Pandemonium MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Creates significant card advantage by transforming creatures into direct damage sources upon entering the battlefield.
  2. Accelerates game pace by applying immediate damage with each creature played, pressuring opponents’ resources.
  3. Meta-relevant in creature-dominant settings, can be pivotal if skillfully integrated into the right deck build.

Text of card

Whenever any creature comes into play, that creature's controller may choose to have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

"If we cannot live proudly, we die so!" —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pandemonium is renowned for its potential to generate significant card advantage in creature-heavy decks. When a creature enters the battlefield under your control, Pandemonium allows you to deal damage equal to that creature’s power to any target. This can eliminate opponents’ creatures or even damage players directly, indirectly increasing your card presence by removing your opponents’ resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Pandemonium itself does not directly provide mana or resource acceleration, it can be a key piece in decks that aim to flood the board with creatures quickly. By turning every creature drop into a potential damage dealer, it accelerates the game’s pace and can pressure opposition resources as you develop your board state.

Instant Speed: Although Pandemonium is an enchantment that operates at sorcery speed, the instant impact it has when a creature enters the battlefield shouldn’t be underestimated. It interacts with the game immediately upon any applicable creature’s entry, making each creature a potential threat the moment it hits the table, which adds a dynamic layer of interaction during your turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pandemonium may force you to discard cards, which could deplete your hand and reduce your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s particular requirement of red mana can be restrictive, making it less versatile in decks that are not red-centric.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four mana needed to play Pandemonium is relatively steep, especially when there are other enchantments or spells with lower mana cost offering a similar impact on the game.


Reasons to Include Pandemonium in Your Collection

Versatility: Pandemonium is a unique enchantment that can adapt to various deck builds, offering both offensive and defensive utilities. Its ability to deal damage equivalent to creature power can turn any summoning into a potential threat, making it highly adaptable to dynamic playstyles.

Combo Potential: The true strength of Pandemonium lies in its combo potential. Pair it with creatures that enter the battlefield en masse, or those that can be repeatedly bounced back to your hand or deck, and you can unleash a continuous barrage of damage on your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-heavy decks are prevalent, Pandemonium gains significant value. It punishes opponents for playing creatures while rewarding you for doing the same, effectively turning the tide of creature-based strategies in your favor. Its presence on the battlefield can be game-changing in the right scenario, and this relevance keeps it a noteworthy card for collectors and competitive players alike.


How to beat

Pandemonium is a unique Enchantment card that can significantly alter the dynamics of a game in Magic: The Gathering. Each creature’s arrival turns into potential damage, making every summoning a calculated risk. The symmetrical effect of Pandemonium offers both opportunities and challenges, affecting each player equally. Opposing this card requires a strategic approach where creature control becomes essential. Efficient removal spells, counterspells, or using creatures with come into play abilities beneficial for your strategy while minimizing the impact on your life total are some pathways to mitigate the potential havoc Pandemonium can unleash.

It’s also effective to employ cards that can neutralize Pandemonium directly, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, allowing you to eliminate the Enchantment before it causes substantial damage. Timing is crucial; removing Pandemonium in response to a creature spell can prevent unwanted damage. Moreover, playing creatures with higher toughness than power can also be a defense mechanism, ensuring that your creatures survive the damage Pandemonium inflicts when they enter the battlefield.

Thus, while Pandemonium can seem daunting, understanding and predicting your opponent’s moves, along with smart deck construction, can turn the tides against this chaotic MTG card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embrace the chaotic thrill of MTG with a card like Pandemonium, which elevates every creature’s entry to an explosive event. With its ability to disrupt the board and accelerate your game, Pandemonium can be a formidable addition to your arsenal. However, it demands strategic finesse, rewarding players who craft their decks with precision and those ready to adapt to its symmetrical challenges. Considering its impact, complementing it with removal spells or leveraging its direct damage, can cement victories. Ready to harness the pandemonium in your matches? Dive deeper with us and discover strategies to make every play a monumental victory. Join the BurnMana community and transform your gameplay today.


Cards like Pandemonium

Pandemonium is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that amasses interest due to its ability to add an unpredictable twist to the game. This card shares some thematic and functional similarities with cards like Warstorm Surge, which also deals damage to an opponent or creature whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control. However, Pandemonium differs as it triggers from any creature’s entry, not just your own, making it a double-edged sword.

Confusion in the Ranks is another comparable enchantment that disrupts the battlefield by forcing players to exchange control of their creatures, artifacts, and enchantments whenever they come into play. While it doesn’t deal damage directly like Pandemonium, the potential for chaos is significant. Where Pandemonium can shape the game with damage, Confusion in the Ranks can create advantageous or disadvantageous board states.

Scrutinizing these cards, it’s clear Pandemonium can command a game through its universal trigger, applying to all creatures. In the panorama of MTG enchantments, it’s a potent tool for players who enjoy steering the game into unpredictable and potentially favorable outcomes through strategic creature drops.

Warstorm Surge - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Warstorm Surge - Magic 2012 (M12)
Confusion in the Ranks - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Pandemonium by color, type and mana cost

Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Orcish Oriflamme - MTG Card versions
An-Zerrin Ruins - MTG Card versions
Lightning Cloud - MTG Card versions
Aether Flash - MTG Card versions
Heart of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
No Quarter - MTG Card versions
Shiv's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Antagonism - MTG Card versions
Pyromancy - MTG Card versions
Close Quarters - MTG Card versions
Collapsing Borders - MTG Card versions
Stand or Fall - MTG Card versions
Impulsive Maneuvers - MTG Card versions
Stensia Uprising - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Core - MTG Card versions
Pyrohemia - MTG Card versions
Uncontrollable Anger - MTG Card versions
Elemental Mastery - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Orcish Oriflamme - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
An-Zerrin Ruins - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lightning Cloud - Visions (VIS)
Aether Flash - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Heart of Bogardan - Weatherlight (WTH)
Furnace of Rath - Planechase (HOP)
No Quarter - Tempest (TMP)
Shiv's Embrace - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Antagonism - Urza's Saga (USG)
Pyromancy - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Close Quarters - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Collapsing Borders - Invasion (INV)
Stand or Fall - Invasion (INV)
Impulsive Maneuvers - Odyssey (ODY)
Stensia Uprising - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Magmatic Core - Coldsnap (CSP)
Pyrohemia - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Uncontrollable Anger - Tenth Edition (10E)
Elemental Mastery - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pandemonium MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Pandemonium and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pandemonium Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-15ExodusEXO 931997normalblackPete Venters
22006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 681997normalblackPete Venters
32015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 1492015normalblackPete Venters
42020-09-26The ListPLST EXO-931997normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pandemonium has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pandemonium card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 The triggered ability does not check the creature’s power until the ability resolves. If the creature is not on the battlefield when the ability resolves, it does damage equal to the power of the creature right before it left the battlefield. This means that if a creature enters the battlefield which can destroy itself as a “enters the battlefield” ability, the order of resolution of the triggered abilities does not matter.
2006-09-25 If player A controls Pandemonium when a creature enters the battlefield under player B’s control, player A controls the triggered ability even though player B chooses the target and chooses whether to have the creature deal damage, which could be important if multiple abilities controlled by multiple players trigger.

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