Triskelion MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage: Triskelion disrupts opponents by removing multiple key creatures without extra card usage.
  2. Flexibility in play: Its damage-dealing ability can be used during any game phase, making it strategically dynamic.
  3. Combination potential: Famous for infinite damage combos, Triskelion enhances its utility in various deck builds.

Text of card

Triskelion gets three +1/+1 counters when cast. Controller may discard a +1/+1 counter at any time to do 1 damage to any target.

A brainchild of Tawnos, the Triskelion proved its versatility and usefulness in many of the later battles between the brothers.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Triskelion offers a unique form of card advantage by eliminating multiple key creatures on the board without spending additional cards. This can potentially disrupt the opponent’s gameplay and preserve the cards in your hand for further strategies.

Resource Acceleration: As a standalone artifact creature, Triskelion doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration in the traditional sense of ramping mana. However, its presence on the battlefield often demands answers from opponents, potentially diverting resources that could otherwise accelerate their own game plan.

Instant Speed: While Triskelion itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to remove counters and deal damage can be activated anytime you have priority. This means you can effectively control the battlefield during any phase of the game, including your opponent’s turn, making it a formidable and flexible asset in many situations.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Triskelion doesn’t directly require a card to be discarded, it’s essential to consider that using its ability without a strategy can lead to a disadvantageous board state, equivalent to a loss of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Triskelion’s six mana cost, with no color restrictions, means that although it can fit into any deck, it can also compete with other high-impact cards in your deck’s curve, potentially slowing your game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For six mana, Triskelion enters the battlefield with the ability to remove up to three counters to deal damage. However, in a game where efficiency is key, there are other creatures or spells that might offer more immediate impact or versatility for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Triskelion in Your Collection

Versatility: Triskelion is a flexible card that can be a valuable addition to numerous deck archetypes. As an artifact creature, it slots in easily with artifact synergies and works well in counter-based strategies.

Combo Potential: Triskelion is notorious for its ability to create infinite damage combos with cards like Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. The ability to remove counters to deal damage provides a versatile combo outlet that can close games swiftly.

Meta-Relevance: The card’s ability to interact with creatures on the board by dealing damage directly aligns well with creature-heavy metas. Its presence can sway the tide of battle in your favor while keeping opposing threats at bay.


How to beat

Triskelion is a notable artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering that can be quite the puzzle for players facing it across the table. With its ability to remove +1/+1 counters to directly deal damage, Triskelion can disrupt an opponent’s strategy by picking off smaller creatures or even finishing a player off. However, cards like Dismember or Fatal Push can effectively remove it before it becomes a threat, given its reliance on counters to function. Similarly, instant-speed removal spells like Path to Exile can exile Triskelion, nullifying its impact and preventing any potential damage.

An alternative strategy against Triskelion involves using enchantments like Pacifism, which neutralize it as a threat while not removing it from the battlefield. This strategy can be particularly effective in a game where keeping creature counts high can be detrimental to your opponent, due to cards like Thalia’s Lieutenant or Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite in play. Furthermore, countering Triskelion’s casting itself with spells like Negate or Mana Leak can pre-emptively address the problem before it starts.

Hence, understanding when to neutralize Triskelion and efficiently managing removal resources is key to maintaining control over the game and ensuring that this formidable creature does not tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

The multifaceted abilities of Triskelion can undoubtedly enhance your MTG gameplay, strategically disrupting opponents and sculpting the battlefield to your advantage. Whether you are looking to fine-tune your deck’s mechanics or seeking a keystone artifact creature, Triskelion offers a plethora of strategic options to explore. While considering its potential and versatility, it’s also crucial to understand its placement in the broader context of the MTG metagame. We invite you to continue your exploration of MTG’s in-depth strategies and to consider including Triskelion in your collection for that extra edge in gameplay. Immerse yourself in the complex dynamics of deck building and discover how Triskelion could be your path to victory.


Cards like Triskelion

Triskelion stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful artifact creature that provides versatile utility and impact on the battlefield. This card is often compared to its kindred artifact creature, Walking Ballista. Both cards allow players to remove counters to deal direct damage to any target. The distinct advantage of Walking Ballista is its scalability, as it can be cast for any amount of mana and subsequently grow. Triskelion, in contrast, arrives as a fixed presence with three charge counters, regardless of the mana invested.

Another card that echoes Triskelion’s functionality is Hangarback Walker. It thrives on accumulating counters; however, its ability is more defensive, creating Thopter tokens upon death rather than dealing damage outright. Unlike Triskelion, it cannot deal damage directly, but provides extensive board presence post-mortem. Lastly, there’s Arcbound Ravager, which offers an aggressive A +B combo potential. It sacrifices artifacts to grow and, like Triskelion, can be a game-ending threat but through combat rather than direct damage.

These comparisons highlight how Triskelion, despite being among the older MTG cards, maintains its relevancy in a variety of strategies, showcasing its intrinsic value as a flexible and immediate source of damage or removal within the game.

Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Hangarback Walker - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Ravager - MTG Card versions
Walking Ballista - Aether Revolt (AER)
Hangarback Walker - Love Your LGS (PLGS)
Arcbound Ravager - Darksteel (DST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Triskelion MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Fourth 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 Triskelion and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Triskelion Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 731993normalblackDouglas Shuler
21995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3541993normalwhiteDouglas Shuler
31995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3541993normalblackDouglas Shuler
41995-08-01RinascimentoRIN 1421993normalblackDouglas Shuler
51995-08-01RenaissanceREN 1621993normalblackDouglas Shuler
62003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2692003normalblackChristopher Moeller
72010-07-16Magic 2011M11 2182003normalblackChristopher Moeller
82020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 1152003normalblackChristopher Moeller
92020-09-26The ListPLST M11-2182003normalblackChristopher Moeller
102023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4522015normalborderlessPete Venters
112023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3891997normalblackCarl Critchlow
122023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2362015normalblackCarl Critchlow
132023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 3872015normalblackChristopher Moeller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Triskelion has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2022-12-08 If Triskelion has damage marked on it, activating its ability may cause that damage to become lethal. For example, say a Triskelion with two +1/+1 counters on it has been dealt 2 damage earlier in the turn. If you activate its ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, it now has 2 toughness and is destroyed as a state-based action. You won’t be able to remove the other +1/+1 counter from it to activate its ability again. The first activation of the ability will still resolve.
2022-12-08 If you activate the ability of an attacking or blocking Triskelion during the declare blockers step, it will deal less combat damage as a result. If you wait until the combat damage step, but Triskelion is dealt lethal damage, it’ll be destroyed before you get a chance to activate its ability.

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