Thran Golem MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 141
2005-07-29 - Number 313
2005-07-29 - Number 313★
2005-08-22 - Number G13
2011-07-15 - Number 220
2012-06-01 - Number 114
2016-11-25 - Number 114
2019-11-07 - Number 1641
2023-01-13 - Number 234
2023-01-13 - Number 387
2002-06-24 - Number 62433
2020-09-26 - Number PCA-114
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Enchantments turn Thran Golem into a formidable threat, gaining card efficiency on the battlefield.
- With the right support, it offers robust plays without extra mana, freeing up resources for strategy.
- Instant aura or equipment targeting can unexpectedly strengthen Thran Golem, altering the game’s course.
Text of card
As long as Thran Golem is enchanted, it gets +2/+2 and gains flying, first strike, and trample.
Karn felt more secure about his value to Urza when he realized he didn't need regular trimming.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thran Golem stands out in enabling card advantage by being a versatile artifact creature. Once equipped or enchanted, it becomes a considerable threat that can outpace the opponent’s card resources, potentially leading to a gain in card efficiency on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: The true utility of Thran Golem is highlighted when paired with cards that bring it to life. By effectively using auras or equipment to enhance the Golem, you can accelerate your resource management, turning it into a formidable creature without expending additional mana for buffs, thus freeing up resources for other strategic plays.
Instant Speed: Though Thran Golem itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to transform instantly upon being the target of an aura or equipment means you can catch opponents off guard. Strategically casting buffs during the end phase or before a key combat can shift the tide of the game dramatically, capitalizing on the element of surprise that instant speed interactions provide.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Thran Golem demands you to have an Aura attached to it to unlock its full potential. Without an Aura, it’s merely a costly vanilla creature.
Specific Mana Cost: Thran Golem’s casting cost requires three different types of mana, making it harder to fit into decks without significant color fixing or mana ramp.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five mana value to summon Thran Golem to the battlefield, its cost is steep compared to other creatures that may provide immediate value or have inherent abilities.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thran Golem is flexible in many deck builds due to its ability to become a formidable creature once enchanted, making it a good fit for decks focused on Voltron strategies or that utilize a variety of auras and equipment.
Combo Potential: This artifact creature’s capability to instantly power up with enchantments opens up synergy with cards that allow repeated enchantment casting, potentially creating a rapidly escalating threat on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact and enchantment strategies are prevalent, Thran Golem can be an unexpected game-changer, aligning well with decks that aim to exploit such synergies to their full potential.
How to beat
Thran Golem poses a unique challenge on the battlefield with its potential to become a powerhouse once enchanted. Key to dismantling this threat is to interrupt its synergy with enchantments. Removal spells that specifically target artifacts, such as Fragmentize or Abrade, efficiently dispatch the Golem before it receives any buffs. Alternatively, enchantment removal like Disenchant can sever the Golem’s power source, rendering it a simple 3/3 creature.
Counterplay strategies also include taking control of the battlefield’s pace. By holding back your removal until your opponent commits to enchanting Thran Golem, you not only destroy their momentum but also cause a significant loss in card advantage. Board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, especially if the opponent has invested multiple resources into their Thran Golem.
Ultimately, understanding and disrupting your opponent’s strategy to enhance Thran Golem will tip the scales in your favor, as timely interference prevents this artifact creature from becoming an insurmountable threat.
Cards like Thran Golem
The Thran Golem stands as a unique artifact creature in Magic The Gathering, offering a significant boost to power and defense when enchanted. It parallels the likes of Darksteel Colossus, another artifact creature which gains indestructible, although without the attachment requirement. However, Thran Golem’s ability to essentially become a 5/5 flying, first strike, trample creature is contingent on being targeted by an aura, a condition the Colossus does not have.
Analogous to the Thran Golem in its dependency on auras is the card Auratog, which thrives on sacrificing enchantments for power. While the Golem transforms passive enchantments into an aggressive set of abilities, Auratog directly consumes them for a temporary power spike, offering a different strategic angle. Helm of the Gods also embodies synergy with enchantments, granting power based on the number of auras controlled, but instead of enhancing itself, it bestows strength on the equipped creature.
Deciphering the potential of Thran Golem in a deck rich with enchantments, it’s evident that its capability to become a versatile threat gives it a distinctive edge in artifact creature strategies within Magic The Gathering. Its conditional power upon enchantment distinguishes it from other similar creatures and makes it a tactical inclusion in aura-focused decks.
Cards similar to Thran Golem by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thran Golem MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Magic Online 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 Thran Golem and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Thran Golem Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 141 | 1997 | normal | black | Ron Spears | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62433 | 2015 | normal | black | Mathias Kollros | ||
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 313 | 2003 | normal | white | Ron Spears | |
| 4 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 313★ | 2003 | normal | black | Ron Spears | |
| 5 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | G13 | 2003 | normal | white | Ron Spears | |
| 6 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 220 | 2003 | normal | black | Ron Spears | |
| 7 | 2012-06-01 | Planechase 2012 | PC2 | 114 | 2003 | normal | black | Ron Spears | |
| 8 | 2016-11-25 | Planechase Anthology | PCA | 114 | 2015 | normal | black | Ron Spears | |
| 9 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1641 | 2015 | normal | black | Ron Spears | |
| 10 | The List | PLST | PCA-114 | 2015 | normal | black | Ron Spears | ||
| 11 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 234 | 2015 | normal | black | Sergey Glushakov | |
| 12 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 387 | 1997 | normal | black | Sergey Glushakov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thran Golem has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
