Grixis Illusionist MTG Card

Grixis Illusionist can generate card advantage and disrupt opponents while allowing efficient deck sifting. It enables casting a wider variety of spells by flexibly altering mana production. Instant speed casting provides adaptability and swift response capabilities on the battlefield.

Conflux (CON)
2009-02-06 - Number 29

Conspiracy (CNS)
2014-06-06 - Number 99

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Power	1
Toughness	1

Text of card

: Target land you control becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn.

"It's simple, really. If they can't find us, they can't kill us."

Cards like Grixis Illusionist

Grixis Illusionist stands out in the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to turn lands into any basic land type at will is quite unique. A close relative in functionality is the card Prismatic Omen, which provides a similar mana-fixing utility by allowing all lands you control to produce any color of mana. Yet, Grixis Illusionist offers this service on a per-land basis which requires a tap, adding a layer of strategic flexibility compared to the blanket effect of Prismatic Omen.

Another card bearing resemblance is Dreamscape Artist, which also tackles land manipulation. While Dreamscape Artist offers land fetching by converting other cards into land cards, Grixis Illusionist’s ability doesn’t thin the deck but provides on-demand color fixing. This can be relevant for instant responses during gameplay, without the need to sacrifice card economy.

Analyzing these comparisons, Grixis Illusionist demonstrates a unique niche, especially in decks that require precise mana fixing at a moment’s notice. Although not as sweeping as Prismatic Omen or as deck-thinning as Dreamscape Artist, it holds its own as a valuable asset for players navigating the diverse mana requirements of a Grixis color deck.

Cards similar to Grixis Illusionist by color, type and mana cost

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Grixis Illusionist card has the potential to disrupt your opponent’s strategy while allowing you to sift through your deck more efficiently. This can be critical for outmaneuvering your opponent and retaining control of the match.

Resource Acceleration: By manipulating the types of mana produced, the Grixis Illusionist facilitates smoother gameplay, allowing for a more diverse and powerful array of spells to be cast without the usual mana constraints.

Instant Speed: The capability to cast Grixis Illusionist at instant speed is a powerful asset. It ensures flexibility, allowing you to respond swiftly to the evolving battlefield and adapt to sudden changes in the flow of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One hurdle players face with the Grixis Illusionist is the prerequisite to discard a card to activate certain abilities. This cost can backfire in situations where your hand is already depleted, making it a double-edged sword in prolonged games or against hand disruption strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Deckbuilding constraints come into play with the Grixis Illusionist due to its particular mana requirements. The necessity for a specific combination of blue, black, and red mana can make it challenging to cast in a timely manner, especially in formats where mana consistency is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you factor in all costs associated with deploying and utilizing the Grixis Illusionist’s abilities, the overall mana investment can be quite steep. In competitive play, where efficiency is key, you might find more cost-effective creatures or spells that offer similar or greater value for your deck’s strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Grixis Illusionist is a card that seamlessly integrates into various deck archetypes. Its ability to manipulate land types can unlock mana fixing solutions and support strategies that rely on land type synergies.

Combo Potential: This card opens up a plethora of combo possibilities. It works well with cards that have landfall abilities or benefit from having different land types in play, amplifying their effects and allowing for powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where land interaction is pivotal, Grixis Illusionist shines. It can disrupt opponent strategies that are dependent on land types or it can enable your own land-based tactics to adapt swiftly to the ever-changing competitive scene.

How to beat

Grixis Illusionist offers a dimension of strategy to your deck, boasting the ability to manipulate land types for tactical gains. To strategically overcome this card, a well-timed removal spell can be key. Pinpoint those moments when your opponent relies heavily on the Illusionist’s abilities and strike. Removal spells that don’t target, like board wipes, can be particularly effective since they circumvent the Illusionist’s potential to convert lands into the elusive Maze of Ith, for example, granting protection from targeted spells.

An alternative approach involves disrupting the underlying mana base that the Illusionist seeks to leverage. Field of Ruin stands out, letting you replace a troublesome land while also thinning your deck. If the game state permits, keeping pressure with aggressive creatures can limit the effectiveness of Grixis Illusionist’s land manipulation by shortening the game before their strategy fully unfolds.

Being prepared for potential surprises the Grixis Illusionist may present means holding onto reactive spells until crucial moments, and maintaining vigilance over the battlefield state. In essence, Grixis Illusionist can become less of a threat when faced with foresight, timing, and tactical land interaction.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grixis Illusionist MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Conspiracy, 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 Grixis Illusionist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grixis Illusionist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2014-06-06. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-02-06	Conflux	CON		29	2003	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
2	2014-06-06	Conspiracy	CNS		99	2003	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grixis Illusionist has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grixis Illusionist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-02-01	The affected land loses its existing land types and any abilities printed on it. It becomes the chosen basic land type and now has the ability to tap to add one mana of the appropriate color to your mana pool. Grixis Illusionist’s ability doesn’t change the affected land’s name or whether it’s legendary or basic.
2009-02-01	You choose a basic land type as the ability resolves.