Powder Keg MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 136
1999-08-04 - Number js136a
2002-06-24 - Number 36146
2004-01-01 - Number 1
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a fuse counter on Powder Keg. oc T, Sacrifice Powder Keg: Destroy each artifact and creature with converted mana cost equal to the number of fuse counters on Powder Keg.
Cards like Powder Keg
The Powder Keg card is a dynamic tool in MTG for managing the board. Its closest relatives include Ratchet Bomb and Engineered Explosives. Just like Powder Keg, Ratchet Bomb allows players to build up charge counters and destroy all nonland permanents with a converted mana cost equal to the number of charge counters on it. However, Ratchet Bomb can be activated for zero mana, which provides versatility in dealing with zero-cost permanents like tokens instantaneously.
Engineered Explosives is another card akin to Powder Keg but with a more flexible range. It permits players to spend any amount of mana of different colors to cast it, thus setting the stage for eliminating a wider array of permanents based on the mana colors spent. Powder Keg is limited to a single charge per turn, making it slightly more predictable than its counterparts.
Evaluating them side by side, Powder Keg stands out for its no-cost activation ability and the potential to level the playing field against decks with a swarm of low-cost permanents. Its simplicity and effectiveness in specific scenarios make it a staple in formats where it’s legal and a valuable asset for control strategies.
Cards similar to Powder Keg by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Powder Keg. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rogue Decklists | Legacy | Reanimator | BLACK - SAT - 11AM - Legacy for Original Magic Artwork |
 | Abzan Aggro | Premodern | Misty Premodern Winter Finals | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Middle School World Championships | |
 | MUD | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Azorius Control | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
| Landstill | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Mono-Blue Control | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
| Azorius Landstill | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Terrageddon | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Mono-Blue Stiflenought | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The utility of Powder Keg lies in its scalability, effectively controlling the pace of the game. By clearing out a multitude of low-cost permanents, it equalizes the board and conserves your hand, indirectly contributing to card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Powder Keg itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its ability to wipe clean critical mana dorks or artifacts that your opponents rely on can set them back significantly, giving you a de facto boost in resources relative to your opponent.
Instant Speed: Activating Powder Keg’s ability doesn’t require tapping, allowing you to detonate at instant speed. This versatility lets you respond to threats in real-time or during your opponent’s turn, ensuring you’re always one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Powder Keg card doesn’t have a discard requirement, cards with this condition compel players to forfeit valuable hand resources, which can be costly during gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: Powder Keg requires colorless mana for its activation, presenting accessibility within any deck; however, its setup and synergies might be restrictive compared to more flexible board control alternatives.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Powder Keg’s initial mana cost is manageable, the need to wait for counters to build up for a significant impact makes it less immediate than other removal options. Players might prefer cards with lower costs that yield quicker board interaction.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Powder Keg stands out for its ability to adapt to various game situations. It can seamlessly integrate into control decks that prioritize stability and in aggressive strategies that require removal of numerous low-cost permanents on the board.
Combo Potential: This card can be combined to devastating effect with mechanisms that manipulate counters, allowing you to tailor its explosive impact precisely. Plus, as an artifact, it can also synergize with strategies that encourage artifact play, such as affinity or improvise mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: Powder Keg has a significant role to play in any meta where tokens or low-cost permanents dominate the battlefield. Its potential for clearing multiple threats with a single activation makes it a highly valued addition in fluctuating competitive environments.
How to beat
Powder Keg is a versatile artifact card that can influence the board state significantly in Magic: The Gathering. It possesses the ability to wipe clean multiple permanents, provided they have the correct converted mana cost (CMC). Strategically, it’s a boon for controlling the pace of the game, pressuring opponents into difficult positions.
When facing off against Powder Keg, timing your plays is key. Play around the Keg by casting creatures and artifacts with varying mana costs. This ensures that no single value of CMC is overly populated on your side, reducing the impact of Powder Keg’s detonation. Additionally, keeping enchantment or instant-speed removal spells in hand to deal with the Keg before it’s charged up can save your board from being cleared.
Remember, artifacts with built-in resilience or regeneration abilities can also survive the Keg’s explosion. Imbue your strategy with adaptability, and Powder Keg’s threat can be effectively mitigated or even turned to your advantage in the dynamic gameplay of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Powder Keg MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Powder Keg 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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Printings
The Powder Keg Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 1999-08-04. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 136 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | js136a | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36146 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | ||
| 4 | Magic Player Rewards 2004 | P04 | 1 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Powder Keg 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 Powder Keg 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 | Only destroys artifacts and creatures with exactly the specified cost. It does not mean “less than or equal to”. |
| 2004-10-04 | Putting on a counter is optional. If you forget, you can’t go back later even if it is something you usually do. |