Obelisk of Undoing MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Obelisk of Undoing offers a unique form of card advantage by allowing you to bounce your own permanents. This can be particularly powerful in situations where you want to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects or save a valuable card from removal.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a tool for resource acceleration, Obelisk of Undoing can indirectly aid in speeding up your gameplay. By returning key pieces to your hand, it can help assemble the right resources more swiftly.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate the Obelisk at instant speed provides players with flexibility. It enables interactions during your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their strategies and setting you up for a favorable board state on your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Obelisk of Undoing is that it necessitates the player to discard a card to utilize its ability. In a game where hand advantage can be pivotal, this mandatory discard might leave you at a disadvantage, especially when faced with a situation where retaining your cards is crucial for maintaining your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost for Obelisk of Undoing’s ability requires colorless mana. While this may seem universally applicable, having to keep up a specific mana type every turn to potentially use its ability can be restrictive. It can also compete with other demands for your colorless mana, which can hinder the overall efficiency of your deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At six mana to cast and a continuous one mana to activate its ability, the cost of getting Obelisk of Undoing into play and using it is substantial. When compared to other artifacts or spells that offer more immediate and impactful effects for less mana, the Obelisk can seem like a less attractive option. This high investment can significantly delay your game plan and give your opponent the opportunity to establish a stronger board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Obelisk of Undoing offers a unique flexibility to players, functioning well in decks that can take advantage of repeated artifact activations or that focus on manipulating permanents for strategic advantages.

Combo Potential: This artifact can be an essential piece in combos, allowing you to reset key pieces each turn or protect your investments from targeted removals by returning them to your hand.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where control elements are prospering, Obelisk of Undoing can maintain relevance by disrupting opponent plans and providing recurring utility to sway the match in your favor.

How to beat

The Obelisk of Undoing offers players a unique toolbox option in their strategic lineup. With its ability to bounce permanents back to your hand each turn, this card provides flexibility and repeated value throughout the game. To effectively neutralize this advantage, it’s crucial to focus on strategies that can either overwhelm or bypass the obelisk’s effect. Applying pressure with a fast-paced deck that deploys numerous threats can overload the obelisk’s capacity, forcing your opponent to make tough choices on what to save and what to let go.

Alternatively, targeting the obelisk with direct artifact removal spells is an efficient way to dispatch it. Including options like Disenchant or Abrade in your deck can ensure you’re prepared to handle artifacts that otherwise could complicate the battlefield. Lastly, capitalizing on the moment when your opponent has committed to activating the obelisk—thereby reducing their mana resources for the turn—allows you to advance your board state or resolve key spells with less fear of disruption. In essence, applying constant pressure and being ready to disrupt the obelisk directly are your best tactics against this versatile artifact.