Nivix Guildmage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. The Guildmage’s card draw capability ensures a consistent flow of hand resources for strategic plays.
  2. Instant speed actions grant the flexibility to adapt to changes and optimize turn timing.
  3. Mana-copying ability significantly enhances spell potency, accelerating your board impact.

Text of card

: Draw a card, then discard a card. : Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.

"The only action worth taking is one with an unknown outcome."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nivix Guildmage offers the ability to repeatedly draw cards, ensuring a steady flow of resources and helping keep your hand stocked with options.

Resource Acceleration: With its mana-copying ability, Nivix Guildmage can effectively double the impact of your spells, giving you an edge in casting more powerful spells sooner than expected.

Instant Speed: Since Nivix Guildmage’s abilities can be activated at instant speed, it provides the flexibility to react swiftly to the ever-changing battlefield or to capitalize on the end of your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nivix Guildmage compels you to part with another card from your hand to activate its draw effect. This can pose a strategic dilemma, especially when you’re running low on hand resources and need to make every card count.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting both blue and red in its casting cost makes this creature a bit niche. Its allegiance to the Izzet guild means that fitting it seamlessly into multicolor decks demands careful mana base consideration, possibly limiting its inclusion to dedicated Izzet or two-color builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost required to utilize Nivix Guildmage’s abilities can be taxing, standing at two mana including one blue and one red to draw and discard, or three mana and double red to copy an instant or sorcery spell. These costs could potentially hinder your tempo, particularly when weighed against other options in the same mana range that could deliver immediate impacts on the board state.


Reasons to Include Nivix Guildmage in Your Collection

Versatility: Nivix Guildmage offers flexibility in deck building, easily integrating into Izzet strategies or any deck harnessing the power of instant and sorcery cards. Its ability to copy spells can turn a single impactful spell into a game-changing play.

Combo Potential: With its spell-copying ability, Nivix Guildmage can infinitely loop certain spells given the right mana resources and combinations, making it a key component in decks aiming for a combo win condition.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the current trends in gameplay, having the capacity to manipulate spells and draw cards can provide an edge against opponents by maintaining hand advantage and adapting to various threats on the board.


How to beat

Nivix Guildmage stands out among the multifaceted creatures within Magic the Gathering, bringing versatility to the Izzet arsenal. This card is known for its ability to copy instant or sorcery spells, which can be a game-changer in the right deck. However, to counteract this formidable creature, understanding its abilities and preparing a strategy is essential.

One effective tactic is to limit the Guildmage’s influence by depriving it of the necessary mana to activate its abilities. Cards like Damping Sphere can impose restrictions on how much mana a player can produce, which can be a setback for an opponent relying on Nivix Guildmage’s copying ability. Another approach is to preemptively remove the Guildmage from play before its abilities can be used. Instant speed removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be particularly useful in this regard, as they can be cast in response to the Guildmage being summoned or before its abilities are activated.

Ultimately, beating Nivix Guildmage relies on careful planning and swift action. By managing your resources wisely and remaining vigilant, you can diminish the impact of this cunning creature and maintain control over the flow of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Nivix Guildmage stands as a beacon of versatility and strategy in MTG, pivotal for any player seeking to master the art of spell-slinging and resource management. This card signals a wealth of opportunity to outmaneuver opponents through cunning plays and combinations that can sway the course of any duel. By understanding its strengths, weaknesses, and potential for exponential impact on the game, you can unlock new dimensions of play. Harness these insights and further refine your skills by diving into the depth of our collective MTG knowledge. Let’s amplify your tactics and spellcraft—join us to explore the full potential of Nivix Guildmage in your arsenal.


Cards like Nivix Guildmage

Nivix Guildmage stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering for its versatility among creature cards with spell-like abilities. As a direct counterpart, Goblin Electromancer is often brought into the discussion. Like our Guildmage, this creature reduces the cost of your instants and sorceries, enabling a faster pace of casting those game-altering spells. However, while Goblin Electromancer trims down costs across the board for those spell types, Nivix Guildmage offers a repeatable spell-copying ability, setting a higher bar for utility and potential combo interactions.

Looking further, we might compare Nivix Guildmage to Melek, Izzet Paragon, which also hails from the Izzet guild. Melek’s strength lies in manipulating the top of your library and doubling the impact of instant and sorcery spells. While Melek offers a higher ceiling for spell duplication, it lacks the Guildmage’s direct control and instant-speed interaction. Additionally, the Guildmage’s looting ability – exchanging a card in hand for a fresh draw – brings a level of hand manipulation that Melek doesn’t have.

In conclusion, in the realm of MTG cards bridging the gap between creatures and spell effects, Nivix Guildmage offers a unique combination of direct spell copying, cost-effectiveness, and card filtering, granting players both adaptability and control over their game plan.

Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions
Melek, Izzet Paragon - MTG Card versions
Goblin Electromancer - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Melek, Izzet Paragon - Dragon's Maze Promos (PDGM)

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Prismari Pledgemage - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nivix Guildmage MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Commander 2013, 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 Nivix Guildmage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nivix Guildmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2018-11-02. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1822003normalblackScott M. Fischer
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2022003normalblackScott M. Fischer
32017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1862015normalblackScott M. Fischer
42018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 422015normalblackScott M. Fischer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nivix Guildmage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2012-10-01 If the copied spell has an X whose value was determined as it was cast (like Sphinx’s Revelation does), the copy has the same value of X.
2012-10-01 If the copied spell is modal (that is, it says “Choose one —” or the like), the copy will have the same mode. You can’t choose a different one.
2012-10-01 Nivix Guildmage’s second ability can target (and copy) any instant or sorcery spell you control, not just one with targets.
2012-10-01 The copy will have the same targets as the spell it’s copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can’t choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).
2012-10-01 When the second ability resolves, it creates a copy of a spell. That copy is created on the stack, so it’s not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won’t trigger. The copy will then resolve like a normal spell, after players get a chance to cast spells and activate abilities.
2012-10-01 You can’t choose to pay any additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any additional or alternative costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too. For example, if you copy a spell that you cast by paying its overload cost, the copy will resolve as though its overload cost had been paid as well.

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