Conservator MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 237
1993-10-04 - Number 238
1993-12-01 - Number 238
1993-12-10 - Number 238
1993-12-10 - Number 238
1994-04-01 - Number 241
1994-04-01 - Number 241
1994-06-21 - Number 241
1995-04-01 - Number 309
1995-04-01 - Number 309
2022-11-28 - Number 530
2022-11-28 - Number 233
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
o3: Prevent the loss of up to 2 life.
Cards like Conservator
The Conservator is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering with an ability to help players preserve their life total. It invites comparison with other life-protecting cards such as the Pristine Talisman. Both play a role in mitigating damage, but Pristine Talisman also provides the added benefit of mana generation. Meanwhile, the Conservator requires a notable cost of four mana to use its ability, limiting its usage under pressure.
Analogous to Conservator in terms of defensive capabilities is the Orbs of Warding. This artifact grants a blanket of protection against both damage and targeted spells. Despite its higher casting cost, the broader range of defense it offers can be more impactful in the long run. Unlike the Conservator, which requires specific activation and only reduces damage, Orbs of Warding passively provides its shield, allowing players to focus their resources elsewhere.
In examining the utilitarian nature of these protective artifacts, Conservator stands as a simple and solid choice for players looking to maintain their life total in the clutches of defeat, yet its competitors often offer broader defensive strategies and utility which highlight the Conservator’s limitations within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of cards.
Cards similar to Conservator by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the Conservator, you might not be drawing extra cards, but the ability to prevent damage can effectively conserve your hand by protecting valuable creatures on the board, putting you in an advantageous position against your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Conservator is not a direct source of resource acceleration, it plays a strategic role in protecting your resources. By safeguarding your life total, you ensure that you stay in the game long enough to deploy more lands and spells, gradually outpacing your opponent’s resources.
Instant Speed: The Conservator operates at instant speed, which is game-changing in MTG. This allows for flexibility, as it can be activated during your opponent’s turn, essentially catching them off guard and disrupting their calculated plays. The threat of activation alone could pace the game in your favor, as opponents may be hesitant to commit to an aggressive strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One significant downside to playing the Conservator is that it does not have an intrinsic card disadvantage associated with it, but it does demand that you continuously invest mana to possibly negate damage. This sustained requirement can deplete resources needed for other crucial plays.
Specific Mana Cost: The Conservator demands a precise split of mana types to cast—two colorless and one white. This necessity can restrict its integration into multi-colored decks, potentially creating a barrier to summoning it on time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The three mana investment needed to cast Conservator is weighty when considering its conditional use. Paying two additional mana to prevent two damage is a steep cost, especially when other cards can prevent damage or provide more versatile defensive strategies for a similar or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Conservator can be a unique addition to decks that thrive on life-preserving strategies or those looking to exploit artifacts. Its ability to prevent damage gives it a role in decks that stall the opponent until a win condition can be established.
Combo Potential: Although not the flashiest, Conservator pairs well with effects that allow you to untap artifacts, potentially providing a consistent way to mitigate damage each turn. This can be pivotal in maintaining a favorable board state.
Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy on aggressive strategies, Conservator could serve as a valuable tool to outlast your opponents. It can be particularly effective when combined with other defensive cards to create a formidable barrier against damage-centric decks.
How to Beat
Conservator, an obscure artifact from Magic: The Gathering’s early sets, can sometimes perplex players with its unique ability to prevent damage. This card requires a payment of two mana in addition to its activation cost to stave off a potential four damage from being dealt to you. However, overcoming this protective measure is a straightforward affair. Prowess on the battlefield lies not just in direct damage, but in versatility.
Efficient removal spells are your ally against the Conservator. Naturalize or Disenchant swiftly dispatch this artifact, freeing the path for your offensive strategies. Counterspells, such as Negate, ensure that artifacts like Conservator never impact the board. Aggressive decks can simply overwhelm Conservator’s defensive capabilities by dealing more damage than it can absorb. Remember, in the vast array of strategies that Magic: The Gathering offers, the Conservator might seem like a sturdy shield, yet it falls short against a well-prepared assault.
With adept deck construction and strategic play, the Conservator’s light barrier easily crumbles. Focusing on consistent pressure, versatile interaction, and anticipating your opponent’s moves turns this defensive relic into an obsolete piece of Magic history in the vast modern and legacy formats.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Conservator MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Conservator 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 Conservator Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Amy Weber.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 237 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 238 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 238 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 238 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 238 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 241 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 241 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 241 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 309 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 309 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 530 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 233 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Conservator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |