Fountain of Youth MTG Card


Fountain of Youth’s persistent life gain makes it a valuable asset in long games and life-centric strategies. Low casting cost and instant-speed activation offer tactical benefits without hampering mana resources. Despite its virtues, the card faces competition from others offering greater utility or efficiency.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

, oc T: Gain 1 life.

The Fountain had stood in the town square for centuries, but only the pigeons knew its secret.


Cards like Fountain of Youth

The Fountain of Youth stands as an intriguing artifact within the realms of MTG, offering players a modest yet steady means of life gain. When weighed against other life-gaining artifacts like Ivory Cup, the Fountain of Youth is distinctly mana-efficient allowing for immediate life-gain without any mana investment. However, the Ivory Cup requires a mana payment alongside a spell of the designated color to trigger its effect.

Exploring this theme further reveals Pristine Talisman. This artifact, while costing more to play, grants life with every use and simultaneously produces colorless mana, adding a layer of versatility that the Fountain of Youth lacks. Another contender is Elixir of Immortality. It not only provides life gain but also shuffles itself and the graveyard back into the library, offering a reshuffling strategy that Fountain of Youth does not.

To summarize, Fountain of Youth excels in the realm of cost-effective, life-focused play strategies, enabling players to sustain their life total without a heavy resource expenditure. Yet, other options present additional benefits, such as mana generation or deck recycling, which may tip the balance in deck construction strategies for MTG enthusiasts.

Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fountain of Youth by color, type and mana cost

Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
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Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
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Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Turbo-Thwacking Auto-Hammer - MTG Card versions
Division Table - MTG Card versions
Rapid Prototyper - MTG Card versions
Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
Zuran Orb - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
Claws of Gix - MTG Card versions
Mana Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Opal - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Orochi Hatchery - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Diamond - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions
Chimeric Mass - MTG Card versions
Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Turbo-Thwacking Auto-Hammer - MTG Card versions
Division Table - MTG Card versions
Rapid Prototyper - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fountain of Youth may not directly allow you to draw cards, but it offers a consistent option for life gain over multiple turns, improving your staying power in lengthy matches. As it can be used multiple times, it keeps providing value as long as it stays on the field.

Resource Acceleration: While Fountain of Youth doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the form of mana, its low casting cost means it can be played early, leaving your mana open for other strategies. Additionally, the life gained could indirectly save resources by reducing the need for spells or effects that stabilize your life total.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Fountain of Youth at instant speed is a tactical advantage. Whether it’s at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an action that would reduce your life, Fountain of Youth offers immediate life gain without interfering with your other instant-speed plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The need to discard isn’t directly associated with Fountain of Youth, but players may need to discard other valuable cards to accommodate it in a deck, which can be detrimental when trying to maintain a strategic hand.

Specific Mana Cost: While Fountain of Youth doesn’t require colored mana, it necessitates an investment of one generic mana to activate. This cost is critical in formats where every mana point counts, potentially slowing down the player’s tempo significantly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a zero-cost artifact to play, Fountain of Youth requires an ongoing mana investment to utilize its ability. In a game where efficiency is key, its ability’s output might not justify the recurring mana expenditure, particularly when alternative cards could provide more impactful life gain or utility for the same, or lower, mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fountain of Youth offers a universal benefit that can be integrated into a wide range of decks. Its ability to provide incremental life gain can be a boon for life-centric strategies or simply as a means to stabilize against more aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: With its low cost and potential for unlimited use, Fountain of Youth can be a key piece in combos that are centered around life gain or artifact synergy. It can be especially useful in decks that capitalize on life as a resource for card draw, creature strength, or alternative win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where the pace of gameplay is slower, or where burn and aggro decks are prevalent, the consistent life gain from Fountain of Youth can give you the edge needed to outlast your opponents. Its presence can help shift the game in your favor by providing a buffer against the constant pressure.


How to beat

Understanding the mechanics of the Fountain of Youth can be the key to turning the tides in your favor. This venerable artifact offers players a steady, albeit modest, stream of life points. At its core, it’s a life gain tool; for one mana, you get to pad your life total with a single point. However, such a moderate boost can be a double-edged sword in terms of tempo and resource management.

To effectively counter this enduring Magic: The Gathering card, consider focusing on aggression and strategy disruption. While your opponent invests mana in a gradual life increase, seizing the opportunity to develop a formidable board presence can outpace the minor life gains. Fast, high-impact plays can render the incremental health less relevant, especially if you’re able to apply pressure and demand answers from your opponent.

Additionally, employ cards that diminish the value of life gain, such as those featuring effects that inflict damage based on the number of cards an opponent draws or plays. Direct damage spells, efficient creature removal, and going for a strategy that emphasizes card advantage can ensure that the Fountain of Youth’s effects are negligible in the wider scope of the match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fountain of Youth MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and The Dark, 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 Fountain of Youth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fountain of Youth Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-08-01The DarkDRK 1031993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
21994-08-01The DarkDRK 103†1993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
31995-07-01ChroniclesCHR 981993NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
41996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC mj98sb1993NormalGoldDaniel Gelon
51996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC ml981993NormalGoldDaniel Gelon
61996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC shr98sb1993NormalGoldDaniel Gelon
71997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3721997NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
81999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2861997NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
92007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3232003NormalBlackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fountain of Youth has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal