adaptability become key. Shifting your approach to include more instant-speed removal, such as Red Elemental Blast or Chaos Warp, can clear the way for your creatures to move freely once again. You can also employ alternative untapping methods, like artifacts with untap abilities or including creatures that naturally circumvent the Mountain’s effect with vigilance or abilities that untap them as a part of their cost or effect.
Navigating around Magnetic Mountain’s taxing grasp involves strategic foresight and a diversified arsenals. Incorporating a blend of colorless mana sources, like artifacts, or switching to reliance on non-blue creatures, can often render this specific obstacle more as a minor annoyance than a game-ending threat in the landscape of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Magnetic Mountain MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Foreign Black Border, 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 Magnetic Mountain 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 Magnetic Mountain Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 1995-04-01. Illustrated by Susan Van Camp.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 41 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Susan Van Camp | |
| 2 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 163 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Susan Van Camp | |
| 3 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 163 | 1993 | Normal | White | Susan Van Camp | |
| 4 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 163 | 1993 | Normal | White | Susan Van Camp | |
| 5 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 209 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Susan Van Camp | |
| 6 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 209 | 1993 | Normal | White | Susan Van Camp |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Magnetic Mountain has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |