Natural Obsolescence MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2017-01-20 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Aether Revolt |
| Set code | AER |
| Number | 118 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Eytan Zana |
Text of card
Put target artifact on the bottom of its owner's library.
"It is folly to believe your precious inventions will endure. All things return to the soil." —Nirav, Tirahar elder
Cards like Natural Obsolescence
Natural Obsolescence stands out within the Green spell roster of Magic: The Gathering as a tool against artifacts. Unlike its cousin, Reclamation Sage, which destroys an artifact or enchantment upon entering the battlefield, Natural Obsolescence targets only artifacts and tucks them into the library second from the top, not outright destruction. This distinction alters the opponent’s draw and can delay their plans without enhancing their graveyard strategies.
Another parallel can be drawn to Fade into Antiquity, which exiles an artifact or enchantment. Exile is a powerful effect but as a one-off spell, Natural Obsolescence offers a repeatable interaction when combined with shuffle effects. Furthermore, the lower cost of Natural Obsolescence gives it an early game playability that can be critical in fast-paced matches. Creeping Corrosion is more devastating as it sweeps all artifacts from the field, providing a broader impact in exchange for a higher mana investment and sorcery speed.
Addressing specific threats efficiently, Natural Obsolescence adds a unique tactical layer to a player’s deck, offering a strategic edge in carefully manipulating the flow of an opponent’s game, particularly in artifact-heavy matchups.
Cards similar to Natural Obsolescence by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shifting an artifact to the bottom of its owner’s deck can indirectly translate into card advantage. By removing a key piece of your opponent’s strategy, especially one with recursive potential, Natural Obsolescence disrupts their board presence without the downside of putting it in their graveyard where it could be retrieved.
Resource Acceleration: Natural Obsolescence offers a different form of resource acceleration by providing a two-mana pathway to deal with otherwise costly artifacts. This efficient mana cost means you are more likely to have spare mana to develop your board or hold up other responses in the same turn.
Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of this card means you can navigate around your opponent’s actions with flexibility. Timing is crucial in MTG and being able to wait until the last possible moment to disrupt an artifact-based strategy or to simply react to an artifact entering the battlefield gives a player significant tactical superiority.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Natural Obsolescence doesn’t necessitate discarding as a direct cost, yet it does come with other limitations. The card’s effectiveness is narrowed as it targets only artifacts, which can leave you with a dead card against non-artifact based decks.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one green mana can be restrictive especially in multicolored decks that might not have easy or consistent access to green sources. This can impact the card’s inclusion in decks where mana flexibility is key to strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing two mana, Natural Obsolescence might be considered high given its very specific use case. Some players might opt for broader removal options or even less costly artifact removal spells that offer immediate destruction rather than simply placing the artifact on the bottom of its owner’s library.
Reasons to Include Natural Obsolescence in Your Collection
Versatility: Natural Obsolescence is a versatile answer to artifact threats that can swiftly shift the Boardstate in your favor without resorting to direct destruction. This can circumvent protection or indestructible statuses, offering a subtle way to handle problematic artifacts.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to place an artifact on the bottom of its owner’s library pairs well with strategies that exploit opponents’ deck manipulation or graveyard denial. It has an innate synergy with effects that anticipate the opponent drawing certain cards or strategies focused on deck denial.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavily reliant on artifact-based strategies or key artifacts for combo execution, Natural Obsolescence offers a low-cost disruption tool. This can give you an unexpected edge by dealing with commonly encountered threats like Ensoul Artifact, Cranial Plating, or other artifact-focused win conditions.
How to beat
Natural Obsolescence is a card that sees occasional play in Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to topple even the sturdiest of artifacts, this instant spells shuffles target artifact into its owner’s library second from the top. Unlike some other artifact removal options that simply destroy or exile, Natural Obsolescence can disrupt an opponent’s next draw and delay the artifact’s potential replay.
Beating this card requires strategic planning. Mainly, you’ll want to anticipate when your artifacts could be targeted and have a response ready. Running counterspells or using cards with hexproof can protect your crucial artifacts from being affected. Alternatively, having multiple important artifacts on the battlefield can minimize the impact of losing any one piece to Natural Obsolescence. Diversifying your threats beyond artifacts also lessens reliance on them, mitigating the setback this card could cause.
Each MTG match demands adapting strategies to counter opponents’ plays effectively. Cards like Natural Obsolescence add a layer of complexity, encouraging players to craft their deck and playstyle to anticipate and counteract potential disruption.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Natural Obsolescence MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Natural Obsolescence 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Natural Obsolescence has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |