Archmage Emeritus MTG Card


Its ability to draw on spell casting makes it ideal for spell-heavy blue decks. High mana cost and blue mana commitment can limit deck versatility. Counter spells and instant removal are effective strategies against it.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Abilities Magecraft
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, draw a card.

Some emeritus professors return from their wanderings periodically to share tales of the mystical wonders of Arcavios.


Cards like Archmage Emeritus

Archmage Emeritus offers a unique spin in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, primarily due to its magecraft ability. Magecraft, a mechanic that triggers whenever a player casts or copies an instant or sorcery spell, is what sets Emeritus apart. You draw a card each time this occurs, affirming a steady flow of resources.

Analogous to Emeritus in terms of card draw strength is Teferi’s Ageless Insight. It doesn’t have magecraft but doubles the draw effect of any card. However, unlike Emeritus which is triggered through the commonly played instants and sorceries, Insight is conditional on specific card draw actions. Then there’s Alhammarret’s Archive, which escalates your card advantage by doubling life gain and card draw—but again, at a higher cost and without the intuitive magecraft trigger.

Ultimately, Archmage Emeritus stands as a powerful engine in strategies emphasizing casting numerous spells. While other cards offer similar benefits, the seamless integration of Emeritus into spell-slinging decks arguably provides unmatched card advantage—making it a potent contender in its category.

Teferi's Ageless Insight - MTG Card versions
Alhammarret's Archive - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Ageless Insight - MTG Card versions
Alhammarret's Archive - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Archmage Emeritus shines by granting an extra draw each time you cast an instant or sorcery spell, which massively fuels your hand and gives you a significant edge over your opponent with a steady stream of options.

Resource Acceleration: Coupled with spells that untap lands or produce mana, this card can be a pivotal piece in ramping up your resources, enabling larger spells or multiple spell casts in a single turn.

Instant Speed: Strategically, Archmage Emeritus incentivizes the use of instant speed spells. This allows you to fully utilize your turns and react dynamically to your opponent’s actions while continuously reaping the benefit of drawing cards.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Archmage Emeritus offers valuable knowledge, playing this card does not come without its conditions. One major drawback is the necessity to discard another card to leverage its full potential, which can sometimes backfire, especially during those critical moments when your hand size is dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost of this wizard is restrictive, as it requires a strong commitment to blue mana sources. Players looking to integrate the Archmage Emeritus into multi-colored decks might find this mana requirement challenging, thereby limiting the card’s versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher casting cost, the Archmage Emeritus does ask for a substantial mana investment upfront. In games where speed is essential, its cost can be a significant drawback, as there are other cards available in the trading card game that provide card advantage more efficiently.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Archmage Emeritus finds its place in a wide array of blue-focused decks, particularly those that capitalize on casting numerous spells. Its ability to draw a card for each spell cast makes it a universal asset for increasing hand advantage, fitting seamlessly into spell-slinger and control archetypes.

Combo Potential: The sheer card draw power of Archmage Emeritus pairs well with decks that are built around combos, allowing players to sift through their deck rapidly to find essential combo pieces. It becomes exponentially potent when combined with cost-reducing effects or spells that can be cast repeatedly.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games are drawn out and decided by card advantage and quality of answers, Archmage Emeritus serves as a critical component. Its relevance increases in metas where longer games dominate, ensuring players have the resources to outlast their opponents.


How to beat

Archmage Emeritus has established itself as a key player in Magic: The Gathering, especially in the realm of decks that prioritize spell casting. The Emeritus thrives in environments where spells are cast in sequence, rewarding its controller with a steady stream of card draw. This makes it vulnerable to strategies that disrupt its ability to stay on the board and to stave off a barrage of spells.

To counteract Archmage Emeritus effectively, removing it swiftly from the battlefield is paramount. This is where removal spells play a strategic role. Having instant-speed removal such as Murderous Rider or Heartless Act allows players to respond to the Archmage’s casting before it can start generating advantage. Another approach is to employ counterspells like Dovin’s Veto or Negate, essentially nullifying the Emeritus before it even poses a threat. If removal or counters are unavailable, limiting the number of spells cast per turn through rule-setting cards like Rule of Law can bottleneck the potential card draw from the Emeritus, significantly dampening its effect.

Adroitly maneuvering around Archmage Emeritus requires a mix of preemptive and reactive strategies, ensuring the mage doesn’t turn the tide with its potent card-drawing capability. Thus, focusing on eliminating this threat is crucial to maintaining control over the game’s progression.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the strategic depth of MTG is a rewarding experience, and incorporating cards like Archmage Emeritus into your collection can offer an abundance of opportunities. With its ability to provide card advantage through each spell cast, this card is a formidable asset in any blue-focused deck. While there are cons to consider, such as its mana cost and color specificity, the pros often outweigh the downsides for players who craft their strategies around such synergies. We encourage you to consider the unique benefits Archmage Emeritus adds to your gameplay. Delve deeper into its potential and refine your deck with our insights. Dive into MTG’s rich strategic environment and discover how to maximize your spells with Archmage Emeritus at BurnMana.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Archmage Emeritus MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online 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 Archmage Emeritus and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Archmage Emeritus Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 900182015NormalBlackMicah Epstein
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 900162015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro
32020-09-26The ListPLST STX-372015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro
42021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 3772015NormalBlackMicah Epstein
52021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 372015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro
62021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 2952015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro
72021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 37s2015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro
82021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 37p2015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro
92024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 902015NormalBlackCaio Monteiro

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Archmage Emeritus 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 Archmage Emeritus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-04-16 Each magecraft ability has a different effect, although they all have the same trigger condition, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.
2021-04-16 For example, if you control Archmage Emeritus and cast an instant or sorcery spell, Archmage Emeritus’s magecraft ability will trigger and you will draw a card.
2021-04-16 If an effect creates a copy of an instant or sorcery spell, this will also cause the magecraft ability to trigger.
2021-04-16 If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell, magecraft abilities trigger once for each copy created by the effect.
2021-04-16 Some effects instruct you to copy an instant or sorcery card in a zone other than the stack. These copies do not cause magecraft abilities to trigger. However, most effects that do this also allow you to cast the copy, and casting the copy will cause magecraft abilities to trigger.