Crossroads Candleguide MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Scarecrow
Power 3
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances card selection for maintaining advantage and responding to threats or answers effectively during play.
  2. Helps to accelerate mana, facilitating the casting of more costly spells earlier and gaining a tempo edge.
  3. Operates at instant speed, providing versatility and control over the match’s pace and flow.

Text of card

When Crossroads Candleguide enters the battlefield, exile up to one target card from a graveyard. : Add one mana of any color.

Do the candleguides' heads turn to follow you as you pass, or is it merely a trick of the flickering light?


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Crossroads Candleguide enhances your card economy by allowing you a greater selection of cards to find the right answers or threats you need during gameplay. This is essential for maintaining the upper hand against your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially ramping your mana, this card can advance your board state quickly, providing the means to cast higher cost spells sooner than usual. Mana acceleration is a cornerstone of powerful strategies, often leading to a tempo advantage.

Instant Speed: Being able to act at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves or optimize your own plays during their end step. This facilitates better control of the pace of the match, making it a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When casting Crossroads Candleguide, players must be cognizant of the discard requirement. This card necessitates discarding another card, which can be particularly detrimental during late-game scenarios or in decks that operate with a minimal hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a distinct mana cost that incorporates both generic and white mana, Crossroads Candleguide demands a specialised mana base. This specificity can potentially restrict its inclusion to decks that are capable of generating white mana consistently, thereby limiting its overall application in the diverse universe of MTG.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, Crossroads Candleguide may be considered by some players as having a high cost for the benefits it provides. In the vast MTG card pool, there are alternative cards with lower mana values or more impactful effects, which could serve as more efficient substitutes in certain strategies.


Reasons to Include Crossroads Candleguide in Your Collection

Versatility: The Crossroads Candleguide slot into a variety of decks with its flexible mana utility. It offers a unique color-fixing element that can be crucial in multicolor decks needing a reliable mana base.

Combo Potential: As a mana fixer, it can be integral in setting up your board for combo execution. The artifact type also interacts well with cards that care about noncreature artifacts or artifact recursion.

Meta-Relevance: With shifting metas that often see land destruction or nonbasic land hate, having a Crossroads Candleguide can ensure you maintain your mana flow and stay competitive.


How to beat

Crossroads Candleguide may not be the most imposing card you’ll encounter in MTG, but it does have its tricks up its sleeve. This artifact creature can come in handy when filtering mana or when you’re in desperate need for that specific color to cast a crucial spell. Nonetheless, just like any MTG card, it has its vulnerabilities. To get an edge over Crossroads Candleguide, consider using artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Abrade that can dispose of it efficiently, preventing your opponent from benefiting from its color-filtering abilities.

Another strategy is to bypass it altogether. Focusing on building a faster, more aggressive deck can overshadow the slow advantage Crossroads Candleguide provides. Alternatively, if your deck thrives on non-creature spells, consider slotting in an Imprisoned in the Moon or a similar card to neutralize the Candleguide without having to deal with it directly. It’s about outpacing and outmaneuvering the slow burn that Crossroads Candleguide represents.

Don’t let the faint glow of Crossroads Candleguide lead you astray. With the right tools and a swift strategy, this card’s impact can be minimized, allowing you to focus on your path to victory.


Cards like Crossroads Candleguide

Crossroads Candleguide presents an intriguing addition to Magic: The Gathering as a versatile creature spell. It aligns with other utility creatures like Oasis Ritualist, as both can add mana of any color. However, Crossroads Candleguide uniquely offers additional flexibility with its Lantern’s Guidance ability that allows a creature to avoid being blocked for a turn.

Contrasting other mana dorks such as Llanowar Elves, Crossroads Candleguide doesn’t provide as efficient mana acceleration but makes up for it with a sturdier body. This attribute allows it to survive longer in the game, presenting a recurring source of mana and tactical advantage, particularly useful in longer matches.

While attending other comparisons, Pilgrim’s Eye stands out, sharing the feature of mana fixing by fetching a basic land card. Although it doesn’t directly add mana, Pilgrim’s Eye ensures land drops, contributing to a player’s mana consistency. However, it lacks the flexibility and combat application of Crossroads Candleguide.

In sum, for players who value creatures that serve multiple roles, Crossroads Candleguide could be a notable choice, particularly in formats where its advantages can be maximized to control the board and maintain mana diversity.

Oasis Ritualist - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Pilgrim's Eye - MTG Card versions
Oasis Ritualist - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Llanowar Elves - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Pilgrim's Eye - Worldwake (WWK)

Cards similar to Crossroads Candleguide by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Jade Monolith - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Lich's Tomb - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Jade Idol - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Condor - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Jade Monolith - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Jade Statue - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lich's Tomb - Darksteel (DST)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Jade Idol - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Clockwork Condor - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crossroads Candleguide MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Crossroads Candleguide and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crossroads Candleguide Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 2532015normalblackDan Scott
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 2532015normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crossroads Candleguide has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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