Tawnos's Wand MTG Card
1994-03-04 - Number 69
1995-04-01 - Number 348
1995-04-01 - Number 348
1995-08-01 - Number 139
1995-08-01 - Number 159
2011-01-10 - Number 231
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
: Make a creature of power no greater than 2 unblockable by all creatures except artifact creatures until end of turn. Other cards may be used to increase target creature's power beyond 2 after defense is chosen.
Cards like Tawnos's Wand
Tawnos’s Wand is a unique artifact that dips into the Magic: The Gathering pool of card abilities, offering a niche effect for players. It’s akin to fellow artifacts like Rod of Ruin or Staff of Zegon, which provide reusable effects for controlling the board. Tawnos’s Wand, however, brings its own twist letting you tap it to give a creature flying until end of turn, a subtle yet potentially game-changing ability especially in scenarios where board stalls are common.
Contrasting with Tawnos’s Wand is the Skyblinder Staff, which also grants flying to creatures but with the added benefit of making them harder to block by creatures with flying. While Tawnos’s Wand requires a mana investment for activation, the Skyblinder Staff has a passive ability that could be more efficient in an aggressive flying-based strategy. Conversely, Neurok Hoversail provides flying without any mana cost for activation, but it lacks the repeatability found in Tawnos’s Wand due to being a one-time use equipment.
Ultimately, Tawnos’s Wand may find its niche in decks that can exploit its activation for surprising aerial offenses or in combination with abilities that trigger upon artifacts being tapped. Its comparability with other artifacts highlights its role as a flexible tool in a player’s arsenal for MTG gameplay.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tawnos’s Wand can unlock new hand options by drawing cards, reinforcing your strategy while depleting your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: Tawnos’s Wand may contribute to your mana pool, enabling quicker deployment of other cards in your arsenal, potentially tipping the scales in your favor long before your opponent is ready.
Instant Speed: The power to activate at instant speed provides flexibility, granting you the tactical edge to adapt and react to the battlefield conditions as they evolve, without telegraphing your plans prematurely.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tawnos’s Wand necessitates the discard of a card to activate its ability. For MTG players, this can become a strategic setback, especially when hand resources are running thin or each card in hand is vital for subsequent turns.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact’s activation cost includes blue mana, which restricts its usage to primarily blue or multicolored decks. If a player’s deck is not configured to produce blue mana efficiently, Tawnos’s Wand could end up being a dead draw.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The total cost to get Tawnos’s Wand’s effect off the ground is relatively steep when considering the initial cast plus activation costs. In competitive play, there are alternatives that might provide a greater impact on the game without such a demanding investment.
Reasons to Include Tawnos’s Wand in Your Collection
Versatility: Tawnos’s Wand offers a high level of adaptability across various deck archetypes. Its ability to turn creatures into other creatures, even if only temporarily, allows for creative plays and unexpected board states that can catch your opponent off guard.
Combo Potential: The wand works wonders in decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects or rely on creature-based combos. By utilizing its unique transformation ability, players can repeatedly trigger ETB effects or fulfill combo piece requirements with ease.
Meta-Relevance: Due to its singular mechanics, Tawnos’s Wand can play a pivotal role in matchups where board presence and creature abilities significantly impact the game. As the meta evolves, this card can be a cunning inclusion to outmaneuver common strategies.
How to beat Tawnos’s Wand
Tawnos’s Wand emerges as an intriguing tool for artifact enthusiasts in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to artifacts like Cranial Plating, which provides a power boost based on certain conditions. Yet, Tawnos’s Wand is unique with its ability to potentially make a creature unblockable for a turn. Unlike Cranial Plating, which bolsters a creature’s strength persistently, Tawnos’s Wand commands a nuanced strategic approach.
In contrast, cards like Ghostfire Blade offer a straightforward buff without the intricate timing or set-up required by Tawnos’s Wand. This consistency can be more reliable, especially when facing down opponents with a swarm of blockers. Moreover, when considering disruption, the likes of Naturalize stand out, allowing you to dismantle the Wand’s impact, and swing the tempo in your favor by eliminating the artifact outright.
To effectively neutralize Tawnos’s Wand, it is essential to maintain artifact removal or counterspells in your arsenal, disrupting your opponent’s attempts to control the board unchallenged. Consequently, while Tawnos’s Wand has the potential to be a powerful asset, it also demands caution and preparedness to counter from those it seeks to outmaneuver on the battlegrounds of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tawnos's Wand MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Tawnos's Wand 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 Tawnos's Wand Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Douglas Shuler.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-03-04 | Antiquities | ATQ | 69 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 348 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 348 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Rinascimento | RIN | 139 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 5 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 159 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 6 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 231 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tawnos's Wand has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |