The Countdown Is at One MTG Card
Text of card
Players play a Magic subgame, starting at 1 life and using their libraries as their decks. For the rest of the main game, if a source would deal damage to a player who didn't win the subgame, it deals double that damage to that player instead.
Cards like The Countdown Is at One
The Countdown Is at One is a unique card that shares mechanics with other intriguing spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to create a sense of urgency by forcing a board state where players must act quickly resembles that of Final Fortune. Both cards grant players a potentially game-winning advantage at a considerable risk. Final Fortune, provides an extra turn before the game-ending condition, while The Countdown Is at One sets a timer for a potential massive creature onslaught.
Looking at other comparable cards, we find Sudden Death. This card enables players to end a creature instantly, aligning with the sudden impact theme of The Countdown Is at One. Sudden Death operates at instant speed, offering tactical advantage without a delayed trigger but lacks The Countdown Is at One’s potential for widespread effect.
Assessing the overall efficacy, The Countdown Is at One holds a special place for its dramatic influence on the game’s pace, unlike other cards that offer either immediate elimination or the chance for an extra turn. Its unique tension-building trait adds another layer of strategy, making it a noteworthy option for players who enjoy high-stakes scenarios.
Cards similar to The Countdown Is at One by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: ‘The Countdown Is at One’ opens strategic plays by potentially revealing a diverse set of cards each turn, thus deepening your pool of tactical choices and outpacing your opponent in terms of available resources.
Resource Acceleration: Accelerating the availability of specific answers or threats, this card effectively narrows the timeline for drawing into your deck’s key components, propelling you towards end-game scenarios ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: Its instant speed nature provides you with the flexibility to respond to game states on the fly, utilize mana efficiently during each turn cycle, and maximize the element of surprise against opponents, all while not compromising your strategic posture.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Countdown Is at One requires the discarding of a card, which might deplete your hand and hinder your gameplay strategy, particularly in situations where your hand size is already compromised.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands an exact mana combination to cast, one blue and one generic, making it less flexible in multicolor decks that may struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its total cost of two mana, The Countdown Is at One may be considered expensive for its effect, especially when compared to other cards with similar or lower mana costs that produce immediate board impact or advantage.
Reasons to Include The Countdown Is at One in Your Collection
Versatility: The Countdown Is at One provides a unique twist to counter-based strategies, accommodating various gameplay approaches from combo setups to controlling the board’s pace.
Combo Potential: This card is a boon for decks that revolve around counters. It can be the pivotal piece in unleashing a game-winning combo when aligned with proliferate mechanics or cards that benefit from an abundance of counters.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where counter manipulation is key, The Countdown Is at One can give players the upper hand, tailoring the course of the game to their advantage and disrupting the opponent’s tactics.
How to beat
The Countdown Is at One is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, poised to alter the battlefield with its powerful spell effect. To effectively combat this card, players need adept timing and the right countermeasures. This ticking time bomb escalates the pressure each turn it remains on the field. Therefore, prompt action is paramount to prevent its potentially game-ending trigger.
Dealing with The Countdown Is at One requires a strategic approach to counteracts. Dispelling or negating it before the counters dwindle is an efficient method. Running enchantment removal cards in your deck ensures you’re prepared for such threats. Additionally, cards that can counter spells preemptively, like Negate or Dispel, can stop The Countdown Is at One dead in its tracks before it even begins its ominous tick.
One also must consider strategic play around this card. Sometimes the key is not just removing the enchantment but also positioning yourself and your resources to minimize the impact even if the countdown reaches its end. By maintaining a solid board presence and being prepared to rebuild after the potential board wipe, you can outlast the countdown and seize control from your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase The Countdown Is at One MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and The List (Unfinity Foil Edition), 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 Countdown Is at One 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 The Countdown Is at One Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2022-10-07 | The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) | ULST | 28 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Jesper Ejsing |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering The Countdown Is at One card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | After the subgame ends, all players shuffle their cards from the subgame to reform their main-game libraries, and they return to the main game from the point they left off, with The Countdown Is at One finishing resolving. |
| 2018-01-19 | If a player has fewer than seven cards in their main-game library, they’ll lose the subgame as it begins, regardless of how many mulligans that player takes. |
| 2018-01-19 | If the subgame is a draw, no player won the subgame, so damage dealt to any player in the main game will be doubled. |
| 2018-01-19 | To play a Magic subgame, all players start a new game, using their libraries as their decks. No other cards, tokens, emblems, or anything else from the main game are included in the subgame. |