Gilded Lotus

This artifact is a powerhouse in formats like Commander and Modern, providing instant access to any three mana of your choice. With its ability to add three mana of one color at sorcery speed, it's often used alongside cards like Mox Opal or Arcane Signet to accelerate your mana development.

In terms of power level, Gilded Lotus is a 5-mana artifact that can swing the game in favor of the player who casts it. It's particularly useful in Commander, where its ability to add any three colors can help players access their commander's signature spells and abilities more quickly.

Gilded Lotus is relatively affordable, with a price point around $1.15 USD, making it a viable option for decks that need a reliable mana accelerator.

Gilded Lotus

As an artifact with a mana cost of {5}, Gilded Lotus is a five-mana permanent that allows you to add three mana of any one color to your mana pool on its own untap ability. This is a crucial aspect of its function, as it enables you to accelerate your mana development and generate additional mana for spells or other abilities.

Untap Ability

The Oracle text specifies the effect: "{T}: Add three mana of any one color." The "T" symbol represents the trigger condition, which in this case is tapping the artifact. When Gilded Lotus is tapped, it generates an ability that adds three mana of any one color to your pool.

How it Functions on the Stack and Battlefield

Gilded Lotus is a creature card with no power or toughness, making it irrelevant for combat considerations. Its primary purpose is to accelerate your mana generation. Here's how it interacts with other cards:

• When tapped, Gilded Lotus resolves its ability immediately, adding three mana of any one color to your pool.
• You can tap and untap Gilded Lotus on the same turn to generate multiple instances of its ability, adding more mana to your pool.
• If you have a card that allows you to sacrifice an artifact for another effect (such as Serra's Oracle, you can sacrifice Gilded Lotus to trigger that effect.

Edge Cases and Unusual Rules Interactions

Here are some edge cases and unusual rules interactions to consider:

• Color choice: When tapping Gilded Lotus, you must choose a color for the added mana. If you have multiple colors available on your mana pool, you can tap Gilded Lotus to add mana of any one of those colors.
• Mana acceleration: Gilded Lotus enables you to accelerate your mana development by adding three mana of a single color to your pool. This allows you to play more expensive spells or use abilities that require additional mana.

Commander-Specific Quirks

Gilded Lotus is a versatile artifact that can be used in various Commander decks. Consider the following commander-specific quirks:

• Acceleration: Gilded Lotus is particularly useful in decks focused on rapid acceleration, such as those featuring Tolarian Academy, Sol Ring, or Mana Confluence.
• Colorless mana: Since Gilded Lotus adds three mana of any one color, you can use it to generate additional colorless mana for your spells.

Gilded Lotus is a versatile artifact that can add three mana of any color to the player's pool. This makes it an attractive addition to various Commander decks, particularly those with aggressive strategies.

Casual Builds

One common application for Gilded Lotus is in casual, mono-color decks focused on fast creatures and early aggression. Cards like Berserk and Mogg Fanatic can take advantage of the extra mana generated by Gilded Lotus, allowing players to attack quickly and deal substantial damage to their opponents.

Competitive Builds

In more competitive settings, Gilded Lotus is often paired with other powerful artifacts and creatures that benefit from a high mana pool. For example:

• Azami, Lady of Scrolls: This Commander can benefit significantly from Gilded Lotus, as it allows for the quick development of a large board presence and the ability to play expensive spells like Astral Force.
• Atraxa, Praetors' Voice: Gilded Lotus can provide the additional mana needed to cast Atraxa's more expensive abilities and attachments, such as Mox Opal or Sol Ring, making it easier for players to execute their plans.

Color Identities

Gilded Lotus is particularly useful in multi-color decks that rely on a high level of flexibility. Some examples include:

• WUBR (White-Blue-Red): This color combination often employs a mix of creatures and artifacts, and Gilded Lotus can help provide the necessary mana to play expensive cards like Mox Opal or [Sol Ring.
• GRU (Green-Rubies-Unhinged): In this deck archetype, players may use Gilded Lotus to generate additional mana for their powerful, expensive spells and creatures.

