Powerleech MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1994-03-04
Set symbol
Set name	Antiquities
Set code	ATQ
Number	34
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Rush

Key Takeaways

Powerleech turns opponents’ artifact activity into a resource advantage for its controller.
As an ongoing effect, it mimics instant speed, collecting energy with each activated artifact.
Despite its strengths, Powerleech’s discard requirement and green mana cost are notable limitations.

Text of card

Gain 1 life whenever one of opponent's artifacts becomes tapped, or whenever the activation cost of one of opponent's artifacts is paid. Is not triggered by continuous artifacts.

The Forest of Argoth has developed a resistance to mechanical intrusion.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Powerleech enhances your card advantage by offering a consistent source of energy gain. It is particularly beneficial in decks that exploit energy counters, as it fundamentally turns the energy-generating mechanics of your opponent’s artifacts into a resource for you.

Resource Acceleration: Powerleech doesn’t directly generate mana, but it works as resource acceleration by banking on your opponent’s artifacts. Every time an opponent’s artifact becomes tapped, you gain an extra energy counter, leading to a potential advantage as you accumulate more energy to leverage within your own strategic plays.

Instant Speed: Although Powerleech itself is not an instant, it has a continuous effect that operates at the speed of the game, providing benefits immediately as conditions are met. Its ability to collect energy counters occurs in real time, effectively at the pace of instant speed mechanics, reacting to each tap of an opponent’s artifact as it happens, therefore offering an instant-like advantage on resource gathering.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Powerleech demands that you discard a card to activate its ability, which might not always be a beneficial trade, especially when your hand is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires an exclusive green mana upkeep, constraining its integration to only those decks that run green mana effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana in total, two of which are specifically green, Powerleech’s initial investment can be steep in contrast to other cards in its category that could provide more immediate or versatile benefits.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Powerleech offers a unique edge to players who like to take advantage of energy resource mechanics. It fits well in artifact-centric decks and those that manipulate or benefit from energy counters.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergistic play, offering energy counters when artifacts tap for mana. These counters can be the catalyst for powerful interactions within combos that exploit energy for various effects.

Meta-Relevance: With artifacts being a common component of many decks, Powerleech holds relevance in metas where artifact strategies are prevalent. It can serve as a counter strategy to opponents heavily relying on artifacts, turning their resources into your advantage.

How to Beat Powerleech

Delving into the intricacies of Powerleech in the world of MTG leads to unique strategies for overcoming this artifact’s influence. As a card that thrives in environments rich in artifacts, Powerleech can be challenging to play against. Its ability to siphon off energy from your artifact plays, granting your opponent additional benefits, requires thoughtful circumvention. To counteract this, players must adopt a tactical approach, focusing on reducing their reliance on artifacts or employing artifact removal options.

At the core of your strategy should be a focus on enchantment removal spells. Cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize play pivotal roles in swiftly dealing with Powerleech, rendering it powerless before it can accumulate too much energy. Another avenue of defeat for Powerleech lies in the strategic planning of your plays. By carefully timing when to cast your artifacts, you can mitigate the advantage it grants your opponent, preserving your own resources in the process. Furthermore, spell-based decks that rely less on artifacts naturally diminish the effectiveness of Powerleech, by starving it of the very resources it requires to thrive.

Ultimately, outmaneuvering Powerleech is about foresight and precision. Whether you’re dismantling it directly or starving it of opportunities, you can ensure that this artifact doesn’t sap the potential from your game plan.

Cards like Powerleech

Powerleech is an intriguing artifact creature that sets a unique stage in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. Its ability to gain advantages from opposing artifacts has echoes in other MTG cards. One such card is Energy Flux, which increases the maintenance cost of artifacts and can indirectly benefit the user as opponents struggle with the payment demands. While Energy Flux is an enchantment that imposes a blanket effect, Powerleech offers a more pinpointed approach, rewarding you specifically for each artifact action.

Karn, Scion of Urza is another card that carries a symbiotic relationship with artifacts, offering card advantage and potential to create mighty token creatures. Though Karn’s power level is high and flexibility versatile, Powerleech provides a consistent, albeit narrower, path of accruing value directly tied to artifacts in play. Additionally, cards like Harsh Mentor have the ability to dish out punishment for activated abilities, somewhat similar to Powerleech, but Powerleech’s focus remains firmly in the artifact realm.

In sum, Powerleech has its niche within artifact-centric decks in Magic: The Gathering, where it can exploit the ubiquity of artifacts for constant gain, a tactical offering that stands out amongst its parallels.

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Powerleech has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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