Soul-Guide Lantern MTG Card


Graveyard disruption is crucial and the Lantern provides this at the potential cost of card advantage. Versatile and adaptable, it supports various deck strategies while offering both proactive and reactive plays. Despite some mana cost concerns, its utility and meta relevance make it a worthy addition to any collection.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

When Soul-Guide Lantern enters the battlefield, exile target card from a graveyard. , Sacrifice Soul-Guide Lantern: Exile each opponent's graveyard. , , Sacrifice Soul-Guide Lantern: Draw a card.


Cards like Soul-Guide Lantern

Soul-Guide Lantern has solidified its place in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile artifact geared towards graveyard manipulation. When considering alternatives, one can look at Tormod’s Crypt, which shares the same capability to exile all cards from a graveyard at no cost. However, unlike Soul-Guide Lantern, it doesn’t allow you to draw a card by sacrificing itself, which limits its utility in comparison.

Another card, Relic of Progenitus, showcases graveyard hate similar to Tormod’s Crypt yet provides the option to draw a card by sacrificing itself much like Soul-Guide Lantern. Nonetheless, the Lantern is unique in that it can be used to target a single card in a graveyard and still retain this exiling ability, whereas Relic impacts all graveyards and requires a mana to activate.

Scrabbling Claws is also frequently drawn into comparisons for its selective graveyard exiling. Despite that, it doesn’t offer the comprehensive graveyard sweep that Soul-Guide Lantern does. Conclusively, the Lantern’s capability to adapt to multiple scenarios and the additional benefit of card draw gives it an edge as a valuable tool in a player’s arsenal, especially in metagames heavy with graveyard-focused strategies.

Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Relic of Progenitus - MTG Card versions
Scrabbling Claws - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Relic of Progenitus - MTG Card versions
Scrabbling Claws - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Soul-Guide Lantern. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Patchwork StompyPatchwork Stompy LegacyPatchwork StompyLegacy League 2024-05-03
LandsLands LegacyLandsLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04 (1)
PainterPainter LegacyPainterLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04
Izzet DelverIzzet Delver LegacyTemur DelverLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-05
Grixis Underworld BreachGrixis Underworld Breach VintageUnderworld BreachVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-04
Lurrus SagaLurrus Saga VintageLurrus SagaVintage League 2024-05-03
Temur DelverTemur Delver LegacyTemur DelverLegacy League 2024-05-04
Naya DepthsNaya Depths LegacySelesnya DepthsLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04 (1)
Grixis TinkerGrixis Tinker VintageBlue TinkerVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-04
Turbo VaultTurbo Vault VintageTurbo VaultVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-03

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soul-Guide Lantern provides a nuanced form of card advantage by exiling an opponent’s card from their graveyard, often disrupting their strategies and diminishing their resources without losing card parity yourself.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, the lantern offers a different kind of acceleration by streamlining your graveyard interactions on demand and potentially drawing you a card later on.

Instant Speed: This artifact’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to graveyard-based actions from your opponent during their turn and maintaining the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Soul-Guide Lantern doesn’t force a discard, having it as part of your hand means one less card that could be a direct answer to on-board threats. Players must decide between holding onto it for its graveyard removal abilities or playing it and potentially sacrificing card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The Lantern requires a single generic mana to cast, which is accessible for all deck types. However, its activation cost for card draw specifically requires one colorless mana, which might be less convenient in mana bases that are heavy on colored sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the initial cast is economical, the secondary cost to exile the Lantern and draw a card is somewhat hefty when considering the situational nature of graveyard hate. In some scenarios, the mana spent could potentially be better utilized on other actions or playing more impactful cards.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Soul-Guide Lantern offers a flexible solution for graveyard management, able to slot into multiple deck archetypes. Whether you’re controlling the board or just seeking to hamper graveyard-based strategies, this artifact can contribute to your game plan without compromising deck consistency.

Combo Potential: This artifact isn’t just for disrupting opponent strategies; it also works well with cards that benefit from artifacts entering or leaving the battlefield. In decks that capitalize on such synergies, Soul-Guide Lantern can serve as a valuable cog in a more complex combo machine.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves and graveyard-centric decks rise in popularity, having an answer to those strategies becomes crucial. The adaptability of Soul-Guide Lantern as a maindeck selection or a sideboard option ensures that your deck can respond effectively to the shifting landscape of the current meta-game.


How to beat

Soul-Guide Lantern is an artifact that offers graveyard control, enabling the removal of opponents’ cards from the game and disrupting strategies that rely on graveyard interactions. This can pose challenges for decks that leverage their graveyard for resources. To counter Soul-Guide Lantern, players should consider deploying cards like Abrade or Nature’s Claim, which can destroy artifacts efficiently. Having instant-speed responses is crucial to prevent your opponent from utilizing the Lantern’s ability when it’s most detrimental to your game plan.

Additionally, introducing redundancies in your deck’s structure can offset the impact of losing key cards from your graveyard. Diversifying threats ensures that Soul-Guide Lantern’s removal won’t completely derail your strategy. Also, cards with Flashback or other graveyard activation abilities can force your opponent to use the Lantern prematurely, giving you an advantage as the game progresses. Remember, being able to read your opponent’s timing and sequencing with artifacts like Soul-Guide Lantern can turn the tide in your favor. A smartly timed removal or the inclusion of counter measures against artifact strategies will be your best play against this versatile card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the multifaceted world of MTG exemplifies the strategic depths the game can reach, especially when considering how cards like Soul-Guide Lantern interact within a variety of decks. Whether you’re disrupting an opponent’s graveyard strategy or bolstering your own tactical approach, understanding when and how to use such flexible cards can be a game-changer. Our exploration of Soul-Guide Lantern’s strengths and potential drawbacks highlights its importance in current and future metagames. If you’re aiming to enhance your deck’s resilience or seeking tech options for sideboards, consider this artifact’s role in your collection. Join us to deepen your MTG expertise and navigate the ever-evolving landscape with confidence.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soul-Guide Lantern MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death and The Brothers' War Art Series, 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 Soul-Guide Lantern and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Soul-Guide Lantern Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 2372015NormalBlackCliff Childs
22022-11-18The Brothers' War Art SeriesABRO 782015Art seriesBorderless
32022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 1171997NormalBlackLars Grant-West
42022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 117z1997NormalBlackLars Grant-West
52022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 541997NormalBlackCliff Childs
62023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1422015NormalBlackCliff Childs
72023-09-08Wilds of EldraineWOE 2512015NormalBlackIris Compiet

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soul-Guide Lantern has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal