Selesnya Keyrune MTG Card


Selesnya Keyrune serves double duty as a creature and mana source, offering tactical adaptability. It excels in Selesnya decks, enhancing strategies with its transformability and artifact synergy. Keyrunes add resilience and flexibility to collections, countering sorcery-speed removal effectively.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

: Add or to your mana pool. : Selesnya Keyrune becomes a 3/3 green and white Wolf artifact creature until end of turn.

A mark of unity when you want one; a fierce guardian when you need one.


Cards like Selesnya Keyrune

Selesnya Keyrune holds a unique position within the panorama of mana acceleration artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives include other keyrunes such as Rakdos Keyrune and Azorius Keyrune, which provide colored mana and morph into creatures. What distinguishes Selesnya Keyrune is its capacity to transform into a 3/3 green and white Wolf artifact creature with lifelink, a trait especially relevant in Selesnya decks that favor life gain.

Mana rocks like Signets or Cluestones also share the goal of ramping and fixing mana, yet they lack the secondary utility of becoming creatures. Selesnya Signet, for instance, is efficient for color fixing but does not offer the strategic flexibility of a dual nature card. Selesnya Cluestone also can be sacrificed for card draw, but cannot become a creature to provide offensive or defensive options.

Evaluating Selesnya Keyrune in context, its dual functionality makes it a pragmatic choice in decks that can take advantage of both its mana producing and life-gaining creature abilities, contributing to MTG’s rich mosaic of utility artifacts that adapt to various in-game exigencies.

Rakdos Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Azorius Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Signet - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Cluestone - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Azorius Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Signet - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Cluestone - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Selesnya Keyrune by color, type and mana cost

Tigereye Cameo - MTG Card versions
Behemoth Sledge - MTG Card versions
Wildfield Borderpost - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Cluestone - MTG Card versions
Dromoka Monument - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Locket - MTG Card versions
Ceremonial Groundbreaker - MTG Card versions
Tigereye Cameo - MTG Card versions
Behemoth Sledge - MTG Card versions
Wildfield Borderpost - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Cluestone - MTG Card versions
Dromoka Monument - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Locket - MTG Card versions
Ceremonial Groundbreaker - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Selesnya Keyrune isn’t just a mana source. Once transformed into a creature, it becomes a potent asset that can pressure opponents and potentially draw out removal spells, saving your more critical creatures from such threats. Moreover, the ability to transform back into an artifact ensures its resilience against sorcery-speed removal, allowing it to persist on the battlefield to maintain an advantage.

Resource Acceleration: With Selesnya Keyrune, players not only get an artifact that taps for either green or white mana, which is crucial for multicolor decks in those hues, but also the capacity to turn into a creature in times of need. This dual nature provides flexibility and ensures that you’re not just accelerating your mana resources, but also fielding an extra creature without having to expend additional cards.

Instant Speed: The transformation of Selesnya Keyrune can be activated at instant speed, allowing players to adapt to the fluid dynamics of a game. It can be used defensively to create a surprise blocker or offensively at the end of an opponent’s turn to swing in without warning during your next turn. This aspect of the card dramatically increases its strategic value in a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike cards that offer a benefit without additional costs, Selesnya Keyrune demands a player to manage their hand with care. While it doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, holding onto the Keyrune may cause players to discard other valuable cards due to hand size limitations, particularly in formats with regular hand cycling.

Specific Mana Cost: Selesnya Keyrune’s activation cost necessitates both green and white mana, which ties it exclusively to Selesnya or multi-colored decks, limiting its versatility in a broader MTG strategy scope. Players running mono-green or mono-white decks will find it incompatible with their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and an activation fee, there are instances where the mana investment in the Keyrune could be directed towards more impactful permanents or spells. It competes directly with other three-mana artifacts or creatures that might provide a more immediate or valuable effect on the game’s board state.


Reasons to Include Selesnya Keyrune in Your Collection

Versatility: The Selesnya Keyrune shines in its ability to adapt to different game scenarios. As both a mana fixer and a creature when needed, it can easily slide into Selesnya decks focusing on mana ramping or those needing a reliable blocker in a pinch.

Combo Potential: This card’s duality pairs well with strategies that capitalize on artifacts or creature synergies. Transform it into a creature to defend or to trigger effects, and switch back to generate the mana you need to execute intricate combos or play impactful spells.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where having a mix of creature and non-creature spells is advantageous, Selesnya Keyrune stands out. Its dual nature helps dodge sorcery-speed removal and provides a resilience that’s critical against board wipes, maintaining your board presence and resource availability.


How to beat

Overcoming the Selesnya Keyrune card in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic planning and a well-timed response. This versatile artifact transforms into a formidable 3/3 green and white Wolf creature with lifelink until end of turn, which not only presents a robust blocker but also a potential threat if left unchecked. To effectively counter this, efficient removal spells that can handle artifacts or creatures at instant speed are essential. Having removal like Naturalize or Disenchant in your deck can swiftly deal with the Selesnya Keyrune before it morphs into a creature and starts complicating the battlefield.

In scenarios where it has already become a creature, it’s critical to use your removal spells after it has transformed but before it has a chance to declare an attack or block, nullifying both the lifelink capability and its use as a combatant. Cards like Abrade are particularly effective, offering versatility in being able to destroy the Keyrune whether it’s an artifact or a creature. Keeping a watchful eye on the mana your opponent has available and anticipating when they might activate the Keyrune will allow you to stay one step ahead and maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Selesnya Keyrune MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and The List, 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 Selesnya Keyrune and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Selesnya Keyrune Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2012-10-05. Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 2332003NormalBlackDaniel Ljunggren
22020-09-26The ListPLST RTR-2332003NormalBlackDaniel Ljunggren

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Selesnya Keyrune has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-04-15 Activating the ability that turns the Keyrune into a creature while it’s already a creature will override any effects that set its power and/or toughness to another number, but effects that modify power and/or toughness without directly setting them will still apply.
2013-04-15 Until the ability that turns the Keyrune into a creature resolves, the Keyrune is colorless.