Immaculate Magistrate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Synergistically boosts elves, turning each one into a potential battlefield titan.
  2. Complex card, specifically impactful in green mana-based and elf tribal decks.
  3. Building around it can demand strategy tweaks but leads to considerable power plays.

Text of card

: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each Elf you control.

Elves of the immaculate class weave flora into living creatures—sometimes to endorse an elite warrior, sometimes to create a breathing work of art.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Immaculate Magistrate offers a unique form of advantage by boosting your army of elves. Each elf under your control becomes a potential threat as the Magistrate can place a number of +1/+1 counters on them equivalent to the number of elves you control, creating an increasingly difficult scenario for your opponent as your field develops.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, Immaculate Magistrate accelerates your resources by enhancing the value of every elf you play. This synergistic growth allows your elves not only to become more formidable in combat but also enriches the potency of other elf-dependent abilities, essentially giving you more bang for your buck with each elf that hits the board.

Instant Speed: Although the Immaculate Magistrate’s ability isn’t at instant speed, it adds a layer of complexity to your strategy during the upkeep phase just before your turn. By waiting until the last moment during your opponent’s end step to use the Magistrate’s ability, you can surprise your opponent with significantly boosted creatures ready to attack, or keep mana open for other instant-speed interactions, creating a dynamic multifaceted game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though the Immaculate Magistrate itself does not have a discard requirement, it often necessitates holding onto elf cards in your hand to maximize its potential. This requirement can lead to a decreased hand size, making you susceptible to discard strategies from your opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Immaculate Magistrate’s casting cost includes specific mana symbols, which requires at least two green mana. This can sometimes be restrictive, as it demands a solid green mana base, potentially limiting deck-building options for multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Magistrate’s four mana cost can be steep, especially when considering its effect relies on the presence of other elves. In a fast-paced game where tempo is essential, allocating four mana to a creature that doesn’t impact the board immediately can be a liability. Additionally, in the four-mana slot, other options may provide immediate value or have less conditional abilities.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Immaculate Magistrate serves as a cornerstone in Elf tribal decks, while its ability to boost creatures makes it a useful addition to any deck focused on counter strategies or creature strength enhancement.

Combo Potential: With the ability to continually place +1/+1 counters on your creatures, this card works wonders in combos, synergizing with mechanics like proliferate or supporting cards that capitalize on counters for various effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of creature-based strategies in certain metas, Immaculate Magistrate can tip the scales in your favor, transforming single threats into game-ending powerhouses organically as the match progresses.


How to beat

Immaculate Magistrate is a unique creature card that holds sway over the battlefield by empowering your Elves in MTG. With the ability to place +1/+1 counters on a target Elf each time it taps, it can quickly turn your Elf squad into a formidable force. Facing such a creature, players need to adopt certain strategies to remain in the game.

Targeted removal spells are your first line of defense. Cards like Murder or Path to Exile can help you remove the Magistrate from play before its ability becomes overwhelming. Board wipes are also effective, clearing out multiple Elves along with the Magistrate to reset your opponent’s setup. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation are particularly useful in this scenario.

Alternatively, limiting the Magistrate’s ability to tap through effects that cause creatures to enter the battlefield tapped or remain tapped can be invaluable. Such measures prevent the accumulation of +1/+1 counters and maintain a more manageable board state. By employing these tactics, players can disrupt the synergy that Immaculate Magistrate provides to Elf-centric decks, keeping the playing field even and maintaining control over the game’s progression.


BurnMana Recommendations

Combining insight from the pros and cons of Immaculate Magistrate, it’s evident why this card is a keystone in Elf strategies within MTG. If you’re looking to harness the synergistic power of Elves or to evolve your counter-based deck, this magistrate should be under your consideration. Balanced play involves being mindful of both your deck’s strengths and vulnerabilities, and knowing your opponent’s tactics is crucial. For players crafting their decks with a competitive edge, or those simply enjoying the thematic richness of Elf tribal, continue to explore and adapt. Enhance your MTG collection and gameplay savvy—master the art of strategic deck building with us.


Cards like Immaculate Magistrate

Immaculate Magistrate taps into the powerful tribal dynamics of Elves in Magic: The Gathering. Much like Elvish Archdruid, it acts as a potent engine that leverages the number of Elves under your control. However, while Elvish Archdruid boosts mana generation, Immaculate Magistrate focuses on bolstering a single creature’s power and toughness, making it ideal for empowering key attackers or defenders.

Another comparable card is Timberwatch Elf, which also serves as a force multiplier for Elves, although it can only target one Elf per turn. What makes Immaculate Magistrate stand out is its ability to amass counters turn after turn, potentially on any creature, leading to incredibly formidable threats on the battlefield. Yet, it’s important to note that while Immaculate Magistrate has a long-term growth perspective, Timberwatch Elf provides an immediate, albeit temporary, boost, which can be pivotal in fast-paced matches.

Ultimately, when considering tribal synergy and the enhancement of creature abilities, Immaculate Magistrate carves out a solid niche within Magic: The Gathering. Its capacity to steadily accrue advantage makes it a valued piece in many Elf-centric decks, a testament to its unique strength in long-game strategies.

Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - Magic 2010 (M10)
Timberwatch Elf - Legions (LGN)

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Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Immaculate Magistrate MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Lorwyn, 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 Immaculate Magistrate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Immaculate Magistrate Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 860482015normalblackJim Nelson
22007-10-12LorwynLRW 2192003normalblackJim Nelson
32010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 702003normalblackJim Nelson
42014-11-07Commander 2014C14 2012015normalblackJim Nelson
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1172015normalblackJim Nelson
62020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2342015normalblackJim Nelson
72020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6792015normalblackJim Nelson
82022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 982015normalblackJim Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Immaculate Magistrate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Immaculate Magistrate card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-11-10 The number of counters to put on the target creature is determined only as Immaculate Magistrate's ability resolves. Elves coming and going later won't cause that creature to gain or lose +1/+1 counters.
2020-11-10 The target creature doesn't have to be an Elf.

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