Niche Builds

Gilded Lotus can also be included in more niche Commander decks that focus on specific themes or strategies. For example:

• Ramp-Heavy Decks: Decks like Simian Spirit Guide/Mox Opal or Sol Ring/Mox Jet can use Gilded Lotus to accelerate their mana development and play more expensive cards earlier.
• Combo-Oriented Decks: Gilded Lotus can help combo decks with powerful, expensive spells by providing the necessary mana to cast them on a timely basis.

Overall, Gilded Lotus is a valuable addition to many Commander decks due to its ability to provide a significant boost in mana development.

Gilded Lotus is a staple in many artifact-heavy Commander decks, and its versatility extends beyond mere mana acceleration. Consider pairing it with Mox Opal, allowing you to generate five mana of any color on the turn it's played, providing an instant speed boost.

In combination with Sol Ring or Black Lotus, Gilded Lotus can create explosive starts, generating four to six mana in a single turn. This synergy is particularly effective when paired with cards like Rite of Replication or [Goblin Bombardment, which benefit from quick and efficient mana generation.

One creative application of Gilded Lotus lies in the use of artifact recursion effects, such as Thief of Sanity or Aether Vial. By generating three mana at instant speed, you can play these artifacts on turn one, setting up a recursive chain that enables an additional two to three turns of accelerated mana generation.

Gilded Lotus also interacts well with cards that provide alternate uses for artifact artifacts. For example, Craterhoof Behemoth can be played on turn four when paired with Gilded Lotus and another artifact, such as Mox Opal. This combination creates a powerful threat that can quickly take over the board.

When building around Gilded Lotus, consider focusing on cards that generate card advantage through recursive or token-generating effects. Cards like Karn Liberated], [[Liliana of the Veil, or Nirix Botanicus pair well with Gilded Lotus, enabling you to create an early game presence while generating additional mana for future turns.

When combined with cards that manipulate your deck, such as [Bolas's Citadel or [Eternity Surge, Gilded Lotus can accelerate the draw into powerful artifacts and spells. This creates a snowball effect where the generated mana fuels further acceleration, leading to an explosive gameplan.

Gilded Lotus is also an effective engine in mono-colored artifact decks. When paired with cards like Sword of Light and Shadow or [Batterskull, Gilded Lotus generates three additional mana on top of the two from the equipped artifacts.

Common Mistakes with Gilded Lotus

Gilded Lotus is a powerful artifact that can add three mana of any color to your mana pool. However, its versatility often leads to misplays and misunderstood rules.

Timing Issues

• Not timing it right: Players sometimes forget that Gilded Lotus's ability only triggers when you tap the card, not when you play it or during your main phase. This can lead to missed opportunities to generate extra mana.
• Using it too early: Tapping Gilded Lotus on turn 1 or 2 can be too aggressive, especially in games where your opponent has a strong early game presence. Consider holding off until later turns to maximize its value.

Misunderstood Rules

• Adding three mana of any color: It's essential to understand that you can add any three colors of mana from Gilded Lotus, not just one. For example, if you have an open blue source and a tapped Island, you can tap Gilded Lotus to generate three more blue mana.
• Ignoring card disadvantage: When generating extra mana with Gilded Lotus, players often overlook the opportunity cost of tapping it. Be mindful that tapping an artifact like this means you can't use its ability again on subsequent turns.

Poor Synergies

• Pairing with low-toughness creatures: Gilded Lotus is best paired with high-power, low-toughness creatures like Mox Opal or Snapcaster Mage. Avoid pairing it with large creatures that don't benefit from the extra mana.
• Failing to optimize mana acceleration: When combining Gilded Lotus with other mana accelerators like Ancestral Recall, make sure you're maximizing your mana output. Consider using the generated mana to play a more expensive spell or generate even more mana.

Commander-Specific Mistakes

In Commander, players often forget that Gilded Lotus can be used in conjunction with other artifacts and planeswalkers. Avoid underutilizing this card by pairing it with cards like Sol Ring, Mox Opal, or Urza's Saga.

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Gilded Lotus: A Flexible Mana Accelerator

The Gilded Lotus is a powerful artifact that can add three mana of any one color to your pool. This ability makes it an attractive addition to decks seeking to accelerate their mana development.

