Mirrodin's Core MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 165
2014-06-06 - Number 208
2020-03-08 - Number 119
2020-07-17 - Number 492
2020-09-26 - Number DST-165
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. : Put a charge counter on Mirrodin's Core. , Remove a charge counter from Mirrodin's Core: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
Cards like Mirrodin's Core
Mirrodin’s Core is a unique land card in MTG, offering a degree of mana flexibility unlike many others in the game. It has siblings in the realm of nonbasic lands which also tap for different colors of mana, such as Rupture Spire and Transguild Promenade. These cards require a mana payment to enter untapped and once on the battlefield, provide you with any color mana. What sets Mirrodin’s Core apart is the ability to do this without costing you extra mana upfront, allowing for a more seamless play.
Additionally, we can compare it to the likes of City of Brass or Mana Confluence, which both give immediate access to any color of mana but at a cost – each one deals damage to you every time you tap them for mana. Mirrodin’s Core avoids this, providing a pain-free option for color fixing, albeit with a setup of counters that takes a turn to enable.
Despite the slower setup, players value Mirrodin’s Core for its potential to support multi-color decks without the downside of losing life, a crucial element in closely fought matches. Its comparison with other multi-colored land cards shows that each has its role, dictated by the deck’s speed demands and life conservation strategies.
Cards similar to Mirrodin's Core by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mirrodin’s Core offers versatility in mana generation, ensuring you always have the right type of mana when you need it. This can lead to a smoother game play and help maintain momentum.
Resource Acceleration: By providing access to any color of mana, Mirrodin’s Core enables a faster execution of your strategy. It’s a reliable source for mana fixing, crucial for multicolored decks that need diverse mana resources.
Instant Speed: The ability to use Mirrodin’s Core at instant speed means you can adapt to the battlefield on the fly, efficiently managing your mana without compromising your other plays. This flexibility can give you an edge over opponents, as you can respond to their moves in real-time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mirrodin’s Core requires a card to be discarded from your hand, which can potentially decrease your card advantage and affect the flow of your game strategy, particularly in situations where every card in hand is vital for building momentum or executing combos.
Specific Mana Cost: This card has a five colorless mana cost, demanding a significant amount of resources which may not always synergize with decks that are color-dependent. It could be challenging to accommodate in a mana curve, especially in decks with a low mana base or those that rely on early game plays.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set at five, Mirrodin’s Core competes with many other impactful cards in the same mana range. In many scenarios, players might find more efficient alternatives for mana utilization or card effects, making this card less favorable in competitive play.
Reasons to Include Mirrodin’s Core in Your Collection
Versatility: Mirrodin’s Core is a nonbasic land card that provides mana flexibility, able to add a charge counter and later remove one to generate one mana of any color. This adaptability makes it a suitable addition to multicolor decks, smoothing out mana availability in key turns.
Combo Potential: This card can become an integral part of combos in artifact-centric decks, working well with mechanics that benefit from the manipulation of counters. Its ability to contribute to various colors also opens up possibilities for diverse combo configurations.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where land destruction is minimal, Mirrodin’s Core can offer a reliable mana fixer without the risk of being a liability. Plus, its synergy with proliferate strategies and counter manipulation can prove to be a game-changer in certain matchups.
How to beat Mirrodin’s Core
Mirrodin’s Core is a versatile land card found in decks of Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. Capable of providing a mana of any color, this nonbasic land is a utility player in multicolored decks. Unlike other lands that may come into play tapped or have a penalty for accessing a range of colors, Mirrodin’s Core sidesteps these limitations with a unique charge counter mechanic, allowing flexibility in mana generation over time.
When aiming to disable the advantage given by Mirrodin’s Core, consider using land destruction cards such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin which can target and eliminate the Core, disrupting your opponent’s mana base. Alternatively, utilizing cards like Blood Moon can transform nonbasic lands into basic Mountains, which neutrals the Core’s diverse mana capabilities without directly removing it from play.
Strategy-wise, prioritizing the removal or neutralization of Mirrodin’s Core early in the match could hinder your opponent’s color fixing, potentially causing mana issues and delaying their gameplay. This can be crucial in matches where timing and the right color mana availability play a key role in executing game-winning combos or spells.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mirrodin's Core MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Conspiracy, 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 Mirrodin's Core 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
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Printings
The Mirrodin's Core Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Greg Staples.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 165 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 2 | 2014-06-06 | Conspiracy | CNS | 208 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 3 | 2020-03-08 | Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils | FMB1 | 119 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 4 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 492 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | DST-165 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mirrodin's Core has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |