Gurmag Drowner MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 57
2019-11-07 - Number 396
2020-09-26 - Number DTK-57
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Naga Wizard |
| Abilities | Exploit |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Gurmag Drowner exploits a creature, look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Cards like Gurmag Drowner
Gurmag Drowner offers players a unique opportunity through its exploit ability to delve into the deep strategies of Magic: The Gathering. While reminiscent of cards like Sultai Soothsayer, which also provide a look at the top cards of your library, Gurmag Drowner grants an immediate return on your investment. Unlike the slower Soothsayer, the Drowner’s strength lies in its ability to exploit another creature to potentially filter through more options, thereby optimizing your future plays.
Sidisi’s Faithful also shares the exploit mechanic, showcasing flexibility in its role on the battlefield. Though primarily viewed as a means to bounce and disrupt opponent’s creatures, its lesser impact on library manipulation marks a clear departure from Gurmag Drowner’s card selection potential. Meanwhile, creature cards like Jeskai Sage, which offer card draw upon death, hint at similar value over time, but lack the immediate and direct influence over deck churn that Drowner possesses.
Ultimately, whenever evaluating Gurmag Drowner against its counterparts, its specific fusion of self-sacrifice for deck filtration makes it a potent tool for those adept at navigating their decks to synthesize winning combinations in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s specialized nature provides nuanced advantages that highly skilled players can exploit to significant effect.
Cards similar to Gurmag Drowner by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gurmag Drowner’s ability to exploit, which lets you look at the top four cards of your library and put one into your hand, can be a significant advantage. This feature not only helps to filter through your deck to find key cards but also can disrupt your opponent’s understanding of your hand contents.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana, the exploit mechanic of Gurmag Drowner can effectively be a form of resource acceleration. By sacrificing a creature that has already served its purpose, such as one with a valuable enter-the-battlefield effect, you’re turning what would otherwise be a static asset on the board into immediate card selection, thus accelerating your game plan.
Instant Speed: Although Gurmag Drowner acts at sorcery speed, the strategy surrounding its use can revolve around instant-speed interactions. It fits well in decks that can leave mana open for counterspells or instant removal, only to use the mana for exploiting if those options are unnecessary. This makes the card a flexible choice in reactive strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gurmag Drowner requires you to exploit a creature, essentially discarding it, potentially setting back your board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a blue and black mana, which can restrict deck building to dimir colors or a more complex manabase to accommodate it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana, the 2/4 stats and single instance of card selection may not compare favorably to other options in the mana curve.
Reasons to Include Gurmag Drowner in Your Collection
Versatility: Gurmag Drowner offers flexibility as a creature that can impact the board and also assist in sculpting your hand by giving you access to deeper layers of your deck. It’s a valuable addition for any blue-based deck looking for strategic depth.
Combo Potential: When combined with cards that thrive on graveyard interaction, Gurmag Drowner can serve as a crucial piece in setting up powerful combos, seamlessly integrating into self-mill strategies or reanimator themes.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where the graveyard is a resource as important as the hand, Gurmag Drowner proves to be a relevant choice, its exploit mechanism allowing for tailored responses to current game states.
How to Beat
Understanding the dynamics of Gurmag Drowner in MTG is crucial for strategizing against it. As a creature card with the exploit mechanic, it allows the player to sacrifice another creature to peer into the top four cards of their library and place one of them into their hand. This card selection strategy can give your opponent a significant advantage if not addressed quickly.
To counter Gurmag Drowner effectively, you can focus on removing it before its exploit ability is triggered. Direct removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with the Drowner, ensuring your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand. Additionally, graveyard hate cards can diminish its impact by limiting the options for delve – a common strategy used in conjunction with Gurmag Drowner.
Be vigilant of the field, as preemptively controlling your opponent’s creature count can mitigate the advantages Gurmag Drowner might provide. Cards that can exile creatures from the graveyard or limit the ability to search the library are also strong options for disrupting your opponent’s game plan. In essence, staying proactive and readying removals or disruptive spells are key methods in overcoming the challenge posed by Gurmag Drowner.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gurmag Drowner MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Drowner and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Gurmag Drowner Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Lake Hurwitz.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 57 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lake Hurwitz | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 396 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lake Hurwitz | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DTK-57 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lake Hurwitz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gurmag Drowner has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gurmag Drowner card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-25 | A creature with exploit “exploits a creature” when the controller of the exploit ability sacrifices a creature as that ability resolves. |
| 2015-02-25 | If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger. |
| 2015-02-25 | You can sacrifice the creature with exploit if it’s still on the battlefield. This will cause its other ability to trigger. |
| 2015-02-25 | You can’t sacrifice more than one creature to any one exploit ability. |
| 2015-02-25 | You choose whether to sacrifice a creature and which creature to sacrifice as the exploit ability resolves. |