Planar Portal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Planar Portal grants tailored access to your deck, providing a substantial strategic advantage.
  2. It enables mana efficiency, particularly when used during an opponent’s turn.
  3. The card’s instant speed activation keeps you versatile and responsive in game.

Text of card

o6, oc T: Search your library for a card and put that card into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

The sky split, and the air crackled and roiled. The Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria had finally begun.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delving into the depths of the multiverse, the Planar Portal card shines by providing access to an extensive library of resources. The card’s ability to search your library for any card, then shuffle and put that card into your hand means you can tailor your hand for the coming turns, staying steps ahead of your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Planar Portal aids in vaulting ahead by streamlining mana investment. By setting up turns where you can utilize mana to fetch the perfect response or threat, the card aligns your game strategy with your available resources, placing you on an expedited path to victory.

Instant Speed: The influential power of instant speed cannot be understated with this card. It permits a tactical edge by allowing you to utilize your mana efficiently during the end step of your opponent’s turn. This facilitates keeping your options open whilst still progressing your own board state when the time is right, never forfeiting tempo.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles when playing Planar Portal is that activating its ability necessitates discarding a card. This cost can set players back, particularly in tight game situations where every card in hand is a valuable asset.

Specific Mana Cost: To get the most out of Planar Portal, you’ll need access to a diverse mana base. The activation cost requires black mana, which might not always be readily available, especially in multicolored decks that don’t heavily feature black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing six mana to cast Planar Portal is a significant commitment of resources. Considering that many games can be won or dramatically swayed by powerful plays in the mid-game, the high upfront cost might delay crucial plays or leave you open to more aggressive strategies.


Reasons to Include Planar Portal in Your Collection

Versatility: The Planar Portal card provides a consistent way to access key components of your deck, offering a significant advantage in nearly any game situation whether you’re seeking a precise answer or a powerful threat.

Combo Potential: This card can be a cornerstone in a combo deck, enabling you to fetch the necessary pieces to execute your winning strategy with unerring accuracy, turn after turn.

Meta-Relevance: As the competitive environment shifts, Planar Portal can adapt by targeting the most effective cards against prevalent deck types, keeping your strategy relevant and dynamic.


How to beat

Planar Portal is a unique Magic: The Gathering artifact that offers players a powerful ability to consistently fetch any card from their library at a steep activation cost. But as with all things in MTG, there are ways to outmaneuver this tool of inevitability. You can shut down Planar Portal by targeting it with artifact destruction spells or using counter magic to prevent it from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Cards that strip an opponent’s hand of resources, like Thoughtseize or Duress, can disrupt their plans before the Portal ever becomes a threat.

Another effective strategy against Planar Portal is applying pressure. Speeding up your board presence compels your opponent to answer to your threats rather than investing mana into the Portal’s ability. Should Planar Portal become active, focusing on direct disruption through abilities that can exile or take control of an opponent’s artifacts might save the game. Moreover, turning the tables with cards like Phyrexian Revoker or Pithing Needle can nullify the Portal’s power, preventing its activation entirely. Ultimately, with the right deck construction and in-game tactics, overcoming the potency of Planar Portal is entirely within reach.


Cards like Planar Portal

Planar Portal offers players a unique way to search for key cards in the Magic: The Gathering universe. This artifact bears resemblance to another powerful tutor card, Ring of Three Wishes, which also allows you to search your library for a card. The catch with Ring of Three Wishes is its limitation to just three uses, whereas Planar Portal can be reused indefinitely, provided you pay the activation cost each time. However, Planar Portal comes with a heftier six mana initial casting cost, compared to Ring of Three Wishes’ five.

We also have Diabolic Tutor in our discussions, a much more affordable card with a fixed cost of four mana. It targets those desiring a straightforward search without the recurring benefit. While it lacks the repeatability of Planar Portal, its efficiency for a one-time use can’t be overlooked. There’s also the newer Introduction to Prophecy from the Strixhaven set which, despite being less flexible, offers a cheaper alternative for players seeking to manipulate their decks.

Ultimately, Planar Portal stands out in magical strategy for its unlimited tutoring potential. With the proper mana resources, it enables a consistency that other single-use options simply can’t match, making it a powerful asset for those who aim to dominate through meticulous deck manipulation.

Ring of Three Wishes - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Introduction to Prophecy - MTG Card versions
Ring of Three Wishes - Magic 2014 (M14)
Diabolic Tutor - Odyssey (ODY)
Introduction to Prophecy - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)

Cards similar to Planar Portal by color, type and mana cost

Clockwork Beast - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Armageddon Clock - MTG Card versions
Mirror Universe - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Ages - MTG Card versions
Planar Gate - MTG Card versions
Urza's Avenger - MTG Card versions
Bronze Tablet - MTG Card versions
Celestial Sword - MTG Card versions
Joven's Tools - MTG Card versions
Serpent Generator - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Sculpture - MTG Card versions
Workhorse - MTG Card versions
Well of Discovery - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Hulk - MTG Card versions
Wurmcoil Engine - MTG Card versions
Brass Herald - MTG Card versions
Mirror Golem - MTG Card versions
Razor Golem - MTG Card versions
Mycosynth Lattice - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Triskelion - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Armageddon Clock - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mirror Universe - Legends (LEG)
Sword of the Ages - Legends (LEG)
Planar Gate - Legends (LEG)
Urza's Avenger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Bronze Tablet - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Celestial Sword - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Joven's Tools - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Serpent Generator - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Sculpture - Tempest (TMP)
Workhorse - The List (PLST)
Well of Discovery - Prophecy (PCY)
Phyrexian Hulk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wurmcoil Engine - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Brass Herald - Commander Legends (CMR)
Mirror Golem - Mirrodin (MRD)
Razor Golem - Darksteel (DST)
Mycosynth Lattice - Battlebond (BBD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Planar Portal MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Eighth Edition, 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 Planar Portal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Planar Portal Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 3081997normalblackMark Tedin
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 311★2003normalblackMark Tedin
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 3112003normalwhiteMark Tedin
42020-09-26The ListPLST INV-3081997normalblackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Planar Portal has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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