Obsidian Charmaw MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Obsidian Charmaw offers card advantage through targeted land destruction, benefitting Dragon and land disruption decks.
  2. Reduces casting cost based on opponents’ lands, enabling early play and mana-saving for further strategies.
  3. Strategically complements instant-speed land destruction and removal spells, enhancing tempo and board control.

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast for each land your opponents control that could produce . Flying When Obsidian Charmaw enters the battlefield, destroy target nonbasic land an opponent controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: One significant benefit of Obsidian Charmaw is the potential for card advantage, especially in decks that focus on Dragon tribal or land destruction themes. Its ability to destroy nonbasic lands upon entering the battlefield can disrupt your opponent’s mana base while tilting board presence in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: The cost reduction effect of Obsidian Charmaw is a form of resource acceleration. By reducing its casting cost for each land your opponents control with the potential to be destroyed, you can deploy this potent flyer earlier than typical for a creature of its power level, leaving mana open for additional plays.

Instant Speed: While Obsidian Charmaw itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed land destruction and removal spells. Playing disruption spells on your opponent’s turn can pave the way for a smooth and reduced-cost entry of the Charmaw on your turn, granting you a strategic advantage in tempo and resource management.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obsidian Charmaw calls for you to discard a card when utilizing its land destruction ability. This additional cost could set you back, particularly when your hand is already running thin on valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Although Obsidian Charmaw can have its mana cost reduced under the right conditions, its specific need for red mana ties it heavily to red or multi-colored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in mono-colored or non-red strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base casting cost that is higher than some other creatures with similar power and toughness, Obsidian Charmaw might not always be the most mana-efficient choice for your deck, especially in environments where speed is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Obsidian Charmaw brings flexibility to the table, able to adapt to a myriad of deck styles. It shines in land destruction strategies and can swing games in your favor against decks with a heavy land presence.

Combo Potential: This powerhouse dragon offers significant combo potential. When paired with cards that allow you to play additional lands or manipulate land count, it becomes an even more affordable threat, increasing its impact on the game.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to target nonbasic lands, Obsidian Charmaw maintains relevance in formats where such lands are prevalent. In metas dominated by decks that rely on multicolored lands, it serves as a suitable countermeasure, making it a strategic addition to your arsenal.


How to beat Obsidian Charmaw

Obsidian Charmaw is a dragon that poses a considerable threat in the realm of MTG, particularly for players heavily relying on nonbasic lands. The card’s cost reduction for each land your opponent controls can make it a fast and daunting presence on the battlefield. However, defeating this creature is not an insurmountable task. Approaches to overcome it include increasing your removal spells that can address powerful threats regardless of their size, such as Path to Exile, which can handle the Charmaw irrespective of its discounted casting cost.

Additionally, relying on versatile counterspells like Dovin’s Veto or Negate can prevent the Obsidian Charmaw from ever hitting the field. It’s crucial to anticipate and prepare for this card, as its land destruction ability can be devastating. Ensuring your deck is equipped with land-based removal or counters can mitigate the risk posed by this formidable dragon and keep your game plan intact. So when facing an opponent with the potential to unleash Obsidian Charmaw, having a strategy built around control and removal can lead you to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the heart of MTG strategy, the Obsidian Charmaw presents a fascinating piece for any player’s collection. With its disruptive entry and resource acceleration, it can be a game-changer in dragon or land destruction themed decks. Its potential for cost reduction offers a surprise element, allowing for swift plays and keeping opponents on their toes. Whether battling through nonbasic land-laden metas or building combos that manipulate land counts, this dragon’s value is undeniable. For those looking to optimize their decks and maintain an edge, incorporating the Obsidian Charmaw could be your winning twist. Learn more and harness its power for your next match.


Cards like Obsidian Charmaw

Obsidian Charmaw offers a powerful presence in MTG as a formidable dragon. Its closest rivals in terms of creature type and impact are Dragonlord Atarka and Glorybringer. Much like Obsidian Charmaw, Dragonlord Atarka demands attention on the battlefield with an immediate effect upon entry. However, Atarka boasts an ability that can be split among multiple creatures and planeswalkers, as opposed to the land-focused destruction that Obsidian Charmaw brings.

Glorybringer is another dragon that shares the essence of dealing direct damage, though its exert mechanic allows it to exert its dominance over creatures rather than lands. Unlike Obsidian Charmaw, Glorybringer provides a recurring ability every time it attacks and exerts, though it doesn’t offer the cost reduction benefit for controlling nonbasic lands that Obsidian Charmaw does.

In essence, while these dragons share the thematic grandeur and damage-dealing capabilities, Obsidian Charmaw stands out with its unique synergy with land destruction and cost-efficiency. It carves its niche among red dragon cards by offering strategic land interaction, making it a distinctive choice for players looking to harness the power of dragons in their MTG decks.

Dragonlord Atarka - MTG Card versions
Glorybringer - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Atarka - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
Glorybringer - Amonkhet Promos (PAKH)

Cards similar to Obsidian Charmaw by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Shard Phoenix - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Soul of Magma - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hunted Dragon - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Obsidian Charmaw MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Obsidian Charmaw and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Obsidian Charmaw Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-06-19. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3532015normalblackLucas Graciano
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 1372015normalblackLucas Graciano
32021-06-19Modern Horizons 2 PromosPMH2 137s2015normalblackLucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Obsidian Charmaw has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Obsidian Charmaw card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2021-06-18 Obsidian Charmaw's first ability counts each land your opponents control that would produce if one of that land's abilities resolved. It doesn't matter whether that land's controller could currently activate the ability or not.

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