Altar of Shadows MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Number	143
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Sam Wood

Key Takeaways

Altar of Shadows offers board control, with creature removal capable of tilting games in your favor.
It acts as a mana ramp, building resources over time to cast game-changing spells earlier.
Instant creature destruction flexibility, usable at end of opponent’s turn without tapping.

Text of card

At the beginning of your precombat main phase, add to your mana pool for each charge counter on Altar of Shadows. , : Destroy target creature. Then put a charge counter on Altar of Shadows.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Altar of Shadows enables you to manipulate the battlefield by potentially removing creatures every turn. By consistently clearing the way, it can pave the path to maintaining board control, indirectly contributing to card advantage as your opponent loses creatures while you keep yours.

Resource Acceleration: Though it comes with a hefty initial mana investment, once active, Altar of Shadows provides a steady ramp by generating mana each turn. This mana generation allows for deploying high-cost spells earlier, enhancing your gameplay by accelerating your resource availability.

Instant Speed: While Altar of Shadows itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to destroy a creature does not require tapping and can be used at the end of your opponent’s turn. This ensures maximum flexibility, allowing you to keep mana open for other responses and using the Altar as a deterrent or a reactive threat eliminator on the fly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Altar of Shadows necessitates sacrificing a creature each turn to fully utilize its potential. This can be a steep price to pay, especially in decks that do not have expendable creatures or strategies emphasizing creature synergies.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires a commitment to {7}, including {7} generic mana, which restricts its immediate playability in diverse mana base decks and delays its activation until the later stages of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of {7} and a subsequent {7} mana for its ability, the Altar may be too costly for what it accomplishes, as there are other, more mana-efficient ways to remove creatures or produce significant late-game impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Altar of Shadows shows its flexibility by fitting into various control and ramp strategies, allowing players to eliminate threats on the board while progressively working toward a significant mana advantage.

Combo Potential: With the ability to accrue charge counters and provide mana, this artifact can synergize with numerous combos, amplifying strategies that rely on large amounts of mana or benefit from the removal of creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Given that recurrent creature-based threats are common in the current meta, Altar of Shadows’ capability to remove creatures every turn can be an essential tool for maintaining board control.

How to beat Altar of Shadows

Altar of Shadows is a unique artifact that stands out in MTG due to its ability to methodically remove threats each turn while gradually setting the stage for an influx of mana. Unlike instant-speed removal, Altar of Shadows requires a buildup of mana through its second ability, which can be a double-edged sword in fast-paced games. Its initial costly investment and subsequent activation fee mean players must judiciously balance their mana expenditure when using it.

To effectively counter Altar of Shadows, strategic acceleration of your board state is key. Implement mana ramp to outpace the activation cost or adopt aggressive strategies that overrun its single target removal capability. Employing enchantment disruption such as Disenchant or Naturalize ensures this looming artifact never fully realize its potential. Furthermore, taking advantage of the turns leading up to its activation can shift the momentum in your favor. Commit to swift creature deployment and maintain pressure, forcing the Altar’s controller to react before gaining an overwhelming mana advantage.

Understanding and preempting the controlled demise pattern Altar of Shadows imposes is the cornerstone to overcoming its influence in a match, ensuring that this powerful artifact does not overshadow your path to victory.

Cards like Altar of Shadows

Altar of Shadows presents a unique addition to the pantheon of mana-generating artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often juxtaposed with mana rocks like Thran Dynamo, which also accelerates mana production. However, Altar of Shadows requires a setup period, incrementally generating charge counters before it becomes a powerhouse of mana utility. Unlike Thran Dynamo, which provides an immediate boost with three colorless mana.

While comparing, we must note that Gilded Lotus is another peer, offering three mana of any one color, but without the destroy creature feature that Altar of Shadows brings to the table. This gives Altar of Shadows an edge in control strategies, fostering both mana development and board presence management. Another similar artifact, Caged Sun, expands mana production while boosting creatures of a chosen color, serving a dual purpose that differs from the targeted removal aspect of Altar of Shadows.

Assessing these options reveals that Altar of Shadows has a strategic advantage in the long game, particularly in commander formats where its repeated creature removal can become game-altering. Its higher mana cost and slower start is balanced by its significant impact in later stages of the game.

Cards similar to Altar of Shadows by color, type and mana cost

Phyrexian Fleshgorger - MTG Card versions

Elbrus, the Binding Blade // Withengar Unbound - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Altar of Shadows MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Altar of Shadows and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Altar of Shadows has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	The precombat main phase is the first main phase of the turn. All others are postcombat main phases, even if they technically occur before combat.
2004-12-01	You put the counter on Altar of Shadows even if the creature regenerates.