Atarka Monument MTG Card


Atarka Monument - Dragons of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact
Released2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set nameDragons of Tarkir
Set codeDTK
Number235
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDaniel Ljunggren

Key Takeaways

  1. Atarka Monument provides card advantage with its dual functionality, acting as both mana source and a creature.
  2. Its ability to tap for red or green mana accelerates resources, allowing for earlier impactful plays in the game.
  3. The card supports instant-speed interactions, maximizing mana use every turn to fortify a player’s position.

Text of card

: Add or to your mana pool. : Atarka Monument becomes a 4/4 red and green Dragon artifact creature with flying until end of turn.

Atarka is worshipped and fed by her subjects at Ayagor, the Dragon's Bowl.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Atarka Monument card not only acts as a mana source but can also transform into a powerful creature to give players an edge on the battlefield. This dual functionality can help players maintain an advantage without losing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: By tapping for red or green mana, Atarka Monument aids in resource acceleration. This makes it easier for players to cast costly spells ahead of the usual curve, enabling more impactful plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although the Monument itself does not operate at instant speed, it supports decks that contain instant-speed interactions. Having it on the field ensures that players can effectively use their mana every turn, whether it’s for casting instants on an opponent’s turn or cementing their board presence with a timely creature transformation.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of the Atarka Monument is it lacks a discard mechanic, which could be leveraged in decks that benefit from card cycling or graveyard strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The Monument requires a specific blend of mana to cast, including one red and one green. This can pose a slight obstacle for multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana and its transformation into a creature cost at seven mana, Atarka Monument might be set aside for options that have a more immediate and less costly impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Atarka Monument in Your Collection

Versatility: Atarka Monument serves multiple functions in your deck. It acts as a mana rock, enabling players to accelerate their game by providing additional mana of specific colors. When conditions are met, it transforms into a powerful Dragon creature that can dominate the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card also holds potential for combos in decks that synergize with both mana acceleration and creature presence. The ability to switch from a resource tool to an aggressive creature can be a game-changer, meshing well with strategies that want to surprise opponents with sudden shifts in tactics.

Meta-Relevance: The current game environment, which may favor decks that balance between aggressive and mana-efficient plays, positions Atarka Monument as a potentially influential card. It offers flexibility in how it can be utilized within various deck archetypes, ensuring its relevance in a dynamic meta.


How to beat

Confronting the strength of Atarka Monument within the MTG universe requires both strategy and foresight. This card can be a resilient foe due to its ability to not only enhance mana production but also transform into a powerful dragon creature with flying and trample. Successfully overcoming this dual-threat card involves preemptive measures such as artifact removal or disruption strategies.

Timing is crucial when facing an on-board Atarka Monument. Efficient removal spells like Naturalize or Disenchant played before its conversion can prevent the Monument’s activation altogether. Alternatively, countermagic such as Negate is also effective in stopping the Monument’s tricky transformation or blocking key spells that could make this card a significant problem. Moreover, applying pressure and reducing opponent’s resources limits their ability to make optimal use of Atarka Monument’s versatility.

Winning against Atarka Monument tips the balance of a game. Recognizing the right moment to strike and utilizing cards that can counteract the monument’s abilities will keep your opponent on the defensive and pave your way to victory. Monitoring the battlefield and judiciously playing spells are the cornerstones of outplaying a deck that includes this mana-fixing, creature-becoming game piece.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the MTG realm and discover the strategic value of Atarka Monument. With its ability to accelerate resources and switch from a mana source to a Dragon creature, this card commands attention in your deck-building adventures. Whether it’s strengthening your mana base or seeking that late-game threat, Atarka Monument can be the cornerstone of a dynamic strategy. Don’t let its untapped potential slip through your fingers. Join us for a comprehensive exploration into crafting winning decks and harnessing the dual nature of this powerful card. Master the art of versatility in MTG and shape your path to domination on the battlefield.


Cards like Atarka Monument

Atarka Monument shines in its role within the suite of mana accelerators and color fixers in Magic: The Gathering. It stands in comparison with other monuments such as the Oketra Monument, which, while focusing on white mana, also lowers the cost of creature spells and generates tokens. Atarka Monument, on the other hand, taps for either red or green mana and becomes a formidable Dragon creature with a minimal activation cost.

Apart from the monuments, we see the Guardian Idol as another candidate that switches from a mana rock to a creature. However, the Idol turns into a mere 2/2 artifact creature, decidedly less impactful than the Dragon form of the Atarka Monument. Additionally, the versatility of choosing between red or green mana from the Atarka Monument gives it an advantage over the monochrome mana production of the Guardian Idol.

When assessing utility and flexibility, Atarka Monument offers a unique blend of mana fixing and late-game creature threat. This duality makes it a unique asset in decks that can capitalize on both its mana generation early on and its potential for transformation into an offensive threat later in the game.

Guardian Idol - MTG Card versions
Guardian Idol - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Cards similar to Atarka Monument by color, type and mana cost

Troll-Horn Cameo - MTG Card versions
Mage Slayer - MTG Card versions
Firewild Borderpost - MTG Card versions
Gruul Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Gruul Cluestone - MTG Card versions
Gruul Locket - MTG Card versions
Troll-Horn Cameo - Invasion (INV)
Mage Slayer - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
Firewild Borderpost - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Gruul Keyrune - Gatecrash (GTC)
Gruul Cluestone - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Gruul Locket - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Atarka Monument MTG card by a specific set like Dragons 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 Atarka Monument and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Atarka Monument has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Atarka Monument 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 A Monument can’t attack on the turn it enters the battlefield.
2015-02-25 Activating the last ability of a Monument while it’s already a creature will override any effects that set its power or toughness to a specific value. Effects that modify power or toughness without directly setting them to a specific value will continue to apply.
2015-02-25 Each Monument is colorless, although the last ability will make each of them two colors until end of turn.
2015-02-25 If a Monument has any +1/+1 counters on it, those counters will remain on the permanent after it stops being a creature. Those counters will have no effect as long as the Monument isn’t a creature, but they will apply again if the Monument later becomes a creature.

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