Mad Prophet MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 146
2013-03-15 - Number 51
2016-04-08 - Number 171
2018-12-07 - Number 137
2021-08-26 - Number 487
2023-03-21 - Number 167
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Shaman |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Haste , Discard a card: Draw a card.
"There's no heron in the moon! It's a shrew, a five-legged shrew, with a voice like whispering thunder!"
Cards like Mad Prophet
Mad Prophet is a unique creature card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that presents both a hasty attacker and a card filtering option. It holds similarities with cards like Rummaging Goblin, which also allows you to discard a card to draw another. However, Mad Prophet offers the advantage of haste, enabling you to act immediately without the usual summoning sickness delay.
Another comparative card is Merfolk Looter which provides a similar draw and discard mechanic but with a key difference. While Mad Prophet demands tapping alongside the discard, Merfolk Looter operates at a lower cost, and its ability to use without haste can be quite advantageous in longer games. On the flip side, Tormenting Voice demands a card discard as part of the cost to cast it, rewarding you with drawing two cards—a different dynamic where the risk is upfront, but the reward is potentially greater.
Assessing these nuances, Mad Prophet holds its ground as a valuable asset, especially in decks that favor aggressive play styles and the flexibility of instant ability usage to enhance hand quality.
Cards similar to Mad Prophet by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mad Prophet enables players to filter through their deck swiftly, converting any redundant or unneeded card in hand into potential new strategies and tactics.
Resource Acceleration: Haste allows Mad Prophet to be used the turn it comes into play, ensuring no turn is wasted and the players’ resources can be utilized immediately for optimal tempo.
Instant Speed: Its ability to discard and draw at instant speed provides crucial adaptability during critical phases of the game, making it a versatile tool for reacting to an ever-changing battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Mad Prophet’s ability necessitates you to hurdle a card as part of the activation cost. This can be counterproductive when your hand is scarce or if you hold valuable cards that you’d prefer not to toss away.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting the Mad Prophet requires both red mana and generic mana, presenting an obstacle in decks that aren’t heavily invested in red or lack sufficient mana fixing to accommodate a more diverse color scheme reliably.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Mad Prophet provides a tap ability that can provide card selection and potential graveyard synergies, its four-mana cost to bring into play makes it a slower option compared to lower-cost cards that offer similar or even swifter card filtering or draw capabilities, potentially putting you at a tempo disadvantage in fast-paced games.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mad Prophet offers a consistent way to both cycle through your deck and fill your graveyard, which is beneficial in decks that thrive on discard or flashback mechanics.
Combo Potential: By discarding a card to activate Mad Prophet’s ability, you can set up potent combos, particularly in red-based decks that might benefit from having certain cards in the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: With various strategies that rely on quick deck cycling and graveyard resources, Mad Prophet remains a relevant choice for players looking to optimize these elements in their gameplay.
How to beat
Mad Prophet is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, launching players into a deeper strategic gameplay with its haste ability and the capacity to discard a card to draw another. This red creature hailing from the Shadows over Innistrad set, can be a real game-changer by refreshing your hand and setting up potential graveyard strategies.
To successfully navigate against Mad Prophet, consider using instant-speed removal when it’s tapped out to discard and draw. This negates its ability and prevents the opponent from gaining the upper hand. Moreover, employ graveyard disruption tools to minimize the benefits your opponent might reap from discarding their cards. These could include cards like Scavenging Ooze in green, which can exile cards from graveyards and disrupt the synergy that Mad Prophet might create.
Also, keeping pressure with your own threats can force your opponent to use Mad Prophet defensively, which means they’re not utilizing it for its primary purpose – improving their hand. An effective strategy against Mad Prophet revolves around understanding its mechanics and disrupting the synergy it aims to create with the graveyard. By doing so, you can outmaneuver your opponent and gain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mad Prophet MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt, 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 Mad Prophet 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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Printings
The Mad Prophet Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 146 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2013-03-15 | Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt | DDK | 51 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 3 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 171 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Iain McCaig | |
| 4 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Iain McCaig | |
| 5 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 487 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 6 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 167 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Iain McCaig |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mad Prophet 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 Mad Prophet card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-05-01 | Discarding a card is part of the ability’s activation cost. You can’t activate the ability if you have no cards in hand. |