Energy Flux MTG Card


Energy Flux offers card advantage by making it costlier for opponents to maintain artifacts. Slows down enemy artifact strategies giving you an edge in resource management. Constant upkeep threat forces opponents to account for potential instant-speed interactions.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

All artifacts in play now require an upkeep cost of in addition to any other upkeep costs they may have. If the upkeep cost for an artifact is not paid, the artifact must be discarded.


Cards like Energy Flux

Energy Flux is a unique card that stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to disrupt artifact-heavy strategies. Comparable cards are those that also tax players for artifacts they control, such as Stony Silence, which outright prevents activated abilities of artifacts from being used. However, Energy Flux takes a different approach by imposing a cumulative upkeep cost, making it a persistent threat to players relying on artifacts for their game plan.

Another card that echoes this artifact control theme is Kataki, War’s Wage. Like Energy Flux, Kataki pressures opponents by forcing them to pay for each artifact during their upkeep. While Kataki affects the board immediately as a creature, Energy Flux can be more challenging to remove being an enchantment. This makes Energy Flux a more enduring obstacle over several turns.

In the realm of controlling artifacts, Energy Flux offers a consistent and effective means of taxing opponents. It may not disable artifacts directly like some other cards, but its economic strain can lead to a significant advantage over the course of a game, especially against decks that heavily utilize artifacts.

Stony Silence - MTG Card versions
Kataki, War's Wage - MTG Card versions
Stony Silence - MTG Card versions
Kataki, War's Wage - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Energy Flux changes the dynamics on the battlefield by pressuring opponents to pay additional mana to maintain their artifacts, potentially leading to a shift in card equity. This can cause the opposition to sacrifice artifacts if they cannot keep up with the cost, thereby granting you an indirect card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Energy Flux can slow down opponents’ artifact-based strategies. This “taxing” can give you the upper hand to develop your board while opponents are kept on their back foot, trying to manage their limited mana resources.

Instant Speed: Although Energy Flux is an enchantment that operates at sorcery speed, its enduring effect presents a constant threat each upkeep, similar to an instant’s potential impact. Opponents must plan as if you could have instant-speed interaction, which can disrupt their tempo and strategic planning.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Energy Flux does not inherently require discarding cards, but it can indirectly force players to choose between discarding and paying the upkeep cost for artifacts, leading to potential resource depletion.

Specific Mana Cost: Energy Flux has a mana cost that specifically requires two blue mana, making it less flexible and potentially difficult to cast in multicolored decks not heavily focused on blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two generic and one blue mana, Energy Flux’s ongoing effect to tax artifacts can be substantial. However, some might find the cost steep compared to other cards that manage artifacts with immediate effects or more permanent solutions.


Reasons to Include Energy Flux in Your Collection

Versatility: Energy Flux adds a strategic layer to blue-centered control decks. It’s a powerful sideboard card that can be brought in against artifact-heavy opponents, affecting the playing field in Eternal formats like Vintage or Commander.

Combo Potential: In combination with artifact suppression strategies, Energy Flux serves as a potent lock piece. It works well when you’ve already limited your opponent’s resources, making the upkeep cost for artifacts even more debilitating.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely heavily on artifacts for their win conditions, Energy Flux can be a game-changer. In metagames saturated with artifact strategies, such as affinity or artifact ramp decks, Energy Flux provides a clear and present danger to your opponents’ game plans.


Understanding Energy Flux

Energy Flux is an enchanting card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that brings a unique dynamic to the playing field. At its core, Energy Flux is a blue enchantment that challenges players by imposing an upkeep cost on artifacts. Players controlling artifacts must pay an additional two mana during their upkeep for each artifact they control, or the artifacts are sent to the graveyard. This can majorly disrupt decks heavily reliant on artifacts for their strategies and tempo.

How to beat

To overcome the disruptive power of Energy Flux, it’s essential to adapt your strategy smartly. One effective method is to focus on mana acceleration and ensure a steady flow of mana resources to pay the upkeep costs. Alternatively, prioritize low-cost artifacts that can execute their functions quickly and don’t painfully drain your mana pool. Another tactic is to use enchantment removal spells, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, offering a direct counter to Energy Flux. Players can also lean towards non-artifact-dependent strategies, reducing the impact of the enchantment. Having a diverse deck with answers to various threats will enhance your resilience against Energy Flux and similar challenges on the battlefield.

Recognizing the pivotal role of adaptability in MTG games is crucial. While Energy Flux may seem daunting at first, a player with a prepared deck and the foresight to anticipate such hurdles is already well on their way to victory. Inherently, MTG demands strategic planning and flexible tactics, making overcoming obstacles like Energy Flux a testament to a player’s mastery of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Energy Flux MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Revised Edition, 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 Energy Flux and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Energy Flux Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 91993NormalBlackKaja Foglio
21994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 571993NormalWhiteKaja Foglio
31994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 571993NormalBlackKaja Foglio
41994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 571993NormalWhiteKaja Foglio
51995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 681993NormalWhiteKaja Foglio
61995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 681993NormalBlackKaja Foglio
71996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 81993NormalWhiteKaja Foglio
81996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 81993NormalWhiteKaja Foglio
91997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 831997NormalWhiteKaja Foglio
101999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 781997NormalBlackQiao Dafu
112000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 nl78sb1997NormalGoldQiao Dafu
122011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 481997NormalBlackKaja Foglio
132020-09-26The ListPLST MMQ-781997NormalBlackQiao Dafu

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Energy Flux has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal