Darksteel Axe MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip,Indestructible

Key Takeaways

  1. Darksteel Axe guarantees card advantage with its indestructible trait, surviving removals that set back opponents.
  2. It efficiently boosts creature power, accelerating players’ game plans and applying pressure on opponents.
  3. The Axe’s resilience offers flexibility for mana use, akin to the tactical advantage of instant-speed spells.

Text of card

Darksteel Axe is indestructible. (Effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.) Equipped creature gets +2/+0. Equip

Heavier than it looks, tricky to wield, guaranteed to last.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Darksteel Axe remains a constant threat on the battlefield due to its indestructible nature. This means it will often provide card advantage as it does not need to be replaced after a board wipe or targeted removal that would usually set players back.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating your mana pool, equipping creatures with Darksteel Axe can speed up your game plan by increasing your creatures’ power efficiently. This allows players to apply pressure and close games faster, effectively outpacing an opponent’s resource development.

Instant Speed: While Darksteel Axe itself isn’t an instant, its inherent resilience affords players the flexibility usually associated with instant-speed interactions. Since the Axe is likely to stick around, players can invest mana in other spells without worrying about losing their equipment, similar to the reassurance offered by holding up an instant.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Darksteel Axe doesn’t inherently require a discard, if it ends up in a cycle where discarding is a part of the game strategy, it lacks the immediate impact or payoff some other cards might provide when discarded.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has an equip cost that demands one specific colorless mana. This isn’t usually restrictive, but in a deck with heavy color mana dependence or in a multicolored deck, you might find it’s not always easy to spare that mana for equipping.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial cost to cast Darksteel Axe is manageable at one colorless mana, but its equip cost is relatively high. There are other equipment cards that may offer more potent abilities or buffs for a similar or even lower equip cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Darksteel Axe boasts an impressive ability to be a staple in multiple deck archetypes due to its indestructible nature, providing a reliable buff to creatures across the game.

Combo Potential: This card seamlessly integrates into strategies emphasizing artifact synergy or those that require durable equipment to ensure long-term advantage on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting tides of the meta, Darksteel Axe remains relevant, offering aggressive decks an unyielding edge, while also countering strategies focused on destroying permanents.


How to beat Darksteel Axe

Darksteel Axe, known for its resilience and moderate boost, is a piece of equipment in the Magic: The Gathering universe that can turn even the weakest creature into a significant threat. However, while it’s indestructible, the creatures wielding it are not. Targeted removal spells that exile, shrink or change a creature’s base characteristics can easily circumvent the axe’s durability. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push offer clean solutions without having to directly address the indestructibility.

Alternatively, taking control of the situation with enchantments that neutralize abilities can render equipped creatures harmless. Enchantments like Pacifism or Frogify can effectively remove threats equipped with Darksteel Axe, bypassing the need to destroy the artifact itself. This strategy shifts the focus to containing the threat rather than engaging in an arms race against an unbreakable object.

It’s also worth considering strategies that limit equipment’s impact indirectly. Cards that restrict a player’s ability to equip items or lock down combat capabilities can isolate Darksteel Axe’s influence. Board wipes that clear all creatures from the field can also reset the playing field, making the Darksteel Axe’s presence less daunting. Overall, while the axe may be unyielding, the strategies to overcome it in Magic: The Gathering are numerous and varied.


Cards like Darksteel Axe

The Darksteel Axe holds its own in the realm of equipment cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its indestructible nature makes it a persistent threat on the battlefield, quite reminiscent of other durable artifacts like the notorious Darksteel Ingot. The Ingot offers indestructibility to mana sources, while the Axe equips creatures with a permanent boost to their offensive capabilities.

Another card worth mentioning is the Bonesplitter, a simpler artifact that provides a similar power boost at a lower cost. Unlike Darksteel Axe, however, Bonesplitter lacks indestructibility, making it vulnerable to artifact destruction spells. Then there’s Trusty Machete, a slightly more costly option that also boosts both power and toughness, which could tip the scales in a closely-fought battle.

Comparing these various equipment options highlights the unique blend of resilience and power enhancement that the Darksteel Axe offers to creatures. Players looking for a reliable way to up their creatures’ offensive game without the fear of equipment loss have found a solid ally in this card.

Darksteel Ingot - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Ingot - Arena League 2004 (PAL04)
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Trusty Machete - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Darksteel Axe by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Library of Leng - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Crystal Rod - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Darksteel Axe MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Darksteel Axe and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Darksteel Axe Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1492003normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
22015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 2082015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
32017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 2142015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
42020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2472015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Darksteel Axe has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-07-01 Although Darksteel Axe has indestructible, it can still be put into the graveyard for other reasons. The most likely reason is if it's sacrificed.
2013-07-01 Darksteel Axe itself has indestructible, not the creature it's equipping.

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