Prying Blade MTG Card


Prying Blade - Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip,Treasure
Released2017-09-29
Set symbol
Set nameIxalan
Set codeXLN
Number244
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAaron Miller

Key Takeaways

  1. Prying Blade generates Treasure tokens, indirectly giving card and mana advantage during gameplay.
  2. While offering resource acceleration, the mana cost for equipping may disrupt early game flow.
  3. The blade’s synergy in aggressive and artifact-centric decks makes it a versatile addition.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+0. Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, create a colorless Treasure artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Prying Blade doesn’t draw cards per se, but it does put extra artifacts—Treasure tokens—onto the battlefield. These tokens can be sacrificed for mana, which indirectly translates into card advantage as you’ll be able to cast more spells or deploy more threats than your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Each time you deal combat damage to a player with a creature equipped with Prying Blade, you create a Treasure token. This accelerates your resource availability, allowing for swifter mana generation to execute your game plan faster than usual. It also helps in casting higher-cost cards ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: While the Prying Blade itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the Treasure tokens it creates can be sacrificed for mana at any time. This flexibility lets you keep mana open for other spells and use the Treasure for instant speed responses if necessary.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Prying Blade does not inherently require a card to be discarded, but its primary function needs a creature to attack to generate treasure. If you’re unable to sustain a creature on the board or if your opponent has a formidable defense, the Prying Blade loses its effectiveness, which can be a significant setback.

Specific Mana Cost: While the Blade itself requires only generic mana to cast, equipping it demands a specific amount of mana, which can disrupt your mana curve in the early game. Its requirement for payment each time you want to switch it between creatures can be particularly stringent in decks that need flexibility with their mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering other equipments or mana acceleration tools in the game, the total investment for Prying Blade to start generating treasure may be deemed inefficient. The initial casting cost combined with the equip cost means you’re spending a minimum of three mana before it begins to pay off, and that’s not taking into account the need for a successful combat phase.


Reasons to Include Prying Blade in Your Collection

Versatility: Prying Blade is not only suited for aggressive decks aiming to chip in damage but also slips easily into artifact-themed strategies. With its ability to equip to any creature, Prying Blade enhances both offense and the flexibility of your mana pool.

Combo Potential: The accessory shines when considering its combo capacity. Each attack turns your creatures into treasure generators, setting the stage for big plays or enabling the casting of costly spells ahead of curve.

Meta-Relevance: Given the importance of mana acceleration and board presence in current meta rotations, Prying Blade offers a valuable edge. It facilitates quicker deployment of threats, which is crucial against control archetypes and in outpacing other tempo decks.


How to beat

Prying Blade might not seem like a major threat on its own, but attached to a creature, this artifact can gradually shift the tide of the game in Magic: The Gathering. Given that it furnishes a Treasure token each time the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, it can bolster your opponent’s mana pool unfairly.

To counteract the Prying Blade’s influence, keep a sharp eye on board control. Cards that can lock down or remove creatures before they can connect in combat are your best allies here. Think efficient removal spells or cards that can create enough blockers to deter attacks. Spot removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dismantle an opponent’s strategy centered around the Prying Blade by taking out key equipped creatures. Similarly, board wipes such as Wrath of God ensure that your opponent’s creatures won’t get the chance to plunder for Treasure.

In sum, the clever management of your removal spells and staying one step ahead of your opponent’s combat phase are crucial to neutralizing Prying Blade’s advantage. It’s about anticipating the play, readying your defenses, and disrupting the resource accumulation before it becomes a serious threat to your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is perfectly exemplified with mechanics like those found on the Prying Blade card. Exploiting every opportunity for card advantage and resource acceleration can be the difference between dominating a match or falling behind. Given its potential to ramp up mana and enhance your strategies, shouldn’t your Magic the Gathering gameplay include clever use of such an accessory? We encourage you to learn more about making the most of Prying Blade’s attributes. Dive deeper into its tactical applications and discover how you can seamlessly integrate it into your deck to outmaneuver opponents and seize victory with skill and finesse.


Cards like Prying Blade

Prying Blade stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile equipment card with the ability to ramp up a player’s mana pool. Its closest counterpart is perhaps Goldvein Pick, which also equips for two mana and creates Treasure tokens upon dealing combat damage to a player. The similarities are clear, yet Prying Blade requires one more mana for the initial cast, making Goldvein Pick a slightly more economical choice in the early game.

Another comparable card is Sword of the Animist. Though at a higher rarity and cost, it consistently ramps up a player’s land resources rather than providing the flexible Treasure tokens. The Sword’s automatic land search with every attack can be a more reliable source of mana acceleration, especially in land-focused decks.

Treasure Map is another competitor, albeit not an equipment. It transforms into a land that produces Treasure tokens, offering both card manipulation and resource production. While Prying Blade needs a combative approach to reap benefits, Treasure Map provides a more passive and reliable source of mana and card advantage over time.

Prying Blade’s niche lies in its synergy with creature-heavy decks and strategies focused on aggressive plays, where it stands strong within MTG’s array of mana-generating cards.

Goldvein Pick - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Animist - MTG Card versions
Goldvein Pick - Kaldheim (KHM)
Sword of the Animist - Magic Origins (ORI)

Cards similar to Prying Blade by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Transmogrant - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Triangle of War - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Iron Star - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Library of Leng - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Seventh Edition (7ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Ashnod's Transmogrant - Chronicles (CHR)
Obelisk of Undoing - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ivory Tower - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Triangle of War - Visions (VIS)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prying Blade has restrictions

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

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