Channel
Fourth Edition 236 • uncommon
- Set
- Fourth Edition
- Collector number
- 236
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Mana cost
- green mana green mana
- Type
- Sorcery
- Colors
- Green
- Artist
- Richard Thomas
- Market price
- $0.31
What it does
Until end of turn, any time you could activate a mana ability, you may pay 1 life. If you do, add colorless mana.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyBanned
- VintageRestricted
- CommanderBanned
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlBanned
- HistoricBanned
- TimelessRestricted
- Penny DreadfulNot legal
- OathbreakerBanned
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
Search for Channel on the marketplaces collectors use.
Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Where it came from
Channel was originally released in the 1993 Alpha set as a rare sorcery, quickly becoming one of the most infamous cards in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to accelerate massive amounts of colorless mana at the cost of life. Its design, attributed to artist Jesper Myrfors, reflects the early aesthetic of the game where powerful, low-cost spells were balanced by the inherent risks of the life-payment mechanic. The card became a cornerstone of fast-combo decks, famously pairing with Fireball to end games in a single turn.
The Fourth Edition printing, released in 1995, served as the game's first core set expansion designed to broaden accessibility by reprinting popular cards from previous limited releases. While Fourth Edition featured white borders to distinguish it from earlier sets, the mechanics of Channel remained unchanged. By the time of this release, the card had already been restricted in tournament play, cementing its legacy as a pivotal relic of Magic's experimental formative years.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Channel
Channel is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Fourth Edition 236 • uncommon. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Channel on collecto.rs?
Channel doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Channel?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your card, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other magic: the gathering collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Channel catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Channel is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs cards tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your cards is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every card you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
