Molder MTG Card


Enhances hand by replacing itself, promoting resource replenishment and sustained card advantage. Rapidly alters board state and advances your strategy while hindering your opponent’s plans. Can be activated at instant speed, offering strategic flexibility and optimal timing for disruption.
Molder - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Number206
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byGreg Hildebrandt

Text of card

Destroy target artifact or enchantment with converted mana cost X. It can't be regenerated. You gain X life.

"The forests have succumbed to ruin, but the spirit of Krosa remains alive and vital in these devouring spores." —Zyd, Kamahlite druid


Cards like Molder

Molder is an intriguing piece in Magic: The Gathering’s repertoire of artifact and enchantment removal cards. Its closest relatives in purpose could be Naturalize and Disenchant, both straightforward ways to eliminate troublesome artifacts or enchantments. However, Molder brings its unique twist with the ability to convert the destroyed card’s mana cost into life gain for its caster.

Nature’s Claim is another kindred spell, offering an even lower casting cost, but with a different sort of compensation – the opponent gains the life. While this may seem like a drawback, the lesser mana expense can be a significant advantage in faster-paced games. Creeping Corrosion, meanwhile, eradicates all artifacts without granting life but at a higher mana cost signifies a powerful but less targeted approach.

Molder therefore finds its place among such cards by offering a balanced option – precise removal with a life-gain bonus. It’s neither as inexpensive as Nature’s Claim nor as sweeping as Creeping Corrosion, yet it strikes a middle ground that can be quite beneficial in certain MTG strategies.

Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Creeping Corrosion - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Creeping Corrosion - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Molder by color, type and mana cost

Fog - MTG Card versions
Natural Selection - MTG Card versions
Berserk - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Lifelace - MTG Card versions
Crumble - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Seedling Charm - MTG Card versions
Shrink - MTG Card versions
Choking Vines - MTG Card versions
Crossbow Ambush - MTG Card versions
Crop Rotation - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Might - MTG Card versions
Reclaim - MTG Card versions
Serene Sunset - MTG Card versions
Sprout - MTG Card versions
Gather Courage - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Prey's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Fog - MTG Card versions
Natural Selection - MTG Card versions
Berserk - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Lifelace - MTG Card versions
Crumble - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Seedling Charm - MTG Card versions
Shrink - MTG Card versions
Choking Vines - MTG Card versions
Crossbow Ambush - MTG Card versions
Crop Rotation - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Might - MTG Card versions
Reclaim - MTG Card versions
Serene Sunset - MTG Card versions
Sprout - MTG Card versions
Gather Courage - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Prey's Vengeance - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Molder enhances your hand by enabling you to replace itself when played, effectively keeping your card resources replenished.

Resource Acceleration: With Molder, you can disrupt your opponent’s strategy while simultaneously furthering your own board position, potentially accelerating your access to crucial resources.

Instant Speed: The capability to play Molder at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing strategic decisions during your opponent’s turn and optimizing the timing for disruption or during end-of-turn scenarios for efficiency.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For players looking to optimize their hand, the discard condition of Molder can be a setback. It necessitates the removal of a potentially vital card, which could disrupt strategies and diminish your in-game resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building flexibility is hindered with Molder’s particular mana requirements. It needs a precise combination of mana types, possibly causing complications for players not running a deck that can easily accommodate such costs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite Molder’s capabilities, its higher mana requirement is restrictive when compared to other cards with similar effects. Savvy players might seek more mana-efficient alternatives that offer similar or better utility with less resource investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Molder offers a flexible solution in dealing with artifacts and enchantments, which is crucial given the diverse range of threats present in modern formats. Its low casting cost makes it accessible early in the game to disrupt an opponent’s setup.

Combo Potential: Beyond its primary function of destruction, Molder can be a key piece in strategies focused on graveyard plays. Its ability to remove artifacts and enchantments opens up synergies with cards that benefit from such actions, potentially leading to powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: With evolving metagames that often include artifact and enchantment-based decks, having Molder in your arsenal ensures you’re prepared. It’s a pragmatic choice that can give you an edge against prevalent strategies that rely heavily on non-creature permanents.


How to Beat Molder

Molder is an intriguing card that can challenge players’ strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to destroy an artifact or enchantment by paying a cost equivalent to the permanents casting cost adds a layer of complexity to gameplay. Thwarting a Molder strategy requires careful deck building and timing. Considering cards like Dispel or Negate can be instrumental in protecting key artifacts or enchantments from such targeted removal. Tackling Molder also entails keeping an eye on your opponent’s mana just as they try to size up yours for a Molder activation, knowing when to deploy critical permanents to avoid the exchange can turn the tide in your favor.

Flexibility in strategy is also key. By diversifying your threats, you ensure not all your eggs are in one basket, effectively blunting Molder’s impact. Additionally, taking advantage of instant speed spells that provide hexproof or shroud can save your valued artifacts and enchantments from being turned to dust. Always be mindful that Molder’s greatest strength is its specificity and surprise. By understanding this and playing around it, you can ensure that Molder becomes less of a setback and more of a minor hurdle in your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Molder MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Molder and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Molder has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal