Introduction
How often do you scroll through a new set release, barely glancing at the unassuming artifacts, dismissing them as draft chaff? The Magic: The Gathering universe is filled with cards that are immediately recognized as powerhouses, chase rares that command attention and dominate deckbuilding conversations. But what about the quiet, less flashy cards, the ones that sit patiently, waiting to be discovered, waiting for the right synergy to unlock their true potential? Threefold Sun is one such card.
This unassuming artifact often gets overlooked in the flurry of new releases, relegated to the bottom of the trade binder, deemed too slow, too mana-intensive, too… average. But to dismiss Threefold Sun entirely would be a mistake. In the right deck, under the right circumstances, and with the right strategic vision, Threefold Sun can be a surprisingly effective tool. It offers versatility, incremental value, and a colorless identity that allows it to slot into a wider variety of decks than you might initially think.
This guide will delve into the intricacies of Threefold Sun, examining its strengths and weaknesses, exploring optimal strategies for utilizing its unique abilities, and uncovering its potential in various Magic: The Gathering formats. We will unlock the hidden power behind this unassuming artifact and demonstrate why it deserves a second look from players of all skill levels.
Card Deep Dive: Threefold Sun’s Mechanics
Threefold Sun is an artifact with a colorless mana cost. This cost, while seemingly simple, is one of the card’s defining features. Colorless mana provides unparalleled flexibility in deck construction. Unlike cards requiring specific colored mana, Threefold Sun can easily find a home in virtually any deck regardless of its color composition. This is especially valuable in multicoloured decks that might struggle with mana consistency or in decks that are looking for a consistent, reliable source of utility regardless of their primary game plan. Of course, this colorless nature also means it lacks synergy with strategies that specifically reward playing colored spells or artifacts, so a bit of deck evaluation is still necessary to optimize your build.
Threefold Sun’s power lies in its three activated abilities, each providing a distinct form of utility that can be activated by tapping the artifact:
You gain three life. This ability provides a steady stream of life gain, a seemingly simple effect that can have significant implications over the course of a game. Gaining life can buy you crucial turns against aggressive strategies, allowing you to stabilize and develop your board presence. Furthermore, this life gain synergizes exceptionally well with cards that trigger on life gain, transforming Threefold Sun into a key enabler for lifegain-centric strategies.
Create a one/one white Soldier creature token. This ability generates a consistent flow of creature tokens, steadily building your board presence. One/one tokens might seem weak on their own, but they can be remarkably effective in multiples. These tokens can serve as chump blockers, protecting your more valuable creatures or planeswalkers. They can also be used aggressively, overwhelming your opponent with sheer numbers, especially when combined with anthem effects or other token-buffing cards.
Put a plus one/plus one counter on target creature. This ability provides a flexible way to strengthen your creatures, turning small threats into significant problems for your opponent. The ability to place a plus one/plus one counter allows you to pump up key creatures, enhancing their offensive and defensive capabilities. This ability is especially powerful in decks that are already focused on creature growth or that utilize other counter synergies.
Threefold Sun’s card type as an artifact is also noteworthy. Being an artifact makes it inherently vulnerable to artifact removal spells, a common sight in many Magic: The Gathering formats. However, it also opens the door to synergies with artifact-centric strategies. Artifact decks often contain cards that reward you for playing artifacts, interacting with artifacts, or even sacrificing artifacts for value. Threefold Sun can contribute to these synergies, providing additional value beyond its individual abilities.
Evaluating Threefold Sun: Strengths and Weaknesses
The true value of any Magic: The Gathering card lies in its ability to contribute to a winning game plan. Threefold Sun possesses several strengths that make it a surprisingly potent option in the right circumstances.
Versatility
The defining characteristic of Threefold Sun is its versatility. The three activated abilities provide a range of options, allowing you to adapt to different game states and respond to your opponent’s actions. Need to gain life to survive an aggressive onslaught? Threefold Sun can provide that. Need to build your board presence? Threefold Sun can generate tokens. Need to strengthen your creatures? Threefold Sun can provide the counters.
