Power Leak MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 71
1993-10-04 - Number 72
1993-12-01 - Number 72
1993-12-10 - Number 72
1993-12-10 - Number 72
1994-04-01 - Number 73
1994-04-01 - Number 73
1994-06-21 - Number 73
1995-04-01 - Number 92
1995-04-01 - Number 92
2022-11-28 - Number 71
2022-11-28 - Number 368
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Target enchantment costs 2 extra mana each turn during upkeep. If target enchantment's controller cannot or will not pay this extra mana, Power Leak does 1 damage to him or her for each unpaid mana.
Cards like Power Leak
Power Leak is an intriguing card within the control archetype of Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment is often paralleled with cards like Psychic Venom, which similarly imposes a penalty on lands. However, Power Leak offers a more targeted approach, allowing players to choose the specific land or artifact to tax, whereas Psychic Venom must attach to a land when it becomes tapped. Both have their uses, but Power Leak’s flexibility can be a subtle edge in gameplay strategy.
In a similar vein, we have Energy Flux, another enchantment that taxes artifacts. Energy Flux demands a higher upkeep for artifact-rich strategies, potentially crippling opponents who rely heavily on those. While Power Leak offers a steady drain or deterrence on a single target, Energy Flux hits a broader range, which can be crucial against certain decks. Compare this to Power Leak, and you’ll find a more surgical tool versus a sweeping answer.
Examining these cards, Power Leak stands out for its ability to disrupt an opponent’s strategy by sustaining a resource penalty each turn. This can be particularly effective in longer games where the accumulated resource drain can turn the tide in your favor.
Cards similar to Power Leak by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Power Leak card gives you the strategic upper hand by potentially disrupting your opponent’s plays. Every time your opponent chooses to tap the enchanted artifact for its abilities, you get to draw a card, slowly tipping the scales in your favor with additional resources.
Resource Acceleration: Power Leak can act as a form of resource acceleration by effectively taxing your opponent’s use of an artifact. Each time the artifact is used, your opponent has to weigh the cost of the additional mana, which can hinder their ability to deploy other threats or answers quickly and keep the tempo of the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: While Power Leak itself is an enchantment, its ability to be cast at instant speed during your opponent’s turn—provided it’s an aura flash-enabling card—is there, creating opportunities for surprise plays when your adversary least expects it. This can be crucial in maintaining momentum and control during a tight match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Power Leak often demands the discarding of another card, diminishing your hand and potential plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Power Leak requires both blue and generic mana, restricting its fittingness strictly to blue or blue-inclusive decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a costing that may usurp your second turn’s entire mana supply, other cards could provide similar or better control at a lower or more flexible mana investment.
Reasons to Include Power Leak in Your Collection
Versatility: Power Leak is adaptable to a range of blue-focused control decks. Its ability to disrupt the opponent’s mana efficiency can be a significant hurdle, especially in formats where maintaining pace is crucial.
Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into lock strategies, working in concert with other denial cards to limit an adversary’s options. Power Leak can be a linchpin in decks aiming to disrupt and dismantle the opponent’s plans.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where enchantments are prominent, Power Leak shines by providing an efficient response. As players try to capitalize on powerful enchantments, having Power Leak at your disposal can give you an edge and potentially swing the game in your favor.
How to beat
Power Leak presents an interesting challenge in the realm of MTG enchantments. This particular card functions by imposing a cost on enchanted artifacts; if the cost isn’t paid, the artifact’s controller must suffer damage. To effectively tackle a Power Leak, players should consider several strategies. One simple method is to remove the artifacts from the game, rendering the enchantment useless. This could be achieved through cards that offer artifact destruction or exile effects.
Another effective countermeasure is using enchantment removal spells, which directly target and eliminate enchantments like Power Leak. Running minimal artifacts in your deck is also a strategy to consider, minimizing the potential targets for Power Leak and thus its impact on your game plan. Lastly, having a strong mana base can help players pay the additional cost imposed by Power Leak without compromising their ability to execute their strategy.
Each of these tactics can diminish the potency of Power Leak, ensuring that the card becomes more of a minor nuisance than a significant threat. By understanding and anticipating the kinds of disruptions that Power Leak can cause, players can equip their decks with the proper countermeasures and maintain the upper hand in their MTG matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Power Leak MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Power Leak 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Power Leak Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Drew Tucker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 71 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 72 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 72 | 1993 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 72 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 72 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 73 | 1993 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 73 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 73 | 1993 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 92 | 1993 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 92 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 71 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 368 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Power Leak has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |