Gustha's Scepter MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 120
2008-09-22 - Number 209
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
If Gustha's Scepter leaves play or you lose control of it, put all cards under Gustha's Scepter into your graveyard. oc T: Put any card from your hand face down under Gustha's Scepter. You may look at that card at any time. oc T: Return any card under Gustha's Scepter to your hand.
Cards like Gustha's Scepter
Gustha’s Scepter offers a unique angle in the realm of protective game mechanics in MTG. It shares similar space with cards like Elixir of Immortality, enabling players to safeguard certain elements during gameplay. Gustha’s Scepter allows you to exile cards from your hand and put them back during your upkeep, thus preventing discard strategies from affecting key pieces in your strategy or hiding crucial cards from your opponent’s disruptive spells.
Librarian’s Scepter presents a comparable concept but functions differently, as it exiles a single card and then permits its play for as long as it remains in exile. On the other hand, Gustha’s Scepter can house multiple cards but demands a more strategic timing for their retrieval. Another card that could be mentioned in tandem is the spellbook Reliquary Tower, as it indirectly protects your hand by removing the maximum hand size limit, thus decreasing the necessity to discard at the end of your turn.
Ultimately, Gustha’s Scepter may not stand out in terms of card advantage, but its capacity to tactically secure key components and flexibility under pressure does make it a considerate choice for particular MTG decks designed around precision and protection.
Cards similar to Gustha's Scepter by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gustha’s Scepter allows you to temporarily exile a card from your hand, essentially protecting it from discard spells or hand disruptions. When the scepter leaves play, you can return those cards to your hand, gaining an edge in resource availability.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to store cards for later use without being limited by your hand size, Gustha’s Scepter effectively lets you churn through your deck more efficiently. This capability can lead to faster access to crucial game pieces or the means to recover after a board wipe.
Instant Speed: The Scepter’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to threats or unfavorable moves from your opponents at a moment’s notice. This adaptability is key for navigating complex board states and protecting your valuable cards in fast-paced matches.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gustha’s Scepter necessitates setting aside cards temporarily, which can be problematic. Discarding can be counterproductive when your goal is to maintain a robust hand size for defensive or strategic purposes.
Specific Mana Cost: To activate Gustha’s Scepter, you need to invest one blue mana. This requirement makes it exclusively suited for blue or multicolored decks, restricting its versatility across the broader spectrum of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the scepter’s cost may seem moderate, it’s vital to factor in the mana investment needed to both play and use the card. For its mana value, players might expect an immediate impact on the game, which this card does not provide, potentially slowing down your game plan.
Reasons to Include Gustha’s Scepter in Your Collection
Versatility: Gustha’s Scepter offers an array of strategic options for deck building. Its ability to exile cards temporarily can protect your key pieces from discard or removal, and can also help with manipulating your draw.
Combo Potential: This card plays well in combinations with effects that allow you to play with the top card of your library revealed, or strategies that involve many cards in hand. It’s an enabler for setups that can lead to powerful plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a game setting where control decks are prevalent, Gustha’s Scepter gains value. It aids in maintaining a full grip of cards, which is crucial in matchups where hand size and card advantage can determine the winner.
How to Beat Gustha’s Scepter
Gustha’s Scepter is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering that provides an intriguing utility. Capable of sheltering cards from hand disruption by tucking them away, this scepter adds a layer of defense against targeted discard strategies. While it might seem tricky to counteract, it does have its vulnerabilities.
Strategies to beat Gustha’s Scepter include swift artifact removal cards such as Nature’s Claim or Abrade, which can dispatch the scepter efficiently, denying your opponent their safeguard. Additionally, employing a shuffle strategy with cards like Cosima, God of the Voyage, ensures that any exiled cards do not just return to a vulnerable hand, but are also shuffled away into the library. It is important to consider that cards set aside with the scepter can be lost forever if its activation is responded to with removal. Hence, timing your disruption is key to nullifying Gustha’s Scepter’s benefits.
In conclusion, Gustha’s Scepter may offer a temporary hideaway for key cards, but it’s far from unbeatable. Effective removal, timing, and knowledge of how its mechanics work are crucial in asserting dominance over this artifact during gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gustha's Scepter MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Masters Edition II, 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 Gustha's Scepter and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Gustha's Scepter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Sandra Everingham.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 120 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Sandra Everingham | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 209 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Sandra Everingham |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gustha's Scepter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gustha's Scepter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The last ability will trigger when a different player gains control of Gustha’s Scepter, as well as when Gustha’s Scepter leaves the battlefield. |