Roadside ReliquaryHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Requirements for Maximum Value

Roadside Reliquary has a unique activated ability that checks for two specific permanent types: artifacts and enchantments. When you activate the ability by paying two mana, tapping it, and sacrificing the land, the game checks your board during resolution. If you control at least one artifact, you draw a card; if you control at least one enchantment, you draw another card. If you control both, you draw two cards total.

The Resolution Process

First, you must pay the costs: pay two generic mana, tap Roadside Reliquary, and sacrifice it. Once the ability is on the stack, players can respond. When the ability resolves, it performs two separate checks. It is important to note that a single permanent that is both an artifact and an enchantment (like an Artifact Creature - Enchantment) satisfies both conditions simultaneously, allowing you to draw two cards with just one such permanent on the field.

Strategic Timing and Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that the sacrifice is part of the cost. Once you activate the ability, the land is in the graveyard and cannot be used to produce mana for the cost of the ability itself. You should typically wait until the end of an opponent's turn to activate this, ensuring you have the maximum information and available mana before committing to the sacrifice.

When to Play Roadside Reliquary

This card shines in decks that lean into 'Artifacts matter' or 'Enchantments matter' themes. Because it provides colorless mana, it fits best in two-color or mono-color decks where the mana base is less strained. It serves as an excellent insurance policy against board wipes; if your permanents are about to be destroyed, you can sacrifice the Reliquary in response to cycle it for new resources.

Interaction examples

Early Game Mana Setup

Command Tower

On turn one, you play Command Tower to ensure access to your commander's colors. On turn two, you play Roadside Reliquary. You now have two mana available: one of any color from the tower and one colorless mana from the Reliquary. At this stage, you use the Reliquary strictly for its mana-generating ability to curve into your early spells.

Capitalizing on Opponent's Resources

Exotic Orchard

Suppose you control an artifact and an enchantment. You use Exotic Orchard to produce the two generic mana required by tapping it and another source. You then tap and sacrifice Roadside Reliquary. Upon resolution, the game sees your artifact and enchantment, granting you two fresh cards. This sequence allows you to maintain your color fixing via Exotic Orchard while converting the colorless land into raw card draw.