Ominous Parcel MTG Card

Ominous Parcel provides card advantage and instant speed play, vital elements in maintaining game control. Resource acceleration with Ominous Parcel is key for casting substantial spells sooner than opponents. It requires card discard and specific mana costs, presenting deck-building and in-game challenges.
Ominous Parcel - Streets of New Capenna
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact
Released2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set nameStreets of New Capenna
Set codeSNC
Number241
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJoe Slucher

Text of card

, , Sacrifice Ominous Parcel: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. , , Sacrifice Ominous Parcel: It deals 4 damage to target creature.

The rest of Anhelo's assistant arrived over the following week.

Cards like Ominous Parcel

Ominous Parcel presents as an intriguing piece within the collection of mana acceleration artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often measured against the likes of Mind Stone, which also offers a ramp in mana as well as an additional card once it’s no longer needed. Ominous Parcel differs in that it foregoes the immediate card draw for a delayed yet potentially more substantial benefit, granting a colorless creature token that can grow in power.

Contrast this with Everflowing Chalice, which scales its mana ramp based on the investment you make when casting it. While the Chalice offers no added board presence, its flexibility in mana acceleration can be valuable in different stages of the game. Moreover, Guardian Idol enters the fray, functioning as a quick mana artifact that later turns into a creature, much like the token from Ominous Parcel. However, the Idol is immediate in its transformation, compared to the build-up required by Ominous Parcel’s Parcel counter mechanism.

While each artifact carries unique benefits and drawbacks, Ominous Parcel stands out by paving the way for a substantial creature that could shift the board’s balance, making it a noteworthy consideration for decks looking to blend ramp with creature-based strategies.

Mind Stone - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Guardian Idol - MTG Card versions
Mind Stone - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Guardian Idol - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ominous Parcel ensures that you stay ahead in the card count by allowing you to draw an extra card. This maintains your momentum and keeps your hand filled with options to counter your opponent’s strategies.

Resource Acceleration: The card is a boon for players looking to ramp up their mana resources quickly. By providing extra mana, Ominous Parcel helps in deploying heavier spells earlier or allows the execution of multiple spells in a single turn, thus potentially overwhelming the adversary.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Ominous Parcel at instant speed grants you the flexibility to act during your opponent’s turn. This can lead to surprise plays that disrupt the opponent’s plans or maximize the efficiency of your mana usage by filling in gaps in your curve.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ominous Parcel requires a card to be discarded which might be a setback when your hand is already depleted or when every card in hand is crucial for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: With a cost demanding both black and generic mana, this card may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks, where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana cost is considerable when weighed against other cards that could provide similar or better value. In a game where each mana point matters, this fact can sometimes be the difference between victory and defeat.

Reasons to Include Ominous Parcel in Your Collection

Versatility: Ominous Parcel fits snugly into multiple deck archetypes due to its low cost and the ability to potentially fix your mana by searching for a basic land card.

Combo Potential: It synergizes well with landfall mechanics and graveyard-based strategies as it moves a land to your hand and a creature card to your graveyard, setting up future plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to subtly increase land count and fill the graveyard, Ominous Parcel can be a strategic choice in a meta that favors incremental advantage and resource manipulation.

How to beat

Ominous Parcel is one of those unique cards in Magic: The Gathering that can become a thorn in an opponent’s side if left unchecked. It may not seem like a major threat initially, but its ability to ramp up mana can set the stage for some powerful plays down the line. The key to negating its impact is to apply consistent pressure early in the game. Don’t give your opponent the leisure to use the Parcel’s mana without consequence.

Another effective strategy is to target Ominous Parcel with artifact removal spells or abilities before your opponent can achieve the three quest counters required to reap its benefits. Depending on your deck’s colors, you might have access to efficient removal options like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can dismantle the Parcel’s potential before it ever becomes a resource problem. It’s important to be proactive when dealing with cards like Ominous Parcel, so keep your removal handy and don’t let its ominous presence overshadow your path to victory.

Ominous Parcel requires strategic foresight to counter effectively. Prepare your sideboard with artifact disruption, watch for the right moment to strike, and ensure that you can dismantle your opponent’s strategy before they gain too much momentum. By doing so, Ominous Parcel can be transformed from a looming threat to a non-issue in your pursuit of victory on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ominous Parcel MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Ominous Parcel and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ominous Parcel has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal