Panopticon MTG Card
2009-09-04 - Number 29
2018-12-25 - Number 62
2023-04-21 - Number 153
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Plane — Mirrodin |
Text of card
When you planeswalk to Panopticon, draw a card. At the beginning of your draw step, draw an additional card. Whenever you roll chaos, draw a card.
Cards like Panopticon
Panopticon stands out in the landscape of artifact cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in function include cards like Howling Mine, which also offers a way to draw additional cards. Howling Mine enables each player to draw an extra card during their draw step, similar to Panopticon’s symmetric effect. The key difference lies in Panopticon’s ability to become asymmetrical under the right conditions, granting only the controller the advantage of the extra card draw.
Then there’s Font of Mythos, another artifact providing a substantial boost in card flow. It doubles down on Howling Mine’s concept, allowing all players to draw two additional cards. Panopticon, with its conditional controller-only benefit, offers a strategic edge over Font of Mythos’s always-universal approach. Comparatively, Anvil of Bogardan delivers a different twist, allowing players not only to draw extra cards but also mandating a discard—introducing more nuanced tactical decisions.
Assessing the card advantage these artifacts provide, Panopticon earns its place, especially in environments where its controller can reliably dictate the terms of its asymmetry. Engaging players with the challenge of unlocking its full potential separates Panopticon from the straightforward functionality of its counterparts.
Cards similar to Panopticon by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Panopticon offers players a unique edge in card draw mechanics, potentially giving them the upper hand by revealing extra options with each upkeep, thus enriching strategic depth and enhancing in-game decision-making processes.
Resource Acceleration: The card’s ability to streamline mana production can pave the way for earlier deployment of high-cost cards, swiftly altering the battlefield dynamics in your favor and keeping the pressure on your opponent throughout the match.
Instant Speed: With its ability to be played at instant speed, Panopticon integrates seamlessly into your game plan, allowing you to adapt on the fly to the evolving state of the game without signaling your strategy prematurely. This card validates its place in decks that prize adaptability and surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Panopticon necessitates the discarding of a card which may deplete your hand, particularly detrimental during late-game scenarios when each card’s value is amplified.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a mix of colorless and colored mana, which can be challenging to generate in the early rounds of gameplay, especially for color-restricted or multicolor decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its demanding mana cost, Panopticon may not be the optimal play when considering other cards in the same mana range that provide immediate board presence or impact.
Reasons to Include Panopticon in Your Collection
Versatility: Panopticon seamlessly integrates into a wide array of decks. Its ability to manipulate the top card of your library ensures that it’s never out of place, whether you’re seeking synergies with scry, deck stacking, or simply want consistent draw quality.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with abilities that let you play the top card of your library, or strategies focusing on miracles and setting up the perfect draw. Its silent work in the background can set the stage for some of the most powerful plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting nature of the meta, being able to adapt and anticipate your opponent’s moves is crucial. Panopticon offers just that, allowing you to remain one step ahead by optimizing your draws and concocting your game plan on the go.
How to beat
The Panopticon card stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable artifact with the power to shape gameplay. This unique card can present a challenge to opponents due to its ability to manipulate and control the flow of the game. To successfully overcome Panopticon’s influence, understanding its mechanics is crucial.
Dealing with Panopticon effectively often requires a strategic approach, including the use of artifact removal spells or abilities that can target and dismantle the opponent’s defensive strategies. Cards like Naturalize or Shatter, that specifically target artifacts, can be game-changers when facing Panopticon. Another tactic is to limit its activation opportunities by employing counterspells or instant-speed interaction to disrupt the opponent’s plans before they can gain significant advantage from the Panopticon’s abilities.
Moreover, keeping pressure on your opponent and maintaining a pace that outweighs the advantages provided by Panopticon can be key. Aggressive strategies that push the opponent to make tough decisions or sacrifice key pieces to survive can diminish the impact of Panopticon on the game. As with any game scenario in Magic: The Gathering, flexibility, in-depth knowledge, and an anticipation of the opponent’s strategy form the cornerstone of overcoming challenges posed by formidable cards like Panopticon.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Panopticon MTG card by a specific set like Planechase Planes and Planechase Anthology Planes, 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 Panopticon 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
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Printings
The Panopticon Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-09-04 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by John Avon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-09-04 | Planechase Planes | OHOP | 29 | 2003 | Planar | Black | John Avon | |
| 2 | 2018-12-25 | Planechase Anthology Planes | OPCA | 62 | 2015 | Planar | Black | John Avon | |
| 3 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 153 | 2015 | Planar | Black | John Avon |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Panopticon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | A face-up plane card that's turned face down becomes a new object with no relation to its previous existence. In particular, it loses all counters it may have had. |
| 2009-10-01 | A plane card is treated as if its text box included “When you roll {PW}, put this card on the bottom of its owner's planar deck face down, then move the top card of your planar deck off that planar deck and turn it face up.” This is called the “planeswalking ability.” |
| 2009-10-01 | If an ability of a plane refers to “you,” it's referring to whoever the plane's controller is at the time, not to the player that started the game with that plane card in their deck. Many abilities of plane cards affect all players, while many others affect only the planar controller, so read each ability carefully. |
| 2009-10-01 | The controller of a face-up plane card is the player designated as the “planar controller.” Normally, the planar controller is whoever the active player is. However, if the current planar controller would leave the game, instead the next player in turn order that wouldn't leave the game becomes the planar controller, then the old planar controller leaves the game. The new planar controller retains that designation until they leave the game or a different player becomes the active player, whichever comes first. |