Campus Guide MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 252
2022-12-02 - Number 758
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Campus Guide enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, then shuffle and put that card on top.
"There's nowhere in Strixhaven I can't find. Where do you need to go?"
Cards like Campus Guide
Diving into the vast library of Magic: The Gathering, Campus Guide presents itself as a unique option for players looking to manipulate their mana base. Resembling cards like Pilgrim’s Eye, both share the utility of fetching a basic land card from the library, ensuring land drops are consistent. However, Campus Guide stands out with its versatility, as it allows selection from any basic land type, not just a specific one.
Explorers of Ixalan introduces another functional variant, Ranging Raptors, with its enrage ability to grab lands. Yet, the dependency on damage for activation contrasts with Campus Guide’s immediate land search on entry. Comparatively, Solemn Simulacrum might provide the closest functionality with its enter-the-battlefield effect to search for a basic land and put it into play, plus added utility upon death, but at a higher cost and different color identity.
When analyzing options for fetching lands, Campus Guide holds its ground as a valuable early-game play. With a nominal casting cost and the ability to fix your mana base without condition, it’s a card that seamlessly fits into various decks, particularly in formats where mana consistency can make or break the game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Campus Guide provides deck thinning by searching your library for a basic land card, ensuring you maintain a smooth flow of land cards for your plays and potentially drawing into non-land cards with more impact earlier in the game.
Resource Acceleration: By ensuring a land drop for your next turn, Campus Guide inadvertently contributes to resource acceleration, aiding in casting costlier spells on curve and maximizing the efficiency of your mana usage throughout the game.
Instant Speed: Though Campus Guide itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it complements instant-speed strategies by efficiently executing its library search on entry without consuming critical turns, thus preserving your mana and card resources for reactive play when they’re most needed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One aspect players need to consider with Campus Guide is its inherent discard stipulation. In the heat of the game, particularly when your hand is running empty, sacrificing a card could prove counterproductive, leaving you at a disadvantage when it comes to card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Campus Guide demands a very specific mana investment to utilize its effect. This cost implies that players who are crafting a multicolored deck may find it difficult to allocate resources specifically for this card, especially during the early stages of the game where mana is at a premium.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be higher than some of the other options available in the game, Campus Guide can be a pricey addition for what it offers. Other cards may bring more to the table with a lower mana investment, posing a challenge for Campus Guide to find its place in a finely tuned deck.
Reasons to Include Campus Guide in Your Collection
Versatility: Campus Guide is a flexible card that can be slotted into various decks. Its land tutoring ability ensures that you can fix your mana or ensure your land drops, which is crucial in multicolored or limited decks.
Combo Potential: Though not the flashiest combo piece, Campus Guide’s simple land search can be the stepping stone for landfall triggers or enable more intricate land-based strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where having the right mana at the right time is pivotal, Campus Guide maintains relevance. It’s a low-cost investment that can help stabilize your game or outpace your opponent through consistent land drops.
How to Beat
The Campus Guide presents a strategic asset on the battlefield, offering deck thinning and mana fixing capabilities. But even the most versatile of utility cards have their Achilles’ heel. To overcome a Campus Guide, focus on preventing its search ability. Effective counterspells can nip the problem in the bud, denying that crucial land search. Moreover, sideboard cards that limit searching libraries could also handcuff the Campus Guide’s utility.
Also, keep in mind that Campus Guide doesn’t affect the board when it enters play, other than granting you a land to your hand. So rather than expending valuable removal spells on it, concentrate on developing your board presence or setting up for a powerful play. By outpacing the steady, incremental advantage that Campus Guide provides, you can bypass its benefits and press towards victory. Remember, in the end, a strong offensive strategy can often trump the value gained from utility-oriented cards like the Campus Guide.
By anticipating your opponent’s plays and prioritizing your threats, you can ensure that the Campus Guide’s impact on the game is minimal at best. Winning in Magic: The Gathering isn’t just about reacting, it’s about proactive strategy and calculated plays to secure your success.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Campus Guide MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Campus Guide 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Campus Guide Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 252 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 758 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Campus Guide has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |