Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Horror
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Grazilaxx provides continuous card draw when creatures get blocked, dissuading opponents from blocking.
  2. The card can exile drawn cards for later use, offering both card and potential mana acceleration.
  3. Grazilaxx thrives in decks utilizing discarded cards but requires specific mana and has higher costs.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control becomes blocked, you may return it to its owner's hand. Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, draw a card.

"You studied hard. How delicious!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grazilaxx Illithid Scholar ensures a continuous flow of cards into your hand. This MTG card lets you draw a card whenever a creature you control becomes blocked. This not only supplies you with options but can also discourage opponents from blocking, indirectly protecting your creatures.

Resource Acceleration: With Grazilaxx, each time you draw a card from a creature being blocked, you also have the option to exile that card. If you do, it translates into a resource you can tap into later, giving you not just card advantage but also potential mana acceleration with the foretell mechanic.

Instant Speed: While Grazilaxx itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells and abilities. You can cast a creature with flash before blockers are declared to surprise your opponent and trigger Grazilaxx’s card advantage ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When deploying Grazilaxx Illithid Scholar, be mindful that it fits best in decks set up to leverage discarded cards. Without such synergies, you may find the discard requirement hindering, detracting from your hand without immediate benefit.

Specific Mana Cost: As a blue creature, Grazilaxx requires a precise mana setup. Decks not built to consistently provide blue mana may struggle to cast it on curve, hampering its effectiveness and impacting your game tempo.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total cost of five mana, including three generic and two blue, Grazilaxx Illithid Scholar comes with a substantial investment. Depending on your deck’s strategy, there may be alternative creature cards that could prove more cost-efficient while providing similar or enhanced benefits to your gameplay.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Grazilaxx Illithid Scholar slides into an array of decks, making it a clever pick for those favoring creature-centric strategies and gameplay focused on card advantages. Its ability to draw cards when other creatures hit the battlefield or depart provides ongoing value.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with decks that manipulate the number of creatures on the field, effectively turning each creature’s entrance or exit into a potential card draw. Such a card can markedly strengthen strategies built around enter-the-battlefield effects or sacrificial mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: As a utility creature that has a place in games focused on interactive play and incremental advantages, Grazilaxx Illithid Scholar maintains relevance. Its card draw capability is a solid counter to removal-heavy decks, ensuring that your hand remains stocked throughout the game.


How to Beat Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar can be a tricky card to face off against in a game of Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to turn your creatures into potential card advantage for your opponent, it’s crucial to have a strategic plan when dealing with this cunning creature. To diminish its impact, consider using instant-speed removal to deal with Grazilaxx before it triggers its ability. Cards that can exile it, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, can be particularly effective.

Another strategy involves decreasing the number of creatures you have on the board, thus limiting the options for your opponent to exploit Grazilaxx’s ability. This can be achieved by not overcommitting creatures to the battlefield or by using creatures with abilities that function well when they’re returned to your hand or to the top of your deck. Furthermore, employing graveyard hate mechanisms can disrupt any strategies that revolve around utilizing the cards that Grazilaxx helps draw, ensuring that the advantage gained by your opponent is kept to a minimum.

By employing these tactics and maintaining control over the flow of creatures entering and leaving the battlefield, Grazilaxx’s influence can be mitigated, preserving your hand advantage and steering the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the potential of Grazilaxx Illithid Scholar and enhance your MTG gameplay. With its ability to grant card advantage and resource acceleration, this card can seamlessly integrate into various deck strategies. Don’t let your matches be purely about the cards you draw, but how smartly you play them. Understanding cons like the specific mana cost is as crucial as leveraging its pros. Whether it’s combating tricky opponents or building a collection that’s a step ahead, every card counts. Enhance your deck and refine your strategies with insights that could change the tide of your duels. For more advanced tactics and to fully tap into the power of Grazilaxx, join the community of skilled players who share your passion.


Cards like Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar presents a unique angle within the creatures of Magic: The Gathering, blending card draw with creature control. When likened to cards like Arcanis the Omnipotent, both provide substantial card draw but Grazilaxx offers additional flexibility. While Arcanis requires tapping to draw three cards, Grazilaxx allows you to draw whenever a creature you control becomes blocked, potentially leading to more card advantage over multiple turns.

Examining Lorescale Coatl, a creature that grows as you draw cards, you’ll notice Grazilaxx doesn’t expand in power and toughness. However, Grazilaxx’s ability to let you cast creature cards from among cards you drew this turn by paying life equal to its power provides a distinct advantage in manipulating the flow of the game. This contrasts with Prime Speaker Zegana, who offers a large one-time card draw and a body on the board, yet lacks the recurring utility and strategic depth Grazilaxx delivers in longer matchups.

Ultimately, Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar stands out in MTG for its ability to turn combat into card advantage and for its potential to directly affect the board state by casting creatures during the resolution of its triggered ability.

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Prime Speaker Zegana - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - Onslaught (ONS)
Lorescale Coatl - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Prime Speaker Zegana - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
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Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
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Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Horned Turtle - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Wormfang Drake - Judgment (JUD)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mistform Warchief - Scourge (SCG)
Horned Turtle - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Blind Phantasm - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos, 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 Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Alexander Mokhov.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 926642015normalblackAlexander Mokhov
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 60s2015normalblackAlexander Mokhov
32021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 60p2015normalblackAlexander Mokhov
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 602015normalblackAlexander Mokhov
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 60a2015normalblackAlexander Mokhov
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3672015normalblackAlexander Mokhov
72022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7232015normalblackAlexander Mokhov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2021-07-23 Grazilaxx's first ability triggers before combat damage is dealt. If you choose to return the creature to your hand, it won't deal or receive combat damage.

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