Archivist of Gondor MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 101
2023-06-23 - Number 420
2023-06-23 - Number 18
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Advisor |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When your commander deals combat damage to a player, if there is no monarch, you become the monarch. At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card.
"If indeed you look only, as you say, for records of ancient days and the beginnings of the City, read on!"
Cards like Archivist of Gondor
Archivist of Gondor brings its own unique twist to the realm of card draw engines in Magic the Gathering. With its ability to potentially draw multiple cards, it shares a role similar to Tamiyo’s Journal, which is known for its incremental advantage by investigating once each turn. While Tamiyo’s Journal requires sacrificing clues to draw, Archivist of Gondor leverages the vast number of legendary cards in the game for its draw mechanism.
Another peer in this space is The Immortal Sun. This artifact not only draws an extra card each turn but also lowers the cost of your spells and buffs your creatures. Where Archivist of Gondor is more specialized, The Immortal Sun offers a broader range of benefits. Of course, this comes with a higher mana investment, making it an option for decks that can reach the long game.
Ultimately, Archivist of Gondor’s appeal is in its synergy with legendary-themed decks and its repeatable draw effect. While it competes with other card advantage tools, its specificity might just carve out a niche in the right deck, showcasing MTG’s diverse strategies and players’ creativity in deck-building.
Cards similar to Archivist of Gondor by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Archivist of Gondor card paves the way for you to sift through your library, selecting and drawing a powerful mix of spells and lands to ensure you have the right answers or threats at the right time. Its ability to dig deeper into your deck increases your chances of pulling ahead of your opponent with a well-stocked hand.
Resource Acceleration: Any veteran player knows the value of having ample resources at their disposal. Archivist of Gondor excels in ramping up your mana availability, enabling you to cast bigger spells or multiple spells in a single turn, thus expediting your path to victory.
Instant Speed: Flexibility during gameplay can make all the difference. As an instant, Archivist of Gondor can be unleashed at the most opportune moments, perhaps in response to an opponent’s move or when the coast is clear at the end of their turn, keeping your strategy adaptive and dynamic.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Archivist of Gondor requires players to discard a card to activate its ability. This cost reduces hand size and could potentially force players to get rid of valuable resources pivotal to their strategy, particularly when their hand is running low and each card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes white mana, the Archivist of Gondor is constrained to decks that run white or have a mana base tailored to accommodate white spells. This specific requirement can limit the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana value of the Archivist of Gondor might be seen as high when considering its immediate impact on the game. Other cards at a similar cost could provide immediate card advantage or have a more potent battlefield presence, making the Archivist of Gondor less appealing in decks that prioritize efficiency and tempo.
Reasons to Include Archivist of Gondor in Your Collection
Versatility: Archivist of Gondor is a multifaceted card, adept at fitting into various deck archetypes, including control and value-oriented strategies. Its ability to draw additional cards ensures that it’s never a dead draw.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with mechanics that reward drawing cards or benefit from having a substantial hand size, opening up combo possibilities and enhancing many strategic plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the game, Archivist of Gondor maintains relevance by providing a steady source of card advantage, which is a cornerstone in many competitive formats.
How to beat
The Archivist of Gondor presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, emerging as a persistent source of card advantage. Its ability to draw cards when an opponent searches their library is a nuanced trigger that sets it apart from other card value engines. To effectively navigate against this card, it’s crucial to manage library searches and mitigate the Archivist’s impact.
A strategic approach could involve minimizing effects that cause you to search your library, thus limiting the Archivist’s ability to generate advantage. Alternatively, employing removal spells to directly deal with the Archivist can be a sound strategy, cautiously timing these to align with your broader game plan. Cards that can exile creatures or those that can bypass the typical protections like hexproof can be particularly effective against Archivist strategies. Swift and decisive action against the Archivist of Gondor can ensure it spends more time in the library than on the field, preserving your chances at victory in your MTG endeavors.
Understanding the deck mechanics that include Archivist of Gondor and preempting its presence can be key. This, along with judicious use of removal, can turn the tide of battle in your favor by taking away your opponent’s sculpted hand advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archivist of Gondor MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Archivist of Gondor and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Archivist of Gondor Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Wisnu Tan.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 101 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wisnu Tan | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 420 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wisnu Tan | |
| 3 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 18 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wisnu Tan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Archivist of Gondor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archivist of Gondor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | If combat damage dealt to the monarch causes that player to lose the game, the triggered ability that causes the controller of the attacking creature to become the monarch doesn't resolve. In most cases, the controller of the attacking creature will still become the monarch as it is likely their turn. |
| 2023-06-16 | If the monarch leaves the game during another player's turn, that player becomes the monarch. If the monarch leaves the game during their turn, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch. |
| 2023-06-16 | If the triggered ability that causes the monarch to draw a card goes on the stack and a different player becomes the monarch before that ability resolves, the first player will still draw the card. |
| 2023-06-16 | The game starts with no monarch. Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward. As a player becomes the monarch, the current monarch (if any) ceases being the monarch. |
| 2023-06-16 | There are two inherent triggered abilities associated with being the monarch. These triggered abilities have no source and are controlled by the player who was the monarch at the time the abilities triggered. The full texts of these abilities are "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch." |