Civil Servant MTG Card

Civil Servant excels by granting extra card draw each time a token is created, fueling strategic plays. Its ability to convert tokens into mana sources accelerates playing significant spells, boosting your game tempo. With its instant speed, Civil servant can surprise opponents, providing a tactical edge during crucial moments.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat Citizen
Released	2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set name	Streets of New Capenna
Set code	SNC
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	176
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tony Foti

Text of card

Whenever Civil Servant attacks, you may tap another untapped Citizen you control. If you do, Civil Servant gets +1/+0 and gains lifelink until end of turn.

"Together we can build a safer, brighter New Capenna!"

Cards like Civil Servant

Exploring the diverse universe of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering, Civil Servant offers an interesting dynamic to deck building. Let’s compare it with cards like Azorius Arrester and Lawmage’s Binding. Azorius Arrester, much like Civil Servant, offers a detain ability upon entering the battlefield. This means that both creatures can stop an opponent’s card from causing trouble for a turn. However, whereas Civil Servant is repeatable with its tap ability, Azorius Arrester’s effect is a one-off.

Meanwhile, Lawmage’s Binding also falls into a similar lockdown category. It permanently detains any target creature for as long as it remains on the battlefield. Unlike the activated ability of Civil Servant, Lawmage’s Binding is an enchantment which could be seen as both a strength and a weakness – it’s less susceptible to creature removal but more vulnerable to enchantment destruction.

The comparison highlights Civil Servant’s utility in repeatedly managing threats every turn. This can be invaluable in a game where control and tempo play significant roles. While other cards may offer a one-time effect or a different kind of permanence, Civil Servant stands out with its potential to shape the battlefield turn after turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Civil Servant card goes a step further in ensuring that you keep your hand replenished with options. It lets you draw a card whenever a token enters the battlefield under your control, making it a strategic addition to decks focusing on token generation.

Resource Acceleration: By leveraging a card like the Civil Servant, you can accelerate your resource management, as it often allows you to transform those newly created tokens into additional mana sources, enhancing your ability to play high-impact spells earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: The aptitude to cast Civil Servant at instant speed is crucial in the pacing of a match. It offers flexibility, allows you to respond to your opponents’ moves effectively, and can surprise an unprepared adversary with sudden blockers or effects that alter the state of the game dramatically.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Civil Servant card necessitates discarding another card to activate its key ability. This can potentially leave you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re in a position with a depleted hand and can’t afford to lose any more cards.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Civil Servant, you need a particular combination of mana colors that must be available to you, which may restrict the decks it can be effectively played in. Not all decks have the needed mana flexibility, potentially sidelining Civil Servant in favor of more readily castable cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Civil Servant can offer utility, its initial casting cost is significant when contrasting it with other creatures or spells that can provide similar or greater levels of impact for the same, or less, mana investment. This can slow down your game tempo and reduce your ability to respond to faster opponents.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Civil Servant provides gameplay flexibility, fitting seamlessly into decks that thrive on synergy between creatures and civic-themed spells. Its ability to potentially grow stronger each turn makes it a solid choice for many strategic builds.

Combo Potential: With Civil Servant, your deck gains access to combinations that can amplify the strengths of other cards based on law and order themes. Its interactions can create powerful dynamics that capitalize on both offensive and defensive strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts and decks that celebrate the community and collectivism rise in popularity, Civil Servant’s value could increase significantly. It’s a card that could potentially bolster your deck against various prevalent archetypes.

How to beat

Confronted with Civil Servant on the opposite side of the battlefield in MTG, players should understand that disruption is key. As a creature that thrives on synergy with other tokens or civics-related cards, disrupting these connections significantly weakens its impact. Removal spells can effectively neutralize it before it accumulates too much value. Prioritize instant-speed removal to maintain the upper hand and flexibility during the game.

Strategically utilizing removal when the opponent is vulnerable – perhaps prepared for a critical turn with Civil Servant – can shift the game in your favor. Additionally, sweepers are highly effective against the wider strategies that include Civil Servant as they can reset the board and decimate token-based builds. Finally, remember to keep an eye on your opponent’s mana and potential countermagic to ensure your removal or sweepers go uninterrupted.

Leveraging these tactics, the threat of Civil Servant can be mitigated, allowing for smoother gameplay and maintaining control over the board. It’s important to anticipate and respond promptly to the Civil Servant’s presence, preventing it from becoming a thorn in your side throughout the match.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Civil Servant MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Civil Servant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Civil Servant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Timeless	Legal