Gurmag Angler MTG Card
2015-01-23 - Number 72
2018-12-07 - Number 102
2019-11-07 - Number 683
2021-03-19 - Number 324
2020-09-26 - Number UMA-102
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Fish |
| Abilities | Delve |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for .)
If everything in the Gurmag Swamp hungers for human flesh, what bait could be more effective?
Cards like Gurmag Angler
Gurmag Angler has undeniably made a splash in MTG as a powerful and efficient creature. It earns its stripes through delve, allowing you to exile cards from your graveyard to pay for its mana cost. This feature is shared by Tasigur, the Golden Fang, which also utilizes delve, but with the added ability to selectively return cards from your graveyard to your hand, albeit at a higher mana cost.
Then we have Murderous Cut, another star in the delve category. Like Gurmag Angler, it uses the graveyard as a resource, but for the purpose of destruction rather than creature summoning. While Murderous Cut doesn’t offer the staying power of a creature on the board, it often clears the way for other attackers. Lastly, Tombstalker is worth mentioning. Though heavier on mana demand compared to Gurmag Angler, it brings flying to the table, making it a menacing threat from above.
When sizing up these analogous cards, Gurmag Angler competes favorably. Its low mana cost, facilitated by delve, positions it as a heavyweight in decks that rapidly fill the graveyard, providing astonishing value and power on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Gurmag Angler by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gurmag Angler. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dimir Control | Pauper | Dimir Control | Pauper League 2024-05-03 |
| Beanstalk Control | Legacy | Beanstalk Control | Legacy League 2024-05-07 |
 | Dimir Faeries | Pauper | Dimir Faeries | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-05-03 |
 | Burn | Pauper | Burn | Pauper League 2024-05-06 |
 | Golgari Gardens | Pauper | Golgari Gardens | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-05-04 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Gurmag Angler allows you to utilize your graveyard as a resource, effectively turning previously spent cards into a potent creature on the battlefield. This translates to a card advantage as you’re getting value from cards that have already served their initial purpose.
Resource Acceleration: Thanks to its delve mechanic, Gurmag Angler can hit the board much earlier than its mana cost would suggest. Delve lets you exile cards from your graveyard to help pay for the Angler’s cost, significantly accelerating your resource usage and potentially leading to a substantial creature on the field earlier than expected.
Instant Speed: While Gurmag Angler itself isn’t an instant, its low effective cost means you can maintain mana to use on instant-speed spells during your opponent’s turn before deploying the Angler. This gives you flexibility in your strategy and allows you to make the best use of both your mana and graveyard resources without sacrificing board presence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gurmag Angler presents a challenge for those who aren’t prepared to delve deep into their graveyards. Trading graveyard resources for this creature can sometimes backfire, especially if you’re counting on those cards for other synergies or later gameplay strategies. Contemplating the opportune moment to cast this fishy friend can be as crucial as the summoning itself.
Specific Mana Cost: While the converted mana cost of Gurmag Angler might seem low, requiring specifically one black mana can still be a stumbling block for decks that aren’t heavily invested in black or that operate on a tight color curve. Decks that are not mono-black or lack sufficient mana fixing may therefore struggle to include Gurmag Angler optimally.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In formats where fast plays are key, Gurmag Angler’s seven-mana demand might slow you down initially. Even with an affordable Delve ability, the requirement of having enough cards in your graveyard to mitigate its cost means that without an early flurry of spells or creature sacrifices, you may find that casting it quickly is more hopeful than practical.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gurmag Angler’s ability to slip into various deck archetypes is largely due to its efficient mana cost and substantial body. This makes it a formidable presence in both aggressive and control-oriented decks, offering a reliable threat that can be played early or late in the game.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its delve mechanic, this card synergizes well with strategies that aim to fill the graveyard quickly. It can become a low-cost heavy-hitter that works in tandem with other graveyard manipulation cards to maintain board dominance.
Meta-Relevance: Gurmag Angler holds its ground in environments where smaller creatures dominate the battlefield. This card can often bypass common removal spells, presenting a persistent challenge for opponents in a shifting meta landscape.
How to beat
Gurmag Angler has carved out its niche in MTG as a formidable creature renowned for its ability to become a significant threat early in the game. Diving into the depths of the strategy pool, understanding how to tackle the Angler becomes crucial. Its presence on the battlefield often shifts the balance, given its substantial size for a minimal mana investment thanks to delve. With that said, exile effects provide an efficient solution, removing the card from the opponent’s graveyard, which depletes their delve fuel, and can even permanently handle the Angler itself.
Rest in Peace is an excellent card against Gurmag Angler as it exiles all cards from all graveyards when it enters the battlefield, eliminating the possibility for delve altogether. Similarly, using instant-speed removal like Path to Exile can disrupt your opponent’s plans mid-combat or in response to the delve action. Another angle of attack is to manipulate the battlefield; forcing unfavorable blocks or utilizing cards like Pacifism can halt the Angler’s assault without having to remove it directly.
Ultimately, winning the battle against Gurmag Angler in MTG doesn’t always necessitate a direct confrontation. Sometimes, it involves smart deck building and a timely execution of graveyard interaction and removal spells.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gurmag Angler MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Ultimate Masters, 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 Gurmag Angler and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Gurmag Angler Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by YW Tang.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | YW Tang | |
| 2 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 102 | 2015 | Normal | Black | YW Tang | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 683 | 2015 | Normal | Black | YW Tang | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | UMA-102 | 2015 | Normal | Black | YW Tang | ||
| 5 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 324 | 1997 | Normal | Black | YW Tang |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gurmag Angler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gurmag Angler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | Because delve isn’t an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs, such as flashback. It can also be used to pay for additional costs that include generic mana. |
| 2021-03-19 | Delve doesn’t change a spell’s mana cost or mana value. For example, Treasure Cruise’s mana value is 8 even if you exiled three cards to cast it. |
| 2021-03-19 | You can exile cards to pay only for generic mana, and you can’t exile more cards than the generic mana requirement of a spell with delve. For example, you can’t exile more than seven cards from your graveyard to cast Treasure Cruise unless an effect has increased its cost. |