Witness of the Ages MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Abilities | Morph |
| Released | 2014-09-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Khans of Tarkir |
| Set code | KTK |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 228 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Izzy |
Text of card
Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
It strode through the clash of dragons, the fall of Ugin, and the rise of the khans.
Cards like Witness of the Ages
Witness of the Ages is an intriguing artifact creature among the myriad options available to Magic: The Gathering players. It’s often considered alongside other morph cards, such as Exalted Ambush. While both offer the element of surprise, Exalted Ambush can be flipped face up to create a devastating combat trick, something Witness of the Ages does not inherently provide.
When it comes to versatile role fillers, Willbender often comes to mind, featuring the ability to redirect spells or abilities when turned face up. Although it’s less robust in raw power, the tactical flexibility it provides can be game-changing. Meanwhile, Icefeather Aven can be flipped for immediate board impact, returning creatures to their owner’s hand, an effect that Witness of the Ages lacks, focusing instead on its permanence on the board as a reliable artifact creature.
Through the lens of utility and flexibility, Witness of the Ages stands as a solid choice for MTG decks seeking durable artifact creatures that benefit from morph mechanics. Its 4/4 stature post-morph can be critical in certain gameplay scenarios, despite the absence of immediate board interaction effects.
Cards similar to Witness of the Ages by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Witness of the Ages is known to provide a substantial card advantage, making it a formidable asset in any game. Its ability to potentially grant you access to more cards can pivot the game in your favor, as hand size and card options are critical to success in MTG.
Resource Acceleration: This card can be a powerhouse when it comes to resource acceleration. By offering a mechanism to possibly ramp up your mana or provide other resources, it plays a significant role in bolstering your board presence swiftly and efficiently. With resource acceleration as a key element to outpacing your opponent, Witness of the Ages stands as an instrumental piece in achieving that strategy.
Instant Speed: The versatility of Witness of the Ages is further amplified by its instant speed nature. This gives players the flexibility to react to opponents’ moves at end of turn, thereby preserving the element of surprise and maintaining optimal control over the timing of their strategies. The ability to act at instant speed is highly valuable, ensuring that your tactics can be adapted to the ever-changing dynamics of MTG matches.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Witness of the Ages necessitates that you discard a card, potentially depleting your hand, especially if you’re already behind in card advantage. This requirement can hinder your strategic plays, making it a tricky card to utilize without careful planning.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific blend of mana to cast, which could be a challenge for multi-colored decks that may not always have the precise mana types available at the right moment, impacting your game tempo.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end, Witness of the Ages competes with other impactful cards in the same mana range. Players might find that there are alternative cards that deliver a better balance of cost to effect, enhancing deck efficiency.
Reasons to Include Witness of the Ages in Your Collection
Versatility: Witness of the Ages is an adaptable card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes. Its ability to transform from a reliable blocker to an offensive threat makes it a valuable asset in many game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card’s dual nature allows players to exploit multiple synergies within their deck. It plays well with mechanics that activate upon creature death or artifact entry, creating dynamic combinations and enhancing strategic depth.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the fluctuating nature of the metagame, Witness of the Ages stands out as it can adjust to various dominant strategies. Its ability to function effectively in both aggressive and controlling environments ensures its place in competitive play.
How to beat
Witness of the Ages poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. As a card that thrives on artifact synergy, it often appears unassuming at first glance. Its strength lies in its versatility, shifting from a durable blocker to a formidable threat. Understanding the mechanics of modular cards is crucial when facing this adaptable automaton.
Effective strategies include targeted removal like Shatter or Abrade that can dismantle the artifact before it accrues value. Counterspells are another line of defense; by preventing its casting altogether, you neutralize the potential escalation of its power. Another avenue is to use bounce effects that return the artifact to its owner’s hand, temporarily halting its impact and forcing your opponent to reinvest mana to replay it.
It’s important to act swiftly as Witness of the Ages has the potential to escalate in power over time, especially in decks that manipulate +1/+1 counters. Ultimately, staying proactive and keeping control of the board state are key to triumphing over this versatile adversary within the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Witness of the Ages MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Witness of the Ages 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 Witness of the Ages has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Witness of the Ages card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren’t affected. |
| 2014-09-20 | Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot. |
| 2014-09-20 | At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can’t look at face-down spells or permanents you don’t control unless an effect instructs you to do so. |
| 2014-09-20 | Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it’s turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn’t cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger. |
| 2014-09-20 | If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends. |
| 2014-09-20 | Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost. |
| 2014-09-20 | The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a converted mana cost of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost. |
| 2014-09-20 | When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It’s colorless and has a converted mana cost of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics. |
| 2014-09-20 | You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You’re not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield. |