Invasion of Karsus // Refraction Elemental
Battle — Siege // Creature — Elemental
(As a Siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it's defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.)
When this Siege enters, it deals 3 damage to each creature and each planeswalker.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- March of the Machine Promos
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #12385
Invasion of Karsus // Refraction Elemental hits the board as a five-mana spell that wipes all opposing noncreature, nonland permanents — enchantments, artifacts, planeswalkers, the works — then flips into a 4/4 flier that copies instant and sorcery spells you cast. That back half is what separates it from a one-shot board clear; the immediate threat of spell-doubling forces opponents to deal with it the turn it lands.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Invasion of Karsus // Refraction Elemental occupies a real niche: a sweeper that leaves behind a threat and rewards spell-heavy decks. Five mana for mass artifact and enchantment removal is already playable in a format where Smothering Tithe and Rhystic Study are everywhere, and Refraction Elemental's copy trigger turns every subsequent Cyclonic Rift or Treasure Cruise into a two-for-one. In competitive non-rotating formats like Legacy and Vintage, five mana is too slow and the effect too narrow to displace dedicated hate pieces. Modern and Pioneer sit in between — the card is legal but rarely sees play, since those formats lack the permanent-type diversity that makes the front side sing. Commander is unambiguously its best home.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data isn't currently available for Invasion of Karsus // Refraction Elemental, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for a live number before buying. March of the Machine battles as a cycle have generally settled into bulk or near-bulk territory, which would make this an easy pickup if the effect fits your deck.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.