Matopi Golem MTG Card


Matopi Golem - Visions
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Released1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameVisions
Set codeVIS
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number150
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTom Kyffin

Key Takeaways

  1. Matopi Golem’s card recursion ability strengthens hand options, enhancing long-term strategic advantage.
  2. Mana generation capabilities allow for early deployment of powerful spells, potentially tipping the game’s balance.
  3. The golem’s instant-speed activation affords real-time responses to opponents, optimizing mana and tactics each turn.

Text of card

o1: Regenerate and put a -1/-1 counter on Matopi Golem.

Some potmakers claim to use the mud of such creatures to make their finest bowls—and that the bowls scream when fired.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Matopi Golem offers a strategic edge, as it’s capable of recurring spells from the graveyard. This translates into a sustained flow of options and a thicker hand, which can tilt the game in your favor over the long run.

Resource Acceleration: Through its mana generating abilities, the Matopi Golem enhances your potential to deploy high-cost spells earlier than usual. Leveraging this acceleration can be the difference between victory and defeat, as it allows for powerful plays ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of the Matopi Golem is evident in its instant-speed activation. This adaptability gives you the freedom to respond to opponent’s actions in real-time, ensuring that you’re always one step ahead and fully utilizing your mana each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Matopi Golem card is the need to discard another card to activate certain abilities. This can be particularly taxing during the late game when every card in hand counts, potentially leading to a disadvantageous state if your hand size diminishes faster than your opponents’.

Specific Mana Cost: The Matopi Golem comes with a specific mana requirement that may not seamlessly fit into all types of decks. Its casting cost requires a precise combination of mana, which can sometimes be a stumbling block for decks that are not specifically tuned to generate such a mana mix efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher-than-average mana cost, Matopi Golem demands significant resources to summon. In fast-paced games, the delay in establishing a presence on the battlefield can be detrimental as it provides opponents with an opportunity to establish board control or deplete your life before it can impact the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Matopi Golem offers a flexible role in artifact-centered decks and can serve as a formidable blocker or an offensive force due to its solid stats.

Combo Potential: With its innate “tap for mana” ability, this card can be a key component in initiating or sustaining powerful combos, becoming an accelerant in strategies built around artifact synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors artifact strategies, the presence of Matopi Golem can strengthen your deck’s position, making it a prudent addition considering shifting metas and the adaptability it provides.


How to beat

Matopi Golem presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield as a unique artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering. With abilities that can potentially dominate the late game, players often seek strategies to overcome this mighty construct. When facing this card, one efficient tactic is utilizing removal spells that specifically target artifacts. Cards such as Fragmentize or Nature’s Claim offer low-cost solutions to dispatch the Golem before its abilities become a significant threat.

Another effective method is to harness counter spells when the Golem is being cast. Swift responses like Negate or Essence Scatter ensure that the Golem never hits the field to exhibit its power. Additionally, exploiting its lack of hexproof or indestructible traits can make traditional destroy spells like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat highly effective. Players may also consider permanent exile options, such as Path to Exile, bypassing any graveyard recursion the Golem might benefit from.

Keeping these strategies in mind allows for a well-prepared approach to dismantle the Matopi Golem’s potential influence on the game. It’s crucial to balance your tactics and resources while remaining vigilant against this formidable artifact creature’s entrance into play.


Cards like Matopi Golem

Matopi Golem is a unique artifact creature in Magic the Gathering, fitting into decks that capitalize on golem synergies. When you compare it to other golem cards like Precursor Golem, the differences become clear. Precursor Golem creates additional golem tokens, which can propel your board state forward but also increase vulnerability to spells targeting golems. Matopi Golem lacks this token-generating ability but offers a sturdy individual presence on the battlefield.

Another related card is Solemn Simulacrum, affectionately known as Sad Robot by the community. Both cards are utility-based artifacts, but while Solemn Simulacrum provides ramp and card draw upon entering and leaving the battlefield, Matopi Golem is usually there for sheer resilience and power.

In the realm of artifact creatures, another comparison can be made with Adaptive Automaton. As a card that boosts creatures of a chosen type, it serves as an anthem effect enhancing golems indirectly, whereas Matopi Golem is a direct threat that has to be dealt with by opponents.

Assessing Matopi Golem’s attributes, it stands out for its sturdy, cost-effective nature, though it doesn’t have the same flexibility as some of its golem counterparts. Despite this, its straightforward strength can make it a reliable choice for players looking to reinforce their board with a resilient artifact creature.

Precursor Golem - MTG Card versions
Solemn Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Adaptive Automaton - MTG Card versions
Precursor Golem - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Solemn Simulacrum - Mirrodin (MRD)
Adaptive Automaton - Magic 2012 (M12)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Matopi Golem MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Matopi Golem and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Matopi Golem has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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