Top 5 Artifact Rings in Magic: The Gathering

Author:
Jeremy Gill
Updated date:
Jan 22, 2020

Jeremy casts spells in between his careers as a chemical analyst and campus manager.

Ring Equipments in Magic

Five rings exist in Magic, and while all accept any mana types, each favors a particular color, providing extra +1/+1 counters when equipped to creatures of that color. With low mana costs and powerful effects, these are some of my favorite cards in commander format, but not all are made equal—which reign supreme? These are the five best (and only) ring artifacts in Magic: The Gathering!

5. Ring of Evos Isle

CMC: 2 (1 to equip)
Favored Color: Blue

Like its brethren, Ring of Evos Isle only needs two mana to cast, one to equip, and grants its recipient a +1/+1 counter at your upkeep if they possess the ring's preferred color, blue in this case.

Most rings also bestow a static trait, but Isle instead provides an activated ability that lets you spend two mana to give the creature hexproof for the rest of the turn. This prevents foes from targeting them, a handy defense—at least when you keep extra mana in reserve.

4. Ring of Valkas

CMC: 2 (1 to equip)
Favored Color: Red

Again, a cheap cost and equip fee make Valkas an easy play, and it grants a +1/+1 counter to red holders at each of your upkeeps. They also gain haste, letting them attack or tap even on the turn they arrive.

Both tempting effects; my only complaint here is that haste becomes useless on turns after a creature is summoned, but this just means you should try to reequip Valkas when possible to maximize its output.

3. Ring of Xathrid

CMC: 2 (1 to equip)
Favored Color: Black

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In addition to placing a +1/+1 counter on black creatures during your upkeep, Xathrid grants an activated ability; by spending two mana, you can have the equipped creature regenerate.

The next time they would be destroyed that turn, regeneration instead removes all damage, taps them, and prevents that destruction. Again, that's an excellent defense to keep your aces in play, but remember it doesn't work on board wipes that prevent regeneration (like "Damnation" and "Wrath of God").

2. Ring of Thune

CMC: 2 (1 to equip)
Favored Color: White

In addition to empowering white creatures, Thune simply grants vigilance, letting its bearer swing without tapping. This keeps them available as a blocker on opposing turns, or lets you both swing and activate tap effects in the same round.

Thune works especially well on white double strike creatures; +1/+1 counters essentially becomes +2/+2s with double strike since you hit twice with each attack.

1. Ring of Kalonia

CMC: 2 (1 to equip)
Favored Color: Green

Kalonia offers my favorite ring since its effects mix especially well. Anyone gains trample, and green creatures get a +1/+1 counter at your upkeep. Both nice on their own, they blend great since trample ensures excess power from the counters isn't wasted, piercing remaining damage through blockers.

One of my favorite parts about the rings are their low real-world prices, despite being a competitive card, Kalonia costs less than a single dollar!

Supporting Rings in Magic

Of course, each ring favors a particular color, but remember that multicolor creatures( like blue/green "Thrasios, Triton Hero") can enjoy bonus effects from multiple rings. And thanks to their type and counters, rings are especially tempting in equipment or proliferate strategies.

You can still equip rings to colorless creatures (they just won't get the counters), but for now, as we await Wizards of the Coast's next set of equipment spells, vote for your favorite and I'll see you at our next MTG countdown!