Karn MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	1997-05-01
Set symbol
Set name	Vanguard Series
Set code	PVAN
Number	103
Frame	1993
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

Karn grants card advantage, revealing cards for strategic planning and potential high-value gains.
Resource acceleration is key, as Karn untaps artifacts, enabling crucial mana for pivotal plays.
Flexibility akin to instants, Karn disrupts opponents or crafts surprising comebacks during any turn.

Text of card

Each of your noncreature artifacts is also an artifact creature with power and toughness each equal to its total casting cost.

Both part of the Legacy and an individual in his own right, the silver golem Karn is haunted by a single, terrible incident: while serving to protect the young Gerrard, Karn accidentally took the life of another. Wakened from years spent as a statue, the golem has vowed to never kill again as he rejoins Gerrard.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Karn, a powerhouse in the MTG universe, facilitates card superiority by revealing the top two cards of a player’s library, enabling strategic choices and potential acquisition of high-value cards.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable planeswalker is known to accelerate resources by untapping artifacts, providing a swift influx of mana that can be pivotal for casting game-changing spells ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Although not inherently an instant, Karn’s ability to affect the board at any time provides strategic flexibility akin to instant speed interactions, disrupting opponents’ plays or forging surprise comebacks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Karn suffers as it mandates you to relinquish another card from your hand, potentially draining your resources at a crucial moment.

Specific Mana Cost: Karn’s activation leans heavily on a precise blend of mana, often necessitating a deck built around artifact and colorless mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial mana cost attached to its powerful abilities, Karn can be outpaced by decks that aim for a quick win or those that manage to set up their board more efficiently.

Reasons to Include Karn in Your Collection

Versatility: Karn cards are known for their flexibility across various deck archetypes. Since they aren’t bound by color, they can fit seamlessly into practically any deck. This makes Karn an exceptional addition, from colorless Eldrazi approaches to multicolored control decks.

Combo Potential: Many Karn iterations excel in synergy-driven decks, often unlocking powerful interactions with other artifacts. Whether it’s dismantling opponent strategies or accelerating your own board state, Karn’s array of abilities enhances numerous combo opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: As the competitive landscape shifts, Karn consistently remains relevant. Its ability to handle an array of threats and the consistent utility it provides in various metagames makes it an asset in any collection, prepared to tackle the ever-evolving challenges of the game.

How to beat

Karn, a formidable planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering, often shifts the tide of battles. As an artifact-focused card, it can dominate a game by disrupting an opponent’s strategy and swiftly becoming a win condition if not dealt with promptly. Its ability to turn noncreature artifacts into creatures, coupled with its ultimate ability that exiles cards from a player’s hand or library, underscores the necessity of a calculated approach when facing it.

Combatting Karn effectively involves a few strategies. Prioritizing the removal of artifacts from the battlefield reduces the targets for its animating ability and diminishes the card’s impact. Another technique is implementing direct damage spells or abilities to lower Karn’s loyalty counters, eliminating it as a threat. Players may also opt for hand disruption tactics to prevent an opponent from casting Karn or countering it upon cast. In essence, proactiveness and maintaining board control are crucial to nullify the impact of Karn and ensure it never fully realizes its game-altering potential.

Evaluating your deck’s capabilities and adapting your playstyle to preemptively address the challenges presented by Karn can not only mitigate its influence but strengthen your position to emerge victoriously against decks that harness its power.

Cards like Karn

Karn Liberated is a powerful planeswalker in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering that commands the board with its ability to exile cards. Karn shares the spotlight with other heavy-hitting planeswalkers like Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. Ugin’s sweeping exile effect can manage the board on a wider scale but at a higher mana cost. Unlike Ugin, Karn’s targeted exiling process doesn’t impact your own assets, offering precision control.

Another peer to Karn is Jace, the Mind Sculptor, who boasts the ability to manipulate decks and draw multiple cards. While Jace excels at card advantage and manipulation, he doesn’t have the exiling power of Karn. This makes Karn a unique threat that can disrupt an opponent’s game beyond the confines of the battlefield. Then there’s Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, who also showcases a mix of drawing and delaying tactics with his temporary exile, yet Karn’s permanent exiling approach gives him an edge in long-term board state influence.

As players scout for impactful planeswalkers to fortify their strategy, Karn Liberated remains a distinctive choice with his exile mechanics, reshaping the game one card at a time.

Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - MTG Card versions

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions

Teferi, Hero of Dominaria - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Karn by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Karn MTG card by a specific set like Vanguard Series, 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 Karn and other MTG cards: