Phyrexian Tower MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 322
2000-08-02 - Number nl322
2018-12-07 - Number 248
2020-07-17 - Number 493
2024-06-14 - Number 355
2024-06-14 - Number 303
2019-12-02 - Number 208
2020-09-26 - Number USG-322
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Land |
Text of card
oc T: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. oc T, Sacrifice a creature: Add o Bo B to your mana pool.
Living metal encasing dying flesh.
Cards like Phyrexian Tower
Phyrexian Tower is a unique land card within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, possessing the utility to sacrifice a creature for an infusion of two black mana. It shares design space with High Market, another land that offers the ability to sacrifice creatures but only yields one mana of any color in return, lacking Phyrexian Tower’s mana ramp potential. Yet, High Market doesn’t require the mana be black, providing more flexibility.
Another comparable card is the frequently used sac-land, Diamond Valley. Unlike Phyrexian Tower, Diamond Valley doesn’t provide mana. Instead, it grants life points equivalent to the sacrificed creature’s toughness. This is a significant trade-off since it doesn’t advance the player’s mana resources but can be pivotal for life gain strategies. Also in the conversation is Miren, the Moaning Well; it requires three mana and its own sacrifice to function, granting life points for the creature’s toughness. While it’s a more costly alternative, it circumvents color restrictions in mana usage.
In evaluating the advantages of Phyrexian Tower, it stands out for its ability to accelerate mana production efficiently, catering to strategies that seek to leverage sacrificial mechanics for rapid mana gain. This capability makes it a valuable addition for players looking to complement their MTG deck with a powerful, sacrifice-based land card.
Cards similar to Phyrexian Tower by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Phyrexian Tower. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Decklist | Free form | Weekday Night Magic | |
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
 | Titanic Dryad | Legacy | Nic Fit | 96 / The 96th Legacy at Home |
 | Zombies | Legacy | Nic Fit | *HALF PRICE FRIDAY* $1K - Legacy - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 1:30 pm |
| Nic Fit | Legacy | Nic Fit | Legacy League 2024-01-19 |
 | Golgari Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Mardu Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 | |
 | Orzhov Combo | Legacy | 4c Scam | Circuito Legacy RS 2024 - Etapa 3 |
| Golgari Yawgmoth | Golgari Yawgmoth | Timeless Creator Clash #002 | |
 | Deadguy Ale | Legacy | Abzan Stoneblade | 2 LPL OPEN - SEASON V - Liga Paulista Legacy |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When used effectively, the Phyrexian Tower can be a vital source of card advantage. Sacrificing a creature may seem costly, but when paired with creatures that have death-triggered abilities or when recovering creatures from the graveyard, it can be a powerful engine for outpacing your opponents in resources.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable land provides a significant boost by offering two black mana at once. It serves as an excellent form of resource acceleration, allowing for more impactful plays. Having the ability to access additional mana at a crucial moment can lead to game-changing turns, paving the way for casting higher-cost spells ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: Utilizing Phyrexian Tower does not require tapping at sorcery speed. This gives the flexibility to sacrifice a creature and access additional mana instantly, enabling unexpected plays or interactions during any phase of the game. This flexibility can catch opponents off guard and create advantageous situations for the controller.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The ability of Phyrexian Tower to generate mana requires the sacrifice of a creature, which can be a costly move. This is particularly challenging when your board presence is sparse, turning the ability into more of a liability during critical game moments where each creature counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Phyrexian Tower provides colorless mana or a single black mana with its activated ability, but the black mana provided is exclusively achieved through a creature sacrifice. It’s important to consider this when planning your mana base, as the Tower doesn’t help diversify your color availability and may not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Tower doesn’t have a casting cost, its entrance tapped does delay its utility. And when it comes to competitive play, where speed can be crucial, this might not always be the most efficient way to ramp your mana when compared to other options.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Phyrexian Tower offers a unique land choice that provides mana acceleration and a sacrifice outlet all in one. This card can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes that utilize graveyard strategies or require a burst of mana at critical moments.
Combo Potential: As an engine for both mana generation and creature sacrifice, Phyrexian Tower can be pivotal in enabling powerful combo plays. It can help initiate or sustain a combo by providing the necessary resources, such as accelerating into game-changing spells or activating sacrifice-reliant abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control and creature-based strategies are prevalent, having a land that can offer an immediate advantage is invaluable. Phyrexian Tower’s ability to interact with the board by converting creatures into mana can disrupt opponent’s plans and provide an edge in tight situations.
How to beat Phyrexian Tower
Phyrexian Tower is a land card that offers a unique advantage in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to sacrifice a creature to gain two black mana. To effectively counter Phyrexian Tower, consider utilizing land destruction spells to remove it from the battlefield. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can disrupt your opponent’s mana base by targeting the Tower directly.
In addition, employing graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus will diminish the benefit gained from the sacrificed creature, making the Tower less appealing to utilize. Creatures with sacrifice protection, such as Tajuru Preserver, can also prove to be a thorn in Phyrexian Tower’s strategy by preventing forced sacrifices.
Keeping a diverse set of answers handy, including instant-speed removal to respond to the sacrifice trigger, is crucial. You must be ready to dismantle your opponent’s plan before they can harness the two black mana profitably. By implementing these tactics, you stand a good chance at containing the threat of Phyrexian Tower and maintaining the flow of the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Tower MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and World Championship Decks 2000, 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 Phyrexian Tower and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Phyrexian Tower Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 322 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Chippy | |
| 2 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | nl322 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Chippy | |
| 3 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 248 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 208 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Nicholas Gregory | ||
| 5 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 493 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dimitar Marinski | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | USG-322 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Chippy | ||
| 7 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 | MH3 | 355 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Yohann Schepacz | |
| 8 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 | MH3 | 303 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Martin de Diego Sádaba |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Phyrexian Tower has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |