Urza's Filter MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2000-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Invasion |
| Set code | INV |
| Number | 318 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Dorman |
Text of card
Multicolored spells cost up to less to play.
"It's a tool for aiding my other tools," explained Urza. "Now they'll work in harmony."
Cards like Urza's Filter
Urza’s Filter is a unique artifact in the rich tapestry of Magic the Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Herald’s Horn and Cloud Key, which also provide cost reductions for certain spell types. Urza’s Filter specifically decreases the mana cost of multicolor spells you cast, much like how Cloud Key selects a type and Herald’s Horn opts for tribal cost reduction. However, Urza’s Filter offers a broader spectrum of discount as it’s not restricted to a single type or tribe.
Assembly Hall is another comparable card, providing a deck thinning effect by fetching creatures of the same type. While it doesn’t reduce costs directly, it can complement the streamlining of casting multicolor creatures. On the other hand, Urza’s Filter immediately impacts the board by making a variety of spells more accessible. Mana rocks like Fellwar Stone provide color fixing but lack the cost reduction aspect, making Urza’s Filter shine in decks that feature a heavy multicolor component.
Evaluating these artifacts within Magic the Gathering, Urza’s Filter stands out for players who enjoy casting a multitude of multicolor spells, allowing for a faster and more efficient deployment of their strategy.
Cards similar to Urza's Filter by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Urza’s Filter can be a linchpin in multicolored decks, reducing the mana cost of multicolor spells and potentially letting you cast more cards than you normally could. This function can create incremental card advantage over time since you’re effectively ‘drawing’ into your mana resources.
Resource Acceleration: The artifact serves as a form of resource acceleration by effectively increasing your available mana. Players can leverage the reduced cost of multicolor spells to deploy threats and solutions earlier in the game, or even outpace opponents by playing multiple spells in a single turn.
Instant Speed: While Urza’s Filter itself is not an instant, it synergizes exceptionally well with instant speed multicolor spells. The ability to cast such spells at a reduced cost can lead to powerful and unexpected plays, catching an opponent off guard during their turn or at the end of their turn just before yours begins.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Urza’s Filter may not demand a discard, but it does require a hands-on approach to managing your mana. Without a hand full of multicolor spells, this enchantment can sit on the field without offering much value. It’s essential to build with synergy in mind to get the most out of this card.
Specific Mana Cost: Locked into the world of multicolor spells, Urza’s Filter demands a deck constructed with two or more colors. If you’re aiming for a more streamlined, single-color strategy, this card will not perform to its potential, reducing its utility across the broader MTG card pool.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana investment to get it on the board, you have to weigh the benefits against what you’re potentially forgoing. Other cards at this cost point might provide immediate impact, spell acceleration, or board presence, leading to a consideration of Urza’s Filter’s return on investment during deck building and gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Urza’s Filter is a powerful addition to decks that play multicolored spells. This card can significantly reduce the cost of casting them, allowing for a more aggressive and varied playstyle.
Combo Potential: With the ability to reduce the mana cost of multicolored spells, Urza’s Filter opens up numerous combo opportunities. It paves the way for casting multiple spells in a single turn, potentially overwhelming your opponent with a flurry of powerful effects.
Meta-Relevance: Urza’s Filter has the potential to shine in a meta filled with decks that capitalize on multicolored spells. As such, it can become a key card to tilt the scales in your favor, particularly against single-color decks that might lack such cost efficiency.
How to beat
Urza’s Filter is a unique mana-reduction enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, enabling players to cast multicolored spells for less. Such an ability can lead to a rapid and overwhelming board state if left unchecked. To effectively counter Urza’s Filter, consider using enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize, which can directly target and destroy the enchantment, thereby neutralizing the mana advantage it provides.
Moreover, countering the spells that get cheaper thanks to Urza’s Filter is another strategy. Preventive measures like Counterspell or Mana Leak can stop your opponent’s reduced-cost spells in their tracks. It is crucial to manage your resources wisely and maintain control over the game to ensure that the advantage Urza’s Filter offers does not become insurmountable. Aim to remove it quickly or have a counter-strategy ready to diminish its impact on the game.
Ultimately, knowing when to disrupt your opponent’s plans and keeping Urza’s Filter from tipping the scales in their favor is essential. Watch for opportunities to remove or negate this powerful enchantment and stay one step ahead of the mana curve.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Urza's Filter MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Urza's Filter 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Urza's Filter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |