Among the many artifacts in the world of Magic: The Gathering, few cards evoke as much nostalgic impact and strategic disruption asAnkh of Mishra. Originally printed in the early days of the game, this artifact has stood the test of time due to its deceptively simple effect and potential to completely reshape how players build their decks and approach the battlefield. While it may not carry the same glamour as high-cost finishers or flashy planeswalkers, Ankh of Mishra remains a favorite for control and aggro players alike who enjoy turning mana bases into liabilities.
Understanding Ankh of Mishra
Card Text and Function
Ankh of Mishra is a colorless artifact costing 2 mana. Its effect is straightforward: Whenever a land enters the battlefield, Ankh of Mishra deals 2 damage to that land’s controller. This simple ability punishes land drops one of the most fundamental actions in the game. In formats where tempo and life totals are critical, this makes Ankh of Mishra a tool for aggressive strategies and lockdown builds that aim to reduce opponents’ options early.
Colorless Utility
Because it’s colorless, Ankh of Mishra fits seamlessly into any deck that can support its strategy. Whether you’re playing a mono-red burn deck or a multi-color tempo build, the card requires no colored mana commitment, making it a flexible option for deck builders looking to add a layer of disruption without weakening their own mana curve.
Strategic Use Cases
Aggressive Decks
Aggro decks that aim to win the game quickly benefit greatly from Ankh of Mishra. By penalizing opponents for developing their mana base, the card accelerates clock pressure. In burn strategies, where every point of damage counts, Ankh becomes an extra source of noncombat damage that punishes slow starts and greedy land hands.
- Mono-Red Burn: Combine Ankh with Lightning Bolt, Lava Spike, and Eidolon of the Great Revel for maximum pain.
- Land Destruction: In decks that already attack mana bases, Ankh acts as a follow-up insult to injury.
- Low Curve Creatures: Fast creatures paired with Ankh pressure opponents into making painful mana choices.
Control and Lockdown Decks
On the flip side, some control or prison-style decks make use of Ankh to create a stifling environment. Paired with cards likeWinter Orb,Armageddon, orBlood Moon, Ankh of Mishra discourages opponents from expanding their mana infrastructure, buying time to set up win conditions that don’t rely on land-heavy economies.
Synergies with Bounce and Ramp
Interestingly, Ankh of Mishra can also work with bounce spells likeUnsummonorBoomerang, forcing opponents to re-cast lands and take repeated damage. While not a common synergy, this kind of control strategy can turn the battlefield into a loop of pain and delay. It also synergizes with cards that restrict or manipulate land drops likeStrip Mine,Wasteland, andGhost Quarter.
Deckbuilding Around Ankh of Mishra
Key Considerations
Building a deck with Ankh of Mishra at the core requires an understanding of tempo and minimizing self-harm. You want to ensure that you’re not hurting yourself as much as your opponent. That usually means keeping your own land drops minimal and ensuring your threats are cheap or supported by other types of ramp, such as mana rocks or creatures.
- Cheap Spells: Aim for a curve that peaks at 3 mana, ensuring you don’t need frequent land drops.
- Alternate Mana Sources: Include artifacts likeSol Ring,Arcane Signet, orChrome Moxto reduce your dependence on lands.
- Fast Clocks: Creatures with haste or immediate impact help finish games quickly while the opponent suffers from Ankh’s triggers.
Anti-Synergies to Avoid
Cards that encourage you to play additional lands each turn, such asExplorationorAzusa, Lost but Seeking, do not pair well with Ankh of Mishra unless you are heavily mitigating the damage or using a combo that completely bypasses land reliance. You also want to avoid cards that depend on landfall triggers, as the synergy runs counter to what Ankh does best: punishing land drops.
Historic Impact and Reprints
Set Appearances
Ankh of Mishra first appeared in Alpha, Magic’s original set, and has since been reprinted in various core sets and expansions. While not currently legal in many competitive formats like Standard or Pioneer, it has carved out a niche in Legacy, Vintage, Commander, and casual formats. Its design is classic Magic simple, brutal, and elegant.
Commander Use
In Commander, Ankh of Mishra sees selective use. It tends to thrive in aggressive red decks or group slug strategies where symmetrical damage benefits the user. Decks led by commanders likeNekusar, the Mindrazer,Mogis, God of Slaughter, orTorbran, Thane of Red Fellfind a home for Ankh as a form of passive pressure that scales well in multiplayer.
Modern Playability
Why It’s Rare in Competitive Play
Despite its interesting effect, Ankh of Mishra is not commonly seen in top-tier tournament play. Modern and Legacy have become incredibly fast and synergistic formats, where Ankh may be too slow or too symmetrical to offer consistent advantage. However, in the right meta especially against decks that rely on fetch lands, ramp, or landfall it can become a sleeper hit.
Potential Meta Picks
In metas flooded with decks like Amulet Titan, Scapeshift, or 4-Color Omnath, Ankh of Mishra could punish their ramp strategy. The key is knowing your environment. If your local scene has many land-reliant decks, running Ankh could disrupt enough early game momentum to tilt matchups in your favor.
Flavor and Lore
Ties to Mishra
As the name implies, Ankh of Mishra is part of the deep lore surrounding the Brothers’ War. Mishra, the war-driven artificer, was known for his relentless and destructive inventions. The Ankh symbolizes the painful cost of growth and expansion, a fitting theme for an artifact that turns mana development into a double-edged sword. It captures the flavor of punishing those who seek power too recklessly, aligning with Mishra’s chaotic legacy.
Ankh of Mishra is a Magic: The Gathering artifact that continues to fascinate both new and veteran players. Its effect may be simple, but its strategic implications are vast. From punishing greedy mana bases to enabling lightning-fast aggro decks, it earns a respected place in Magic history. Whether you’re building a spicy brew for your Commander group or exploring overlooked tech for your Legacy sideboard, Ankh of Mishra challenges you to think differently about one of the game’s most basic actions playing a land.