GlimmervoidHow it works & interactions with other cards

Universal Mana with a Catch

Glimmervoid is a nonbasic land that taps for one mana of any color in the game. Unlike other lands that might have restrictions based on your commander or your opponents, this land provides total color flexibility. However, it features a mandatory triggered ability that checks your board state during every one of your end steps.

The End Step Check

The sacrifice ability uses an 'intervening if' clause. This means the ability triggers at the beginning of the end step only if you control zero artifacts. If the ability triggers, it checks again as it tries to resolve. If you somehow flash in an artifact while the trigger is on the stack, Glimmervoid will see that artifact and you will not have to sacrifice the land.

Strategic Timing

Because the check happens at the beginning of the end step, Glimmervoid is safe during your main phases and combat. You can play Glimmervoid as your land for the turn, use its mana to cast an artifact, and as long as that artifact remains on the battlefield when you end your turn, Glimmervoid stays. If your last artifact is destroyed during an opponent's turn, Glimmervoid will wait until the next end step (which is usually that opponent's end step) to trigger and sacrifice itself.

Interaction examples

Glimmervoid vs. Conditional Lands

Command Tower

If you are playing a mono-red Commander deck, Command Tower can only produce red mana. Glimmervoid, however, can produce blue or green mana, which might be necessary for activated abilities of artifacts or spells you've stolen from opponents. Just ensure you have an artifact in play to keep it.

Relying on Opponents

Exotic Orchard

If your opponent only controls basic Forests, your Exotic Orchard can only produce green mana. Glimmervoid bypasses this limitation, allowing you to cast any spell in your hand regardless of what your opponents are playing, provided your artifact count is at least one.

The Turn One Play

If you play Glimmervoid as your first land and pass the turn without playing an artifact (like a zero-cost Ornithopter or Mana Crypt), the end step trigger will go on the stack. Since you control no artifacts, the 'if' condition is met, and you must sacrifice Glimmervoid immediately.