Corridor Monitor MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 1
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Corridor Monitor provides pseudo card advantage by untapping creatures or artifacts, enhancing flexibility in gameplay.
  2. Its ability to free up mana and untap key cards accelerates resources and ramps up your game plan.
  3. Acts similarly to instant speed, enabling surprise strategies and adding a versatile dimension to your plays.

Text of card

When Corridor Monitor enters the battlefield, untap target artifact or creature you control.

Castle Vantress has no locks on its doors, but interlopers rarely make it past the foyer.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Corridor Monitor gives you an edge. When it enters the battlefield, it untaps an artifact or creature you control creating a sort of pseudo card advantage. You can be more flexible with your moves, tapping cards for their abilities or to attack, knowing you can get them back online. This lets you maintain or gain card advantage in a match.

Resource Acceleration: This little card works overtime, offering resource acceleration as it eases the strain on your mana pool. When triggered, it allows you to untap a key creature or artifact, freeing it up for reuse. It’s a hidden gem that gives you an upper hand, accelerating your resources to ramp up your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Corridor Monitor isn’t technically at instant speed, it can imitate it with some clever play. Deploying Monitor can act similar to an instant, unlocking a tapped creature or artifact for a surprise move on your opponent’s turn. This feature adds an extra dimension to this card, making it a versatile tool in your arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One major drawback of Corridor Monitor is that it imposes a discard requirement. This can be unfavorable, especially when you’re running low on cards, hindering your ability to exploit the untapping feature of Corridor Monitor to its fullest capacity.

Specific Mana Cost: Corridor Monitor’s specific mana cost requires two, which includes one blue mana. This peculiar cost can hamper its incorporation in a diverse range of decks. Decks without blue mana, in particular, won’t be able to use this card at all, thus limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Another disadvantage is its comparably high mana cost. Two mana for a 1/4 artifact creature that merely untaps another permanent may be deemed uneconomical. There exist other cards in the market that potentially afford more utility at a lower or equal cost. Therefore, some Mtg players opt for those alternatives rather than Corridor Monitor.


Reasons to Include Corridor Monitor in Your Collection

Versatility: Corridor Monitor is a versatile card that effortlessly fits into many deck types. As a creature with low casting cost, it can serve as early game defense while also providing utility to decks relying on enter-the-battlefield triggers.

Combo Potential: Corridor Monitor shines in terms of combo potential. Its ability to untap another target artifact or creature opens the door for many combo possibilities, essentially enabling and enhancing strategies revolving around repeated artifact or creature utilisation.

Meta-Relevance: In the current prevailing meta where using artifacts and high-value creatures is prevalent, Corridor Monitor holds significant relevance. This card’s ability to untap a key piece can give players an edge, making it a valuable inclusion in the meta.


How to Beat

Corridor Monitor is a notorious card in Magic: The Gathering, known for granting an additional untap phase, which can be pivotal in MTG. In essence, it’s similar to cards like Dramatic Reversal, renowned for untapping artifacts and creatures, creating numeral strategic possibilities. Yet, Corridor Monitor is distinctive due to its unique trait of targeting a specific artifact or creature.

A strategic counter could be Solutions from Pramikon, Sky Rampart; the mini-expansion box-set based card which forces your opponent to determine their attack direction. Alternatively, consider effects like Supplant Form that unexpectedly returns a creature to its owner’s hand and creates a token to take its place.

Another efficient way to halt Corridor Monitor’s impact is Leyline of Singularity. Once this card is in play, all nonland permanents become unique, disrupting combo strategies based on multiple instances of the same card. It lucidly inhibits the Monitor’s untap capabilities, disrupting your opponent’s strategy.

Through meticulous assessment of attribute values and alternatives, opt for counter strategies that emphasize restricting Corridor Monitor’s untap ability, leading to a strategic advantage in your Magic: The Gathering gameplay.


BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG enthusiasts, we recognize how Corridor Monitor can tweak your gameplay. This artifact creature lends itself to intriguing deck dynamics and can be a key piece in your MTG strategies. Whether it’s the cornerstone of a combo or just providing value through its unique untapping ability, Corridor Monitor is worthy of contemplation for your collection. Reflecting on its pros and cons, along with its competitive edge in certain metas, it has the potential to shift the tide of any match. Dive deeper with us as we explore the synergy, deck utility, and creative tactics that Corridor Monitor can enable in your MTG endeavors.


Cards like Corridor Monitor

Corridor Monitor is an intriguing inclusion in the Magic: The Gathering universe. This amiable little artifact creature, akin to cards like Man-o’-War and Reflector Mage, engages well in decks supporting ‘enter the battlefield’ triggers and untap synergies. Still, Corridor Monitor distinguishes itself with its particular trait – the ability to untap another target artifact or creature when it enters the battlefield.

Compare it to Man-o’-War, which also brings a special effect upon entering the battlefield, but it requires a target creature to return to its owner’s hand. Additionally, Reflector Mage also has an ‘enter the battlefield’ effect, returning a target creature an opponent controls to its owner’s hand, and restricting that creature from being cast until the next turn. However, they don’t have the tap-interaction that Corridor Monitor possesses.

Finally, rewarded with Emry, Lurker of the Loch, another similar card, it enjoys not only corridor Monitor’s untapping ability for Emry’s activated ability but also gets a particular interactions with artifacts. All individually carve their niches, but in an artifact-centric deck, Corridor Monitor’s unique interaction proves hugely impactful and situational based on deck strategy and gameplay.

Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Reflector Mage - MTG Card versions
Emry, Lurker of the Loch - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - Visions (VIS)
Reflector Mage - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Emry, Lurker of the Loch - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)

Cards similar to Corridor Monitor by color, type and mana cost

Sky Diamond - MTG Card versions
Imposter Mech - MTG Card versions
The Reality Chip - MTG Card versions
Cosima, God of the Voyage // The Omenkeel - MTG Card versions
Silver Myr - MTG Card versions
Neurok Stealthsuit - MTG Card versions
Courier's Capsule - MTG Card versions
Etherium Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Gust-Skimmer - MTG Card versions
Spellskite - MTG Card versions
Glassblower's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions
Wall of Fortune - MTG Card versions
Silent Submersible - MTG Card versions
Vantress Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Folio of Fancies - MTG Card versions
Mystery Key - MTG Card versions
Parcel Myr - MTG Card versions
Winged Boots - MTG Card versions
Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit - MTG Card versions
Armguard Familiar - MTG Card versions
Sky Diamond - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Imposter Mech - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
The Reality Chip - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
Cosima, God of the Voyage // The Omenkeel - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Silver Myr - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
Neurok Stealthsuit - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)
Courier's Capsule - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Etherium Sculptor - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Gust-Skimmer - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Spellskite - Double Masters (2XM)
Glassblower's Puzzleknot - Kaladesh (KLD)
Wall of Fortune - Unsanctioned (UND)
Silent Submersible - War of the Spark Promos (PWAR)
Vantress Gargoyle - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Folio of Fancies - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Mystery Key - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Parcel Myr - Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
Winged Boots - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Armguard Familiar - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Corridor Monitor MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Double Masters, 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 Corridor Monitor and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Corridor Monitor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Jason Felix.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 412015normalblackJason Felix
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 462015normalblackJason Felix

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Corridor Monitor has restrictions

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

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks