Lorehold Pledgemage MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Kor Shaman |
| Abilities | First strike,Magecraft |
| Released | 2021-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Strixhaven: School of Mages |
| Set code | STX |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 201 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jake Murray |
Text of card
First strike Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, Lorehold Pledgemage gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
"The weight of history can empower you or it can crush you. It's your choice."
Cards like Lorehold Pledgemage
Lorehold Pledgemage is an intriguing card that finds its place among the spell-based creatures within Magic: The Gathering. When comparing it to others in its category, Kiln Fiend stands out. Both cards gain power from casting noncreature spells, but the Pledgemage also boasts vigilance and lifelink, giving it an edge in both offense and defense. Kiln Fiend, however, can potentially deal more damage in a single burst with its static power increase.
We also see parallels with the Wee Dragonauts, another creature that benefits from spell-slinging. While the Dragonauts have flying, an obvious advantage for evasion, the Pledgemage compensates with its aforementioned keyword abilities and a higher toughness, which equips it better for surviving combat.
Lastly, the prowess ability seen on Monastery Swiftspear presents a similar use case, accelerating in power with each instant or sorcery spell cast during your turn. Swiftspear, being of lower mana cost and having haste, can attack sooner. But the Lorehold Pledgemage’s utility in prolonged game states cannot be overlooked. There’s a distinct balance between immediate impact and long-term advantages when comparing these cards, with Lorehold Pledgemage offering sturdy versatility in spell-heavy decks.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lorehold Pledgemage, when included in your deck, bolsters your board presence. Every spell you cast not only progresses your game plan but also potentially powers up the Pledgemage, increasing its threat level with each instance or sorcery you play.
Resource Acceleration: Scroll-scribed in historical power, this eager apprentice can accelerate your resources by infusing your spells with an extra punch. While it doesn’t generate mana or tokens itself, it piggybacks off your casting strategy to potentially turn every spell into a more daunting play for your opponents to contend with.
Instant Speed: Employing instant-speed spells in conjunction with Lorehold Pledgemage can be a clever tactic. As you play your instants on your opponent’s turn, your Pledgemage is primed to swing with increased might on your following turn, potentially catching your opponent off-guard and pressuring their life total unexpectedly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Lorehold Pledgemage, bear in mind the synergy your deck must possess to make the most of this card’s abilities. Without a steady flow of cards to discard, this creature’s effectiveness dwindles, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage if you find your hand running short on options.
Specific Mana Cost: The Pledgemage comes with a distinct casting cost that necessitates both red and white mana. This dual-color demand could reduce its compatibility, particularly in decks that do not run on a Boros (red/white) strategy or mana base, which might make it less optimal for certain deck constructions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a casting cost that is on the higher side for its stat line and abilities, the Pledgemage faces stiff competition from other creatures in the same mana zone. It’s essential to weigh this card against others to determine if its abilities justify the investment, especially when mana efficiency is key to your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lorehold Pledgemage has a flexible role in your deck by interacting well with both instant and sorcery spells. This adaptability allows it to fit seamlessly into various strategies, buffing itself while you cast spells you were already going to play.
Combo Potential: This mage excels when combined with strategies that enable spell-slinging multiple times per turn. Every cast triggers its ability, so it synergizes with decks that aim to cast numerous spells in a single turn, leading to a potentially massive power boost.
Meta-Relevance: Due to its reaction to commonly played instant and sorcery spells, Lorehold Pledgemage is a card that can gain relevance in a meta rich with spellslinger decks. Its capacity to grow in power and toughness makes it a commendable threat against a wide array of current popular deck builds.
How to beat
Lorehold Pledgemage is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering a dynamic playstyle with its Magecraft ability. When working out a strategy to counter it, consider the card’s strengths. Its ability to grow larger with each instant or sorcery spell you cast can turn it into a formidable force on the battlefield. One effective method to overcome the Pledgemage is by limiting its ability triggers. This means either playing fewer spells or employing tactics to neutralize its abilities such as through counterspells or removal spells before it can accumulate counters and become too large to handle.
Another approach to confronting the Pledgemage lies in restricting its impact through board control. Cards with deathtouch or those that create unfavorable conditions for attackers can help deter or eliminate the Pledgemage. Additionally, enchantments that pacify or tap creatures can buy time to orchestrate a winning move, ensuring that the Pledgemage’s Magecraft ability remains a non-threat.
Considering these strategies, while Lorehold Pledgemage holds potential, adept players can navigate around it. A solid, well-rounded deck equipped with a variety of control spells is key to reigning in the Pledgemage’s abilities and steering the game towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lorehold Pledgemage MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Lorehold Pledgemage and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lorehold Pledgemage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lorehold Pledgemage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | Each magecraft ability has a different effect, although they all have the same trigger condition, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell. |
| 2021-04-16 | For example, if you control Archmage Emeritus and cast an instant or sorcery spell, Archmage Emeritus’s magecraft ability will trigger and you will draw a card. |
| 2021-04-16 | If an effect creates a copy of an instant or sorcery spell, this will also cause the magecraft ability to trigger. |
| 2021-04-16 | If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell, magecraft abilities trigger once for each copy created by the effect. |
| 2021-04-16 | Some effects instruct you to copy an instant or sorcery card in a zone other than the stack. These copies do not cause magecraft abilities to trigger. However, most effects that do this also allow you to cast the copy, and casting the copy will cause magecraft abilities to trigger. |