Ranger's Guile MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Guards key creatures, maintaining resources and board presence without additional mana costs.
  2. Instant speed, disrupts opponents’ removal strategies by providing timely creature protection.
  3. Must be played wisely due to hand size reduction and restrictive green mana requirement.

Text of card

Target creature you control gets +1/+1 and gains hexproof until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

In the remote corners of Kessig, protection is found in secret powers unknown to the Church of Avacyn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ranger’s Guile isn’t a direct source of drawing cards, but its ability to protect a key creature can indirectly maintain your resources by preventing the loss of a valuable asset on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although Ranger’s Guile doesn’t accelerate mana resources in the traditional sense, by safeguarding your creatures, it sustains your board presence and increases your tactical options without further mana investment.

Instant Speed: The power of Ranger’s Guile comes from its instant speed, allowing players to respond to threats at a moment’s notice. This can disrupt an opponent’s strategy, particularly when they attempt to remove your creatures during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ranger’s Guile offers protection, it doesn’t change the fact that you must discard it from your hand, reducing your overall hand size and options available on future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Ranger’s Guile requires green mana to cast. This cost can be restrictive, as it dictates the inclusion of green sources in your land base, potentially limiting the card’s integration in multicolored decks that may not prioritize this color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although not expensive, in a game where tempo is crucial, spending one mana to potentially save a creature might not be as mana-efficient compared to other one-mana spells that could add to board presence or disrupt opponents more significantly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ranger’s Guile provides essential protection for key creatures against targeted removals or detrimental effects, making it a versatile addition to any deck that values its creatures’ survival.

Combo Potential: With its low mana cost, Ranger’s Guile can be smoothly incorporated into combo plays, safeguarding integral components during critical turns without disrupting your mana curve.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where spot removal is prevalent, having Ranger’s Guile can be the difference in maintaining board presence and having your tactical plays disrupted, significantly impacting win rates.


How to beat

Ranger’s Guile is a strategic instant in MTG, designed to protect your creatures from targeted spells or abilities with its hexproof offering. Overcoming it requires planning. Removing it as an option is pivotal—targeting creatures with spells while the opponent is tapped out denies the chance for Guile’s use. Alternatively, maximizing the use of board wipes which affect all creatures sidesteps the issue of hexproof altogether, rendering Ranger’s Guile ineffective.

Using countermagic is another method—waiting until your opponent plays Ranger’s Guile and then countering it ensures that your original spell effect goes through. Prioritizing spells that can’t be countered, or abilities that don’t target, is equally effective. Lastly, employing hand disruption tactics to force your opponent to discard Ranger’s Guile before it’s played can shift the balance in your favor. Through these methods, you’ll be able to neutralize the protection that Ranger’s Guile offers and maintain the upper hand in your matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Ranger’s Guile can pivot your MTG gameplay from good to exceptional, as mastering the subtle art of creature protection is crucial. Utilizing this card with skill can significantly bolster your strategy, keeping your key creatures safe from harm and maintaining a robust battlefield presence. If you’re looking to refine your deck with tools that provide both defense and flexibility, Ranger’s Guile is a worthy consideration. Interested in deeper insights and strategies to enhance your gameplay further? Dive into our comprehensive analysis and learn how to optimize your deck’s performance with strategic card choices that fit your playing style. Visit us to unlock new levels of mastery in your MTG journey.


Cards like Ranger's Guile

Ranger’s Guile is an intriguing instant in Magic: The Gathering that offers a blend of protection and power boost for creatures. It’s often stacked up against spells like Blossoming Defense, which also provides a similar function. Blossoming Defense gives a stronger boost to the power and toughness of a targeted creature and grants hexproof as well. Nonetheless, it comes at the cost of an additional green mana.

Moving along the spectrum of protection, we encounter Vines of Vastwood. While this card can shield a creature from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control just like Ranger’s Guile, it’s flexible. At a kicker cost, Vines of Vastwood can also double its power enhancement, though it demands more mana investment.

To sum it up, Ranger’s Guile stands its ground in the context of creature-centric spells in Magic: The Gathering. It strikes a balance between mana efficiency and effective protection, making it a valuable asset for any deck aiming to preserve its vital assets on the battlefield at a cost-effective rate.

Ranger's Guile - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Defense - MTG Card versions
Vines of Vastwood - MTG Card versions
Ranger's Guile - Innistrad (ISD)
Blossoming Defense - Kaladesh (KLD)
Vines of Vastwood - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Ranger's Guile by color, type and mana cost

Fog - MTG Card versions
Natural Selection - MTG Card versions
Berserk - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Lifelace - MTG Card versions
Crumble - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Seedling Charm - MTG Card versions
Shrink - MTG Card versions
Choking Vines - MTG Card versions
Crossbow Ambush - MTG Card versions
Crop Rotation - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Might - MTG Card versions
Reclaim - MTG Card versions
Serene Sunset - MTG Card versions
Sprout - MTG Card versions
Gather Courage - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Prey's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Fog - Magic 2012 (M12)
Natural Selection - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Berserk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Giant Growth - The List (PLST)
Lifelace - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Crumble - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Sandstorm - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Seedling Charm - Mirage (MIR)
Shrink - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Choking Vines - Weatherlight (WTH)
Crossbow Ambush - Stronghold (STH)
Crop Rotation - The List (PLST)
Worldly Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Gaea's Might - Dominaria United (DMU)
Reclaim - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Serene Sunset - Judgment (JUD)
Sprout - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Gather Courage - The List (PLST)
Nature's Claim - The List (PLST)
Prey's Vengeance - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ranger's Guile MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Magic 2014, 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 Ranger's Guile and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ranger's Guile Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 2012003normalblackSteve Prescott
22013-07-19Magic 2014M14 1912003normalblackSteve Prescott
32014-07-18Magic 2015M15 1932015normalblackSteve Prescott
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13052015normalblackSteve Prescott
52020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1992015normalblackSteve Prescott
62020-09-26The ListPLST M15-1932015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ranger's Guile has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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