Navigator's Compass MTG Card


Navigator’s Compass facilitates mana fixing, essential for multicolor deck strategies and smooth gameplay. It offers instant speed activation, allowing strategic plays and adaptability during opponent turns. Whilst niche, the compass’s low cost and versatility make it a strategic addition to certain decks.
Navigator's Compass - Dominaria
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact
Released2018-04-27
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria
Set codeDOM
Number225
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySung Choi

Text of card

When Navigator's Compass enters the battlefield, you gain 3 life. : Until end of turn, target land you control becomes the basic land type of your choice in addition to its other types.

The *Weatherlight* can no longer planeshift, but it can traverse Dominaria with ease.


Cards like Navigator's Compass

Navigator’s Compass is a unique artifact in the realm of Magic the Gathering, offering color fix in any deck. It stands among cards like Prophetic Prism, which also grants mana of any color upon its entry to the battlefield. Yet, Navigator’s Compass has a slight edge with its ability to target any land and immediately transform it into a temporary mana source of any hue without the draw effect that Prophetic Prism provides.

There’s also Prismatic Lens, another mana fixer that allows filtering of colorless mana into colored mana. Although Prismatic Lens can consistently provide colored mana, it doesn’t boast the same versatility in changing land properties like Navigator’s Compass does. Then there is Manalith, a card that quietly does the job of providing one mana of any color without any additional fanfare. The Compass is less expensive in terms of mana cost, which might give it a preference in earlier turns or in decks with tight mana curves.

Focusing on utility and efficiency, Navigator’s Compass can be an essential tool for decks that struggle with mana consistency, especially in formats where land alteration might bypass certain restrictions. Navigator’s Compass offers a clever workaround to mana problems with a minimal investment, finding its niche in decks that value adaptability over raw card power.

Prophetic Prism - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Lens - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Prophetic Prism - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Lens - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Navigator's Compass by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
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Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
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

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Navigator's Compass. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
TronTron ModernTronModern League 2024-03-14
WBWB PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-01-27
Mardu MidrangeMardu Midrange PauperMardu SynthesizerSprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 3^ tappa MILANO 2024
Mardu SynthesizerMardu Synthesizer PauperMardu SynthesizerPauper League 2023-12-17
Orzhov BladeOrzhov Blade PauperLega Pauper Canavese - 3a Tappa Paupergeddon Winter Edition 2023 - 29 Players
4c Midrange4c Midrange Pioneer4c MidrangePioneer Challenge 64 2023-12-08 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Navigator’s Compass doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its ability to fix mana can indirectly lead to card advantage by enabling the casting of spells of different colors that may have otherwise been uncastable due to mana restrictions.

Resource Acceleration: Although Navigator’s Compass does not produce mana itself, it plays a pivotal role in resource acceleration by converting any land you control into a source of any color, aiding in smooth and efficient mana usage across various stages of the game.

Instant Speed: Navigator’s Compass is actually cast at sorcery speed, but its once on the battlefield, its mana-fixing ability can be activated at instant speed without paying any additional cost. This feature allows a player to remain flexible, adapting to the ever-changing game state by accessing the color of mana required to respond to opponents’ moves during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Navigator’s Compass doesn’t require a discard to play, it’s a niche card that can often end up being an underwhelming draw when you’re looking for more impactful cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Navigator’s Compass requires one generic mana to cast, which is manageable, but the opportunity cost of not playing another card in that slot can sometimes be high, especially in decks that need to establish board presence quickly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low casting cost, the Compass’ ability to filter mana might not justify a card slot in a deck, particularly when compared against other artifacts or mana sources that offer additional benefits or improved mana-fixing capabilities.


Reasons to Include Navigator’s Compass in Your Collection

Versatility: Navigator’s Compass serves multiple roles in deck-building, providing crucial mana fixing which allows a smoother play for decks running three or more colors. As a one-mana artifact, it easily slots into a variety of decks without much cost.

Combo Potential: As an inexpensive artifact, Navigator’s Compass can be a key piece in strategies that care about the number of artifacts on the field, interacting with cards that have abilities triggered by artifacts entering or leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on nonbasic land disruption, Navigator’s Compass helps mitigate that by allowing your lands to produce any color of mana. It’s a low-cost tool that has the potential to be a strategic asset against decks that aim to disrupt mana bases.


How to beat

Navigator’s Compass stands out in MTG as a versatile tool, enabling players to fix their mana colors and gain a slight buffer to their life total. Understanding when to interact with it can be pivotal in gameplay. This artifact allows its controller to maintain a diverse color palette for casting spells, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t actually produce additional mana. Therefore, thwarting this compass often involves applying pressure to the opponent’s resources. By forcing them to use mana for other purposes, the advantage the compass provides can dwindle.

One effective strategy is prioritizing threats that must be answered, thus diverting mana away from the color-fixing capability of the compass. Furthermore, artifact destruction spells or aggressive strategies can outpace the slight life gain and tempo that the Navigator’s Compass might buy. Cards like Nature’s Claim or Abrade can immediately remove the compass from the battlefield, while a rush of creatures can render the life gain inconsequential. With careful planning and pressure, players can navigate beyond the benefits this artifact offers and steer towards victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Navigator's Compass MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Navigator's Compass and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Navigator's Compass has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-04-27 Gaining a basic land type causes the target land to gain the corresponding mana ability. Because the new basic land type is “in addition to” its other types, it keeps the abilities it had previously.