Agent of Stromgald MTG Card

Alliances (ALL)
1996-06-10 - Number 64b

Alliances (ALL)
1996-06-10 - Number 64a

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Knight
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage by supporting board presence and consistent mana production for decks aligned with its abilities.
Its cost and discard requirement may limit versatility, making it less suitable for decks needing varied mana sources.
Despite its mana cost, the potential to catalyze combos makes it a valuable addition in the right MTG deck context.

Text of card

o R: Add o B to your mana pool. Play this ability as an interrupt.

"The 'fabled' Order of Stromgald is cast to the four winds, lost for all time. I, for one, give them no thought." —General Varchild

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Agent of Stromgald can be a subtle yet impactful tool for accumulating card advantage. In decks that synergize with creature-based strategies, it facilitates consistent board presence, ensuring you have the resources to press the advantage.

Resource Acceleration: As an early drop with a low casting cost, this card efficiently accelerates your resource development. It allows you to maintain mana availability for other pivotal plays, smoothing out your curve in the crucial initial turns of the game.

Instant Speed: The Agent of Stromgald’s ability can be activated at instant speed, offering flexibility and surprise factor. This capability provides tactical advantages like unexpected buffs during combat phases or end-of-turn plays, allowing for strategic depth and control over the flow of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Agent of Stromgald is the mandatory discard, necessitating players to part with a card from their hand. This stipulation could prove unfavorable when your options are limited and each card in hand is vital for your strategy. Understandably, discarding can sometimes play into a larger plan, but many times it can simply leave you at a resource deficit.

Specific Mana Cost: When it comes to mana requirements, the Agent of Stromgald demands a particular configuration, using exclusively black mana. This restrictiveness can pose a challenge for multicolored decks that might struggle with generating the appropriate mana early on or consistently throughout the game. This requirement often inserts the card solely into mono-black or heavily black-influenced deck builds, somewhat reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For what it brings to the table, Agent of Stromgald can be seen as a costly investment, requiring more mana than some players may expect for an individual card advantage. In a game where efficiency is key, especially in the early stages, the Agent of Stromgald might not always justify its place in your deck when considering its mana demands in contrast to potential benefits.

Reasons to Include Agent of Stromgald in Your Collection

Versatility: Agent of Stromgald offers a broad spectrum of play for anyone looking to enhance their mana efficiency. It serves as an excellent tool in decks that demand consistent red mana sources for spells and abilities.

Combo Potential: With its ability to convert one mana type to another, Agent of Stromgald can be a pivotal piece in creating powerful mana combinations, particularly in decks that pivot around multicolored costs or synergize with red mana-dependent combos.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where speed is crucial, this card can be a game-changer. It helps you stay ahead by smoothing out mana production, allowing for quicker casting of crucial spells that can tip the scales in your favor.

How to Beat Agent of Stromgald

Agent of Stromgald is a card that has been around in Magic the Gathering for some time. As a one-cost creature, it offers players the ability to convert one white mana to red mana. While this ability can seem marginal, in the right deck, it can be a powerful accelerant, especially in multicolored decks that lean heavily on red spells or need a splash of red mana to execute their strategy efficiently.

Defeating an opponent who utilizes an Agent of Stromgald requires a strategic response. Efficiently removing it from the board is crucial. One low-cost method is using cheap removal spells that can target it before its mana ability is used for a significant play. Instant removal spells, in particular, can interrupt your opponent’s strategy, preventing them from gaining the mana advantage that the Agent of Stromgald provides.

Furthermore, creature control decks may employ board wipes or spells that restrict the types of spells an opponent can play or the colors of mana they can produce. Keeping the pressure on your opponent by managing their mana base will often leave them struggling to deploy their more impactful spells, thereby allowing you to gain the upper hand and secure victory.

Cards like Agent of Stromgald

Agent of Stromgald is an intriguing addition to the suite of mana-generating creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Blood Pet, which also provides a one-time boost of mana, Agent of Stromgald offers red mana specifically and can be used repeatedly as long as it remains on the battlefield. This is an attribute not mirrored by Blood Pet’s one-time use.

Additionally, Skirk Prospector is another creature that sits in the same conversation. It allows you to sacrifice a goblin to create one red mana, showcasing a potential for greater mana generation dependant on the number of goblins on your field. In contrast, Agent of Stromgald doesn’t require a sacrifice, enabling a more consistent mana supply over time.

Thus, evaluating the characteristics of mana-generating creatures, Agent of Stromgald stands out for its consistent red mana generation without the need for sacrifice. This can be incredibly advantageous in decks focusing on red spells and needing a steady mana flow.

Cards similar to Agent of Stromgald by color, type and mana cost

Footlight Fiend - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Agent of Stromgald MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Agent of Stromgald and other MTG cards: