Public Thoroughfare MTG Card
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Number | 265 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Anthony Devine |
Text of card
Public Thoroughfare enters the battlefield tapped. When Public Thoroughfare enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you tap an untapped artifact or land you control. : Add one mana of any color.
Cards like Public Thoroughfare
Public Thoroughfare is an exceptional land card that enriches Magic: The Gathering strategies. It parallels with evolving cards like Terramorphic Expanse and Evolving Wilds, both loved for their land tutoring capabilities. Much like these cards, Public Thoroughfare allows players to fetch basic lands from their deck, ensuring that they are not deprived of essential mana on critical turns.
However, Public Thoroughfare stands out due to its additional flexibility. While both Terramorphic Expanse and Evolving Wilds require the land to be sacrificed to activate, Public Thoroughfare offers an ability that is less restrictive. You can still tap it for colorless mana without losing the land, giving it a slight edge in terms of mana sustainability. Then there is Fabled Passage, another similar card which accelerates the mana fixing process by allowing the land to come into play untapped if you control four or more lands. Yet, it has the downside of entering the battlefield tapped earlier in the game, which can potentially stall your tempo.
Ultimately, the versatility of Public Thoroughfare in Magic: The Gathering places it as a strong candidate among land search cards, offering a blend of mana consistency and deck thinning that can be pivotal in various deck builds.
Cards similar to Public Thoroughfare by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Public Thoroughfare. 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 | 86#CS | |
 | Esper Control | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 | |
 | Jeskai Artifact Aggro | Standard | Jeskai Artifact Aggro | Standard Challenge 64 2024-02-11 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Public Thoroughfare offers a consistent method of deck thinning, thus enhancing card quality and increasing the likelihood of drawing into your strategically crucial spells.
Resource Acceleration: This card can contribute to your board state by generating Citizen creature tokens which not only add to your battlefield presence but may also be tapped for mana, thus speeding up your ability to play high-impact spells sooner than your opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Public Thoroughfare at instant speed provides remarkable flexibility. You can wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to create a Citizen token, leaving your options open and preserving the element of surprise for reactive plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Public Thoroughfare demands that you pitch another card from your hand into the graveyard in order to activate its benefits. During crucial moments in the game, when your hand is your greatest asset, this requirement could put you at a significant disadvantage, potentially depleting valuable resources better saved for future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Although versatile, the mana cost of Public Thoroughfare locks you into two types of mana – wayfinding mana and conventional mana. This specificity may complicate deck-building strategies and curve considerations, especially for those running a multicolor deck with a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its steeper mana investment, Public Thoroughfare occupies a slot in your mana curve that may compete with other impactful cards. Effort must be made to justify its inclusion when other cards could provide similar utility without the steep discard cost, potentially leading to more streamlined and efficient deck performance.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Public Thoroughfare is a flexible card choice, easily fitting into an array of deck types. Its ability to provide incremental advantage can be crucial in matches where resource management determines the winner.
Combo Potential: This card can work as a linchpin within certain combos, integrating well with strategies that capitalize on landfall triggers or those that benefit from having a diversity of lands in play.
Meta-Relevance: As the competitive scene evolves, efficiency and consistency become key. Public Thoroughfare’s low cost and the subtle benefits it supplies means it can play a role in staying ahead or keeping pace in a varied meta.
How to beat
Public Thoroughfare is a unique card that offers a distinctive dynamic to your game by allowing creatures with power 1 or less to become unblockable. To effectively counteract this card, consider using board wipes to clear out the numerous small creatures it might enable. Wrath of God or Damnation are prime examples that will reset the board, negating Public Thoroughfare’s strategic advantage. You can also bolster your defense with creatures that have high toughness, limiting the benefit of Public Thoroughfare for your opponent.
Alternatively, you might implement removal spells targeting the problematic creatures directly. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can efficiently handle creatures that are made unblockable by Public Thoroughfare. You could also deploy creatures with ‘reach’ or those that deal damage to attacking creatures to mitigate the risk posed by swarming, unblockable creatures.
Keep in mind cards that can destroy enchantments are also valuable in this context. Disenchant or Naturalize provide simple yet effective means to remove Public Thoroughfare from the battlefield permanently, disrupting your opponent’s strategy and paving the way for your victory. Adapting your deck to include a blend of such strategies will prepare you well for facing challenges posed by Public Thoroughfare and similar cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Public Thoroughfare MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Public Thoroughfare 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Public Thoroughfare has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |