Touchstone MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Number	161
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	George Pratt

Key Takeaways

Touchstone aids in sifting decks for key pieces, crucial for combo execution and gaining resource advantage.
Instant speed play allows for reactive strategies, giving players the flexibility to adapt during opponents’ turns.
Despite its strengths, Touchstone’s specific mana and higher cost can limit its inclusion in some decks.

Text of card

oc T: Tap target artifact you do not control.

"One touch to the stone and the sidar's son turned me from stalwart to statue." —Karn, silver golem

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Touchstone offers a strategic edge by potentially revealing top-deck treasures, ramping up your hand resources and boosting your ability to counter the opponent’s moves. This helps in outmaneuvering the adversary by always keeping a stocked arsenal of options at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: It enables players to sift through their deck at an accelerated pace, propelling them towards crucial combo pieces or lands. This kind of acceleration can make or break games by providing the resources necessary to execute powerful plays ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: With its playability at instant speed, Touchstone can be utilized on an opponent’s turn, allowing for reactive plays and greater flexibility. This feature also keeps opponents guessing and defensive, as they must account for the unknown variables that Touchstone can introduce even when it’s not your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Touchstone card demands a discard action, reducing the number of options in your hand. This could lead to a difficult choice, especially if your hand contains key strategy pieces or if you are trying to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Touchstone’s mana cost includes colors that may not be readily available in multicolor decks. The need for specific mana types can restrict its playability, confining it to decks that can consistently produce the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an above-average mana cost for its abilities, Touchstone may compete with other cards at a similar cost point that provide a more immediate impact or advantage on the game state. This can make it a less favorable option in decks that aim for efficiency and tempo.

Reasons to Include Touchstone in Your Collection

Versatility: Touchstone offers a range of strategic options for deck builders. Its ability to smooth out mana curves and fix color requirements makes it valuable in multicolored decks and those needing consistency.

Combo Potential: As a key piece in various synergy-based strategies, Touchstone can open up combo avenues, particularly in decks focused on untapping permanents or those utilizing tap abilities.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting metagames, Touchstone remains relevant by adapting to different competitive environments. Its utility in mana generation and combo interactions keeps it as a mainstay in various deck archetypes.

How to beat

Understanding how to navigate against a Touchstone card in your MTG matches can tip the scales in your favor. Touchstone Cards, known for their unique abilities, can sometimes create challenging scenarios on the battlefield. A key strategy is to neutralize these cards before their abilities can be fully leveraged. This can be done by implementing removal spells that can effectively dispatch these cards from play, taking with them the advantages they bestow upon your opponent.

Another approach is to utilize counter spells when these cards are on the stack, preventing them from landing on the field altogether. Also consider deck-building with cards that offer protection or hexproof abilities, shielding your key assets from the impact of a Touchstone card. The timing of these actions is crucial; a well-timed removal or counterplay can significantly reduce the momentum that a Touchstone card offers. Game awareness and strategic anticipation become the cornerstones of thwarting your opponent’s plans when a Touchstone card is in play.

Whether you’re playing aggro, control, or any other archetype, remember that the flexibility and adaptability of your strategy against Touchstone cards can lead to maintaining control of the game and ultimately securing victory.

Cards like Touchstone

Touchstone stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a utility card that finds its parallel in effects like Scrying. A notable card with a kindred ability is Crystal Ball, which allows for Scry 2 but has the additional cost of tapping and 1 mana to activate. Unlike Touchstone, Crystal Ball gives a deeper look into upcoming draws, providing more control over the outcome.

Moving to recent releases, we encounter cards like Thaumatic Compass, which in addition to its basic mana-fixing utility, transforms into a land providing protection once certain conditions are met. While not directly akin to Touchstone’s Scry ability, it serves a comparable role in manipulating game mechanics for strategic advantage. Lastly, Seer’s Lantern is another fellow card, offering Scry 1 alongside ramping up mana production. While slower, it does contribute to the long-term pace and stability of a player’s resources.

When examining functionality and tactical implications, Touchstone provides a unique though somewhat limited pre-emptive strike capability, helping savvy Magic: The Gathering players to shape their destiny with every tap.

Cards similar to Touchstone by color, type and mana cost

Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Touchstone MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Touchstone and other MTG cards: