Aysen Bureaucrats MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 3a
1995-10-01 - Number 3b
1997-03-24 - Number 9
2008-09-22 - Number 6
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Advisor |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oc T: Tap target creature with power no greater than 2.
"I would say that our Bureaucrats are no better than vipers—but I shouldn't insult the vipers." —Murat, Death Speaker
Cards like Aysen Bureaucrats
Aysen Bureaucrats, a creature card from Magic: The Gathering’s set, Homelands, brings a unique control angle to the game, similar in function to cards like Master Decoy or Benalish Trapper. What sets Aysen Bureaucrats apart from these cards is its specifically restricted targeting ability, allowing you to tap down creatures with power 2 or less. This contrasts with the universal tapping capabilities of Master Decoy and Benalish Trapper, which can target creatures regardless of their power.
Another card with similar tapping functionality is Gideon’s Lawkeeper. Though it taps any creature, it lacks the political flavor and deck synergy Aysen Bureaucrats can provide in a themed deck. Aysen Bureaucrats also boasts better toughness, making it a more resilient choice on the battlefield. However, Gideon’s Lawkeeper’s lower mana cost can make it a more accessible option early in the game.
Considering these aspects, Aysen Bureaucrats stands out for its theme-appropriate effect in decks that benefit from tapping down small creatures, highlighting the significance of niche strategies in Magic: The Gathering’s diverse gameplay.
Cards similar to Aysen Bureaucrats by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aysen Bureaucrats shine in their unique ability to control opponents’ creatures. This can indirectly generate card advantage by preventing your opponent from effectively utilizing their resources without having to expend an actual card.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct form of acceleration, Aysen Bureaucrats help maintain your momentum. By tapping potential blockers or attackers, you can pave the way for your own creatures to attack unimpeded or protect yourself, effectively accelerating your game plan while decelerating theirs.
Instant Speed: The beauty of Aysen Bureaucrats lies in their ability to act at instant speed. With the flexibility to use their ability at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an attack, you retain the element of surprise, keeping your adversaries on their toes and disrupting their strategy when they least expect it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Aysen Bureaucrats’ ability to tap an opposing creature often comes at the cost of discarding a card, which can impede your hand advantage and leave you at a strategic deficit, especially in the late game when every card in hand is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: As a card that requires white mana, Aysen Bureaucrats can be restrictive in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary mana resources available, limiting its versatility outside mono-white decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands two white mana, the Bureaucrats come with a higher cost than some other options in the same mana value range, which may offer more impactful effects or stronger creatures, therefore potentially making it a less appealing choice for deck builders.
Reasons to Include Aysen Bureaucrats in Your Collection
Versatility: Aysen Bureaucrats offers unique control over the battlefield by potentially tapping key creatures your opponents control. It can be a strategic addition to decks that aim to disrupt opponents’ plans.
Combo Potential: This card can be combined with other cards that benefit from tapping or untapping creatures, thus enhancing various combo opportunities within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with creature-based strategies, Aysen Bureaucrats can become a useful tool to manage these threats and maintain a pace that’s favorable to you.
How to beat
Aysen Bureaucrats, a unique card from Magic: The Gathering’s older sets, is renowned for its tap ability, allowing it to control the pace of the game by locking down opposing creatures. While it may seem like a formidable roadblock, there are several strategies one can employ to neutralize its influence on the battlefield. For starters, creature removal spells are effectively universal answers; direct removal like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can swiftly dispatch the bureaucrats from the field.
Another effective approach is to use abilities that do not rely on creature combat. Cards with flying or other forms of evasion can simply bypass the Bureaucrats’ reach, maintaining your offensive momentum. In addition, instant-speed spells help outmaneuver Aysen Bureaucrats’ tap ability as you can respond to their activation and still make advantageous plays during your turn.
Moreover, being a product of a specific meta, Aysen Bureaucrats may not pair well against more recent, faster-paced decks. Utilizing a well-built aggressive deck with a curve that peaks before the Bureaucrats can establish control often proves to be successful. By considering these counterstrategies, players find they can handle Aysen Bureaucrats effectively during gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aysen Bureaucrats MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Homelands, 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 Aysen Bureaucrats and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Aysen Bureaucrats Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 3a | 1993 | Normal | Black | Alan Rabinowitz | |
| 2 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 3b | 1993 | Normal | Black | Alan Rabinowitz | |
| 3 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 9 | 1997 | Normal | White | Adrian Smith | |
| 4 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 6 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Rabinowitz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aysen Bureaucrats has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aysen Bureaucrats card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | This checks the power of the creature on activation and on resolution. |