Opal Titan MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1998-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Saga |
| Set code | USG |
| Number | 26 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Paolo Parente |
Key Takeaways
- Opal Titan offers surprise defense, transforming when opponents cast creature spells.
- Requires careful deck building due to specific mana and discard conditions.
- Versatile and meta-relevant; excels in enchantment-synergistic strategies.
Text of card
When one of your opponents successfully casts a creature spell, if Opal Titan is an enchantment, Opal Titan becomes a 4/4 creature with protection from each of that spell's colors and that counts as a Giant.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Opal Titan offers a unique form of card advantage by bringing a creature into play whenever an opponent casts a creature spell, which could potentially give you multiple creatures over the course of a game without expending additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing traditional resource acceleration like adding mana, Opal Titan can indirectly accelerate your board presence without additional mana investment after its initial casting cost, effectively saving resources for other strategic plays.
Instant Speed: While the Opal Titan itself is not an instant, it has a reactive quality that operates at instant speed by triggering and creating a token in response to your opponent’s actions. This allows for surprise blockers or unforeseen interactions during your opponent’s turn, which can be tactically advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Opal Titan requires a card to be discarded when it is turned face up. This can be a significant downside when you have a tight grip on valuable cards that you prefer not to lose.
Specific Mana Cost: Opal Titan enters the battlefield with a requirement of white mana. This necessity can limit deck-building options, particularly if you are aiming for a multi-color deck that doesn’t heavily feature white.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic and one white mana, Opal Titan may be seen as a costly investment. In the pace of modern gameplay, players might find other creatures or spells that provide more immediate impact on the board for the same, if not lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include Opal Titan in Your Collection
Versatility: Opal Titan’s unique ability to become a creature when a player casts a spell makes it a flexible defensive option. This card can surprise opponents by turning into a blocker out of nowhere, fitting well in decks that aim to thwart aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Opal Titan can be part of potent combos. It synergizes with decks focused on enchantments or those that manipulate the battlefield to ensure Opal Titan transforms consistently. The card’s reactive nature can also disrupt your opponent’s plans, making it a strong tactical choice.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on noncreature spells, Opal Titan has the potential to shine. As it responds to any type of spell, it can easily find its place in a variety of meta environments, adapting to the everchanging landscape of MTG games and ensuring its relevance across different playing styles.
How to Beat Opal Titan
Opal Titan is a unique card offering dynamic defense mechanisms in Magic: The Gathering. When an opponent casts a creature spell, Opal Titan springs into action, becoming a creature that mirrors the strength and toughness of the new threat. This reactive capability can make it seem like a formidable protector in your opponent’s arsenal.
To effectively counter Opal Titan, players should consider using non-creature spells. Removal spells that specifically target enchantments or powerful board wipes which bypass the Titan’s triggering condition are excellent choices. Consider spells like Disenchant or global removals like Wrath of God to clear the field without triggering the Titan’s defensive transformation. Strategic play and timing of spells are key; by sidestepping the conditions that animate Opal Titan, you can maintain control over the battlefield and secure your winning position.
In essence, overcoming Opal Titan requires a blend of foresight and flexible tactics. By assembling a versatile deck that isn’t reliant solely on creature spells and includes answers to enchantment threats, players can dismantle the defenses that Opal Titan presents and pave their way to victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Opal Titan
The Opal Titan card is a unique piece in Magic: The Gathering, often compared to other creatures with conditional triggering. It shares a thematic link with Clone, which also enters the battlefield as a copy of any creature, but lacks Opal Titan’s trigger reliance on the opponent’s creatures. Clone offers flexibility, instantly becoming a copy of the best creature on the field, without waiting for a trigger event.
Karmic Guide is another card that resonates within similar lines. It brings a creature back from the graveyard when it enters the battlefield, yet it does not have the protean nature of Opal Titan. Where Opal Titan can repeatedly become a copy of a new creature each time a condition is met, Karmic Guide has a singular resurrection ability. Conversely, Mimic Vat is an artifact that can imprint a creature that dies and later create copies of it. While Mimic Vat shares the reactive copying ability with Opal Titan, it’s tied to the death of creatures, unlike Opal Titan’s broader trigger of any creature’s casting.
So, in drawing parallels and considering the versatility offered by these alternatives, Opal Titan occupies a distinct niche, especially in metas where opponents frequently cast powerful creatures, making its reactive nature both a defensive and strategic asset.
Cards similar to Opal Titan by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Opal Titan MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Opal Titan and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Opal Titan has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Opal Titan card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the spell was colorless (an artifact), this card does not get any form of Protection. |
| 2004-10-04 | It changes into a creature even if the spell is countered. |
| 2004-10-04 | It triggers when the spell is cast, which means it becomes a creature before that spell resolves. |
| 2004-10-04 | When it turns into a creature, it is no longer an enchantment. |
| 2008-04-01 | A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells. |
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |
