Crystal Chimes MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Crystal Chimes allows for substantial card advantage by returning enchantment cards to your hand.
  2. Activating at instant speed adds flexibility and can disrupt opponents’ strategies effectively.
  3. Despite a high mana cost, its ability can be a powerful asset in enchantment-heavy decks.

Text of card

o3, oc T, Sacrifice Crystal Chimes: Return all enchantment cards from your graveyard to your hand.

As Serra was to learn, the peace and sanctity of her realm were as fragile as glass.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crystal Chimes represents a strategic component designed for deck replenishment. This card enables the retrieval of all enchantment cards from your graveyard to your hand when tapped. For a deck that thrives on enchantments, it creates a repeated use of such cards, delivering a significant card advantage over opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Despite having an initial cost of 3 mana, the advantage accrued by essentially recycling your enchantment cards cannot be understated. It strikes a balance between initial cost and subsequent savings, contributing to resource management and acceleration within the game. You will save on using additional mana in the turns ahead, especially in enchantment-heavy decks.

Instant Speed: One of the key characteristics of Crystal Chimes is that its activated ability does not require sorcery speed. It can be utilised at instant speed, offering the ability to respond to an opponent’s actions in a more flexible manner. This means you can strategically reap the benefits of Crystal Chimes when your enemy least expects it, providing a tactical element to your game strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Crystal Chimes card does not require a player to discard an additional card, but as a unique aspect, it does demand utilization of graveyard enchantments, which implies a need for strategic manipulation of your deck, possibly needing to discard important cards in advance before it could be significantly useful.

Specific Mana Cost: Crystal Chimes requires three colorless mana for its cost, and additional three colorless mana for its activation. Its colorless requirement may not be a disadvantage for multicolored decks; however, the absence of colored mana could limit its synergy with only color-based cards in your deck. Effectively using Crystal chimes may demand careful planning of your mana-base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Crystal Chimes’ total mana cost, considering its activation, reaches a total of six mana. This is quite high, considering the competitiveness of alternative cards used for retrieving enchantments. It might be a costly slowdown in the early game; however, it can prove beneficial when the graveyard starts filling up with enchantments, especially in longer games.


Reasons to Include Crystal Chimes in Your Collection

Versatility: Crystal Chimes are not restrictive, meaning they can grace any deck. They have a unique ability to bring enchantment cards back from the graveyard, providing that all-important second chance in a tightly contested game.

Combo Potential: The efficacy of Crystal Chimes skyrockets when paired with decks heavy on enchantments. Whether to re-trigger enter-the-battlefield effects or simply to replenish your board, it acts as a prominent facilitator for potential game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In the current meta where enchantment-based decks are gaining momentum, the role Crystal Chimes can play is starting to turn heads in the community. Its relevance, although circumstantial, can drastically help tilt the board in your favour in certain matchups.


How to beat

Crystal Chimes is a distinguished resurrection artifact card within the realm of Magic: The Gathering that brings an unexpected shift in gameplay, making it quite a challenge for an opponent. To overcome Crystal Chimes, some tactical strategies can be adopted. One viable counter-move is to target it with artifact destruction spells. Cards like Smash to Smithereens and Shatter not only destroy the Chimes but also cause collateral damage.

In a similar perspective, options such as Krosan Grip can also provide you with the added benefit of Split Second, preventing an opponent from responding, therefore making it impossible for them to make use of the Chimes’ abilities before it’s destroyed. Another tactic could be to strip the card from your opponent’s hand or deck by using discard or mill effects, ensuring that the chimes never make it onto the battlefield.

Conclusively, while Crystal Chimes carries a level of austere in Magic: The Gathering, its presence doesn’t necessarily mean an inescapable defeat. The key is an early recognition and the competent utilization of preventative and combatting cards, along with astute anticipation of game progression.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the tactical depth of MTG can significantly enhance your gameplay. Crystal Chimes epitomizes this strategic nuance, perfectly suited for enchantment-laden decks keen on maximising longevity and potency. Whilst the ability to recycle enchantment spells at instant speed can be a game-changer, it’s essential to integrate this artifact with keen foresight. Balancing its costs while exploiting its graveyard retrieval can lead to game-altering comebacks. Dive deeper into the tech and tactics that make Crystal Chimes a gem in MTG, and ensure your deck leverages its full potential by visiting us for a thorough analysis and expert tips on crafting the ultimate enchantment-heavy deck.


Cards like Crystal Chimes

Crystal Chimes is an intriguing entrant in the world of artifact cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its parallel with cards such as Elixir of Immortality is obvious, both providing the chance to retrieve cards from the graveyard. However, Crystal Chimes has a unique twist – it specifically permits the return of enchantment cards. Elixir of Immortality, contrastingly, has a broader appeal, allowing for the retrieval of any card and not restricted specifically to one type.

In the same echelon, we can also find Feldon’s Cane. This card allows players to shuffle their graveyard back into their library, offering a more equal opportunity. The difference is that Feldon’s Cane costs less compared to Crystal Chimes. Yet, crystal chimes have the ability to selectively resurrect enchantments only. An alternate comparison could be with Codex Shredder, which although cheaper, only permits the return of a single card instead of an entire category like Crystal Chimes.

To summarize, Crystal Chimes holds a strong position within the sphere of artifact cards in Magic: The Gathering, due to its uniqueness in allowing the return of multiple enchantment cards, making it valuable in a player’s gameplay strategy.

Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Codex Shredder - MTG Card versions
Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Codex Shredder - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crystal Chimes MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Commander 2015, 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 Crystal Chimes and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crystal Chimes Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 2921997NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2502015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15692015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
42020-09-26The ListPLST C15-2502015NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crystal Chimes has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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