Damping Matrix
Modern Masters 2017 218 • rare
- Set
- Modern Masters 2017
- Collector number
- 218
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- 3 generic mana
- Type
- Artifact
- Colors
- Colorless
- Artist
- Mike Dringenberg
- Market price
- $0.81
What it does
Activated abilities of artifacts and creatures can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
The priests tried cursing it. The mages tried dispelling it. In the end, they all obeyed it.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulLegal
- OathbreakerLegal
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
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Where it came from
Damping Matrix was originally introduced in the Mirrodin expansion set in 2003, designed to introduce a potent artifact-hating tool into the game's evolving meta. The card serves a clear tactical purpose: preventing players from activating the abilities of artifacts and creatures, which serves as a vital 'hate piece' against combo decks that rely heavily on activated abilities. Its inclusion in the 2017 Modern Masters set provided a much-needed reprint for players in the Modern format, keeping the card accessible for sideboard strategies.
The card features artwork by Mike Dringenberg, a prominent illustrator known for his work on The Sandman series. Dringenberg’s aesthetic for the card leans into the mechanical, cold, and calculated nature of the Mirrodin plane, focusing on the rigid structure of the matrix itself. The design emphasizes the card's function through its stark, industrial visual language, and it has long been regarded by players as a staple technical card for tournament sideboards rather than a flashy centerpiece.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Damping Matrix
Damping Matrix is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Modern Masters 2017 218 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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