Chromatic Lantern MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 24 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Lantern upgrades mana bases, allowing you to cast spells across any colors, enhancing hand versatility.
  2. It’s an essential combo piece, vital for activating abilities and enabling multicolor game-changing spells.
  3. Beware of potential targeting as opponents may disrupt your mana flow by removing the Lantern.

Text of card

Lands you control have ": Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." : Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.

Dimir mages put the lanterns to good use, creating shapeshifters and sleeper agents from mana foreign to them.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Chromatic Lantern not only bolsters your mana base but also ensures you can effortlessly cast spells of any color, keeping your hand versatile and less constrained by a single color’s mana restrictions.

Resource Acceleration: Immediate access to an additional mana of any color can propel your game forward faster, often allowing you to deploy threats or answers ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: While the Chromatic Lantern itself is not an instant, its ability to supply mana of any color equips you with the capacity to react at instant speed with a wider array of spells in your arsenal without worrying about having the correct colors of mana available.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Chromatic Lantern offers a significant boost in mana flexibility, players should be aware that possessing such an artifact might make it a prime target for discard effects. Opponents’ strategies that force discarding can indirectly pressure your resources, as you may need to protect or potentially lose the Lantern to such tactics.

Specific Mana Cost: The Chromatic Lantern itself has a specific mana requirement for casting, needing three generic mana. This cost dictates that the card is likely to be played in mid-game, thus isn’t conducive to early game strategies and may not align with decks designed for a quick launch.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In some game situations, the cost of the Chromatic Lantern can be seen as steep. Though it provides a mana advantage in the long run, players may find the initial three mana investment to be a hindrance compared to other mana rocks or ramp options that are lower in cost but offer immediate benefits or come with additional advantages.


Reasons to Include Chromatic Lantern in Your Collection

Versatility: Chromatic Lantern offers unparalleled mana fixing capabilities, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into multicolored decks. It ensures your lands can produce mana of any color, opening up the possibility to play spells from across the color spectrum without worrying about the mana base.

Combo Potential: This artifact is a lynchpin in numerous combo strategies as it not only fixes mana but also can be tapped itself for mana of any color. This flexibility can be crucial for activating abilities of permanents or casting high-cost cards that can tip the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that is diverse with multi-color decks or where games tend to stretch into the long game, Chromatic Lantern can be critical. It allows for smoother gameplay and helps cast impactful spells on time, regardless of the color requirements, making it a utility player in many competitive formats.


How to Beat Chromatic Lantern

Chromatic Lantern is a versatile artifact in MTG that enables players to tap lands for mana of any color. This capacity to fix mana can be a great advantage, especially in multi-colored decks. To effectively neutralize the Lantern’s impact, targeting this artifact directly can be key. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant allow for quick removal, ensuring mana flow returns to its normal restrictions.

Other strategies include countering it upon cast using spells like Negate or keeping the board clear of artifacts with recurring destruction through cards like By Force or Vandalblast. It’s also beneficial to keep pressure on the Lantern’s controller, forcing them to decide between using it for mana or other purposes. Preventing the Lantern from hitting the table with hand disruption techniques, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can also be very effective.

Ultimately, staying agile and adaptive to the Lantern’s presence while using targeted removal or disruption can minimize its advantage and maintain the natural balance of the mana base to tip the scales in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG gameplay involves understanding the power of key artifacts like Chromatic Lantern. As we’ve dissected the card’s pros and cons and explored its utility in diverse decks, you now possess the insight needed to make informed decisions. Capitalizing on its mana fixing or countering it effectively can be pivotal in your matches. Whether boosting your own strategy or disrupting opponents, the knowledge gained here empowers you to make each move count. Dive deeper into strategies and elevate your game with thoughtful deckbuilding. Discover how Chromatic Lantern and other elusive cards can redefine your approach and lead you to victory.


Cards like Chromatic Lantern

Chromatic Lantern stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an essential mana-fixing artifact. Comparable to cards like Coalition Relic, which also provides a rainbow of color options, the Lantern eclipses it with its ability to grant all your lands the capacity to generate any color mana. While the Relic adds a charge counter aspect to your mana pool management, Chromatic Lantern simplifies the process, making all lands more versatile without the need for counters.

In the realm of mana artifacts, another parallel can be drawn with Darksteel Ingot. Like Chromatic Lantern, it’s indestructible and can be used for mana of any color. However, the Ingot doesn’t affect lands, which limits its overall utility compared to the Lantern’s comprehensive influence. Mana Confluence is an interesting land to consider alongside Lantern, as it also allows access to any color mana, but at the cost of life—thus presenting a downside not found with Chromatic Lantern.

Considering the broadened mana accessibility it offers, Chromatic Lantern clearly excels within mana-fixing artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. Its application is fundamental in multicolor decks, making it a sought-after piece for players needing reliable and expansive color options.

Coalition Relic - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Ingot - MTG Card versions
Mana Confluence - MTG Card versions
Coalition Relic - Future Sight (FUT)
Darksteel Ingot - Arena League 2004 (PAL04)
Mana Confluence - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

Cards similar to Chromatic Lantern by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Stone - MTG Card versions
Gem of Becoming - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Sunglasses of Urza - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Ebony Horse - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Arena of the Ancients - Chronicles (CHR)
Bösium Strip - Weatherlight (WTH)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Static Orb - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Wall of Spears - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Vedalken Shackles - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Oblivion Stone - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Gem of Becoming - Magic 2013 (M13)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chromatic Lantern MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Kaladesh Inventions, 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 Chromatic Lantern and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chromatic Lantern Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 7 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 2262003normalblackJung Park
22016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 82015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
32016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2472015normalblackJung Park
42018-10-05Guilds of Ravnica PromosPGRN 233p2015normalblackJung Park
52018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2332015normalblackJung Park
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15592015normalblackJung Park
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2022015normalblackCaramelaw
82020-09-26The ListPLST RTR-2262003normalblackJung Park
92020-09-26The ListPLST GRN-2332015normalblackJung Park
102022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2322015normalblackAnton Solovianchyk
112022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 232★2015normalblackAnton Solovianchyk
122022-11-18The Brothers' War Art SeriesABRO 572015art_seriesborderless
132022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 101997normalblackJung Park
142022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 73z1997normalblackBen Hill
152022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 731997normalblackBen Hill
162023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1272015normalblackJung Park
172023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 512003normalblackJung Park
182023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2752015normalblackIgnis Bruno
192023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3762015normalblackJung Park
202023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6022015normalblackJung Park
212024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2532015normalblackJung Park
222024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3901997normalblackJung Park
232024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 390z2015normalblackJung Park
242024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4422015normalborderlessDai-XT

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chromatic Lantern has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-10-05 Lands you control won't lose any other abilities they had. They also won't gain or lose any land types.

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