Cephalid Retainer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Cephalid |
| Released | 2001-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Odyssey |
| Set code | ODY |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 73 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Tony Szczudlo |
Text of card
o Uo U: Tap target creature without flying.
Cephalids whisper flattery in your ear, put jewels in your hand, spin dreams in your head, and stick knives in your back.
Cards like Cephalid Retainer
Cephalid Retainer is an intriguing creature card within Magic: The Gathering’s vast library. It’s often weighed against other cards like Dreamborn Muse, which carries a similar cephalid theme. Dreamborn Muse taps into players’ libraries, forcing each to put the top X cards of their library into their graveyard, X being the number of cards in their hand. Unlike Cephalid Retainer, it doesn’t offer the same level of direct control but definitely sets the pace for a milling strategy.
Looking over to Vedalken Mastermind, we see another card with an ability to manipulate the board. This card allows a player to return target permanent they own to their hand, an ability that can be repeatedly triggered. Although different in effect, it echoes the disruptive strategy that the Cephalid Retainer can champion. Finally, there’s Tradewind Rider, a card that also offers a return-to-hand effect but requires the tapping of two other creatures to activate. This can be more limiting or opportunistic, depending on your board state as compared to the immediate effect of Cephalid Retainer.
To summarize, while Cephalid Retainer stands out for its potential to unseat an opponent’s well-laid plans, its comparison to other similar cards reveals a variety of strategic nuances a player must consider to optimize their gameplay in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Cephalid Retainer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Cephalid Retainer, you’re strategically positioned to outpace your opponents by optimizing your draws. Playing this card ensures a tactical advantage as you gain access to more options and consequently more answers to on-board threats.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling quicker deployment of stronger creatures or other key spells, Cephalid Retainer can be an essential accelerator. It effectively shortens the time needed to reach critical game-changing moments, ensuring you’re always a step ahead.
Instant Speed: The immediacy of activating Cephalid Retainer’s ability allows for flexible and reactionary play-making. It gives you the freedom to adapt on the fly, reserving your resources until the most opportune moment to disrupt your opponent’s strategy and maintain control of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Cephalid Retainer card demands you to forfeit another card from your hand when you intend to utilize its effect. This indispensable discard could hinder your gameplay, especially if your hand is already depleting and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting this creature requires a dedicated commitment to both blue and generic mana. Its specific cost can present challenges in constructing a fluid mana base, particularly in multicolor decks where ensuring the right mana at the right time can be critical.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of three blue mana and one generic mana, Cephalid Retainer’s mana cost is on the steeper side when compared to other options that might fill a similar role. As such, players often weigh its ability’s usefulness against the expense of keeping mana available for its activation.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cephalid Retainer can be a dynamic addition to decks that prioritize creature control. Its ability to alter combat by untapping creatures adds an unexpected layer of strategy during battles.
Combo Potential: This card works well in conjunction with effects that trigger upon creatures being untapped or used multiple times in a turn, thus expanding the scope of powerful synergies within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where board presence and controlling the flow of combat is key, Cephalid Retainer offers an adaptable solution. It can be especially useful in metas where creatures with tap abilities dominate, unlocking additional value each turn.
How to Beat Cephalid Retainer
Cephalid Retainer stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique card, offering a compelling controlling ability to manipulate combat to your advantage. At its core, the card presents a substantial roadblock, requiring a tailored strategy to overcome. One such effective method is to adopt an aggressive removal approach. Targeted removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can efficiently dispatch the Cephalid Retainer before it can disrupt your battle plans. Additionally, leveraging exile effects can be invaluable, as they prevent any potential for recovery that other forms of removal may allow.
Another avenue is to sidestep the Retainer’s ability altogether by employing evasion tactics. Creatures with flying or trample capabilities can soar over or barrel through without getting entangled in its ability to control combat. Moreover, cards that grant your creatures hexproof or protection from blue can nullify the Retainer’s impact completely, leaving your opponent with a costly, ineffective creature.
Ultimately, when facing a Cephalid Retainer on the battlefield, the key is to neutralize it swiftly or render its ability irrelevant. With the right approach, you can dismantle the control it exerts and steer the game towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cephalid Retainer MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Cephalid Retainer 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cephalid Retainer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |