Maestros Initiate MTG Card

Maestros Initiate - Streets of New Capenna

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Citizen
Released	2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set name	Streets of New Capenna
Set code	SNC
Power	3
Toughness	1
Number	86
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Irina Nordsol

Key Takeaways

Maestros Initiate can swing game momentum by creating card and mana advantages at crucial times.
Casting it requires careful consideration due to its specific mana and discard costs.
Its inclusion in decks can enhance versatility and combo potential, remaining meta-relevant.

Text of card

{UR}, Exile Maestros Initiate from your graveyard: Draw two cards, then discard a card.

"How far are you willing to go for your family, cleanblade?" —Lord Xander

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Maestros Initiate card can provide a powerful swing in resources by giving you access to additional spells or options from your deck. This can be the difference between maintaining pressure or falling behind your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially reducing the casting cost of your spells or conjuring crucial mana at critical times, this card can facilitate a faster deployment of your strategies and threats to the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The ability to act at instant speed grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponents’ moves, potentially disrupting their plans or efficiently managing your own resources as the situation on the board unfolds.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Similar to cards that offer high rewards, Maestros Initiate introduces a steep price by asking players to shed another card from their hand. This can be particularly taxing during late game stages or when your hand is already depleted, effectively narrowing your strategic options and potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s next move.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Maestros Initiate, you’ll need a particular arrangement of mana. This strict color requirement can restrict flexibility in deck construction, as it necessitates a firm commitment to the colors within its casting cost. Players utilizing a multicolor mana base or those running a color-light strategy might find this requirement cumbersome, limiting the card’s broad application.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When examining the mana-efficiency of cards, Maestros Initiate sits on the higher end of the spectrum. Given its cost, it competes with other cards in the same mana slot that could potentially offer more impactful board presence or immediate value. Players might find that, in their specific deck, another card in the four mana range could serve their game plan more effectively, making Maestros Initiate a less than ideal option in certain scenarios.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Maestros Initiate provides flexibility in deck building, as its color identity aligns with multiple deck themes. Its ability to add either combat prowess or mana generation makes it a suitable choice for a variety of strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right mix of cards, Maestros Initiate can be a linchpin in powerful combos. It works exceptionally well with mechanics that capitalize on tapping and untapping creatures, or with cards that benefit from casting spells of certain colors.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the MTG landscape often rewards multicolor synergy and mana fixing, Maestros Initiate secures its place in the current meta. It’s a card that can adapt to changes, ensuring its longevity in your collection.

How to beat

Maestros Initiate is a spell to be reckoned with, capturing the attention of players for its potential to disrupt the battlefield when played adeptly. To effectively neutralize this card’s advantages, one needs to strategize preemptively. Removal spells are particularly effective as they can deal with Maestros Initiate before its deathtouch ability becomes a threat or its exploit mechanic is utilized. Spot removal that targets specific cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile allows you to respond swiftly, preventing your opponent from gaining the upper hand.

Counter magic also plays a pivotal role. Having counterspells like Counterspell itself or Negate ready can ensure that Maestros Initiate never hits the field, thus averting any of the potential cascading effects it could have triggered. Moreover, keeping a keen eye on the board and managing threats before they escalate is crucial. This involves making calculated moves and understanding when to hold back or advance.

Ultimately, overcoming the challenge posed by a card like Maestros Initiate calls for a blend of timely removal, strategic countering, and smart board management. These approaches can effectively dilute its impact, keeping your gameplay on a steady keel.

Cards like Maestros Initiate

Maestros Initiate breathes fresh life into the suite of red creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. This daring new entry finds kinship with cards like Goblin Arsonist, as both creatures belong to the early game aggressive red lineup. Yet, Maestros Initiate blazes its own trail with an intriguing come-into-play effect, disadvantaging the opponent immediately upon arrival.

Another relative in this space is the fervent Fanatical Firebrand, a staple for its haste feature, enabling swift attacks. While Fanatical Firebrand offers immediate damage potential, Maestros Initiate enjoys a more subtle form of disruption, nudging players to devise strategies around casting cost increments. Furthermore, Rigging Runner is also a comrade in the red creature domain, boasting first strike when raid is activated. Though both cards pressure the opponent early on, Maestros Initiate stands out with its ability to throw a wrench into the opponent’s mana curve, a factor that can significantly impact the flow of the match.

Delving into the attributes and strategic benefits, it’s evident that Maestros Initiate holds a special place in the early game roster, catering to players who favor a psychological angle by manipulating casting costs to hinder their opponent’s game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Maestros Initiate MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Maestros Initiate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Maestros Initiate has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Maestros Initiate card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2022-04-29	Exiling Maestros Initiate from your graveyard is part of paying the cost of its ability. This means that no player can respond to the ability by removing it from your graveyard before you can pay the cost.