How does Omnath, Locus of Mana's first ability work?
Asked by LikeMike 14 years ago
I need some clarity for the ability of Omnath, Locus of Mana .
I dont understand what the first part of his ability is suppose to do, "Green mana does not get emptyed from your mana pool as steps and phases ends" what does it mean?
Well the first thing that you need to understand is that land itself is not mana, you tap the land for mana, and that mana is stored in your mana pool. Generally, the mana that you get when you tap land doesn't last forever. If you don't use it by the end of each phase it will empty from the mana pool meaning you won't be able to use it anymore. However with Omnath, Locus of Mana , the mana that you get from the land doesn't empty. You could tap a forest one turn, and then next turn use the mana you got from it. Omnath's abilities go with each other because his power and toughness are equal to the green mana in your mana pool. So for example: you tap 5 forests for 5 green mana then pass your turn (Omnath remains a 5/5 since the mana doesn't empty) then next turn you tap 5 more forests for 5 forest mana. That makes Omnath a 10/10 because you still have the 5 from last turn because of Omnath's first ability. I'm sorry if what I'm saying is kind of confusing. It's kind of tough to explain.
March 25, 2011 4 p.m.
melbicimni says... #3
What user:makolifesream said was correct, I think the gatherer ruling on the card makes it really clear:
You can keep green mana in your mana pool indefinitely while Omnath, Locus of Mana is on the battlefield. That means if you add a green mana to your mana pool during one step or phase, you can spend it during a later step or phase, or even a later turn. Other types of mana will continue to empty from your mana pool as each step and phase ends.http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=197759
March 25, 2011 4:04 p.m.
What Omnath, Locus of Mana does is allow you to keep all unused Green mana in your mana pool for as long as you want until you use it.
This means you can tap 4 Forest and a Llanowar Elves your turn for 5 Green mana and this mana will stay available for the rest of the game until you use it or Omnath is removed, allowing you to keep building up a mana pool each of your turns to play something really big and costly after just a couple of turns.
March 25, 2011 4:10 p.m.
MagnorCriol says... Accepted answer #5
Something that's sort of been said, but I think needs to be emphasized - under normal circumstances, mana empties from your pool at the end of each step or phase. You can't just float it around all the time.
A turn breaks down into steps and phases like so:
Beginning Phase
Untap Step
Upkeep Step
Draw Step
Main Phase
Combat Phase
Beginning of Combat Step
Declare Attackers Step
Declare Blockers Step
Combat Damage Step
End of Combat Step
Ending Phase
End Step
Cleanup Step
Most of what each of those steps are is probably fairly clear if you think about a normal turn of Magic. And any mana you gain during any one of those steps will empty from your pool as each one ends.
So a card like Braid of Fire is actually pretty limited because its mana only lasts during the upkeep step, and Radha, Heir to Keld 's mana can only be spent in the declare attackers step.
Omnath, Locus of Mana allows you to break this rule by letting your green mana accrue and sit around in your pool indefinitely.
March 25, 2011 5:34 p.m.
theemptyquiver says... #6
I kill omnath the moment I see it hit the table.
Always!
The card is evil.
March 25, 2011 11:45 p.m.
OfficialFlowerPrince says... #7
So if I'm understanding this correctly, If i tap 5 mana and don't use it then if i do the same next turn i'll have 5 mana plus another 5 that didn't empty? making 10 mana???
MakoLifeStream says... #1
That means when you tap forests (or whatever) for green mana, and it is not used, it will stay in your mana pool. normally if you were to tap for too much mana, as a step ends (starting main phase to declaring attackers for example) your mana pool empties.
March 25, 2011 3:59 p.m.