Arcane Adaptation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. It can turn any creature into a specific type, energizing tribal synergies and combo potential.
  2. Its consistent effect provides strategic advantages, even if it doesn’t operate at instant speed.
  3. Adaptation’s specific and somewhat high mana cost may limit its inclusion in diverse decks.

Text of card

As Arcane Adaptation enters the battlefield, choose a creature type. Creatures you control are the chosen type in addition to their other types. The same is true for creature spells you control and creature cards you own that aren't on the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arcane Adaptation provides a strategic edge by enabling creatures in your hand, deck, and battlefield to become the desired creature type. This synergizes with cards that care about creature types, potentially unlocking new combos and enhancing card utility.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources like mana, Arcane Adaptation can facilitate a smoother and more efficient game plan. By altering creature types, it can accelerate your strategy, ensuring that tribal-based mechanics, such as mana reduction for specific creature types or bonuses from lords, are consistently available.

Instant Speed: Although Arcane Adaptation is an enchantment that does not operate at instant speed, its enduring effect on the game state provides consistent strategic advantage that instant-speed cards can’t match. Once in play, it continues to support your strategy every turn, making it a pivotal piece in any tribal-focused deck.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Arcane Adaptation offers a unique effect, it doesn’t come into play without a trade-off. The card itself does not command discarding, but incorporating it effectively into your deck may require you to embrace strategies or combo cards that lead to discarding. This could disadvantage your hand if not managed wisely.

Specific Mana Cost: Arcane Adaptation demands a specific arrangement of mana resources, which can introduce deck-building constraints. It requires two blue mana, thereby necessitating a solid blue mana base. This can restrict its inclusion in certain multi-colored or colorless decks that might be unable to consistently meet the mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The enchantment’s ability to dictate creature types across the board is without a doubt potent. However, its three mana casting cost, including two blue, might seem steep compared to other utility cards in the format. For some decks, the mana spent on casting Arcane Adaptation could be directed toward developing the board or disrupting opponents’ strategies with immediate effects.


Reasons to Include Arcane Adaptation in Your Collection

Versatility: Arcane Adaptation offers a flexibility that few cards can match. It can be inserted into any deck that hinges on creature types. Whether you’re aiming to boost a tribal deck or want to enable offbeat creature synergies, this enchantment ensures any creature can fill the role you need.

Combo Potential: With Arcane Adaptation, you unlock explosive combo possibilities. Imagine turning all creatures into Zombies to instantly bolster your army with a zombie lord or perhaps transform unexpected tokens into Dragons for a fiery surprise. The potential to create game-winning combos is limited only by your creativity.

Meta-Relevance: In changing metagames, cards that adapt to new strategies are key. This card can recalibrate its utility to support new tribal decks that emerge or work with unique creature types that gain relevance in evolving metas, keeping your deck one step ahead of the competition.


How to beat

Arcane Adaptation is a unique enchantment in MTG that has the power to turn all your creatures into a chosen creature type. This can be a game-changer, especially in decks that capitalize on tribal synergies. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to disrupt these synergies. Targeted removal spells or enchantment destruction cards can eliminate Arcane Adaptation before its effects can dominate the board. Additionally, consider using counter spells to prevent it from being played in the first place.

Strategy is key when facing decks utilizing Arcane Adaptation. Be observant and identify the creature type the opponent chooses, as this informs their strategy. Once you know what they are building towards, you can adjust your gameplay to dismantle their plans. Using cards that strip abilities from creatures or change creature types can also throw a wrench in the works of an Arcane Adaptation deck. Ultimately, staying one step ahead and remaining flexible in your tactics will give you an edge in overcoming the challenges posed by this transformative card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG deck with Arcane Adaptation signals a level of creativity and foresight, a true mark of a savvy player. The ability to unite an array of creatures under one tribal banner is a cunning strategy that can sway the game’s momentum in your favor. It’s essential to reflect on your deck’s synergy with this enchantment, optimizing your creatures’ potential. As you continue to refine your collection, consider the transformative power of Arcane Adaptation. Dive deeper with us into the strategies that can turn your deck from a contender into a powerhouse, and always stay a step ahead of the meta. Discover the full potential of your tribal tactics with us.


Cards like Arcane Adaptation

Arcane Adaptation is a unique enchantment in the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering that allows players to choose a creature type and makes all their creatures, including tokens and creatures that are not on the battlefield yet, gain that type in addition to their other types. This can be particularly powerful in tribal decks looking to benefit from various synergies.

When looking at analogs, Conspiracy from the set Time Spiral sets a precedent. It has a similar effect, altering creature types, but is not limited to creatures you own. Xenograft from New Phyrexia also changes the creature types of creatures you control, but does so at a higher mana cost. Both deliver interesting ways to exploit tribal benefits but feature different nuances in application and flexibility.

Cards like these can pivot the direction of gameplay, giving an edge to creative deck builders. Arcane Adaptation stands out by having a lower converted mana cost and blending seamlessly into various deck builds that aim to exploit creature type interactions to their fullest. Its place among the MTG enchantments is secured through its ability to enable unexpected combos and interplays, a quality highly prized in the MTG community.

Conspiracy - MTG Card versions
Xenograft - MTG Card versions
Conspiracy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Xenograft - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Arcane Adaptation by color, type and mana cost

Feedback - MTG Card versions
In the Eye of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Undertow - MTG Card versions
Mana Vortex - MTG Card versions
Energy Flux - MTG Card versions
Gaseous Form - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Trance - MTG Card versions
Soul Barrier - MTG Card versions
Puppet Master - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions
Equilibrium - MTG Card versions
Mana Breach - MTG Card versions
Checks and Balances - MTG Card versions
Douse - MTG Card versions
Veiled Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Charisma - MTG Card versions
Traveler's Cloak - MTG Card versions
Shifting Sky - MTG Card versions
Threads of Disloyalty - MTG Card versions
Feedback - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
In the Eye of Chaos - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Undertow - Legends (LEG)
Mana Vortex - The Dark (DRK)
Energy Flux - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Gaseous Form - The List (PLST)
Mesmeric Trance - Ice Age (ICE)
Soul Barrier - Ice Age (ICE)
Puppet Master - Chronicles (CHR)
Propaganda - Commander 2020 (C20)
Intruder Alarm - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Equilibrium - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Mana Breach - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Checks and Balances - Unglued (UGL)
Douse - Urza's Saga (USG)
Veiled Crocodile - Urza's Saga (USG)
Charisma - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Traveler's Cloak - Invasion (INV)
Shifting Sky - Planeshift (PLS)
Threads of Disloyalty - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arcane Adaptation MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan Promos and Ixalan Promos, 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 Arcane Adaptation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arcane Adaptation Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2017-09-29. Illustrated by Mark Behm.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 46p2015normalblackMark Behm
22017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 46s2015normalblackMark Behm
32017-09-29IxalanXLN 462015normalblackMark Behm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arcane Adaptation has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-09-29 Replacement effects that modify creatures of a certain type as they enter the battlefield will apply after you apply Arcane Adaptation’s effect. This is a change from previous rules. If you control Arcane Adaptation and the Aether Revolt card Metallic Mimic, with the same creature type chosen for both, then any creature you control will enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.
2018-01-19 To choose a creature type, you must choose an existing creature type, such as Vampire or Knight. You can’t choose multiple creature types, such as “Vampire Knight.” Card types such as artifact can’t be chosen, nor can subtypes that aren’t creature types, such as Jace, Vehicle, or Treasure.

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