An unfortunate necessity for all Type 1 decks that aren't running the Time Vault combo.
WeAreTheFury
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
TPS, Dredge and most workshop based decks don't use it
OverfiendSurprise
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
lol flavor text
001010011100101110
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(18 votes)
Best flavor text ever.
Kamidii
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
On the flavor text: WHAT?
TDL
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Confusing flavor text is the best kind.
SilkyGoodness
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I know this card is used to shut down Moxes, and lotus. But is it used for any other uses in T1?
bijart_dauth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
@silkygoodness, mana abilities are not activated abilities. sorry, but that isnt its use. its ment to stop all the other annoying combos using artifacts.
Havens
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@bijart_dauth
check the rulings
10/4/2004 Does affect mana abilities of artifacts.
if used with mycosynth lattice it would shut down any mana abilities in play.
rctoons
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Die affinity! Die!
Superllama12
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Lurv it how it is supposed to do nothing, but the picture is like 'FLARG IMMA DO SOMETIN"
Also, great in Mirrodin against artifact lands-they're like, "IMMA USE AFFINITY" and you'll be like "OH YEAH ONLY CAST FROGMITES" and they'll be like "...touche"
Ihateworking
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
dragonking987,
I dont think you understand what I am talking about:
The five pillars of vintage are considered (null rod OR aggro, mana drain or control, bazaar or dredge, workshop or MUD and dark ritual or combo) are the five strategies of vintage decks.
The DCI attempts to maintain the restricted list in order to leave each of these types a viable deck option.
Hoonster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Very powerful artifact that can even stop mana abilities. I rather prefer Pithing Needle for its ability to stop activated ability of creatures, artifacts, and enchantments. (of course, you can only name one . . but still) 4.5/5
Wow... How can you be confused about the flavor text?
draco_nite
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
The rod! It does nothing!
Yoktes
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
we have figured out the flavor text, it is not actually describing null rod, but Darksteel Relic !
Shadoflaam
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(5 votes)
MY EYES! THE ROD DOES NOTHING!
GengilOrbios
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
epic flavor text xD
stille_nacht
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
where is the obligatory "one of the five pillars of vintage" comment?
actually the others i get, but i dont quite understand this one :/, i mean, sure you shut down activation cost artifacts, but arent most of the artifacts without activation cost? or does just tapping count?
Concerned_Bystander
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ stille_nacht
An activation cost for an ability is everything before the colon (this thing -> : ). So yes, tapping is an activation cost.
Toan133
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It just occurred to me that I am VERY THANKFUL that this card isn't that popular for EDH at my local venue. It would absolutely destroy my Kemba, Kha Regent deck.
Oh, I can't actually equip my equipment that my deck is based around? ...I got nothin'.
I would literally have to sit there hoping to topdeck a Disenchant effect.
werewolf65
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wow? Seriously? Has everyone on here lost their ability to read and UNDERSTAND the English Language?
1)Tapping a land for mana is NOT an activated ability. There is no : in tap to add (Insert color here) to your mana pool.
2) An activated ability looks like this: Oracle Text: {1},{T}: Tap target artifact, creature, or land Taken from my favorite artifact, the Icy manipulator.
3) In several Vintage tourneys here in Philadelphia, this has already been ruled on. Tapping a land is not an activation, even if the land is an artifact. So, scrap your lattice/Propaganda decks. It doesn't work.
NoobOfLore
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Tapping land for mana is an activated ability. The only differences between mana abilities (any ability that adds mana to your mana pool as part of the resolution) and non-mana abilities is that mana abilities don't use the stack. It's still an activated ability, though, and can be prevented by this, or Stony Silence.
Arcel
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Tempted to run this to shut down all the Sword of ____ and ____ I seem to keep running into, equipping after all is an activated cost =D
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
If tapping a land was an activated ability, every land and Llanowar Elves tapped for mana would go on the stack on MTGO. They bypass the stack, its not an activated ability.
Arachnos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Alright, who stole Starscream's signature weapon?
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Null-ray
adrian.malacoda
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@werewolf65
I respectfully disagree. A land's mana ability is an activated ability (see Comprehensive Rules 605 "Mana Abilities"). Newer basic lands do not actually have any text (and the older ones are from before the colon was even introduced), but non-basic lands with basic types (such as Breeding Pool) and Dryad Arbor have reminder text that spells out the implicit mana ability of a basic land, which includes the colon. CR 305.6 also specifies the mana ability of a basic land type. Other lands that produce mana, such as Tree of Tales, have their mana abilities spelled out in the same way.
CR 605.3 states that the rules for playing an activated mana ability are the same as playing any other activated ability, except that it doesn't use the stack. I don't see any exception for this particular case. It looks to me, then, that Null Rod locks out artifact lands too.
@TheWrathofShane
Uh... what? This affects mana abilities. Read the ruling.
MisterAction
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
I wish this had a second ability, just to screw with you:
: You win the game.
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is the one time in flavor text that Gerrard is wrong about something.
Werewolf-
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You know, it is for this very reason that I wish they started printing lands with the text on them like they did back in 4th edition. Go check any basic land from 4th edition and you'll see exactly what it says. I'll use a forest for an example...
{T}: Add {G} to your mana pool.
