Gríma, Saruman's Footman MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 464
2023-06-23 - Number 140
2023-06-23 - Number 57
2023-06-23 - Number 63
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Advisor |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Gríma, Saruman's Footman can't be blocked. Whenever Gríma deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles cards from the top of their library until they exile an instant or sorcery card. You may cast that card without paying its mana cost. Then that player puts the exiled cards that weren't cast this way on the bottom of their library in a random order.
Cards like Gríma, Saruman's Footman
Gríma, Saruman’s Footman offers unique utility in a deck designed for subterfuge and control. Its kinship to cards like Dark Confidant is apparent, with both cards presenting a sacrifice for gain approach. Dark Confidant allows a player to draw an extra card each turn at the cost of life points equal to that card’s mana cost, providing a dynamic that accelerates card advantage at a tangible risk.
Contrasting Gríma, Saruman’s Footman with Pain Seer reveals another interesting comparison. Pain Seer also promises card advantage through its Inspired ability, but unlike Gríma, it necessitates the card to become untapped, adding an extra layer of complexity and vulnerability to the strategy. Costing two mana, Pain Seer can be less consistent but may fit into more aggressive strategies.
While examining these alternatives, one starts to appreciate Gríma, Saruman’s Footman’s place in decks that benefit from discreet yet potent abilities. Its ability to weave into the game’s politics, while affecting the board indirectly, cements its role in strategic builds that reward cunning over brute force.
Cards similar to Gríma, Saruman's Footman by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gríma, Saruman’s Footman is designed to capitalize on card advantage by offering unique draw mechanisms. This can tip the balance in a long game, ensuring you have the resources you need when you need them.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels in accelerating your resources. By reducing the costs of certain spells or abilities, it allows for a more efficient use of mana, helping you deploy other strategies faster.
Instant Speed: The ability of Gríma, Saruman’s Footman to activate at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves. This makes it a versatile card that can adapt to a rapidly changing board state, keeping you one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gríma, Saruman’s Footman requires you to discard a card to utilize its ability. This can be particularly detrimental during the late game when your hand might be running low, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost includes the need for black mana, which can restrict its integration outside of mono-black or certain multicolor decks. Players without black mana sources will find it challenging to capitalize on this card’s potential.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demand of three mana, one of which is specifically black, Gríma, Saruman’s Footman’s cost may seem steep for the effects it grants—especially when compared with other alternatives available in the game that could provide similar or greater utility for a lesser mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gríma, Saruman’s Footman offers flexibility in deck building, easily sliding into decks that can utilize creatures with political influence or manipulation mechanics.
Combo Potential: This card can interact with a variety of cards that benefit from having creatures with covert abilities, enhancing numerous strategic plays within those frameworks.
Meta-Relevance: Given that many popular formats lean towards control or combo decks, having Gríma, Saruman’s Footman can be a subtle yet powerful addition that may outmaneuver common meta strategies.
How to beat
Gríma, Saruman’s Footman presents itself as a notable contendor in the realm of MTG utility creatures. Whilst not overwhelming in power or toughness, Gríma’s true value lies in its ability to subtly disrupt the opponent’s strategies. To effectively counter this elusive threat, it’s imperative to incorporate removal spells in your deck that can target creatures without relying on damage – spells like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider swiftly answer Gríma’s menace while bypassing any of its potential damage prevention effects.
Another strategy is to employ cards that restrict or negate activated abilities. Pithing Needle and Sorcerous Spyglass are excellent tools that can shut down Gríma’s abilities before they impact the board. Moreover, aggressive decks can outpace the footman’s influence by focusing on building a wide board presence. Overwhelm Gríma’s controller before they can leverage the footman’s utility to their advantage. In games of MTG where timing is crucial, waiting for the opportune moment to dismantle Gríma’s influence is your key to maintaining the upper hand.
By anticipating Gríma’s arrival and preparing adequate countermeasures, you ensure that this subtle menace doesn’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor. Understanding and pre-empting opponents’ tactics with strategic card choices makes Gríma, Saruman’s Footman a manageable threat on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gríma, Saruman's Footman // Gríma, Saruman's Footman MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Art Series and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Gríma, Saruman's Footman // Gríma, Saruman's Footman and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Gríma, Saruman's Footman // Gríma, Saruman's Footman Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Matt Stewart.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tales of Middle-earth Art Series | ALTR | 63 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Matt Stewart | ||
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 464 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Stewart | |
| 3 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 140 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Stewart | |
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 57 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Stewart |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gríma, Saruman's Footman has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gríma, Saruman's Footman card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | If that player exiles their entire library without exiling an instant or sorcery card, they will randomize the order of the exiled cards, and the cards then become that player's library, ending the effect. They will not continue to exile and randomize their library forever. |
| 2023-06-16 | If the spell you cast has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2023-06-16 | If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't pay any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those. |
| 2023-06-16 | If you choose not to cast the card, it is put on the bottom of its owner's library in a random order along with the other exiled cards. |
| 2023-06-16 | The cards are exiled face up. All players will be able to see them. |
| 2023-06-16 | You cast the card while the ability is resolving and still on the stack. You can't wait to cast it later in the turn. |