Limited Resources MTG Card


Limited Resources restricts land plays, greatly benefiting decks designed to function with minimal land resources. It fits best in white or white-splash decks due to its specific mana requirements, affecting deck versatility. In the right meta, especially against ramp strategies, Limited Resources can give control decks a crucial advantage.
Limited Resources - Exodus
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set nameExodus
Set codeEXO
Number10
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKeith Parkinson

Text of card

When Limited Resources comes into play, each player chooses five lands he or she controls and sacrifices the rest. As long as there are ten or more lands in play, players cannot play lands.


Cards like Limited Resources

When delving into the realm of mana fixers in Magic: The Gathering, Limited Resources stands as a niche yet formidable enchantment. It’s similar to cards like Winter Orb and Mana Breach, which also focus on restricting players’ resources. Much like Winter Orb, which limits the number of lands that untap during each player’s untap step, Limited Resources caps the number of lands in play after the first five are laid out. However, unlike Winter Orb, Limited Resources can ultimately lead to a scenario where new lands cannot be played at all, escalating into a more decisive lock-down of the game’s pace.

Stewardship is another interesting card to consider in relation to Limited Resources, operating on a principle of conditional land tapping, yet it offers a more predictable and less disruptive control over mana flow. Limited Resources, with its one-time casting that affects all future land plays, contrasts sharply with Stewardship’s recurring choice mechanism. Another peer in this card-comparison is Land Equilibrium, which exhibits similarities by imposing a check on land plays but relies on the number of lands already controlled, rather than a fixed cap for all players.

Despite the shared theme of resource moderation, Limited Resources sets itself apart with a unique playstyle, inviting strategic deck building and a consideration for how to capitalize on this potent yet potentially game-warping card.

Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Mana Breach - MTG Card versions
Land Equilibrium - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Mana Breach - MTG Card versions
Land Equilibrium - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Limited Resources by color, type and mana cost

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White Ward - MTG Card versions
Green Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Strength - MTG Card versions
Lance - MTG Card versions
Consecrate Land - MTG Card versions
Animate Wall - MTG Card versions
Black Ward - MTG Card versions
Blue Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Armor - MTG Card versions
Red Ward - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions
Brainwash - MTG Card versions
Green Scarab - MTG Card versions
Blue Scarab - MTG Card versions
Spirit Link - MTG Card versions
Armor of Faith - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Armor - MTG Card versions
Flickering Ward - MTG Card versions
Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions
Shield of Duty and Reason - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Limited Resources provides a significant edge by restricting each player to only one land per turn, ensuring that those with a higher quality of draws gain an advantage. This twist can tip the scales dramatically in your favor if you’re well-prepared to operate on fewer lands.

Resource Acceleration: By effectively stalling opponents who might rely on rapid land deployment, Limited Resources accelerates your comparative resource gain. Your deck can capitalize on this by preparedly playing low-cost spells, turning the table against opponents who can’t adapt quickly.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Limited Resources can synergize with instant-speed plays. A well-timed spell cast right before Limited Resources hits the battlefield can catch opponents off guard, ensuring you maximize your resources while they’re left scrambling.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Limited Resources necessitates discarding another card, potentially depleting your hand and restricting your strategic options during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands exact mana investment – two white mana which means it fits primarily into white-centered or white-splash decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, Limited Resources might strain your mana resources during the early to mid-game phases, where preserving mana for more immediate responses or threats could be crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Limited Resources excels in decks that capitalize on resource denial. It can seamlessly integrate into control or stax strategies, effectively disrupting opponents’ game plans.

Combo Potential: This card has the ability to work in tandem with land destruction or bounce mechanics to lock opponents out of the game, making it a powerful component in combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In metas that are heavy on land-based strategies, like ramp decks, Limited Resources can be a powerful countermeasure, keeping the playing field even and giving control decks a significant edge.


How to beat

Limited Resources is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that presents a real challenge to players looking to maximize their land plays. A card that hinders both players from controlling more than five lands, it disrupts strategies that rely on land accumulation. This powerful effect can level the playing field against decks that rapidly ramp up their mana base. To effectively beat the constraints imposed by Limited Resources, consider incorporating artifact-based mana acceleration or spells that allow for land destruction. Removal of enchantments becomes a critical tool when facing the daunting task of playing under Limited Resources’ rules.

Alternatively, cards that bypass the need for numerous lands, such as creatures with lesser mana costs or abilities that generate resources without relying on lands, can be a viable strategy. Decks that use non-traditional means of casting spells, such as reanimation or mana dorks, can also gain an advantage. By adjusting your game plan to work within or to exploit the parameters set by Limited Resources, you pivot your position from a reactive one to a proactive stance, often catching your opponents off guard and securing the upper hand.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Limited Resources MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Limited Resources and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Limited Resources has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderBanned
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerBanned
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhBanned

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 If a player has less than 5 lands, they get to pick and keep all of their lands.
2004-10-04 The sacrificed lands are chosen during resolution. The current player chooses first.
2004-10-04 You can put lands onto the battlefield using effects, you just can’t play lands from your hand as an action.