Colossus of Sardia MTG Card


Acts as a deterrent for attackers, potentially leading to card advantage and strategic battlefield control. Flexibility for resource-rich decks to circumvent high upkeep, using untap mechanics for an early game threat. Its 9/9 stats offer raw power that can dominate the battlefield and define late-game strategies.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost9
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Abilities Trample
Power 9
Toughness 9

Text of card

Trample Colossus does not untap normally during untap phase; you may spend o9 during your upkeep phase to untap Colossus.

From the Sardian mountains wakes ancient doom: Warrior born from a rocky womb.


Cards like Colossus of Sardia

Colossus of Sardia is a notable artifact creature in the Magic: The Gathering universe, with an impressive presence due to its staggering 9/9 stats. In comparison, other giant artifact creatures like Darksteel Colossus also boast formidable strength and toughness, offering an 11/11 body. However, unlike Colossus of Sardia, which requires an upkeep cost to untap, Darksteel Colossus benefits from being indestructible and lacks any upkeep costs, allowing for more consistent play without the additional mana burden.

Another similar card is Phyrexian Colossus. While this creature also stands tall with 8/8 stats, it too has a downside – it doesn’t untap normally and demands player life to untap. As a direct contrast, Colossus of Sardia’s upkeep can be paid with mana, preserving player life. Yet, Metalwork Colossus is another kin, providing a different angle of play by potentially reducing its casting cost based on the total cost of noncreature artifacts you control, though it shares a similar vulnerable point in untapping.

Evaluating these giants, Colossus of Sardia takes its place in MTG history as a precursor to the evolving designs of artifact creatures, each with their own advantages and strategic uses within the game’s vast landscape.

Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Metalwork Colossus - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Metalwork Colossus - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Colossus of Sardia provides a substantial presence on the battlefield. Once in play, its sheer strength can deter opponents from attacking, effectively saving your other resources and potentially leading to a card advantage as your opponent may need to use multiple cards to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: While the Colossus of Sardia itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its towering nine mana cost could be turned to your advantage in decks that are built around resource acceleration. Utilizing cards that untap permanents or generate additional mana can allow you to circumvent the hefty upkeep cost, making the Colossus an attainable threat ahead of curve.

Instant Speed: While the Colossus doesn’t operate at instant speed, its massive presence can have an “implicit instant speed” effect. After overcoming the initial summoning hurdle, you can activate its untapping at the end of your opponent’s turn. This timing effectively leaves it ready and untapped on your turn, allowing you to harness its potential without being set back by the unwieldy untap mechanic during your own upkeep phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Colossus of Sardia demands a substantial setup by requiring you to untap it for a considerable mana investment. This can severely limit your ability to play other cards and can be particularly detrimental in fast-paced games where efficiency is key.

Specific Mana Cost: Although the Colossus of Sardia is colorless, its activation cost requires a significant amount of generic mana, making it somewhat inflexible in terms of mana base requirements. This can influence deck design, potentially requiring more mana sources to reliably deploy and utilize the card.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of nine mana, the Colossus enters the battlefield later in the game. In comparison to other creatures at a similar mana cost, it lacks immediate board impact since it does not have haste and comes into play tapped, delaying its effectiveness and opening windows for opponents to address it before it can swing the tide.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Despite its steep untap cost, Colossus of Sardia can be a game changer in decks that manipulate untap mechanics or as a formidable blocker in long games.

Combo Potential: This artifact creature shines in setups focused on artifact synergies and can be a key piece in combos, particularly in strategies that untap permanents or use huge creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where games tend to go longer and the battlefield becomes cluttered with permanents, Colossus of Sardia’s massive stats can outmatch opponents, providing a solid win condition.


How to beat

Colossus of Sardia presents a unique challenge as a formidable artifact creature in MTG. With a towering presence of a 9/9 on the battlefield, it poses a considerable obstacle for many players. To dismantle this giant, one needs to strategize beyond brute strength. Artifact removal cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize offer a direct approach to remove Colossus of Sardia from play efficiently. Players could also turn to the classic path of countering it during casting with spells like Cancel or Mana Leak.

Tapping into control strategies can also be key in mitigating the colossus’ impact. Employing cards like Pacifism or Claustrophobia can effectively neutralize it without having to remove it from the board. When facing down this behemoth, remember that its might is matched by a hefty upkeep cost — combat the Colossus by disrupting your opponent’s resource management to take the upper hand. Although it may seem like an insurmountable task at first glance, with clever plays and the right tools, toppling the Colossus of Sardia becomes a feasible and satisfying victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Colossus of Sardia MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Colossus of Sardia and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Colossus of Sardia Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 461993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3081993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3081993NormalWhiteJesper Myrfors
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 1231993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
51995-08-01RinascimentoRIN 1111993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
61997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3581997NormalWhiteHannibal King
72007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3172003NormalBlackGreg Staples
82007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 317★2003NormalBlackGreg Staples
92011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1931997NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
102020-09-26The ListPLST 10E-3172003NormalBlackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Colossus of Sardia has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-05-01 The ability that untaps it during your upkeep has been returned to an activated ability. There is no restriction on how many times it can be untapped during your upkeep with this ability.