Guildmages' Forum MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Land
Released	2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Guilds of Ravnica
Set code	GRN
Number	250
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Paquette

Key Takeaways

Provides card efficiency and maintains momentum with strategic mana and spell access.
Enables instant-speed mana generation and deck manipulation, allowing for tactical responses.
A unique land card, vital for multicolored strategies and synergistic deck builds.

Text of card

: Add . , : Add one mana of any color. If that mana is spent on a multicolored creature spell, that creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Guildmages’ Forum enables a boost in card efficiency by allowing you to filter through your deck, granting access to the vital spells and land cards when most needed. This advantage is essential in supporting the player’s strategy and maintaining momentum during the match.

Resource Acceleration: This card aids in resource acceleration by providing mana of any color, which can be crucial for deploying multicolored spells ahead of the opponent’s curve. The versatility offered can be a game-changer in decks that demand a diverse mana base.

Instant Speed: The ability to utilize Guildmages’ Forum’s effects at instant speed confers a strategic upper hand, as it permits players to respond with mana generation or deck manipulation unrestrained by the phase of the turn. This flexibility can be decisive in games that hinge on timing and surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Guildmages’ Forum requires a player to discard a card to activate certain abilities. This can deplete a hand rapidly, leaving fewer options for future plays and potentially putting the player at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Accessing the benefits of Guildmages’ Forum necessitates a precise mana composition. Decks not tailored to optimize mana diversity may find it challenging to derive the maximum value from this card, sometimes resulting in a dead card in hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Guildmages’ Forum offers unique utility, its activation cost is steep in comparison to other mana-generating cards in the MTG universe. This could lead to inefficient mana usage during critical turns, especially in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Guildmages’ Forum offers a unique mechanic that allows a deck to adapt during the course of a game. It can generate a color of mana for a guildmage, and it’s useful in multicolored decks seeking mana fixing. This adaptability makes it a strong candidate for diverse strategies and play styles.

Combo Potential: This land pairs well with cards that benefit from +1/+1 counters or multicolored creatures, enhancing their inherent abilities. The possibility of enabling combos that exploit these counters or provide additional benefits for using them is significant, often leading to powerful plays and synergistic deck builds.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that appreciates versatility and efficient mana usage, Guildmages’ Forum stands out. It can shift the balance in games that lean heavily on multicolored creatures and guild-based mechanics, making it a tactical choice for decks aiming to remain competitive.

How to Beat Guildmages’ Forum

Guildmages’ Forum is a unique land in MTG, providing both mana fixing and a subtle boost to multicolored creatures. It’s an asset to any deck focusing on Guild creatures but like any card, it has its vulnerabilities. The best approach to countering Guildmages’ Forum is to limit its advantages.

Effective strategies include land destruction spells to remove the Forum from play, thus denying your opponent that crucial mana and +1/+1 counter. Targeted removal like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can take care of the Forum before it becomes a major threat. Alternatively, controlling the creatures that benefit from the Forum’s ability is key. Cards that prevent counters from being placed on creatures, such as Solemnity, or that remove counters, like Vampire Hexmage, can mitigate the effects of Guildmages’ Forum.

Lastly, speed can be your ally. Since the Forum benefits come into play slowly, faster decks can outpace and overwhelm an opponent relying on the incremental advantage it provides. In essence, overcoming Guildmages’ Forum lies in disrupting its mechanics and outstripping the tempo it attempts to set up.

Cards like Guildmages' Forum

Guildmages’ Forum is a singular land card in Magic: The Gathering that brings a subtle, yet impactful advantage to multicolored strategies. While similar to other land cards like Opal Palace, which also provides a color boost to multicolored creatures, Guildmages’ Forum offers an extra +1/+1 counter when it’s used to cast a multicolor creature. This is a boon, especially in a format where small advantages can escalate to game-winning scenarios.

Reflecting on the Ravnica Allegiance set, Plaza of Harmony presents itself as another comparison point. It too aids a multicolored deck by offering a life gain component. However, it lacks the ability to enhance creature stats. Mana Confluence, meanwhile, allows for greater flexibility, granting any color mana at the price of life—a feature Guildmages’ Forum eschews for focused multicolored support without the life cost. The Forum steers clear from drawbacks, subtly powering up creatures and smoothing out mana concerns for guild-aligned decks.

The capability of Guildmages’ Forum to consistently offer a bonus to multicolored creatures carves out a distinctive niche for itself among utility lands in Magic: The Gathering. It is an asset in any deck looking to exploit the synergy between colors and creature effectiveness.

Cards similar to Guildmages' Forum by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guildmages' Forum MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Guildmages' Forum and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guildmages' Forum has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal