Judge of Currents MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Wizard |
| Released | 2007-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Lorwyn |
| Set code | LRW |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dan Scott |
Text of card
Whenever a Merfolk you control becomes tapped, you may gain 1 life.
Though the currents of the Lanes shift every year, the merrow never lose track of where they are or where they are going.
Cards like Judge of Currents
Judge of Currents is an intriguing addition to the repertoire of life-gaining creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It holds its ground next to cards like Soul Warden, which also offers a way to increment life totals. Judge of Currents, however, shines with the specific lifegain trigger from tapping a merfolk. Soul Warden is less restricted, gaining life whenever another creature enters the battlefield, regardless of type.
Another card in this space is Daxos, Blessed by the Sun, offering a similar lifegain capability. Daxos triggers on your creatures entering or dying, which may appeal to a wider strategy but still differs from Judge of Currents’ merfolk-centric mechanism. Furthermore, there’s Anointer Priest, which gains life whenever a token enters under your control, a more specialized scenario than Judge of Currents’ repeatable tap action.
Judge of Currents remains unique with its tribal synergy where it not only enhances life totals but also bolsters merfolk strategies. When comparing these cards, Judge of Currents’ value is notably context-dependent, flourishing in decks designed around its merfolk synergy and tap mechanics. It carves a niche for itself among life-gain creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Judge of Currents by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Judge of Currents provides a consistent life gain mechanism which can translate into card advantage in the long run. Decks that synergize with lifegain strategies can transform this sustained life increase into opportunities for card draw or to activate various abilities, setting you ahead of your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Judge of Currents accelerates your resource durability. Each life point gained is an extra buffer, enabling you to take more risks or survive longer against aggressive strategies, effectively giving you more time to deploy your own resources.
Instant Speed: One of the key strengths of Judge of Currents is its ability to trigger life gain at instant speed, as long as you are tapping a Merfolk creature. This feature allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn, potentially disrupting their strategies by unexpectedly bolstering your life total, which can be especially advantageous in interactive matches.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Judge of Currents necessitates a specific combination of mana, including blue, which can restrict its integration within multicolored or colorless decks that may not prioritize or support blue mana sources effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s slightly higher for its 1/1 body, Judge of Currents may not always represent the most mana-efficient play, especially when compared to other cards with greater impact or stronger abilities at similar mana values.
Discard Requirement: While Judge of Currents itself does not require a discard, utilizing its tap and untap potential often relies on other cards, potentially leading to unfavorable discards or expending valuable cards to activate its life-gaining ability.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Judge of Currents slides seamlessly into various deck types, particularly those centered around Merfolk or tap/untap mechanics. It offers a steady life-gain ability which bolsters your endurance throughout the game.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards enabling multiple creature tap and untap actions, Judge of Currents turns into a life-generating machine. This makes it a fundamental piece for infinite combos that can sway the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where the pace is quick and aggressive, Judge of Currents serves as an excellent defense mechanism. Its ability to gain life with every tapped Merfolk becomes increasingly useful, mitigating damage from quick strikes and preserving your stance on the battlefield.
How to beat
Judge of Currents is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, with the unique ability to gain life whenever a Merfolk you control becomes tapped. This can create a sustainable life buffer for players leveraging Merfolk synergies. To counteract this card, the most straightforward tactic is to remove it from play. Employing instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can swiftly handle the Judge before the life gain becomes overwhelming. Board wipes like Wrath of God can also reset the playing field, eliminating the advantage provided by Judge of Currents and other creatures in a single stroke.
Alternatively, preventing Merfolk from tapping in the first place can nullify Judge of Currents’ impact. Cards like Imposing Sovereign or Cursed Totem can restrict your opponent’s creature abilities, effectively shutting down the lifegain engine. It’s essential to adapt to the speed of Judge of Currents and ensure that it doesn’t slip through your defensive lines to tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.
Ultimately, while Judge of Currents can bolster a Merfolk deck’s resilience, a combination of timely removal and preventative measures can effectively undermine its strengths and maintain equilibrium on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Judge of Currents MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Judge of Currents 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Judge of Currents has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Judge of Currents card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-01 | For the ability to trigger, the creature has to actually change from untapped to tapped. If an effect attempts to tap the creature, but it was already tapped at the time, this ability won’t trigger. |
| 2007-10-01 | This is a triggered ability, not an activated ability. It doesn’t allow you to tap the creature whenever you want; rather, you need some other way of tapping it, such as by attacking with the creature. |