A-Maelstrom Muse MTG Card

A-Maelstrom Muse - Strixhaven: School of Mages

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Djinn Wizard
Abilities	Flying
Released	2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Strixhaven: School of Mages
Set code	STX
Power	2
Toughness	4
Number	A-202
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Michele Parisi

Key Takeaways

Advantageous draw mechanic activates with second spell cast, improving card flow during matches.
Mana cost reduction from noncreature spells aids in deploying high-impact moves earlier in the game.
Requires specific Jeskai mana and might be less versatile because of its higher mana cost.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Maelstrom Muse attacks, the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn costs less to cast, where X is Maelstrom Muse's power as this ability resolves.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: A-Maelstrom Muse offers a substantial edge by providing an additional draw each time you cast your second spell each turn. This sustainable draw mechanic helps you find the necessary answers or threats to control the pace of the match.

Resource Acceleration: A pinnacle aspect of A-Maelstrom Muse is its potential to turn any noncreature spell into a ramp opportunity. With its ability to reduce the mana cost of future spells within the same turn, you’ll harness a form of resource acceleration that can be game-changing, allowing you to deploy powerful plays earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: Although A-Maelstrom Muse itself isn’t an instant, its ability complements instant-speed interactions splendidly. By casting spells at reduced cost after A-Maelstrom Muse is on the battlefield, you set up turns where you cast more spells and react to your opponent’s moves efficiently, leading to a dominant board presence.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing A-Maelstrom Muse necessitates a card discard as an additional cost, which could be detrimental during late-game scenarios when hand size is critical, or when each card you hold could potentially be a game-changer.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for A-Maelstrom Muse is specifically tuned to Jeskai colors, necessitating blue, red, and white mana. This restricts the card’s integration to only those decks that can reliably produce these colors, potentially excluding it from a variety of other deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three different mana colors and a converted mana total that may be considered high for the effect provided, there may be alternative creatures or spells that offer more versatility or impact on the game at a similar, if not lower, cost threshold.

Reasons to Include A-Maelstrom Muse in Your Collection

Versatility: A-Maelstrom Muse is a dynamic card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, particularly those seeking to harness the power of spellslinging or multi-color synergies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to reduce the mana cost of your next spell and provide a color fix, A-Maelstrom Muse is a linchpin in combos, making it easier to chain spells and maximize your plays each turn.

Meta-Relevance: If your local or competitive meta is ripe with players leaning heavily on instant and sorcery-based strategies, A-Maelstrom Muse will not only sustain but also advance your position in the ever-evolving battlefield of MTG.

How to beat A-Maelstrom Muse

A-Maelstrom Muse is a versatile card in MTG that can provide significant advantages, harnessing the power of spells and hastening your mana availability. The key to countering this card is disrupting the spell casting synergy it creates. Targeted removal spells that can eliminate the Muse before your opponent benefits from its cost-reduction ability are critical. Consider instant-speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile to address it directly and efficiently during your turn or in response to its casting.

Additionally, incorporating counterspells into your deck is an effective strategy against A-Maelstrom Muse. By keeping mana open for spells like Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto, you can prevent the Muse from ever hitting the board, neutralizing the threat before it becomes active. Remember to prioritize threat assessment; not every creature or spell your opponent plays should prompt a response. Reserve your interaction for key moments when A-Maelstrom Muse attempts to alter the course of the game, ensuring you maintain control and pace.

Strategy and timing are vital when playing against A-Maelstrom Muse. By properly using removals and counterspells, and understanding when to play them, you can dismantle your opponent’s strategy and protect yourself against this influential card’s game-altering effects.

Cards like A-Maelstrom Muse

A-Maelstrom Muse offers an intricate angle in the realm of multicolored creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its abilities echo those of a few other cards, yet its unique blend of attributes sets it apart. Niv-Mizzet, Parun is a card that seems to share a kinship with our Muse, captivating players with its draw mechanic. Nevertheless, A-Maelstrom Muse’s provision of bonus mana of any color for casting instant or sorcery spells gives it a different strategic position.

Adeliz, the Cinder Wind is another peer to the Muse, with both empowering other Wizards you control, yet A-Maelstrom Muse’s ability to reduce spell costs can potentially outpace Adeliz’s prowess-based advantages. There’s also Kaza, Roil Chaser, which offers cost reduction for instant or sorcery spells. However, it’s limited to once per turn, whereas A-Maelstrom Muse applies to every spell you cast on the turn you’ve attacked with it.

When considering their place in decks centered around spellslinging and wizards, A-Maelstrom Muse emerges as a potent tool, providing both cost reduction and mana ramp. Such a combination is rare and prized, making A-Maelstrom Muse a distinctive and formidable card amongst its peers.

Adeliz, the Cinder Wind - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Maelstrom Muse MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the A-Maelstrom Muse and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where A-Maelstrom Muse has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal