It’s time to take on the New Phyrexian hordes – as we check out the rarest cards in March of the Machine!
The conclusion of Magic: The Gathering’s latest epic story arc is upon us, with March of the Machine.
As Planeswalkers from across the Multiverse band together to stop the Borg-like Phyrexians from completely taking over all sentient life, no character is safe from their onslaught.
The set has brought some interesting new card types and keywords to Magic: The Gathering, with Battle cards – that can be attacked – and the Backup keyword being perhaps the most prominent.
With over 350 cards in the main set, many of which will be highly sought after Mythic Rares, there’s also a number of variants and promo cards that will be available outside of the usual range of booster packs.
Which are the rarest though?
Let’s find out, as we check out the five rarest cards in March of the Machine!
1. Thalia And The Gitrog Monster (#12)
Store Championships in Magic: The Gathering are a great way to connect with local players and compete against them with your own, tournament-legal decks.
Stores may offer their own incentives, but Magic publishers Wizards of the Coast also provide prize cards to be given out to players who take part in Store Championships too.
For winning the latest Store Championship, players will receive a textless, full art Thalia and the Gitrog Monster card.
Though it’s not particularly practical to use in play – because Thalia and the Gitrog Monster is a powerful card with a detailed list of effects – there’s no denying that the card’s art, credited to PINDURSKI, is a phenomenal piece of work.
Not only does Thalia and the Gitrog Monster have the First Strike keyword, but it also has Deathtouch – so it’s incredibly deadly even without its other effects.
Creatures and basic lands your opponent plays enter the battlefield tapped, slowing them down when this deadly Legendary Creature is in play.
It doesn’t end there, however: every time Thalia and the Gitrog Monster attacks, the controlling player must sacrifice a creature or land, but they also get to draw a card too.
Though only possessing 4/4 in Power/Toughness, Thalia and the Gitrog Monster definitely punches above its weight!
2. Aether Channeler (#11)
The second of the Store Championship prize cards, Aether Channeler is awarded to the top 8 finalists in each store’s tournament.
Aether Channeler has been a promo card before – when it first appeared in Dominaria United in 2022, it was part of the main set in different art variants as well as being in promo form too.
A blue Creature card, Aether Channeler offers a choice of three effects when it comes into play: players can create a 1/1 Bird token with Flying, return a target nonland permanent card to its owners hand or draw a card.
Naturally, being a Creature it can also remain to attack and defend too; with 2/1 Power/Toughness, it probably won’t be around for long, however!
3. Strangle (#10)
Another card that can be gained through entry in a March of the Machine Store Championship, Strangle is going to be a more common card than the others, seeing as anyone who takes part in the championship will receive this card.
First appearing in 2022’s Streets of New Capenna set, Strangle is a cheap card – costing just a single red to play – that deals three damage to either a creature or a planeswalker.
Strangle is pretty much as simple and basic as they come, but can be quite effective in the right hands!
4. Omnath, Locus of All (#387)
Though Omnath, Locus of All appears three times in March of the Machine, card #387 is only available as a bonus extra if players purchase a box of Magic: The Gathering booster packs.
The Buy-a-Box promotion – intended to assist bricks-and-mortar game stores with Magic: The Gathering sales – sees a specific card offered with the purchase of a new set’s booster box.
It’s been somewhat controversial at times, with some cards locked behind this exclusivity and not available any other way – particularly when the card on offer has been somewhat powerful – but Omnath, Locus of All is merely offered with alternate art and is available as part of the main March of the Machine set too.
Though art is of course subjective, it’s hard not to feel that the Buy-a-Box variant of Omnath, Locus of All is the best looking of the three in March of the Machine.
A five colour card (though Black is instead Phyrexian mana; this can be paid for with either Black mana or two life points), this Legendary Creature can certainly be a challenge to get into play, but its ability allows players to add further three-colour (or more!) cards to their hand.
At 4/4 with Power and Toughness, it isn’t the most powerful creature – but it’s definitely a useful card to have in your deck!
5. Ghalta and Mavren (#386)
Another promo card, Ghalta and Mavren card number 386 is available only in the March of the Machine Bundle.
Many years ago, MTG bundles were known as ‘Fat Packs’ – and, like the contemporary Bundles, are a great way of sampling a new set.
They’re even fairly noob-friendly, seeing as Bundles include not just 8 Set Boosters, but a good selection of Land cards and a d20 life counter, along with a card storage box too.
That’s without even mentioning the Ghalta and Mavren promo card.
As with Omnath, Locus of All, the Ghalta and Mavren card is available in different art variants in the regular March of the Machine set.
Vampire Mavren first appeared in the Ixalan set – and here, he teams up with Dinosaur Ghalta (who made their appearance in the Rivals of Ixalan set) to make a Dinosaur Vampire creature card with a great 12/12 Power/Toughness and Trample.
Oh, and did we mention that it can create both Dinosaur and Vampire tokens too?
Though the Bundle does have the rarest version of Ghalta and Mavren’s card, this is definitely a card that’s worth hunting down in the regular set if – for whatever reason – you can’t secure a Bundle!
