Copper-Leaf Angel MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact Creature — Angel
Abilities	Flying
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	137
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

It leverages excess resources, transforming surplus into a significant board presence later in the game.
Encourages resource-efficient gameplay, acting as a sink for excess lands or unused permanents.
Presents a potential psychological advantage by impacting opponents’ decision-making processes.

Text of card

Flying oc T, Sacrifice X lands: Put X +1/+1 counters on Copper-Leaf Angel.

"When Serra made angels, people called her a goddess. My angels are far superior to hers." —Latulla, Keldon overseer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The more permanents you sacrifice to Copper-Leaf Angel, the larger it gets, effectively transforming those permanents into considerable power on the battlefield. This converts surplus resources into a substantial threat, which can be a strategic boon in the later stages of the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Copper-Leaf Angel itself does not directly accelerate resources, it incentivizes players to use their available resources efficiently. By potentially growing into a massive creature, it pressures opponents and can change the pace of the match, essentially serving as a resource sink for excess lands or unnecessary permanents.

Instant Speed: While Copper-Leaf Angel’s ability is not at instant speed, its very presence can influence opponents’ decisions similarly. Knowing that you can sacrifice permanents to boost its power at any time can create a psychological instant-speed effect, causing opponents to hesitate or overthink their actions during their turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The artifact creature Copper-Leaf Angel necessitates a hefty sacrifice to achieve its potential. Players must discard their lands to fuel its power, which can put them at a significant disadvantage, especially if they’ve built up a substantial board presence that relies on those lands to operate.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two colorless and three white mana, Copper-Leaf Angel requires a commitment to white mana sources. This can be restrictive and may not align well with multicolor strategies that are less focused on white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of five mana to cast, Copper-Leaf Angel is on the higher end of the mana curve. This can slow down your game, especially when considering the additional resource commitments required to utilize its full potential, making it less efficient compared to other cards within the same mana range.

Reasons to Include Copper-Leaf Angel in Your Collection

Versatility: Copper-Leaf Angel is an artifact creature that can slide into a wide array of decks, particularly those looking to capitalize on permanents being sent to the graveyard. Its ability to grow in power makes it adaptable to various board states.

Combo Potential: As a card that scales with the number of permanents you’re willing to sacrifice, it pairs excellently with strategies that benefit from large creatures or that can recur or benefit from artifacts in the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard play is common, Copper-Leaf Angel shines by providing an alternate win condition or by becoming a formidable blocker. Its presence demands an answer, thus influencing opponent strategies.

How to beat

The Copper-Leaf Angel can be an intimidating force on the battlefield, as this artifact creature gains power and toughness for each counter placed upon it. A common strategy with this card involves sacrificing permanents to massively ramp up its strength. However, this can also be its Achilles’ heel. Removing artifacts, enchantments, and creatures from your opponent’s battlefield can severely hinder their ability to buff the angel. Efficient removal spells or forcing your opponent to sacrifice their own permanents can quickly nullify the threat posed by this seraphic artifact.

Given that the Copper-Leaf Angel’s power lies in the accumulation of counters, one way to counteract it is to utilize cards that prevent counters from being placed or remove them altogether. Players can focus on control elements that manage the board state to keep the Angel’s potency in check. Lastly, direct removal spells that can target any type of permanent at instant speed provide a straightforward solution to sidelining this powerful creature, ensuring that you remain one step ahead in the game.

Cards like Copper-Leaf Angel

The Copper-Leaf Angel card from Magic: The Gathering holds a unique place in the pantheon of artifact creatures. Much like the Workhorse, it possesses the capacity to amass and utilize +1/+1 counters. While Workhorse offers immediate mana gain by removing counters, Copper-Leaf Angel’s approach is different; players sacrifice lands to place counters, which can be removed later to retrieve those lands, potentially in greater numbers.

Another card worth mentioning is the Magnifying Glass. While not a creature, it also translates invested resources into late-game advantage, creating Clue tokens that players can cash in for card draw. Copper-Leaf Angel leverages a similar long-term value concept but centers around land recursion rather than card draw.

In the spectrum of resource-related artifacts, Copper-Leaf Angel stands out for its ability to turn a plentiful board state into a formidable creature and subsequently convert that power back into lands, giving players a strong measure of flexibility. Although not as instantly impactful as some other artifacts, its potential for a game-swinging return of lands can be just as pivotal.

Cards similar to Copper-Leaf Angel by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Copper-Leaf Angel MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Copper-Leaf Angel and other MTG cards: