Opal Champion MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1999-02-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Legacy |
| Set code | ULG |
| Number | 16 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Edward P. Beard, Jr. |
Key Takeaways
- Opal Champion’s instant speed and card advantage offer tactical play and hand flexibility in matches.
- Demands specific mana and possibly a card discard, which could limit deck compatibility and pose risks.
- However, its resilience and combo potential make it a versatile pick for diverse MTG deck strategies.
Text of card
When one of your opponents successfully casts a creature spell, if Opal Champion is an enchantment, Opal Champion becomes a 3/3 creature with first strike that counts as a Knight.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Opal Champion allows players to potentially gain card superiority by drawing additional cards during play, essential for enhancing hand flexibility and increasing strategic options.
Resource Acceleration: This card can provide a noticeable boost in resource management by granting additional mana or other valuable in-game resources, equipping players with the necessary tools to execute powerful plays ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Opal Champion at instant speed gives players the tactical advantage of responding to opponents’ actions in real-time, improving the element of surprise and allowing for defensive maneuvers that could be pivotal in the outcome of a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Opal Champion’s entry onto the battlefield may hinge on a discard mechanic. Such an effect requires players to forfeit a card from their hand, leading to potential card disadvantage. This situation can be precarious when your hand is already dwindling, and making the right choice on what to discard can be complex and sometimes detrimental to your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Crafting a deck that accommodates the Opal Champion entails precise mana planning. This card demands a particular spread of mana colors, possibly forcing players to adjust their decks significantly to harness its full potential. Decks that don’t align with this requirement may find Opal Champion challenging to cast, hence diminishing its overall utility in various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a more substantial mana cost attributed to its capabilities, Opal Champion competes with other cards in its mana range. Players might contemplate whether the card’s impact justifies its mana expenditure, especially when alternatives can provide similar or better effects with lesser investment, thereby optimizing in-game efficiency.
Reasons to Include Opal Champion in Your Collection
Versatility: Opal Champion is a card that can be easily slotted into various deck archetypes. Its condition to transform and become a creature lends itself to decks that have a strategy to control the board state and maintain a high number of permanents.
Combo Potential: This card shines in synergistic environments where it contributes to the theme of go-wide strategies. It can become an asset in decks that capitalize on turning noncreature permanents into creatures, or in those seeking to benefit from creature-related triggers and effects.
Meta-Relevance: Considering that MTG’s dynamic meta often fluctuates, Opal Champion has the potential to be quite formidable in metas where permanent-heavy decks are prevalent. Its ability to become a creature without casting cost provides a resilient threat that can dodge conventional removal, giving it relevance in various competitive settings.
How to beat
Overcoming Opal Champion can be a strategic challenge for any Magic: The Gathering player. This card morphs into a formidable creature once the condition of controlling three or more artifacts is met. The transition from a simple enchantment into an aggressive 4/4 creature with first strike is a game-changer, making Opal Champion not just a defensive wall but also a significant offensive threat.
Addressing this threat requires preemptive actions. Artifact removal spells are highly effective, as decreasing the number of artifacts on the battlefield can prevent the transformation altogether. Alternatively, readying removal spells that can target Opal Champion after it becomes a creature can mitigate the threat. Instant-speed removal is key, as the first strike ability gives Opal Champion an advantage in combat. Board wipes are another solution, as they can reset the state of play, along with countering the card outright to ensure it never hits the field.
Winning against an opponent utilizing Opal Champion involves a mix of foresight and timely responses. Disrupting artifact synergy or efficiently dealing with the Champion itself can turn the tide in your favor, tipping the scales towards victory.
Cards like Opal Champion
Opal Champion closely resembles cards in MTG that turn seemingly innocent permanents into potential game-changers. Similar to Guardian of the Guildpact, which offers protection from monocolored, Opal Champion gains protection from everything when enchanted or equipped. However, Opal Champion remains a land until certain criteria are met, unlike the Guardian that’s always a creature.
Knight of the White Orchid is another card that can be compared. While the Knight fetches a land when you’re behind, the Opal Champion offers resilience, becoming a creature that’s hard to remove once transformed. Its similarity to Loyal Sentry is also apparent; they both become formidable blockers, but the Opal Champion has an additional evasion against all colors and abilities once it’s a creature.
Evaluating these cards, Opal Champion stands out for its versatility and endurance in the long game. While not initially a creature, its potential to become an unassailable asset on the battlefield gives it a unique edge in strategic decks of MTG that capitalize on transformation.
Cards similar to Opal Champion by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Opal Champion MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Opal Champion and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Opal Champion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Opal Champion 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 | It changes into a creature even if the spell is countered. |
| 2004-10-04 | It triggers when the spell is cast, so it becomes a creature before the spell resolves. A creature that would destroy an enchantment when it enters the battlefield can’t be used to destroy this card, since it will no longer be an enchantment when the creature enters the battlefield. |
| 2004-10-04 | When it turns into a creature, it is no longer an enchantment. |
| 2008-04-01 | A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells. |
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |
