mana – Cardboard Keeper

1. Sol Ring The oldest and – some would say – best mana rock of all time, Sol Ring is a one-mana artifact that taps for two mana. It’s so strong that it’s a Vintage staple; it was banned in Legacy, and every Commander deck runs it, or at least they should. It is the most popular nonland card on EDHREC, used in 81% of all decks on the site. Sol Ring is incredible because it provides a solid, consistent ramp as no other card can. It can take you to four mana on turn two without a single drawback. This power is a tremendous advantage against a player without a Sol Ring of their own. 2. Chromatic Lantern The perfect mana rock for any multicolor deck, Chromatic Lantern doesn’t just tap for any color of mana. It also fixes your mana perfectly. While it is out on the battlefield, all lands you control can also add one mana of any color. And that’s all for only three mana. Chromatic Lantern is used in 11% of all decks on EDHREC, and for a good reason. No matter if you’re playing Boros Avacyn or Five-Color Progenitus, any deck running two or more colors can benefit from mana fixing. The ramp is helpful too. ALSO READ: Best MTG Colorless Mana Sources [Mana Guide] 3. Thought Vessel Sometimes you don’t just need a mana rock – sometimes, you need no maximum hand size. And if that’s you, then Thought Vessel is the mana rock for you. It costs two mana, taps for one colorless, and lets you have as many cards in your hand as you want. While Thought Vessel is underwhelming on its own, especially in aggressive decks, it’s a rewarding choice for anyone playing a slower game. The no maximum hand size ability more than makes up for its mediocre ramp in the long run. So, of course, 12% of all Commander decks listed on EDHREC run this rock. 4. Commander’s Sphere Commander’s Sphere might not be an exciting mana rock, but it doesn’t need to be. For three mana, you get an artifact that taps for any color. Already, that’s par for the course. However, you can also sacrifice Commander’s Sphere to draw a card. This ability ensures that Commander’s Sphere will always be helpful, whether or not you need mana. The sacrifice is also free, again helping you to prioritize your mana. No wonder Commander’s Sphere sees play in 17% of all EDHREC Commander decks. 5. Gilded Lotus One of the costliest and flashiest mana rocks – going by mana cost and card art, anyway –Gilded Lotus taps to add three mana of any color. Yes, that’s right. Gilded Lotus is effectively a Black Lotus, every single turn. Of course, this insane mana comes at a cost. Gilded Lotus costs five mana to play, so don’t expect to get it out on turn one. Regardless, this mana rock has had an impressive competitive record, picking up five Pro Tour Top 8 finishes. 6. Mana Crypt The infamous Mana Crypt is a high-risk, high-reward mana rock that costs zero mana to cast but can tap for two mana immediately. However, this speed comes at a cost – a coin flip. And if you lose the flip, then Mana Crypt deals three damage to you. Nevertheless, Mana Crypt is still a staple of Commander and Vintage. Mana Crypt is an obvious inclusion for any deck that can risk taking a Lightning Bolt to the face every turn in exchange for free and easy mana. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. 7. Mind Stone & Hedron Archive Mind Stone is an excellent mana rock that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Although costing two mana and only tapping for one colorless isn’t impressive, Mind Stone’s ability to pay two mana and sacrifice itself to draw a card is. With this ability, the moment you no longer need the ramp, you can sacrifice the mana rock for added benefit. And Hedron Archive is just two Mind Stones stapled together. It costs twice as much and does twice as much, tapping for two mana and drawing two cards. Collectively, these mana rocks have seen a total of eleven Top 8s in highest-level professional play. 8. Thran Dynamo Thran Dynamo costs four mana, taps for three mana, and it’s one of the best mana rocks of all time. After all, few other cards can take you from four mana on turn four to eight! mana on turn five. And that’s not counting its absurd power when played alongside other nonland mana sources. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Thran Dynamo has had a great history of competitive use. Players have used it six Pro Tour top eight decks and the winning decks for Worlds 1999 and Worlds 2000. Now that’s what I call a mana rock. 9. Fellwar Stone A genuinely unique mana rock, Fellwar Stone can add one mana of any color that an opponent’s land could produce. This distinctive design and Fellwar Stone’s low two mana casting cost have made it a prevalent mana rock. It especially excels in multiplayer games, where the diversity of decks ensures you’ll always have access to the mana you need. Fellwar Stone has also seen great success in the professional circuit. Players used it in six Top 8 decks across various Pro Tours and Worlds championships. 10. Chrome Mox Although all the Moxen are excellent mana rocks, Chrome Mox is the one that stands out the most. It is relatively affordable, and it’s playable in every format from Commander to Legacy. After all, who doesn’t like a zero mana artifact that can tap for any color of mana? No wonder Chrome Mox has over 25 Top 8 finishes in Worlds and Pro Tours. Chrome Mox does this through the imprint ability. You can exile a nonland, nonartifact card from your hand when it enters the battlefield. From there on out, Chrome Mox can tap for one mana of any of that card’s colors. This ability is excellent fixing and a way to find a use for any dud cards in your hand.