The Big Top MTG Card


Grants card advantage with additional draw mechanics, crucial for maintaining a full hand of options. Enables resource acceleration and instant speed plays, offering strategic casting flexibility. Demanding mana costs and discard requirements necessitate smart deck building and hand management.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
RarityUncommon
TypeLand
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Text of card

: Add one mana of any color that appears on your top. (A top is an outerwear garment worn on the upper body.)

The glow of the big top can be seen for light years, but its excitement can be felt in the hearts of everyone who's ever been there.


Cards like The Big Top

The Big Top card becomes a standout for deck builders looking to bring theatrical flair and control to the game board in Magic: The Gathering. A direct comparison can be drawn with cards like Goblin Game, another unique card that brings an element of chance and decision-making to the mix. Both cards disrupt the usual game flow by introducing effects that aren’t purely based on the card stats or typical combat interactions.

Looking at cards such as Thieves’ Auction, we see a similarity in the upheaval of the board state, akin to The Big Top’s potential to shake up gameplay. Thieves’ Auction redistributes all nonland permanents amongst players, echoing The Big Tops’ ability to create unexpected scenarios. While The Big Top doesn’t have the same permanent-swapping chaos, it offers its brand of unexpected twists, keeping players on their toes.

Concluding, The Big Top holds its own within the set of MTG cards that incorporate a ‘wild card’ aspect into matches. It provides a fun, if unpredictable, dynamism that can either turn the tide or create memorable game moments, hence its appreciation by fans of strategy and novelty in their MTG decks.

Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions
Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to The Big Top by color, type and mana cost

Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Bad River - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Zoetic Cavern - MTG Card versions
Grixis Panorama - MTG Card versions
Rupture Spire - MTG Card versions
Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Eldrazi Temple - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions
Homeward Path - MTG Card versions
Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Bad River - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Zoetic Cavern - MTG Card versions
Grixis Panorama - MTG Card versions
Rupture Spire - MTG Card versions
Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Eldrazi Temple - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions
Homeward Path - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Big Top excels in enabling players to outpace their opponents by providing an additional draw. This perk is crucial as it helps maintain a full hand and presents more options as the game progresses, effectively tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: With this card, you can quickly ramp up your resources. It is especially potent in strategies that thrive on having plentiful mana at their disposal, giving you a significant edge in deploying your threats ahead of the normal curve.

Instant Speed: One of the key strengths of The Big Top is its ability to be played at instant speed. This flexibility means it can be strategically cast during the most opportune moments, such as at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action, ensuring you’re always maximizing your turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Big Top Mtg Card challenges players by enforcing a discard action, which can lead to a strategic setback, especially if your hand is already sparse. This drawback demands careful hand management, ensuring you have expendable cards to align with its demands.

Specific Mana Cost: With a colorful array of mana needed to cast The Big Top, it becomes less flexible for deck integration. This requirement can hinder deck diversity and complicate mana bases, thus limiting the card’s universality in various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having a mana cost that’s on the higher end, The Big Top may lag behind in the race for efficiency against other options. This can result in a loss of momentum in critical phases of the game where mana could be deployed for immediate impact or flexible responses to opponents’ threats.


Reasons to Include The Big Top in Your Collection

Versatility: The Big Top is a dynamic addition to any collector’s arsenal, capable of integrating seamlessly into a myriad of deck archetypes. The adaptability it offers ensures it’s not just a one-trick pony but a card that can perform well under various circumstances.

Combo Potential: With its unique effects, The Big Top enables a range of combo opportunities, potentially bolstering playstyles that capitalize on the card’s unique mechanics. Integrating it into your deck can open up new avenues for strategizing and synergy.

Meta-Relevance: Understanding the current competitive landscape is crucial, and The Big Top holds its ground as a card that can contend with trending deck themes. Including it in your collection could give you an edge, particularly if it aligns well with prevalent deck types or counters them effectively.


How to beat

The Big Top is a unique card that can seem puzzling to outmaneuver initially. In Magic: The Gathering, versatility can be key to victory, and understanding this card’s weaknesses is paramount. To successfully tackle The Big Top, consider employing removal spells that can handle multiple creatures at once. Cards such as Wrath of God or Toxic Deluge can sweep away the tokens it generates, negating the advantage it provides your opponent.

Additionally, hand disruption tactics can be potent against decks reliant on The Big Top. If you force your opponent to discard it before they have the chance to play it, you’ve effectively neutralized the threat. Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek could be valuable tools in this strategy. Lastly, countermagic remains a steadfast way to handle problematic cards. Denying The Big Top’s entrance on the stack ensures that its potential never comes to fruition on the battlefield. Spells like Cancel or Mana Leak can be critical for keeping the upper hand.

Ultimately, preparing a few strategic counters specifically for The Big Top can significantly improve your matchups. Remember that Magic: The Gathering is as much about knowing your opponent’s deck as it is about perfecting your own.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Big Top MTG card by a specific set like Unfinity and Unfinity, 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 The Big Top and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The The Big Top Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Kirsten Zirngibl.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-10-07UnfinityUNF 4832015NormalBlackKirsten Zirngibl
22022-10-07UnfinityUNF 1972015NormalBlackKirsten Zirngibl

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-10-07 If you’re wearing layers, you can count any garment that other players can see.
2022-10-07 There’s wide latitude for what counts as the five colors of mana. Any shade of red qualifies as red, and so on. Some dark shades of purple can likely pass for black mana, and some light shades of yellow can pass for white. We do those on cards sometimes.
2022-10-07 You can add any color of mana in Un- games, though, so if you really want turquoise mana, go for it.