Commander and Color Identity

The Gilded Lotus works well in various Commander and color identities, particularly those focused on generating or manipulating mana:

• Azorius: Combine the Lotus with Luminarch Ascension and Sylvan Caryatid for a strong mana acceleration engine.
• Golgari: Pair the Lotus with Rafiq of the Many and Evolving Wilds to create a token-heavy, mana-manipulating deck.
• Dimir: Synergize the Lotus with Thought-Knot Seer and Undercity Paladin for a controlling, card-drawing strategy.

Themes

The Gilded Lotus is versatile enough to fit into various themes:

• Ramp Decks: Use the Lotus as a key component in ramp decks focused on accelerating mana development.
• Token Generators: Combine the Lotus with token-generating artifacts and creatures to create an explosive, mid-game advantage.
• Mana Manipulation: Pair the Lotus with cards like Evolving Wilds and Azorius Signet for a highly interactive game plan.

Synergy Cards

Some notable synergy cards that pair well with Gilded Lotus include:

• Tolarian Academy: Accelerate your mana even further by tapping into the Academy's ability.
• Simian Spirit Guide: Combine the Guide's mana acceleration with the Lotus to develop a strong board presence.
• Blossoming Market: Pair the Market's token generation with the Lotus for a powerful, mid-game advantage.

Combo Notes

The Gilded Lotus can be used in various combo strategies:

• Liliana of the Veil: Combine the Lotus with Liliana and Eternal Witness to create an infinite combo.
• Karn, the Great Creator: Pair the Lotus with Karn and Evolving Wilds for a highly interactive, artifact-heavy strategy.

By incorporating Gilded Lotus into your deck, you'll gain access to accelerated mana development and increased flexibility in your gameplay.

Gilded Lotus is a powerful artifact that has been a staple in Commander and other formats for years. It allows you to add three mana of any one color at sorcery speed, making it an excellent enabler for big spells.

In Commander, Gilded Lotus is commonly seen in decks that rely on powerful artifacts and big, expensive spells. It's often paired with cards like Mox Opal and City of Traitors to generate a significant amount of mana. This combination can be particularly deadly when used in conjunction with creature-heavy decks.

Gilded Lotus also sees play in other formats such as Modern and Pauper. In these environments, it's often used to accelerate into bigger spells like Karn Liberated or Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. However, its impact is generally less significant compared to Commander due to the presence of more efficient mana accelerants.

In terms of competitiveness, Gilded Lotus can be considered a mid-to-high-power card. Its ability to add three mana at sorcery speed makes it an excellent enabler for big spells, but it's not as explosive as some other cards in the format. It's often seen in top-tier decks, but its impact is dependent on the specific build and strategy.

In casual play, Gilded Lotus can still be a game-changer due to its ability to generate a large amount of mana quickly. However, its power level is generally too high for more casual formats like Draft or Constructed decks without access to powerful artifacts.

Interestingly, Gilded Lotus has never been banned in any major format, likely due to its relatively low play rate compared to other cards with similar abilities. Its price point is also relatively affordable, making it accessible to players who want to try out Commander or other formats featuring big spells and artifact-heavy strategies.

Here are some specific examples of how Gilded Lotus can be used in Commander decks:

• In a mono-red deck featuring Karn Liberated and Sulfur Falls, Gilded Lotus can accelerate into Karn's ability, allowing for the casting of larger spells.
• In a green-white deck featuring Emrakul, the Aeons Torn and Atraxa, Praetors' Voice, Gilded Lotus can enable the casting of Emrakul, a powerful and expensive creature.

Overall, Gilded Lotus is a versatile artifact that offers significant mana acceleration in Commander and other formats. Its impact is often dependent on the specific build and strategy, but it remains an excellent enabler for big spells and a staple in many Commander decks.

Key Scenarios & Matchups

Gilded Lotus is a versatile artifact that excels in various scenarios, particularly when combined with other mana acceleration and ramp spells.

