Coercive Portal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeArtifact
Abilities Will of the council

Key Takeaways

  1. Consistent card draw from Coercive Portal can decisively influence long games by outpacing opponents with superior resources.
  2. Despite requiring a consensus, strategic voting around Coercive Portal’s mechanics can turn the tides of gameplay.
  3. Combining card advantage with board wipe potential, Coercive Portal is a versatile and impactful addition to any deck.

Text of card

Will of the council — At the beginning of your upkeep, starting with you, each player votes for carnage or homage. If carnage gets more votes, sacrifice Coercive Portal and destroy all nonland permanents. If homage gets more votes or the vote is tied, draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Coercive Portal offers a consistent way to pull ahead in the game by potentially drawing an extra card during each of your upkeep phases. This steady stream of additional resources is integral to outpacing opponents in longer matches where every card counts.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly increasing mana resources, the Portal’s ability to draw additional cards can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by increasing the chances of hitting land drops and accessing a wider array of spells to control the tempo of the match.

Instant Speed: While the artifact itself does not operate at instant speed, the power it grants foraying into your deck each upkeep prompts strategic planning akin to instant-speed interactions. You can base decisions on the most recent information provided by your draw and react to the game state more effectively, enhancing your gameplay with a degree of adaptability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Coercive Portal necessitates a player’s consensus or overwhelming vote to trigger an action. This can be a setback when you cannot control the vote, potentially leading to undesired card discard or deck disruption.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires a colorless mana investment of four, which can be restrictive early in the game or in mana-tight situations. It could delay deployment of other crucial spells in a player’s strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana required to activate Coercive Portal is significantly higher compared to other card advantage engines. This can be a substantial drawback when competing against decks that operate on lower mana curves or when trying to execute more mana-efficient plays.


Reasons to Include Coercive Portal in Your Collection

Versatility: Coercive Portal is a noteworthy addition due to its ability to fit seamlessly into a wide array of deck archetypes. Its functionality as both a card drawing engine and a board wipe option offers strategic flexibility for players looking to bolster their deck’s adaptability.

Combo Potential: The artifact nature of Coercive Portal allows it to synergize with strategies that capitalize on artifact manipulation. It can be used as a key piece in combos, particularly in decks that benefit from artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential impact on the game state, Coercive Portal is quite relevant in various meta scenarios. Whether you are facing aggro swarms or locking horns with control foes, the Portal’s dual utility provides a significant advantage, making it a savvy pick for players aiming to remain competitive.


How to beat

Confronting Coercive Portal in MTG can certainly challenge players, as this powerful artifact offers a continual card draw or serves as a potential board wipe. To outmaneuver this card, it’s crucial to employ precision and timing. One effective method is to use artifact removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize to promptly remove the Portal from play, curtailing your opponent’s advantage without triggering its destructive ability.

Strategic voting also comes into play. Players can counteract Coercive Portal’s consensus by voting for carnage when the draw effect is more beneficial for the opponent, or for homage when the threat of a board wipe looms large. Plus, utilizing instant-speed spells to disrupt the Portal’s controller before the artifact’s ability resolves each turn helps maintain board control and leverage the game in your favor. Remember, careful observation and anticipating the opponent’s moves can turn Coercive Portal from a formidable obstacle into a manageable aspect of the game.

In essence, while Coercive Portal offers significant benefits to your opponent, there are numerous strategies and options within MTG to mitigate its impact and even turn its potential threat to your advantage. By grasping the right approach, you can ensure that this artifact does not dictate the flow of the game.


Cards like Coercive Portal

In the realm of artifact cards within Magic: The Gathering, Coercive Portal stands out as an intrigue-sparking option for drawing additional cards. In evaluating its features against akin artifacts, we can draw parallels with Howling Mine. Both offer the advantage of drawing more cards during your draw phase. Yet, Coercive Portal brings a unique tactical twist with its voting mechanic which can lead to board wipes, diverging from the passivity of Howling Mine’s constant draw effect for all players.

Mind’s Eye is another artifact often aligned with Coercive Portal for its card draw capabilities. Mind’s Eye allows you to draw at another player’s turn, giving you flexible control over when you access more cards. However, Coercive Portal demands a larger upfront investment with its four mana cost but can result in a substantial upheaval of the game state with its destructive potential.

Comparatively, when we examine the landscape of MTG artifacts, Coercive Portal offers a potent blend of card draw and a conditional board clear, situating it as a uniquely strategic option. Its ability to influence table politics and game dynamics sets it apart within its category.

Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Mind's Eye - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Mind's Eye - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Coercive Portal by color, type and mana cost

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Grappling Hook - MTG Card versions
Trading Post - MTG Card versions
Conservator - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Jayemdae Tome - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)
Well of Lost Dreams - The List (PLST)
Aetherworks Marvel - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)
Nevinyrral's Disk - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Sword of the Paruns - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Grappling Hook - Commander 2017 (C17)
Trading Post - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Coercive Portal MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy and Vintage Masters, 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 Coercive Portal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Coercive Portal Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-06-06 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 562003normalblackYeong-Hao Han
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 2662015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
32023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1092015normalborderlessChris Ostrowski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Coercive Portal has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PennyLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Coercive Portal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2014-05-29 Because the votes are cast in turn order, each player will know the votes of players who voted beforehand.
2014-05-29 No player votes until the spell or ability resolves. Any responses to that spell or ability must be made without knowing the outcome of the vote.
2014-05-29 Players can't do anything after they finish voting but before the spell or ability that included the vote finishes resolving.
2014-05-29 The phrase "the vote is tied" refers only to when there is more than one choice that received the most votes. For example, if a 5-player vote from among three different choices ends 3 votes to 1 vote to 1 vote, the vote isn't tied.
2014-05-29 You must vote for one of the available options. You can't abstain.

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