Opal Acrolith MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1998-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Saga |
| Set code | USG |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Robh Ruppel |
Text of card
Whenever one of your opponents successfully casts a creature spell, if Opal Acrolith is an enchantment, Opal Acrolith becomes a 2/4 creature that counts as a Guardian. : Opal Acrolith becomes an enchantment.
Cards like Opal Acrolith
Opal Acrolith offers players a unique approach to deck building in Magic: The Gathering. Its mechanics can be compared to cards such as Karn, the Great Creator. Both have the ability to manipulate artifacts to gain an advantage, although Opal Acrolith does not have Karn’s utility in retrieving artifacts from the sideboard. What sets Opal Acrolith apart is its transition from a static ability-providing artifact to an animated creature with power and toughness defined by the number of charge counters on it.
Similarly, The Antiquities War is reminiscent of Opal Acrolith, providing a final chapter that turns artifacts into 5/5 creatures. Despite this similarity, Opal Acrolith’s static ability to grant mana of any color aligns closer to the versatility of artifact lands like Ancient Den. What distinguishes Opal Acrolith is its potential to become a creature itself, rather than merely acting as a mana resource or a deck-specific synergy piece.
When weighing the comparative strategic value, Opal Acrolith’s dual functionality as both mana source and potential creature threat offers a dynamic choice for MTG players who enjoy flexibility and adaptability in their gameplay.
Cards similar to Opal Acrolith by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Opal Acrolith excels in granting you access to additional cards. Each time it triggers, you sift through your deck, allowing you to potentially find the resources you need to turn the tide of the game.
Resource Acceleration: The Opal Acrolith stands out by potentially tapping for mana, which gives you a significant advantage. This ability provides an opportunity to play your heavy hitters earlier than expected or activate crucial abilities just in time.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of using the Opal Acrolith at instant speed can’t be understated. It meshes well with a reactive playstyle, granting the ability to interact with the board without sacrificing the momentum of your own game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Opal Acrolith requires players to discard a card to activate its transformation ability. This could pose a drawback, particularly when your hand is already depleted and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating the abilities of Opal Acrolith demands a dedicated color commitment, especially white mana. Deck builders must carefully consider their mana base to ensure they can reliably meet this requirement without disrupting their strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost that’s on the higher end, players might find Opal Acrolith challenging to use efficiently, especially when compared to other options in the same mana range that could advance their board presence or provide instant utility.
Reasons to Include Opal Acrolith in Your Collection
Versatility: Opal Acrolith proves to be a flexible addition to various deck archetypes, fitting seamlessly into strategies that require artifact synergy or that benefit from the modular mechanic.
Combo Potential: The card serves as a linchpin in artifact-centered combos, particularly those that capitalize on tap and untap mechanics, or those that proliferate counters, maximizing value from its modularity.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact decks are prevailing or there’s an uptick in modules’ presence, Opal Acrolith’s adaptive nature can give players an edge by exploiting prevalent synergies.
How to beat
Opal Acrolith presents a challenge in Magic: The Gathering as a card with the capacity to become a formidable colorless creature. One effective method to overcome this obstacle is by employing instant-speed removal spells. By utilizing these, players can target Opal Acrolith while it’s still an enchantment, before it becomes a creature and possibly out of reach for certain removal spells. Spot removal options in black, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile in white, can provide answers before your opponent can capitalize on the card’s creature benefits.
Control strategies also stand as a robust solution; counterspells like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto can nix it right as it hits the stack, ensuring it never poses a threat. Enchantment removal spells, which exist across various colors, grant another layer of defense. Cards like Nature’s Claim or Disenchant offer cheap ways to deal with the Acrolith before it ever has a chance to make an impact. Remember that timing is critical; smart play and awareness of your resources against Opal Acrolith could very well be the difference between victory and defeat.
Ultimately, while Opal Acrolith can alter the battlefield, understanding its weaknesses and having a game plan in advance makes it possible to neutralize and turn the tide in your favor within the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Opal Acrolith MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Opal Acrolith 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Opal Acrolith has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Opal Acrolith card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Changes into a creature even if the spell is countered. |
| 2004-10-04 | It triggers when the spell is cast, which means it becomes a creature before that spell resolves. |
| 2004-10-04 | When it turns into a creature, it is no longer an enchantment. |
| 2004-10-04 | When it turns into an enchantment, it is no longer a creature. |
| 2008-04-01 | A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells. |
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |