Transluminant MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 186
2024-02-23 - Number 177
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dryad Shaman |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Generating 1/1 flying Spirit tokens helps maintain board presence and applies persistent pressure on your opponent.
- Instant speed sacrifice of Transluminant provides flexibility, making it useful for reacting to unexpected threats or plays.
- Transluminant’s ability to synergize with various mechanics enhances resource acceleration and strategic deck building.
Text of card
, Sacrifice Transluminant: Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play at end of turn.
"Forget yourself. Forget your city. Forget your homes, your families, the debts and obligations that hold you to this world."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Transluminant, every time it’s sacrificed, it creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. This not only offsets the loss of the card on the field but enhances your board presence. It’s an effective way to keep pressure on the opponent while maintaining your assets.
Resource Acceleration: Transluminant can act as a form of resource acceleration in decks that benefit from creature tokens. By providing consistent token generation, it can synergize with mechanics like Convoke or other spells and abilities that leverage creature numbers, translating to accelerated gameplay and strategic advantage.
Instant Speed: One of Transluminant’s key features is its ability to sacrifice at instant speed, allowing for a flexible response to your opponent’s moves. Utilize this during an opponent’s end step to maximize your next turn’s plays or in response to removal, ensuring you always gain something back for your card investment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When casting Transluminant, players must discard another card, which is not always optimal. This can hinder hand management and deplete critical resources, especially if you’re tight on play options.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires green and white mana to cast, making it exclusively suitable for decks that can consistently produce these colors. Players with decks not aligned with these colors will find Transluminant inflexible and potentially a dead card in hand.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the need for both green and white mana, Transluminant’s cost may be considered high relative to its impact on the game. In fast-paced matches, the mana could potentially be allocated toward more impactful spells or creatures, increasing your overall board presence and strategic leverage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Transluminant is a card that can seamlessly fit into decks that use creature-based strategies or those focusing on using the graveyard. Its ability to create a spirit token when sacrificed makes it a flexible choice for various game situations.
Combo Potential: When combined with cards that capitalize on creature death or token generation, Transluminant can become a key piece in powerful synergies. Whether it’s enhancing sacrifice outlets or building up forces for an overwhelming assault, this card has plenty of potential.
Meta-Relevance: Given a meta where tokens and recurring creatures play a significant role, Transluminant’s ability to both contribute to the board presence and offer a recurring threat makes it a noteworthy card to consider for inclusion in your lineup.
How to beat
Transluminant is a unique utility creature within MTG, offering a dual role in both defense and board presence. Its capability to leave behind a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying upon death makes it a resilient threat that requires strategic handling. Notably, a simple strategy against this card entails graveyard disruption. Cards such as Relic of Progenitus can prevent the token generation by exiling Transluminant from the game altogether.
Direct removal isn’t always the best course of action against a card like Transluminant. Instead, focus on sweepers like Wrath of God, which bypass the death trigger, preventing the token creation. Enchantment-based removals can also lockdown Transluminant without sending it to the graveyard; think along the lines of Oblivion Ring or Banishing Light, trapping it away from potential trigger activations.
Tactical consideration is crucial when facing Transluminant. Timing your removals and choosing the right methods to circumvent its lingering effects can ultimately tip the scales in your favor. Considering these approaches, your gameplay can adapt and prevail against the multifaceted challenges presented by Transluminant in your MTG matches.
Cards like Transluminant
Transluminant is a unique entry into the creature pool of Magic: The Gathering, inviting comparisons to other cards that offer more than just battlefield presence. With its ability to provide a 2/2 flying Spirit token upon demise, it shares a kinship with Doomed Traveler, which also leaves behind a flying Spirit. However, Transluminant requires green mana and an additional sacrifice to activate, unlike the self-reliant Doomed Traveler.
Maalfeld Twins presents another point of comparison. Upon its departure, you’re granted not one but two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens. While the Twins offer a higher token count, Transluminant offers the advantage of flying capabilities with its tokens. Sakura-Tribe Elder, often lauded for its land ramp ability, bears similarity in its sacrifice mechanic but diverges in purpose, focusing on mana acceleration over offensive presence.
Considering the strategic play of creatures that leave something behind, Transluminant takes a spot for those looking for aerial token generation post-sacrifice. It’s this blend of versatility and sacrifice synergy that allows Transluminant to carve out its own identity among MTG’s creature cards.
Cards similar to Transluminant by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Transluminant MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Ravnica: Clue 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 Transluminant 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Transluminant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 186 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 2 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 177 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Transluminant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Transluminant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-10-01 | If you use this ability during a turn’s end phase, the chance to put “at end of turn”-triggered abilities on the stack has passed. You won’t get the Spirit creature token until the beginning of the next end step. |
