Common Cause MTG Card


Common Cause - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Number13
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJohn Matson

Key Takeaways

  1. Draw multiple cards with Common Cause by exploiting tribal synergies in your deck.
  2. Bolster your mana pool and board presence quickly, ideal for ramp strategies.
  3. It demands a discard and has a specific mana cost, limiting some deck designs.

Text of card

Nonartifact creatures get +2/+2 as long as they all share a color.

Mercadia City's troops are at their best when they have no enemy to fight.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: By allowing each player to choose a creature type and draw a card for each permanent they control of that type, Common Cause provides a substantial card draw potential. It’s especially potent in tribal decks which can easily turn this into multiple cards drawn, ensuring you stay ahead or catch up in the resource game.

Resource Acceleration: Common Cause can be a key component in ramp strategies, as it feeds into your mana pool for each creature of the chosen type. This can lead to explosive turns where you can deploy more threats or use the additional resources for crucial utility spells.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Common Cause at instant speed gives you flexibility in your gameplay. You can make strategic decisions based on your opponent’s actions, potentially gaining card or resource advantage at the most opportune moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Common Cause demands players to discard a card, which might deplete an already taxed hand and diminish strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s requirement for a particular blend of mana colors could restrict deck building flexibility and make it less adaptable across various MTG archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher casting cost than some alternative cards offering similar effects, Common Cause might not be the most mana-efficient choice for players aiming to optimize their decks’ performance.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Common Cause is a card that seamlessly integrates into a variety of deck types, particularly those that are creature-focused and benefit from having numerous shared creature types.

Combo Potential: This card is a boon for synergistic play, amplifying power and toughness across your army whenever a shared creature type is declared, setting the stage for powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: As tribal decks wax and wane in popularity, Common Cause retains its relevance, adapting to the ever-shifting landscape of the game and providing a consistent boost in decks that favor creature-based strategies.


How to beat

When facing off against Common Cause in MTG, savvy players recognize the importance of disrupting the card’s cooperative potential. This enchantment thrives on the unity of creature types, magnifying their power and toughness through shared attributes. To effectively counter this, focus on removal spells that can clear multiple creatures at once. Cards like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act capitalize on the closeness of the aligned creatures, turning their strength in numbers against them.

Alternatively, relying on spells like Unsummon or Path to Exile can remove key creatures from your opponent’s battlefield, thus nullifying the Common Cause’s boost and diminishing the threat. It’s also wise to manage the board before the enchantment comes into play. Continuous creature removal will keep the buff under control and make the payoffs for Common Cause meager.

Keep in mind that flexibility in your strategy is crucial when diluting the impact of Common Cause. A versatile deck with a blend of creature control, direct damage, and board wipes can preserve your defenses while you prepare to turn the tide in your favor.


Cards like Common Cause

Exploring the realm of cooperative enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, Common Cause presents an intriguing parallel to cards like Call to the Kindred or Shared Animosity. It promotes a synergy within a tribe, yet Common Cause shines by granting +2/+2 for each creature that shares a type with it. Unlike Call to the Kindred, which allows for putting a creature directly into play, Common Cause focuses solely on bolstering the power and toughness of your creatures on the battlefield.

Another card in the discussion is Door of Destinies, which also involves tribal amplification. However, it builds over time, accumulating charges each time you cast a creature spell of the chosen type. Its strength grows incrementally, contrasting with the immediate impact of Common Cause. Similarly, Vanquisher’s Banner offers a buff and additional card draw, albeit the boost is a fixed +1/+1 and thus, potentially less potent compared to the dynamic increase by Common Cause.

To sum it up, Common Cause is a particularly valuable addition for players seeking an immediate and considerable boost to their tribal decks. It stands out in its capacity to transform an even modest collection of creatures into a significant threat on the fly, outshining several of its counterparts in its potency and straightforward application.

Call to the Kindred - MTG Card versions
Shared Animosity - MTG Card versions
Door of Destinies - MTG Card versions
Vanquisher's Banner - MTG Card versions
Call to the Kindred - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Shared Animosity - Morningtide (MOR)
Door of Destinies - Morningtide (MOR)
Vanquisher's Banner - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)

Cards similar to Common Cause by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - Antiquities (ATQ)
Farmstead - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Cooperation - Ice Age (ICE)
Noble Steeds - Alliances (ALL)
Aura of Silence - The List (PLST)
Empyrial Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Pariah - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Cessation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Arrest - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Glorious Anthem - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Samite Sanctuary - Prophecy (PCY)
Tattoo Ward - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Oblivion Ring - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Cage of Hands - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)
Guardian's Magemark - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Celestial Dawn - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Common Cause MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Common Cause and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Common Cause has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 It really does mean “all creatures”, including your opponent’s.
2004-10-04 The ability gives +2/+2 to all creatures which are not artifact creatures, as long as every one of those creatures is of the same color. They can have additional colors beyond the one they share, but they all have to share one color. If any creature is not of the shared color, the bonus is lost.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks