Crafty Pathmage MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 77
2005-07-29 - Number 71
2005-07-29 - Number 71★
2007-07-13 - Number 77
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oc T: Target creature with power 2 or less is unblockable this turn.
The most valuable commodity in the pits is a way out.
Cards like Crafty Pathmage
Crafty Pathmage stands out among utility creatures in MTG with its unique ability to make creatures unblockable. Peering into similar cards, we find Thassa, God of the Sea, which also grants unblockable status, albeit with a mana cost for each target. Thassa brings to the battlefield a level of inevitability with its indestructible nature and other enchanting abilities that Crafty Pathmage lacks.
Dive Down is another card that, while not making creatures unblockable, it gives a single creature the resilience against removal with its hexproof and toughness boost. This is a finer detail to consider, especially when faced with decks that have plenty of removal. Conversely, Crafty Pathmage focuses solely on offensive play, providing a clear path for your heavy hitters to reach the opponent.
Ultimately, in decks that aim to sneak critical hits through enemy defenses, Crafty Pathmage emerges as a tactical choice, albeit more niche than the all-rounded Thassa or the protective Dive Down. Players seeking to weave through opponents’ defenses would find the Pathmage a crafty inclusion in their blue-based MTG decks.
Cards similar to Crafty Pathmage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The ability of Crafty Pathmage to let unblockable creatures slip past enemy lines can tilt the balance of a game in your favor. By maintaining pressure on your opponent and ensuring your key creatures connect, you improve your chances of drawing into more resources and maintaining control of the board state.
Resource Acceleration: Although Crafty Pathmage doesn’t directly increase your mana pool, its low casting cost means you can deploy other threats or support spells more quickly. Its presence on the board effectively accelerates your game plan by allowing for more efficient use of your creatures and reducing the resource commitment for successful attacks.
Instant Speed: While Crafty Pathmage itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with instant speed spells and abilities. With Pathmage on the table, you can confidently pass the turn with mana untapped, ready to respond to your opponent’s actions. Should no immediate threat present itself, you can enhance your offensive capabilities by using Pathmage’s ability to potentially clear a path for a surprise attacker during your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crafty Pathmage requires a player to manage their hand carefully. Because it has an ability that needs you to tap another unblocked creature you control, it can potentially leave you without enough creatures to defend on your opponent’s turn if not used thoughtfully.
Specific Mana Cost: It has a casting cost that demands both blue mana and generic mana, which might restrict deck-building choices. Players will need to ensure they have the necessary mana sources, making it less flexible in colorless or multicolored decks that aren’t focused on blue.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the ability to make creatures unblockable can be pivotal, the two mana cost for a 1/1 creature is high when there are other creatures or spells that offer more functionality or power and toughness for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Crafty Pathmage in Your Collection
Versatility: Crafty Pathmage stands as a utility player in blue decks, fitting snugly into control or tempo strategies. It can enable key creatures to slip past defenses, opening doors for pivotal attacks or sneaking through ability triggers that require dealing combat damage to a player.
Combo Potential: This card works wonders with creatures harboring impactful abilities upon dealing damage, such as drawing cards or causing discards. By ensuring these creatures reach the opponent unblocked, Crafty Pathmage becomes a silent enabler of potentially game-winning combos.
Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that sometimes shifts to a defensive posture, Crafty Pathmage becomes increasingly relevant. Its ability to bypass blockers can be a game-changer, breaking the stalemate by allowing crucial creatures through the opponent’s defenses.
How to Beat Crafty Pathmage
In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Crafty Pathmage stands out as a tactical creature that can turn games in your favor. As a player opposing this sneaky spell caster, it’s important to understand its ability to make creatures unblockable. To overcome this challenge, you’ll need to focus on removing Crafty Pathmage before it can execute its strategy, or nullify its effect.
One effective method is to prioritize spells or abilities that can bypass the Pathmage’s ability by either targeting it directly or by clearing the board regardless of its presence. Spells like Shock or Murder can take out the Pathmage directly, while a board clear like Wrath of God will remove it along with all other creatures. Alternatively, utilizing counterspells when Crafty Pathmage is cast can nip the problem in the bud, preventing its ability from affecting the game state.
In essence, keeping a close eye on board control and being proactive with removal spells is key when facing Crafty Pathmage. It’s about anticipation and readying your deck with answers to this specific threat so that you can maintain the upper hand and lead your forces to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crafty Pathmage MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Ninth Edition, 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 Crafty Pathmage 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
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Printings
The Crafty Pathmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Wayne England.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 77 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Wayne England | |
| 2 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 71 | 2003 | Normal | White | Wayne England | |
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 71★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne England | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 77 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne England |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crafty Pathmage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crafty Pathmage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If you increase the power of the targeted creature after the ability resolves, it still can't be blocked that turn. |