Stamp of Approval MTG Card


Stamp of Approval - Unstable
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact
Released2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set nameUnstable
Set codeUST
Number160
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byZoltan Boros
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances decks with hand filtration and instant-speed play, providing tactical advantages.
  2. Demands strategic mana and hand resource management, potentially limiting its use.
  3. Wide-ranging utility makes it a versatile addition to any player’s MTG collection.

Text of card

As Stamp of Approval enters the battlefield, choose a watermark. Creatures you control with the chosen watermark get +1/+1.

A truly symbolic advantage.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stamp of Approval enhances your hand by allowing you to sift through your deck, ensuring you have the right tools at the right times. It’s particularly effective in control decks that thrive on having an answer for every situation.

Resource Acceleration: This card provides a significant boost by potentially untapping your lands. It effectively increases your available resources, allowing you to cast more spells or use abilities, thereby speeding up your game plan and outpacing your opponent.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Stamp of Approval operating at instant speed cannot be overstated. This plays perfectly into a strategy that values reactivity, enabling you to adapt to the board state and your opponent’s actions while keeping your mana utilization efficient.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stamp of Approval demands you to discard a card to harness its full potential. Such a stipulation can be detrimental during the late game where every card in hand counts, or when your hand is already depleted, potentially setting you back further against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: The card costs both colored and colorless mana, which could hinder its inclusion in multi-colored decks. Players must have the right mana allocation to play it, which can be challenging in formats where mana bases are stretched between numerous colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Stamp of Approval’s effectiveness is questioned when considered against alternatives. With a casting cost requiring a significant mana investment, players might find other cards that provide similar or better effects at a lower cost, making it less appealing in decks looking for efficiency.


Reasons to Include Stamp of Approval in Your Collection

Versatility: Stamp of Approval is adaptable to various deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on enhancing creatures or relying on permanent buffs.

Combo Potential: It shines in setups that utilize counter proliferation or strategies that benefit from permanent control and incremental advantage.

Meta-Relevance: Given its adaptive playstyle, it remains a solid choice for decks facing an array of opponents, holding its own in diverse meta environments.


How to beat

Stamp of Approval can present a formidable challenge on the battlefield, given its ability to customize creatures with enhanced abilities. At its heart, this card turns an ordinary creature into a significant threat by conferring a chosen ability each turn. The key to outmaneuvering an opponent who wields Stamp of Approval is to disrupt this synergy before it can be fully leveraged.

An effective tactic is to prioritize the removal of creatures that have been targeted by Stamp of Approval. Without a host, the enchantment’s ability becomes null. Direct removal spells or board wipes can be particularly useful in this scenario. Moreover, by applying pressure on your opponent’s resources and keeping their battlefield clear, the impact of Stamp of Approval is greatly diminished, forcing your adversary to revert to a more defensive stance.

Counterspells also serve as an excellent defense against Stamp of Approval, preventing its initial casting. By keeping up mana for a reactive play and carefully choosing when to counter, you can eliminate the threat before it begins. In essence, staying one step ahead and employing timely removal or counters ensures that Stamp of Approval doesn’t seal your fate in a game of MTG.


Cards like Stamp of Approval

Stamp of Approval holds a unique position in Magic: The Gathering’s repertoire of artifact cards. Relatable to the likes of Traveler’s Amulet, Stamp of Approval allows players to manipulate their deck by fetching a land. However, Stamp of Approval stands out with its added flexibility of not being limited to fetching basic lands only. You can optimize your deck’s mana base by securing any type of land card, potentially accelerating your strategy ahead of opponents who are constrained by cards like Traveler’s Amulet.

Similarly to Expedition Map, another staple for land fetching, Stamp of Approval doesn’t restrict land searches to basic types. However, Expedition Map offers a more immediate effect, sacrificing itself to search for the land. Stamp of Approval demands a different strategy, requiring the saved mana to invest in subsequent turns, thereby providing a long-term advantage rather than Expedition Map’s quick fix.

Ultimately, when assessing the utility and application of these card-fetching artifacts, Stamp of Approval distinguishes itself by offering strategic flexibility. This trait enriches gameplay dynamics and opens up a myriad of deck-building possibilities for players seeking to fine-tune their mana base in Magic: The Gathering.

Traveler's Amulet - MTG Card versions
Expedition Map - MTG Card versions
Traveler's Amulet - Innistrad (ISD)
Expedition Map - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Stamp of Approval by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Herald's Horn - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Loxodon Warhammer - Commander Legends (CMR)
Sword of Feast and Famine - Judge Gift Cards 2014 (J14)
Training Drone - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Pristine Talisman - New Phyrexia Promos (PNPH)
Alloy Myr - Jumpstart (JMP)
Guardians of Meletis - Magic Origins (ORI)
Vedalken Shackles - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Herald's Horn - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Manalith - Hour of Devastation (HOU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stamp of Approval MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Stamp of Approval and other MTG cards:

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