Incremental Value
Threefold Sun does not offer explosive, game-winning plays. Instead, it provides a steady stream of incremental value. Each activation provides a small advantage, and these advantages accumulate over time, eventually snowballing into a significant lead. This incremental value is particularly effective in longer games, where you have the time to fully capitalize on the card’s abilities.
Colorless Mana Requirements
The ability to slot Threefold Sun into any deck, regardless of color requirements, provides significant flexibility when building decks.
However, Threefold Sun also suffers from several weaknesses that hold it back from being a universally powerful card:
Slow Speed
All of Threefold Sun’s abilities require tapping the artifact to activate, making it a somewhat slow play.
Vulnerability to Removal
Artifact removal is rampant in many formats, and Threefold Sun is particularly vulnerable to these spells. Losing Threefold Sun to a well-timed artifact removal spell can set you back significantly, especially if you were relying on its abilities to stabilize or build your board presence.
Lack of Immediate Impact
Threefold Sun is not a card that will immediately win you the game. It requires time and careful planning to generate significant value. In fast-paced formats, where games are often decided in the early turns, Threefold Sun can struggle to make an impact.
Best Uses: Optimal Strategies and Deck Building
To maximize the effectiveness of Threefold Sun, it is crucial to build a deck that complements its strengths and mitigates its weaknesses. Several archetypes stand out as particularly well-suited for this unassuming artifact.
Lifegain Decks
Decks focused on gaining life often synergize exceptionally well with Threefold Sun. The life gain ability can trigger powerful effects, such as drawing cards, dealing damage, or even gaining control of your opponent’s creatures. Examples include Aetherflux Reservoir, Sanguine Bond and similar effects.
Token Decks
The token generation ability of Threefold Sun makes it a valuable addition to token-centric strategies. The tokens can serve as fodder for sacrifice outlets, fuel for anthem effects, or simply contribute to an overwhelming board presence.
Plus One/Plus One Counter Strategies
Decks that focus on placing plus one/plus one counters on creatures can benefit from the flexibility of Threefold Sun. The ability to place a counter on a target creature provides a consistent way to grow your threats and enhance their combat capabilities.
Artifact-Heavy Decks
In artifact-heavy decks, Threefold Sun can contribute to broader artifact synergies, triggering effects that reward you for playing artifacts, interacting with artifacts, or even sacrificing artifacts.
Commander Considerations
Threefold Sun can be a surprisingly effective roleplayer in Commander. The multiplayer nature of the format allows you more time to leverage its incremental value. Commanders who benefit from any of its three abilities are great candidates. A Commander such as “Oloro, Ageless Ascetic” can directly benefit from the incremental lifegain that the artifact provides.
Alternatives and Comparisons
It is important to consider alternatives to Threefold Sun when building your deck. Several other cards offer similar effects, and it is crucial to weigh their strengths and weaknesses before making a decision.
Pristine Talisman: Offers mana ramp and lifegain, but lacks the token and counter abilities.
Shrine of Loyal Legions: Generates tokens, but requires a significant investment of mana and has a slower activation speed.
When to choose Threefold Sun over these alternatives? When you need flexibility, when you value the ability to adapt to different game states, and when you are playing in a deck that synergizes with multiple of its abilities.
Conclusion
Threefold Sun is not a flashy, game-winning card. But in the right deck, under the right circumstances, and with the right strategic vision, it can be a surprisingly effective tool. Its versatility, incremental value, and colorless identity make it a valuable addition to a variety of strategies.
So, don’t dismiss Threefold Sun! Give it a try in your next Commander game, experiment with it in your token deck, or explore its potential in your lifegain strategy. You might be surprised by the value it provides. In a format as vast and complex as Magic: The Gathering, hidden gems often lie buried beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered. Threefold Sun is one such gem, a testament to the power of versatility and the enduring value of incremental advantage.
