Ankh of Mishra MTG Card


Indirect card advantage occurs as opponents take damage from land plays, possibly deterring further board development. Speeds up games by targeting slower decks, favoring aggressive strategies with its persistent effect. Effective at all times without further mana or stack usage, the Ankh remains a ceaseless opponent threat.
Card setsReleased in 16 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Text of card

Ankh does 2 damage to anyone who puts a new land into play.


Cards like Ankh of Mishra

The Ankh of Mishra holds a unique position in Magic: The Gathering as a punishing artifact against land plays. It shares similarities with Zo-Zu the Punisher, a creature that also inflicts pain on opponents when they decide to expand their mana base. Both share the landfall punishment concept, but Ankh of Mishra remains out of reach from most creature removals.

Dingus Egg is another card that echoes the detrimental effects on land, yet it waits patiently to activate its damage upon a land’s demise, contrasting with Ankh of Mishra’s immediate retribution during land entry. There’s also Manabarbs, which extends the pain to any land tapped for mana, broadening the scope of punishment every turn beyond the initial play. Despite these differences, each card serves a strategic role in controlling the pace of the game by taxing the foundational moves of all players.

Upon comparison, Ankh of Mishra carves itself a niche of simplicity, efficiency, and immediate board impact, contributing to MTG games by introducing consistent, unavoidable damage, thus shaping how players execute their strategies from the very first land drop. This hands-off approach can indeed make it an integral piece in decks seeking to leverage land control to their advantage.

Zo-Zu the Punisher - MTG Card versions
Dingus Egg - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Zo-Zu the Punisher - MTG Card versions
Dingus Egg - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ankh of Mishra by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
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Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Jandor's Saddlebags - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ankh of Mishra. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Red BurnMono-Red Burn LegacyBurnEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Legacy Mainevent
SlighSligh PremodernMisty Premodern Winter Finals

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Ankh of Mishra doesn’t draw cards directly, it indirectly influences card advantage by punishing opponents for playing lands. Each time an opponent plays a land, they take damage, potentially deterring them from putting additional resources on the board and keeping their hand size larger.

Resource Acceleration: The Ankh of Mishra might not accelerate your mana directly, but its ability can accelerate the game to your advantage. By dealing damage to opponents whenever they play a land, it creates a situation where slower, more mana-intensive decks are punished, giving an edge to faster, more aggressive strategies.

Instant Speed: While the Ankh itself is an artifact and not an instant-speed spell, its persistent effect is always active once on the field. This means its damage-dealing ability is effectively at work at the speed of each opponent’s land play, making it a constant threat without requiring additional mana investment or the use of the stack during your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike cards that have a place in your deck to form strategic plays, Ankh of Mishra doesn’t lead to card advantage. Instead, it may force opponents to discard when they play a land, but it doesn’t replenish your hand or directly influence your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Ankh of Mishra requires two generic mana to cast, limiting its early game impact compared to cards that provide immediate board presence or disruption. This can be particularly challenging in formats where speed is critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For decks that aim to optimize every mana spent, Ankh of Mishra might seem like an investment with minimal immediate returns. Especially when other two-mana spells could develop your game plan more effectively or disrupt opponents more significantly.


Reasons to Include Ankh of Mishra in Your Collection

Versatility: Ankh of Mishra is a flexible card that can be incorporated into various deck builds, especially those aiming to add a layer of control or direct damage options. Its ability to damage opponents whenever a land enters the battlefield under their control makes it an effective deterrent and a means to keep pace with ramping strategies.

Combo Potential: This artifact shines in combinations with land destruction or denial strategies, maximizing its damage output. Playing Ankh of Mishra can also synergize with effects that force your opponent to search for and put lands onto the battlefield, turning their own plays against them.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where players frequently utilize fetch lands, ramp mechanics, or decks that benefit from lands entering the battlefield, Ankh of Mishra provides a constant threat. It’s particularly potent in punishing aggressive land-based strategies, giving it a significant role in shaping game dynamics.


How to beat

An understanding of the Ankh of Mishra card in MTG can turn the tides for players who know how to navigate its effects. This artifact presents a unique challenge; it deals damage to a player whenever they play a land. While this might seem intimidating at first, there are several ways to mitigate its impact. Firstly, consider cards that allow you to put lands onto the battlefield without playing them—such strategies circumvent the Ankh’s damage entirely. Cards like Sakura-Tribe Elder or rampant growth effects, which fetch lands from your deck, can be invaluable.

Another method to overcome the Ankh’s taxing nature is to focus on life-gain cards. By bolstering your health, the Ankh’s drawback becomes more manageable, allowing you to develop your mana base without significant detriment. Additionally, decks that don’t heavily rely on playing numerous lands or can operate efficiently on a low land count can naturally minimize the consequences of the Ankh.

Finally, remember that the Ankh of Mishra affects all players, which can be used to your advantage. If you can maintain a lower land count, perhaps through more efficient mana usage or alternative resource generation, you can force opponents to suffer more from their own artifact’s effect while you stay ahead.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gathering insights on Ankh of Mishra can dramatically up your MTG game, turning it into an advantage against land-heavy strategies. With its ability to deal damage as lands hit the board, it’s a strategic piece for your arsenal, especially in a meta dense with ramp decks. Counter it cleverly with land-fetching cards or life-gain tactics to minimize the pain. And as decks evolve and play styles differ, staying current is key. Join us to further sharpen your deck-building skills and knowledge, ensuring that your next MTG session is played with a well-crafted strategy in mind.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ankh of Mishra MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Ankh of Mishra and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ankh of Mishra Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 2301993NormalBlackAmy Weber
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 2311993NormalBlackAmy Weber
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 2311993NormalWhiteAmy Weber
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 2311993NormalBlackAmy Weber
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 2311993NormalBlackAmy Weber
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 2331993NormalBlackAmy Weber
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 2331993NormalWhiteAmy Weber
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 2331993NormalWhiteAmy Weber
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2941993NormalWhiteAmy Weber
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2941993NormalBlackAmy Weber
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3481997NormalWhiteIan Miller
121999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2731997NormalWhiteIan Miller
132007-09-10Masters EditionME1 1511997NormalBlackAmy Weber
142014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 2632015NormalBlackIan Miller
152022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 2262015NormalBlackAmy Weber
162022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 5231997NormalBlackAmy Weber

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ankh of Mishra has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 It determines the land’s controller at the time the ability resolves. If the land leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, the land’s last controller before it left is used.
2004-10-04 This triggers on any land entering the battlefield. This includes playing a land or putting a land onto the battlefield using a spell or ability.