Midnight Oil MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 92
2016-09-30 - Number 92s
2020-11-12 - Number 100
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Midnight Oil enters the battlefield with seven hour counters on it. At the beginning of your draw step, draw an additional card and remove two hour counters from Midnight Oil. Your maximum hand size is equal to the number of hour counters on Midnight Oil. Whenever you discard a card, you lose 1 life.
Cards like Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil is a unique entry into the library of draw engines available in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Phyrexian Arena in that both provide ongoing card advantage each turn. Unlike Phyrexian Arena, Midnight Oil has the additional benefit of granting a whole new hand size which decreases over time, urging players to act swiftly with their new cards.
Another card that echoes this theme of unusual card draw is Painful Quandary. Both impose a cost on their owner, but while Midnight Oil’s cost is a gradual reduction in hand size, Painful Quandary forces opponents to lose life or discard cards. These interactions demonstrate the varied ways in which MTG challenges players to balance power with penalty. Underworld Connections also stands as a comparable card, offering extra draw at the expense of available mana and life, yet it lacks the hand size modulation that Midnight Oil introduces.
Assessing these comparisons reveals Midnight Oil as a formidable option for players looking to increase their hands aggressively, albeit with a mindful eye on the countdown it imposes. The card’s unique balance of risk and reward is a testament to its strategic depth in player decks.
Cards similar to Midnight Oil by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Midnight Oil grants new cards to keep your hand stocked, mitigating the natural depletion of resources as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t produce mana or tokens, it gradually increases your max hand size each turn, giving you more options to accelerate your game plan.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, it allows more tactical play by potentially offering more options each turn, which can simulate the flexibility that playing at instant speed gives.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Midnight Oil entails a forced discard mechanic, shaving off your hand size each turn. For players that rely on having multiple options at hand, this can put them in a tight spot, struggling to maintain a tactical edge.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a commitment to black mana, which could pose a deck-building restriction. For those wishing to cast it early, this necessitates a dedicated mana base, potentially limiting deck diversity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that could be seen as steep for the effect it offers, some may argue that Midnight Oil isn’t the most mana-efficient choice for card advantage. There are alternative cards that provide card draw or hand manipulation for less, allowing for a more versatile play earlier on.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Midnight Oil can slot into various decks, especially those looking to manage their hand size while maintaining gas in the late game. It shines in control or discard-focused strategies that thrive on card advantage.
Combo Potential: Not only does it provide you with card draw, but lowering your maximum hand size can synergize with abilities or cards that benefit when you have fewer cards in hand. This opens up avenues for unique combos in various formats.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, where managing resources effectively is key, Midnight Oil’s contribution to sustained card advantage can be a game-changer, making it a noteworthy inclusion for decks contending with the current competitive scene.
How to Counter Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil can be a potent engine for drawing cards in MTG. This black enchantment allows players to draw an additional card each turn while diminishing their hand size over time. Controlling this depletion of resources is crucial when facing an opponent wielding Midnight Oil.
To effectively counter this card, consider using enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can eliminate Midnight Oil before its effect becomes overwhelming. Additionally, taking advantage of the reduced hand size penalty that Midnight Oil imposes on your opponent can be a strategic play. Hand disruption spells such as Thoughtseize or Duress are particularly effective once the opponent’s maximum hand size has been lowered, furthering the pressure and disrupting their game plan. Direct damage spells and abilities that target the player can also be a potent strategy, capitalizing on the life loss incurred by Midnight Oil as the game progresses. Keep in mind that patience and timing are key; allowing your opponent to overcommit while their defenses are down could pave the path for a decisive victory.
Utilizing these tactics, you can turn the table on Midnight Oil users. Whether you’re dismantling their strategies piece by piece or forcing them into unfavorable positions, a well-orchestrated counter can nullify the card’s advantages and lead you to triumph in the arena of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Midnight Oil MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Promos, 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 Midnight Oil 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 Midnight Oil Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 92 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 2 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Promos | PKLD | 92s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 3 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 100 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Midnight Oil has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Midnight Oil card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-09-20 | If Midnight Oil has no hour counters on it, its first triggered ability will continue to trigger and have you draw an additional card, even though you can't remove any counters from it. |
| 2016-09-20 | If Midnight Oil has only one hour counter on it, its first triggered ability will remove that one counter. |
| 2016-09-20 | If multiple effects try to set your maximum hand size to a certain number or state that you have no maximum hand size, the one created latest is the one that applies. |
| 2016-09-20 | If you discard a card during your cleanup step while you control Midnight Oil, its last ability will trigger, and players will get priority in your cleanup step. You'll have another cleanup step after that one before continuing to the next player's turn. |
| 2016-09-20 | Your maximum hand size is only checked during the cleanup step of your turn. At other times, you may have more cards in hand than your maximum hand size. |