Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle MTG Card


Arixmethes offers significant card advantage by adding two mana of any color, fueling game-changing plays. The card accelerates resources early on and poses a 12/12 creature threat once slumber counters are gone. It interacts well with instants, enabling strong plays while maintaining board presence and strategy.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Kraken
Power 12
Toughness 12

Text of card

Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle enters the battlefield tapped with five slumber counters on it. As long as Arixmethes has a slumber counter on it, it's a land. (It's not a creature.) Whenever you cast a spell, you may remove a slumber counter from Arixmethes. : Add .


Cards like Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle

Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle, offers a unique blend of a land and creature dynamic in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out among sea monster cards like Lorthos, the Tidemaker, which is purely a creature without Arixmethes’ ability to double as a land. Arixmethes enters the battlefield with slumber counters, making it initially a land that later becomes a powerful creature. This is a stark contrast to Lorthos, who doesn’t have to wait to impact the game significantly.

Comparably, the two cards Simic Sky Swallower and Tromokratis share the same creature type with Arixmethes, yet neither can boast Arixmethes’ intrinsic ramp capability. Simic Sky Swallower, while having shroud and flying, lacks the versatility of starting as a land resource. Tromokratis enjoys being unblockable as long as it’s the only attacking creature, but again, it can’t be used as a land early in the game like Arixmethes can.

Indeed, Arixmethes’ dual nature combines the ramping power of land cards with the late-game potency of sea behemoths, placing it as a superior and flexible option for players who wish to smoothly transition from resource building to unleashing colossal threats on the battlefield.

Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Simic Sky Swallower - MTG Card versions
Tromokratis - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Simic Sky Swallower - MTG Card versions
Tromokratis - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle enters the battlefield with five slumber counters, which not only sets the stage for it to become a powerful creature but also serves as a formidable land. When tapped for mana, it provides a substantial boost by offering two mana of any one color, setting you up for future turns and potentially leading to significant card advantage as you can cast more spells or more expensive spells sooner than your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: As a land early in the game, Arixmethes grants you resource acceleration that’s uncommonly high for a single card. Once the slumber counters are removed, it transforms into a 12/12 creature that still can be used as a land. The duality of this card’s nature provides continuous value as both a source of sizeable mana and an imposing threat on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle interacts favorably with spells that you can cast at instant speed. With two mana available from a single untapped Arixmethes, you can respond to your opponents’ actions with more powerful instants or abilities while still developing your board presence and strategy during your own turn.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle comes with a unique challenge when fitting him into your deck. The card’s casting cost demands both green and blue mana, which mandates a dual-color deck at minimum, often making it incompatible with mono-color builds where it could also shine.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color-specific, Arixmethes doesn’t come into play early. This cost is significantly high, especially when weighed against other potential creatures or land options you may cast at a similar or lower mana curve.

Discard Requirement: Once on the battlefield, Arixmethes enters with five slumber counters, effectively functioning as a land initially. To awaken this powerful creature, you need to cast spells, which might force you to prematurely use cards that could be more beneficial later in the game, reducing your hand size and resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle isn’t just a land or creature, it’s both. Early in the game, it ramps your mana by providing two of any color. Once awakened, you have a powerful 12/12 creature to dominate the battlefield, ready to adapt to various deck builds.

Combo Potential: Its ability to become a creature after casting enough spells encourages innovative combos. Picture synergizing with cards that benefit from large creatures or manipulating the number of slumber counters for strategic advantages.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that evolves constantly, having a card like Arixmethes can be crucial. Its unique dual nature makes it a formidable option against various strategies, capable of swinging the game in favor of ramp and sea-monster-themed decks.


How to beat

Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle, emerges as a formidable presence on the battleground, bringing a unique dynamic to Magic: The Gathering. With its dual nature as both land and creature, Arixmethes can catch opponents off guard, powering up from a dormant state to become a colossal creature. Commanding a challenge to dislodge, this card requires strategic measures to overcome.

To successfully navigate this challenge, removal spells that exile, such as Swords to Plowshares, offer a direct solution, bypassing Arixmethes’ indestructible or regeneration abilities. Additionally, countering Arixmethes upon casting can halt its arrival altogether. Interaction with Arixmethes’ counters is also key; cards that strip or manipulate these counters can keep the isle dormant, or awaken it prematurely, disrupting the controller’s plans. Lastly, enchantments that prevent untapping or cards that impose tapping without the chance to untap, such as Sleep or Claustrophobia, can manage Arixmethes effectively without having to outright destroy it.

In essence, while Arixmethes presents a multifaceted threat, a variety of strategies can be employed to contain and neutralize it, ensuring that the Slumbering Isle remains but a mere obstacle rather than a game-ending force.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle reveals the potential power it brings to your deck. This land-creature hybrid offers not only a mana ramp but also evolves into a massive threat. With our insights on both its strengths and weaknesses, we understand that it demands more than casual play; it calls for tactical acumen and strategic deck building. Take your knowledge further and discover advanced combos and deck interactions that can turn the tides in your favor. Dive deeper into the world of MTG, enrich your collection, and outmaneuver your opponents. Ready for the next level? Embark on your journey to mastery with Arixmethes.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2018, 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 Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 707152015NormalBlackDimitar Marinski
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 382015NormalBlackDimitar Marinski
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1892015NormalBlackDimitar Marinski
42023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 972015NormalBlackDimitar Marinski
52023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1622015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
62023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 162z2015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
72023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 322015NormalBlackJason A. Engle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 Arixmethes can tap for mana the turn it enters the battlefield as long as it has slumber counters on it. If you can figure out how to untap it, that is.
2020-08-07 Arixmethes can't be played as a land.
2020-08-07 Arixmethes isn't a land until after it has entered the battlefield. Effects such as that of Blood Moon won't affect its enters-the-battlefield ability. Similarly, replacement effects that modify how creatures you control enter the battlefield will see Arixmethes entering as a creature rather than a land. However, triggered abilities (such as landfall abilities) will see that a land has entered the battlefield and not a creature.
2020-08-07 Arixmethes's effect causing it to be a land overwrites any earlier effects that gave it additional types. For example, a Phyrexian Metamorph that copies Arixmethes will be a land, not an artifact land, until its slumber counters are removed.
2020-08-07 Arixmethes's triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger, but after targets have been chosen for that spell. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-08-07 Once Arixmethes is a creature again, it can attack on the same turn as long as you've controlled it since your most recent turn began.
2020-08-07 While Arixmethes is a land, it's still green and blue, it's still legendary, and its mana value is still 4.