Epicenter MTG Card


Epicenter turns lands into disruptive tools, making each draw a potential threat. Its synergy with land recursion accelerates resources, maximizing destructive capabilities. While sorcery-speed, it complements instants for unforeseen landfall triggers.
Epicenter - Odyssey
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Threshold
Released2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameOdyssey
Set codeODY
Number192
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAnthony S. Waters

Text of card

Target player sacrifices a land. Threshold All players sacrifice all lands instead. (You have threshold if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Sometimes destruction is Dominaria's way of rebuilding. Sometimes it's not.


Cards like Epicenter

The Epicenter card carves its distinct niche within the land destruction category of Magic: The Gathering. It has a unique echo in the footsteps of cataclysmic spells such as Stone Rain and Molten Rain. These classic cards allow players to target and destroy a land at a cost-effective rate. Epicenter takes this concept to a grand scale by offering the potential to turn all lands into rubble, a much wider net than its contemporaries.

Looking at cards like Seismic Spike and Roiling Terrain, we find that they also dismantle an opponent’s mana base, but they additionally offer direct damage or have land retrieval elements respectively. Epicenter, conversely, is unconditional but requires the threshold condition to be met to affect all lands. This can be both a high-risk and high-reward strategy depending on the deck you’re piloting.

Evaluating the card’s impact, especially when threshold is met, Epicenter can unquestionably alter the pace and outcome of a game. It stands out for its potential to significantly disrupt all players’ strategies, making it a powerful option for MTG enthusiasts who enjoy wielding the capability to shake the very foundation of the battlefield.

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Molten Rain - MTG Card versions
Seismic Spike - MTG Card versions
Roiling Terrain - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Molten Rain - MTG Card versions
Seismic Spike - MTG Card versions
Roiling Terrain - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Epicenter by color, type and mana cost

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Pyrotechnics - MTG Card versions
Illicit Auction - MTG Card versions
Cone of Flame - MTG Card versions
Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Mogg Infestation - MTG Card versions
Jagged Lightning - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Burning Fields - MTG Card versions
Implode - MTG Card versions
Shower of Coals - MTG Card versions
Torrent of Fire - MTG Card versions
Shivan Meteor - MTG Card versions
Yawning Fissure - MTG Card versions
World at War - MTG Card versions
Explosive Revelation - MTG Card versions
Turn to Slag - MTG Card versions
Reforge the Soul - MTG Card versions
Burn at the Stake - MTG Card versions
Mass Mutiny - MTG Card versions
Cleaver Riot - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Epicenter offers a notable edge by potentially turning each land in your hand into a way to disrupt your opponent’s board, making each top-decked land late in the game a potent threat.

Resource Acceleration: This spell synergizes with land recursion mechanics, accelerating your resources by restoring lands from your graveyard to the battlefield after their initial destructive use.

Instant Speed: While Epicenter is a sorcery, it pairs well with instants that enable land plays on your opponents’ turns, thus setting up unexpected landfall triggers or end-of-turn shenanigans that can tip the scales in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Similar to other impactful spells, the Epicenter card demands a card to be discarded from your hand to unleash its effect. This can place players at a disadvantage, particularly during the late game where hand resources become scarce and every option is potentially game-changing.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana requirement that includes a commitment to red, this card fits primarily into red or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a diverse MTG meta where adaptability often translates to success.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Inefficient mana expenditure can be the downfall in a swift-paced match. The casting cost of Epicenter is on the higher side, which means you might find yourself foregoing other valuable actions in a turn or being outpaced by opponents with more mana-efficient strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Epicenter offers a dynamic game plan for decks that work with land destruction or benefit from opponents being land-starved. This card easily slots into various red-based strategies.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that limit the opponent’s ability to recover their land base, or with effects that punish players for not being able to produce mana, Epicenter can be a keystone in destructive and control-oriented combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where decks heavily rely on intricate land setups or when stall tactics dominate, the disruption that Epicenter brings can turn the tide of battle, making it a timely inclusion for any collector anticipating shifts in meta trends.


How to Beat

Epicenter is a unique spell that can cause a seismic shift in the game’s landscape, challenging players to adopt an effective strategy to withstand its impact. Essentially, Epicenter forces a sacrifice of lands, which can be a massive setback. However, there’s a strategy to overcome this powerful card. It’s crucial to prioritize land protection effects or utilize cards that can quickly regenerate your land base. Cards that grant you ‘indestructible’ status can shield your lands from such devastating effects.

Another approach is to maintain a robust hand to circumvent the discard cost that Epicenter necessitates for its devastating effect. Employing instant-speed land search to recover from the land loss or utilizing spells that can counter sorcery cards before they unfold their potential is vital. Moreover, submitting a diverse suite of lands that have secondary functions or can be sacrificed for greater benefits can help mitigate the damage done by this card. In short, while Epicenter can be monumental, with clever deck design and reactive play, you can dampen its earth-shattering blow.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Epicenter MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Epicenter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Epicenter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal