Transmogrant Altar MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Number | 124 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dan Scott |
Text of card
, , Sacrifice a creature: Add . , , Sacrifice a creature: Create a 3/3 colorless Zombie artifact creature token. Activate only as a sorcery.
"The human body—like any other machine—can be stripped for parts." —Ashnod
Cards like Transmogrant Altar
Transmogrant Altar is an intriguing new addition to the pantheon of transformative artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the functionality of other cards like Proteus Staff, which also permutes the state of creatures on the battlefield, albeit through tucking the creature into a library and then revealing cards from the top until a creature appears. Transmogrant Altar, by contrast, has a nuanced mechanic that shifts the essence of the creature, changing its creature type, without reshuffling it into the deck.
Exotic Orchard is another card that springs to mind, with its ability to manipulate mana similarly depending on the context of play. Like Transmogrant Altar, Exotic Orchard is situationally powerful and requires players to deliberate over the composition of the opposing player’s resources. While the Orchard does not offer the same creature type alteration, it showcases the same level of strategic depth in a different arena—mana generation.
Ultimately, Transmogrant Altar positions itself distinctively amongst MTG’s more strategic artifacts. With its ability to alter creature types in situ, it opens up a breadth of deck-building strategies and potential in-game surprises, setting it apart from simple creature generation or raw mana utility artifacts.
Cards similar to Transmogrant Altar by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the standout strengths of Transmogrant Altar is its ability to add multiple creatures to the board. This potentially translates into card advantage as it allows for more simultaneous threats or blockers, gradually shifting the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Transmogrant Altar can be a game-changer by providing a repeated source of mana. By sacrificing a creature, you get an immediate influx of mana, essentially ramping up your resources. This can be particularly useful for casting high-cost cards ahead of the usual curve.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Transmogrant Altar at instant speed grants you remarkable flexibility. You can disrupt an opponent’s strategy by transforming a creature when they least expect it, or in response to a removal spell. This helps maintain a dynamic edge and adaptability during the heat of battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One aspect of Transmogrant Altar that might deter players is the necessity to discard a card. While this fuels the artifact’s ability, it also depletes your hand, potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage, especially if you can’t leverage graveyard synergies.
Specific Mana Cost: Transmogrant Altar demands a precise combination of mana to activate, including one generic and one black mana. This can sometimes be restrictive, particularly for multi-color decks that might not consistently have the right mana available at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment of three mana to cast and two to activate may prove cumbersome for certain strategies. In many situations, players could find more immediate value in other cards that cost less and provide a more immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Transmogrant Altar adds flexibility to any deck that values adaptability. Its ability to transmute creatures can be critical for adjusting to evolving board states, making it a viable addition across various deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: With Transmogrant Altar, creative players can unlock powerful synergies. The act of swapping creature types can interact with numerous tribal strategies, or set the stage for unexpected combo finishes by altering key creature characteristics.
Meta-Relevance: Given its power to instantaneously reshape creatures, Transmogrant Altar holds a place in the current meta focused on creature-based strategies. This can be particularly potent in formats where board presence is critical and subtle shifts in creature dynamics can tip the scales in your favor.
How to beat
Transmogrant Altar is a unique artifact in MTG that offers versatility in creature manipulation. This card enables players to exchange a creature for a card with an equal or lesser mana value, shaking up the battlefield dynamics. To counter this strategy effectively, controlling when and how your opponent can sacrifice creatures becomes crucial. Tactics like applying removals strategically to thwart the intended sacrifice or utilizing graveyard disruption to limit their options after the exchange can stymie the value the Altar provides.
Additionally, incorporating cards that prohibit activations of abilities or casting spells of a certain mana value can throw a wrench in the plans of a Transmogrant Altar user. Counter magic also serves as a formidable defense against this card, ensuring that the creatures intended for the swap never make it to the battlefield or their abilities get neutralized on the spot. Tackling the altar’s strategy often requires a mix of foresight and timely interaction, key to outmaneuvering its potential for perpetual value generation through creature replacement.
Ultimately, facing down Transmogrant Altar requires a blend of disruption and precision—target the weak spots in your opponent’s strategy and make sure that any creature they hope to transmogrify gets handled before the altar can fulfill its mystical purpose.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Transmogrant Altar MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Transmogrant Altar 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Transmogrant Altar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |