Pyxis of Pandemonium MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	220
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Palumbo

Key Takeaways

Capable of creating substantial card advantage, Pyxis may turn the tide of games when strategically used.
Its instant speed activation and unpredictable outcomes make it a potent board disruptor against opponents.
Despite its high activation cost, Pyxis provides exciting combo potential and adapts well to various metagames.

Text of card

: Each player exiles the top card of his or her library face down. , , Sacrifice Pyxis of Pandemonium: Each player turns face up all cards he or she owns exiled with Pyxis of Pandemonium, then puts all permanent cards among them onto the battlefield.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyxis of Pandemonium is capable of building an unseen reservoir of cards that can potentially flood you with a multitude of options when cracked open. This can significantly shift the balance of gameplay in your favor, provided you have the patience and strategy to leverage its reveal.

Resource Acceleration: While Pyxis of Pandemonium doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, it works subtly by exiling cards until the right moment, which can result in a sudden burst of available board presence and utility, essentially bypassing usual casting restrictions.

Instant Speed: The key ability to activate Pyxis of Pandemonium does not require tapping, meaning it can be executed at instant speed. This allows you to initiate its effect at the end of an opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and unprepared for the potential board changes that await.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pyxis of Pandemonium requires a sacrifice of card advantage. When activated, all cards that players own in exile are shuffled into their libraries, which can inadvertently replenish opponents’ resources, often negating the advantage sought.

Specific Mana Cost: Pyxis commands a unique mana cost. While only one generic mana to cast, its ability costs seven and can be prohibitively expensive when aiming to control the pace of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In contrast to other artifact cards that offer immediate or predictable benefits, Pyxis of Pandemonium’s high activation cost makes it a less attractive option for players looking to optimize their mana usage during critical turns of play.

Reasons to Include Pyxis of Pandemonium in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyxis of Pandemonium offers a unique function as it exiles cards facedown, allowing for an unpredictable yet potentially game-changing reveal effect. This unpredictable nature means it can be a fun and flexible addition to numerous decks, fueling strategies centered around mystery and surprise.

Combo Potential: For those who love intricate deck mechanics, Pyxis of Pandemonium has substantial combo potential. It can be paired with cards that manipulate the top of the library, setting up for a massive unveiling of powerful spells or creatures, often turning the tides of a game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with decks that rely on known quantities and well-timed plays, Pyxis of Pandemonium can serve as a wildcard, disrupting opponents’ expectations and strategies. The power lies in its ability to adapt to a variety of metagames, offering strategic depth and an element of surprise against more predictable deck archetypes.

How to Beat

Overcoming the Pyxis of Pandemonium in Magic: The Gathering requires a strategic approach, given its unique ability to shuffle every player’s permanents into their libraries and then put all nonland cards exiled this way onto the battlefield. To counteract the possible tidal wave of effects that could be unleashed upon the cracking of this peculiar artifact, consider employing instant-speed removal or artifact destruction such as Disenchant or Naturalize before the Pyxis’s ability is activated.

Another tactical maneuver is to control your own board and hand, minimizing the potential negative impact on your game. Use hand disruption cards like Thoughtseize to disrupt your opponent’s plans by carefully choosing when and what permanents you deploy. Furthermore, graveyard interaction through cards like Rest in Peace can ensure that any permanents that do get shuffled won’t have a grand encore. Always be mindful of timing. Observing opponent’s behavior can often tip you off to when they might trigger the Pyxis, allowing you to respond accordingly and maintain control of the game.

Mastering the challenge Pyxis of Pandemonium presents can elevate both your game knowledge and ability to predict opponent strategies. By carefully deciding when to use your answers and maintaining awareness of the state of play, you can render this wildcard artifact harmless, securing your footing in the match.

Cards like Pyxis of Pandemonium

Pyxis of Pandemonium treads its own unique path in the world of Magic: The Gathering artifacts. When assessing cards that manipulate libraries and fate, Ghoulcaller’s Bell rings a similar tone, both trickle-milling both players with a simple tap. However, Pyxis of Pandemonium takes a divergent approach, storing cards away for a potential mass reveal that can tilt the game in dramatic fashion.

Another artifact with a comparable feel is Mesmeric Orb, which mills players as they untap, steadily chipping away at decks in a more passive version of chaos. Although both create states of uncertainty, the Pyxis offers a sudden burst of potential with its game-changing activation. Codex Shredder also shares the milling concept with a focus on player choice, as users can target themselves or their opponent, but it lacks the exhilarating release of the Pyxis’s climax.

In essence, while there are several artifacts that dabble in the manipulation and unexpected reveal of cards in Magic: The Gathering, Pyxis of Pandemonium stands apart with its slow build-up leading to an explosive and unpredictable reveal, sewing seeds of pandemonium indeed until its momentous resolution.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyxis of Pandemonium MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Pyxis of Pandemonium and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyxis of Pandemonium has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	If Pyxis of Pandemonium leaves the battlefield, and later another Pyxis of Pandemonium enters the battlefield, it is a new object (even if the two were represented the same card). Cards exiled by the original one can't be turned face up or put onto the battlefield by the second one.
2013-09-15	Neither player can look at cards exiled with Pyxis of Pandemonium until those cards are turned face up.