That's right--a tap symbol and a colon. More recently they've replaced that text with a big fat mana symbol, but the rulings remain that tapping a land for mana (or for anything else e.g for (Bazaar of Baghdad's card draw) is an activated ability. Granted, activated abilities that only produce mana don't go on the stack and can't be responded to, but that doesn't mean they're not activated abilities.
Most cards that affect activated abilities have a specific clause detailing an exception for mana abilities (e.g. Damping Matrix), but Null Rodhas no such clause, and that's precisely what makes it so powerful. Your opponents' mana rocks (moxen, Sol Ring, etc.), their equipment, even their artifact lands are rendered completely inert.
So yes, by extension, Mycosynth Lattice and Null Rod, if someone actually managed to assemble both on the field at once, would effectively prevent both players from tapping anything for mana, including lands (since all lands become artifacts).
All that said, this card is nuts in every format it's legal in, all the way up to Vintage, and it deserves five stars.
Notanoob
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Woah. This is cheap for a vintage-viable reserved-list rare.
hot4boys
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
the le reddit r/mtg army and its leejun loves this card! 5 stars if you agree!
Raibys
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Funny how this is part of the Legacy, yet if you have this out Legacy Weapon becomes unable to be activated...
IronPriest47
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In the storyline, the Null Rod is actually used to deactivate the other artifacts in the Legacy, for whatever reason. When Gerrard uses it occasionally, it produces interesting results at best - fireworks. Even he admits its useless. XD
Comments (36)
check the rulings
10/4/2004 Does affect mana abilities of artifacts.
if used with mycosynth lattice it would shut down any mana abilities in play.
Also, great in Mirrodin against artifact lands-they're like, "IMMA USE AFFINITY" and you'll be like "OH YEAH ONLY CAST FROGMITES" and they'll be like "...touche"
I dont think you understand what I am talking about:
The five pillars of vintage are considered (null rod OR aggro, mana drain or control, bazaar or dredge, workshop or MUD and dark ritual or combo) are the five strategies of vintage decks.
The DCI attempts to maintain the restricted list in order to leave each of these types a viable deck option.
I rather prefer Pithing Needle for its ability to stop activated ability of creatures, artifacts, and enchantments. (of course, you can only name one . . but still)
4.5/5
original post
Ihateworking I can think of plenty of cards that see heavy vintage play.
Demonic Tutor,Swords to Plowshares,Path to Exile,Force of Will,Mana Drain,Dark Ritual,Entomb,Bazaar of Baghdad,the power 9,Painter's Servantand Mishra's Workshop just to name a few.
actually the others i get, but i dont quite understand this one :/, i mean, sure you shut down activation cost artifacts, but arent most of the artifacts without activation cost? or does just tapping count?
An activation cost for an ability is everything before the colon (this thing -> : ). So yes, tapping is an activation cost.
Oh, I can't actually equip my equipment that my deck is based around? ...I got nothin'.
I would literally have to sit there hoping to topdeck a Disenchant effect.
1)Tapping a land for mana is NOT an activated ability. There is no : in tap to add (Insert color here) to your mana pool.
2) An activated ability looks like this: Oracle Text:
{1},{T}: Tap target artifact, creature, or land Taken from my favorite artifact, the Icy manipulator.
3) In several Vintage tourneys here in Philadelphia, this has already been ruled on. Tapping a land is not an activation, even if the land is an artifact. So, scrap your lattice/Propaganda decks. It doesn't work.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Null-ray
I respectfully disagree. A land's mana ability is an activated ability (see Comprehensive Rules 605 "Mana Abilities"). Newer basic lands do not actually have any text (and the older ones are from before the colon was even introduced), but non-basic lands with basic types (such as Breeding Pool) and Dryad Arbor have reminder text that spells out the implicit mana ability of a basic land, which includes the colon. CR 305.6 also specifies the mana ability of a basic land type. Other lands that produce mana, such as Tree of Tales, have their mana abilities spelled out in the same way.
CR 605.3 states that the rules for playing an activated mana ability are the same as playing any other activated ability, except that it doesn't use the stack. I don't see any exception for this particular case. It looks to me, then, that Null Rod locks out artifact lands too.
@TheWrathofShane
Uh... what? This affects mana abilities. Read the ruling.
{T}: Add {G} to your mana pool.
That's right--a tap symbol and a colon. More recently they've replaced that text with a big fat mana symbol, but the rulings remain that tapping a land for mana (or for anything else e.g for (Bazaar of Baghdad's card draw) is an activated ability. Granted, activated abilities that only produce mana don't go on the stack and can't be responded to, but that doesn't mean they're not activated abilities.
Most cards that affect activated abilities have a specific clause detailing an exception for mana abilities (e.g. Damping Matrix), but Null Rodhas no such clause, and that's precisely what makes it so powerful. Your opponents' mana rocks (moxen, Sol Ring, etc.), their equipment, even their artifact lands are rendered completely inert.
So yes, by extension, Mycosynth Lattice and Null Rod, if someone actually managed to assemble both on the field at once, would effectively prevent both players from tapping anything for mana, including lands (since all lands become artifacts).
All that said, this card is nuts in every format it's legal in, all the way up to Vintage, and it deserves five stars.
Player 2: "I cast Mycosynth Lattice"
Player 3: "I cast Null Rod"
An so it came to pass that player three won on turn 53, when his opponent's libraries ran out... From the one card drawn each turn.