• Early Game Ramp: Gilded Lotus shines when paired with early-game ramp effects like Mox Opal Mox Opal, Simian Spirit Guide Simian Spirit Guide, or Cultivate Cultivate. This combination allows for rapid development of a powerful board presence, enabling the casting of larger spells on subsequent turns.
• Mid-Game Mana Dump: Gilded Lotus also performs well when used in conjunction with mana-dumping artifacts like Urza's Tower Urza's Tower or Mana Confluence Mana Confluence. These cards provide an immediate influx of colorless mana, which can be combined with the additional three colors from Gilded Lotus to accelerate spell casting.
• Multiplayer Politics: In multiplayer games, particularly in Commander, Gilded Lotus becomes a crucial factor in politics and negotiation. Players often use it as leverage to secure trades or influence game plans, as its ability to add three mana of any color provides unparalleled flexibility.

Scenarios where Gilded Lotus may struggle include:

• Control-Oriented Decks: In more controlling strategies focused on disrupting opponents' mana development, Gilded Lotus's effectiveness can be diminished. Cards like Abrupt Decay Abrupt Decay, Kolaghan's Command Kolaghan's Command, or Choke Choke can hinder the artifact's impact.
• Competitive Single-Color Decks: In single-color decks designed for competitive play, the lack of a specific color requirement for Gilded Lotus may limit its potential. Players often focus on optimized mana bases and don't require additional colors.

Keep in mind that these scenarios are not absolute and can be mitigated with proper deck-building and game planning.

Gilded Lotus, a rare artifact from Magic: The Gathering's M13 set. Initially released in 2013, it has since become a staple in various decks due to its ability to add three mana of any color to a player's pool upon tapping.

Tournament presence is notable, as Gilded Lotus often appears in decks that rely on flexible mana generation and accelerated development. Its inclusion can be seen in the likes of Eldrazi Displacer-based and Atraxa, Praetors' Voice-centric combinations. While its EDHREC rank is 369, indicating moderate popularity among Commander players, it remains a sought-after card for its versatility.

In terms of printings and reprints, Gilded Lotus has undergone various iterations since its initial release in M13. A foil reprint can be found in the 2018 set Guilds of Ravnica. The rarity and availability of the card have led to fluctuations in prices across different regions, ranging from 0.02 Tix to as high as 7.17 EUD Foil.

When combined with Mox Opal or other mana accelerants like Goblin Guide, Gilded Lotus can significantly accelerate a player's game plan by generating large amounts of mana quickly. This synergy has led to its inclusion in numerous Commander decks focusing on aggressive and combo-oriented strategies.

The Gilded Lotus, a rare artifact from the Mirrodin Block's M13 set, exudes an air of luxury and sophistication. Its gilded surface gleams with an otherworldly aura, as if infused with the essence of gold itself. This relic has been unearthed in the depths of Mirrodin, where the fabric of reality is twisted by the presence of artifacts.

According to ancient lore, the Gilded Lotus was crafted by a cabal of powerful artifact smiths who sought to create a tool that would unlock the secrets of mana manipulation. By imbuing the artifact with magical energies, they hoped to amplify their own abilities and bend the very fabric of reality to their will. Some whisper that the Lotus is more than just an artifact – it's a key to unlocking the hidden patterns of magic itself.

When activated, the Gilded Lotus pours forth three mana of any color, granting its wielder unparalleled flexibility in spellcasting. This ability makes it a coveted component for decks built around tempo and control strategies, allowing players to adapt quickly to changing circumstances on the battlefield.

In playtesting, some have experimented with pairing the Gilded Lotus with cards like Riddle of Lightning or Lightning Bolt, using its mana-generating capabilities to fuel explosive combos and aggressive plays. Others have employed it in more defensive roles, leveraging its versatility to stabilize their life totals and outlast opponents.

The Mirrodin Block is known for its intricate world-building, where artifacts hold sway over the lives of mortals. The Gilded Lotus fits neatly into this narrative, serving as a symbol of power and knowledge coveted by those who seek mastery over magic. Its very existence speaks to the dark allure of artifact magic, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur.

In games featuring the Gilded Lotus, players must carefully consider their mana strategy, weighing the benefits of tempo and control against the risks of overextending themselves. As they weave a complex tapestry of spellcasting and artifact play, the Gilded Lotus stands as a testament to the enduring power of Mirrodin's mysterious artifacts.