Seat of the Synod MTG Card

Dual utility as an artifact and land offers unique deck-building advantages and strategic depth. Provides quick blue mana access without entering tapped, enabling faster, more efficient gameplay. Vital for artifact-heavy decks, enhancing combos and interactions while ensuring steady mana flow.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Land

Text of card

(Seat of the Synod isn't a spell.) : Add to your mana pool.

Lumengrid, site of the Knowledge Pool, source of vedalken arcana.

Cards like Seat of the Synod

In the world of MTG, Seat of the Synod finds its place among a unique group of lands known as artifact lands. A direct comparison can be made to Ancient Den, which, like Seat of the Synod, can be tapped for one mana of its specific color. Both of these lands have the added utility of being artifacts, making them susceptible to artifact removal but beneficial for synergy with artifact-focused strategies.

Looking to Vault of Whispers, we see another artifact land that mirrors Seat of the Synod’s characteristics, but instead of producing blue mana, it taps for black. The existence of these lands provides players a choice in mana color while maintaining a similar functionality, especially in decks tuned for metalcraft or imprint abilities, where being an artifact is as significant as the mana they provide.

When it comes to evaluating variety and utility within MTG, Seat of the Synod stands out with its duality as both land and artifact, offering a strategic depth that is replicated across other members of the artifact land family. Each land brings a subtle but impactful difference to a deckbuilder’s arsenal, providing a foundation for creativity and strategic deck construction.

Ancient Den - MTG Card versions
Vault of Whispers - MTG Card versions
Ancient Den - MTG Card versions
Vault of Whispers - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Seat of the Synod by color, type and mana cost

Mox Sapphire - MTG Card versions
Mox Sapphire - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Seat of the Synod. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Patchwork StompyPatchwork Stompy LegacyPatchwork StompyLegacy League 2024-04-23
PainterPainter LegacyPainterLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-28
Other ShopsOther Shops VintageOther ShopsVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27
Grixis AffinityGrixis Affinity PauperGrixis AffinityPauper League 2024-04-24
Jeskai AffinityJeskai Affinity PauperJeskai AffinityPauper League 2024-04-24
UU LegacyLegacy League 2024-04-26
Azorius AffinityAzorius Affinity PauperAzorius AffinityPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-26
Izzet ArtifactsIzzet Artifacts LegacyBlue ArtifactsLegacy League 2024-04-24

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the notable perks of Seat of the Synod is its ability to count as both an artifact and a land, bypassing some deck-building restrictions and enhancing synergy with cards that benefit from having multiple artifacts in play. It ensures that you’re not falling behind on your land drops while padding your artifact count, which can be critical for enabling various strategies and interactions.

Resource Acceleration: Seat of the Synod offers a smooth and efficient mana fix for decks running blue, as it taps for blue mana without entering the battlefield tapped. This nonbasic land can be particularly powerful in the early game, allowing you to ramp up your mana resources without missing a beat.

Instant Speed: While Seat of the Synod is not an instant itself, it pairs exceptionally well with cards that operate at instant speed by being an untapped source of blue mana. Having access to blue mana without delay means you can swiftly respond to threats or opportunities at a moment’s notice, keeping the pace of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Having Seat of the Synod in your deck necessitates planning around potential discards due to its status as an artifact land, making it susceptible to cards that force you to discard part of your hand or deck. This can be particularly detrimental during the late game where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Seat of the Synod counts towards your blue mana count only, which could be restrictive for multicolored decks requiring a more flexible mana base. If your deck isn’t fine-tuned to benefit from an additional blue source, its inclusion may disrupt your mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it doesn’t have a mana cost in the traditional sense, the true cost of Seat of the Synod can be its vulnerability to artifact removal. In formats teeming with efficient destruction spells, this land may become a liability, costing you board position and tempo.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Seat of the Synod’s nature as both a land and an artifact allows it to seamlessly integrate into a wide range of decks. It’s particularly useful in strategies that demand a high artifact count without sacrificing land drops.

Combo Potential: This card is a key component in many combo decks, working in tandem with cards like Arcbound Ravager or enabling explosive turns with Krark-Clan Ironworks. Its dual identity fuels synergistic plays across various archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: Within a meta that values speed and efficiency, Seat of the Synod shines. Its ability to boost artifact-based strategies, while simultaneously serving as a mana resource, makes it a staple in competitive settings where artifact decks are prevalent.

How to beat

Seat of the Synod is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering. As a nonbasic land card that can be tapped for blue mana and also counts as an artifact, it brings flexibility and synergy to artifact-centric decks. However, its strengths can also become weaknesses. One of the most effective strategies to overcome a deck using Seat of the Synod is through land destruction or artifact removal spells.

Cards like Shattering Spree or By Force can target multiple artifacts, potentially crippling an opponent’s mana base if they heavily rely on artifact lands like Seat of the Synod. Additionally, running countermeasures such as Stony Silence can shut down the advantages these artifact lands provide, as they will no longer be able to tap for mana. Alternatively, employing a strategy that capitalizes on nonbasic land hate, with cards such as Blood Moon, can render Seat of the Synod ineffective by transforming it into an ordinary Mountain, limiting its utility and the owner’s access to blue mana.

Defeating an opponent’s strategy that incorporates Seat of the Synod requires a blend of disruption and precision. By understanding how this card integrates into their overall strategy, you can tailor your response to dismantle their game plan effectively.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Seat of the Synod MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and World Championship Decks 2004, 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 Seat of the Synod and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Seat of the Synod Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2832003NormalBlackJohn Avon
22004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 ap2832003NormalGoldJohn Avon
32004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 mb2832003NormalGoldJohn Avon
42009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 1362003NormalBlackJohn Avon
52011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 402003NormalBlackJohn Avon
62016-11-11Commander 2016C16 3232015NormalBlackJohn Avon
72018-08-09Commander 2018C18 2782015NormalBlackJohn Avon
82019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3012015NormalBorderlessDXTR
92022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1981997NormalBlackDonato Giancola
102022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 8202015NormalBlackJohn Avon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Seat of the Synod has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernBanned
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal