Master of Waves MTG Card
2013-09-27 - Number 53
2016-11-16 - Number 65859
2017-10-24 - Number 1
2019-12-02 - Number 1278
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Wizard |
| Abilities | Protection |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Generates significant card advantage through multiple elemental tokens, enhancing both offense and defense.
- Though not flexible in deck inclusion, its synergy with blue strategies is unmatched and warrants dedication.
- Holds its ground in current metas, offering a solid defense against aggressive plays with a vast token army.
Text of card
Protection from red Elemental creatures you control get +1/+1. When Master of Waves enters the battlefield, put a number of 1/0 blue Elemental creature tokens onto the battlefield equal to your devotion to blue. (Each in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to blue.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Master of Waves is synonymous with generating card advantage thanks to its ability to create multiple elemental tokens. Each of these tokens not only bolsters your battlefield presence but represents potential value, either in terms of defense or offense. This advantage is pivotal in games where maintaining or gaining board control can determine victory.
Resource Acceleration: While Master of Waves itself doesn’t directly produce mana or resources, the multitude of elementals it creates can indirectly accelerate resources. With cards that capitalize on creature count such as Convoking or tapping creatures for effects, Master of Waves sets the stage for amplified plays. The tokens can also become sacrificial assets for various effects that demand creature sacrifices without depleting your more valuable creatures.
Instant Speed: The impact of Master of Waves does not lie in operating at instant speed but rather in its synergy with cards that do. It sets up a powerful board state in which your instant-speed spells can be even more disruptive. By virtue of having a broad and ready army generated by Master of Waves, your instant-speed interactions can protect the token army or capitalize on the extensive presence for surprise plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Master of Waves doesn’t directly ask you to chuck a card from your hand, but its synergy with elementals and devotion to blue can sometimes feel like a discard if you’re forced to play a resource-generating card just to maximize its effect. You end up losing a card that could have been used more effectively at a later stage.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a strong commitment to blue mana, the casting cost of Master of Waves may restrict it to mono-blue or heavily blue-leaning decks. This makes it less flexible and harder to include in multi-colored decks or those with a more diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including a dense requirement of blue symbols, there are instances where the mana curve of your deck could become inefficient. Other creatures or spells at a similar cost might provide immediate impact or more versatility without needing a large amount of devotion to blue.
Reasons to Include Master of Waves in Your Collection
Versatility: Master of Waves offers flexibilty in various deck types, well-suited for blue-based strategies that rely on prowess of the waves and elemental synergy. Its ability to exponentially increase your board presence with elemental tokens makes it a powerful play against opponents.
Combo Potential: This card pairs exceptionally well with permanents that enhance blue creatures or increase the number of tokens. Coupled with cards that manipulate +1/+1 counters, Master of Waves can swiftly turn the tide of the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: As the game continues to evolve, Master of Waves maintains relevance in metas dominated by aggressive and creature-heavy decks. With protection from red and the capability to produce a vast token army, it often becomes a formidable barrier that can dominate the battlefield and secure victories.
How to beat
Master of Waves is a unique elemental creature that can tip the scales in favor of blue devotion strategies within the MTG landscape. Its ability to create a multitude of 1/0 elementals equal to your devotion to blue can often overwhelm unprepared opponents quickly. The primary method for overcoming this tidal wave is by reducing the effect of blue devotion. Cards that remove blue permanents or change the color of your cards, effectively diminish devotion and the power of Master of Waves.
Direct removal spells that can bypass Master of Waves’ protection from red attribute are essential tools in your arsenal. Board wipes like Supreme Verdict can clear away the tokens regardless of any protection due to its inability to be countered and not targeting individual creatures. One should also consider the use of exile effects and -1/-1 counters, as they present viable ways to deal with both the Master and its created tokens. Ratchet Bomb is a particularly handy artifact as it can be set to zero, destroying all tokens without affecting other permanents on the battlefield.
Ultimately, control and removal are key when facing down Master of Waves. By prioritizing these strategies, you can effectively mitigate the potentially overwhelming presence this card brings to the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into the ebb and flow of MTG strategy with the Master of Waves as a cornerstone of your blue-based arsenal. Whether you’re seeking to command a relentless token army or bolster your board with wave upon wave of elemental power, there’s a tide of potential to explore. Discover how this card’s synergies can amplify your offensive and defensive plays, making each move a strategic tsunami. Enhance your collection and harness the power of devotion to blue. Let your curiosity crest like a wave—expand your gameplay and maximize your victories by including this dynamic, game-changing card in your compendium.
Cards like Master of Waves
Master of Waves steps into the MTG battlefield as a potent ally for those commanding blue elementals. Its similarity with other creature-centric cards such as Lord of Atlantis is apparent, as both enhance creatures on the field. However, Master of Waves offers a unique twist by creating elemental tokens equal to your devotion to blue, a feature the Lord does not possess.
Another counterpart can be seen in Talrand, Sky Summoner, which excels in generating drake tokens. Whereas Talrand focuses on casting instant or sorcery spells to summon flyers, Master of Waves relies on the player’s existing blue devotion to build a formidable board presence with its elemental tokens. This token strategy bears comparison to the likes of Young Pyromancer, which also creates tokens—elementals in this case—but is fueled by red mana and necessitates non-creature spell casting to expand your creature army.
Ultimately, Master of Waves shines in the realm of blue-dominated decks, offering a surge of power through elemental token generation that synergizes with your devotion, setting it apart as a standalone powerhouse in the MTG multiverse.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Master of Waves MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Treasure Chest, 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 Master of Waves and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Master of Waves Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013-09-27 | Theros | THS | 53 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 65859 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2017-10-24 | Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins | DDT | 1 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1278 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Lauren YS |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Master of Waves has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Master of Waves card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-09-15 | Barring other effects, the Elemental tokens will enter the battlefield as 2/1 creatures. |
| 2013-09-15 | Hybrid mana symbols, monocolored hybrid mana symbols, and Phyrexian mana symbols do count toward your devotion to their color(s). |
| 2013-09-15 | If Master of Waves leaves the battlefield, and nothing else is raising the toughness of the Elemental tokens above 0, the Elemental tokens will die and subsequently cease to exist. |
| 2013-09-15 | If an activated ability or triggered ability has an effect that depends on your devotion to a color, you count the number of mana symbols of that color among the mana costs of permanents you control as the ability resolves. The permanent with that ability will be counted if it's still on the battlefield at that time. |
| 2013-09-15 | Mana symbols in the text boxes of permanents you control don't count toward your devotion to any color. |
| 2013-09-15 | Numeric mana symbols (, , and so on) in mana costs of permanents you control don't count toward your devotion to any color. |
| 2013-09-15 | Use your devotion to blue as the triggered ability resolves to determine how many tokens are put onto the battlefield. If Master of Waves is still on the battlefield at that time, its mana cost will count toward your devotion to blue. |
