Ancestral Statue MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Power 3
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. It offers repeatable enter the battlefield triggers, which can accumulate card and board advantages in MTG.
  2. While versatile, the Statue’s higher mana cost could limit optimal play within certain decks seeking efficiency.
  3. The Statue maintains relevance in varied meta contexts, enhancing its place in a well-rounded collection.

Text of card

When Ancestral Statue enters the battlefield, return a nonland permanent you control to its owner's hand.

The mage awakened the statue in hopes of learning the lost lore of her clan, but the statue was interested only in war.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ancestral Statue can trigger enter the battlefield effects repeatedly, offering numerous opportunities to gain card advantage over time. This utility can turn each casting into a potential source of fresh cards in your hand or actions on the board.

Resource Acceleration: When combined with permanents that generate value upon creatures entering the battlefield or being cast, Ancestral Statue can significantly accelerate your resource gain. This synergy may lead to a substantial lead in mana or other in-game resources.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Ancestral Statue has abilities that synergize well with instant speed spells and effects. Bouncing Ancestral Statue back to hand allows for flexible responses to opponents’ actions during their turns and can be used to maximize the efficiency of your plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Ancestral Statue itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, its common inclusion in strategies centered around bouncing creatures can indirectly lead to a reduced hand size. Players may find themselves at a disadvantage having to discard valuable cards to make the most of the statue’s return-to-hand ability.

Specific Mana Cost: Ancestral Statue’s mana cost demands four generic mana, which does provide some flexibility. However, in decks wanting to maximize mana efficiency, the lack of color weighting can sometimes be less optimal for activating synergistic effects that require colored mana expenditure.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Ancestral Statue may appear as an insignificant investment for the effect it provides, especially considering that mana could be used for more impactful spells or creatures. Its utility may be overshadowed by other options that provide greater board presence or more immediate value for the same or less mana.


Reasons to Include Ancestral Statue in Your Collection

Versatility: Ancestral Statue is a flexible addition to any deck that appreciates a reset button for their own creatures or artifacts. Its ability to return a nonland permanent you control to your hand when it enters the battlefield can be leveraged in numerous ways, from reusing enter-the-battlefield effects to saving key pieces from removal.

Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to fuel engine-style decks. It’s a well-known enabler for infinite combos when paired with cards like “Aluren” or any mechanism that reduces its casting cost, making it an auto-include for players looking to execute game-winning strategies on the spot.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-changing landscape of the meta-game, Ancestral Statue holds its ground due to its inherent capability to interact with prevalent mechanics and themes. Whether it’s bouncing a creature for another ETB effect or simply acting as a recurring blocker, its adaptability makes it relevant in various formats and metas.


How to beat

Ancestral Statue is an intriguing artifact creature within the MTG arena that can have a significant impact on the board state. Players utilize it effectively in decks with heavy emphasis on enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. Its ability to return a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand when it enters the battlefield can serve as a repeatable way to trigger such effects.

To counter Ancestral Statue, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can destroy or exile it before its ETB effect resolves. Spot removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be effective against the Statue. Moreover, strategies that limit the number of noncreature spells played, like Rule of Law, can stifle the Ancestral Statue’s combo potential by preventing players from repeatedly casting it. Artifact removal spells, such as Abrade or Nature’s Claim, offer an additional layer of protection by directly addressing the threat of the Statue itself.

The success against Ancestral Statue often comes down to timing and the elements of disruption at your disposal, so having a versatile removal suite in your deck is essential. Keeping this proactive approach will enable you to maintain control against decks that rely on this card.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategy and adaptability Ancestral Statue brings to the MTG table can be a game-changer. This card’s potential to loop enter-the-battlefield effects, enable combos, or serve as a resilient defender makes it a challenging piece to play against and a rich inclusion for your arsenal. Assess your current deck and consider whether the statue’s synergistic properties could supercharge your gameplay. For players ready to enhance their deck’s capabilities and for those curious about next-level combo plays, Ancestral Statue may just be the missing piece. Dive deeper into deck-building strategies and optimize your collection with us, as every card counts toward victory.


Cards like Ancestral Statue

Ancestral Statue stands out in the Magic: The Gathering world as an artifact creature with a unique ability to bounce another permanent back to its owner’s hand. When considering cards of a similar nature, Man-o’-War is a creature often brought into the conversation. While Man-o’-War also returns a creature to its owner’s hand upon entry to the battlefield, it notably does not have the flexibility to target noncreature permanents as Ancestral Statue does.

Another card worth discussing is Dream Stalker, which, much like Ancestral Statue, requires the return of a permanent you control to your hand when it comes into play. The key difference here is the type of permanents they can interact with. Dream Stalker’s effect is slightly more restrictive by being a creature itself, which is a limitation Ancestral Statue does not share. Moreover, the Ancestral Statue can be part of an infinite combo with cards like “Aluren” as it has a converted mana cost of less than three.

After careful analysis, it’s clear that Ancestral Statue offers a distinct advantage in decks that benefit from repeatedly casting the same spells or artifacts. Its ability to target any permanent provides a strategic edge that, when played skillfully, can dominate a game.

Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Dream Stalker - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - Visions (VIS)
Dream Stalker - Time Spiral (TSP)
Aluren - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Ancestral Statue by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Jade Monolith - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions
Mightstone - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Lich's Tomb - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Synod Centurion - MTG Card versions
Jade Idol - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Jade Monolith - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Jade Statue - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Mightstone - Antiquities (ATQ)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lich's Tomb - Darksteel (DST)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Synod Centurion - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Jade Idol - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ancestral Statue MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Jumpstart, 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 Ancestral Statue and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ancestral Statue Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 2342015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4582015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ancestral Statue has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-02-25 Ancestral Statue’s ability is mandatory. If Ancestral Statue is the only nonland permanent you control when its ability resolves, you must return it to its owner’s hand.
2015-02-25 The triggered ability doesn’t target any permanent. You choose which one to return as the ability resolves. No player can respond to this choice once the ability starts resolving.

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