{"product_id":"lotus-guardian-oils","title":"Lotus Guardian (Original Art)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e is a seven-mana 4\/4 flying Dragon artifact creature from \u003cem\u003eInvasion\u003c\/em\u003e (2000), that can be tapped to add one mana of any color to your mana pool.  This card was designed as a callback to Magic’s most famous card – \u003cem\u003eBlack Lotus\u003c\/em\u003e – but expressed through a creature form that embodies the “guardian” of that sacred relic. It combines two iconic ideas: the mana-fixing power of \u003cem\u003eBlack Lotus\u003c\/em\u003e, and the majesty and flight of a dragon. At the time of \u003cem\u003eInvasion\u003c\/em\u003e, Wizards of the Coast was heavily exploring multicolor mechanics, and \u003cem\u003eLotus Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e fit the theme by producing mana of any color. However, its high casting cost and minimal payoff made it more flavorful than competitive. Once on the battlefield, it fixes any color of mana, which can be potentially useful in five-color decks. It can serve as both a mana source and a flying finisher. Some players in the early 2000’s used it in casual five-color Domain decks or big-mana artifact builds alongside \u003cem\u003eThran Dynamo\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eUrza’s Tower\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eLotus Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e is often cited as an example of overcosted design from the \u003cem\u003eInvasion\u003c\/em\u003e era, where flashy flavor took priority over efficiency. In Commander (EDH), this card is very occasionally used in artifact-heavy or flavor decks (e.g. \u003cem\u003eJhoira, Weatherlight Captain\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eUrza, Chief Artificer\u003c\/em\u003e). \u003cem\u003eLotus Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e is not on the Reserved List.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"artwhirled","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44762018578477,"sku":null,"price":0.01,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/8000\/6957\/files\/Lotus_Guardian_Original_Art_front_a_white.jpg?v=1775009249","url":"https:\/\/artwhirled.com\/products\/lotus-guardian-oils","provider":"Art Whirled","version":"1.0","type":"link"}