Disciple of the Ring MTG Card
2015-07-17 - Number 53
2022-07-08 - Number 46
2022-07-08 - Number 428
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Manipulates spells from the graveyard, converting used cards into versatile, game-altering effects.
- Activation at instant speed allows for dynamic response to opponents, maximizing battlefield control.
- While powerful, its dependence on graveyard resources and specific mana cost can limit flexibility.
Text of card
, Exile an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard: Choose one —• Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays .• Disciple of the Ring gets +1/+1 until end of turn.• Tap target creature.• Untap target creature.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Disciple of the Ring provides significant card advantage by allowing you to manipulate the course of the game using spells from your graveyard. This interaction ensures you get extra value out of the spells even after they’ve been played, keeping your hand and battlefield presence strong.
Resource Acceleration: This card functions as a form of resource acceleration by converting spare or less useful instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard into potent abilities. This transformation of resources can lead to more dynamic and powerful plays, giving you the upper hand.
Instant Speed: The power to activate Disciple of the Ring’s abilities at instant speed grants you the flexibility to react swiftly to your opponent’s actions. You can adapt to an ever-changing battlefield on the fly, capitalizing on the full potential of your graveyard as an extension of your hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Disciple of the Ring, this blue creature requires a level of graveyard management due to its abilities asking you to exile an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. Should your graveyard run low on these specific card types, its abilities would be undermined, hampering your strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding one blue mana plus four generic mana, this card’s specific mana requirement can be restrictive in multicolored decks. The mandatory blue mana reduces versatility and constriction in color-flexible strategies can occur, especially under mana pressure.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana to summon to the battlefield, Disciple of the Ring comes with a relatively steep price. This can be particularly challenging in the earlier stages of a game where mana resources are critical for establishing board presence and tempo.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Disciple of the Ring is an asset to many spell-centric builds, fitting perfectly into decks that thrive on casting and manipulating instant and sorcery cards. Its ability to counter spells, tap or untap creatures, and alter combat dynamics makes it a flexible addition to any collection.
Combo Potential: This card’s synergy with graveyard spells empowers various combo strategies. By utilizing instants and sorceries as fuel for its abilities, it can repeatedly control the board state and pave the way for game-winning moves.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks shine, Disciple of the Ring stands out. Its capacity to interfere with opponent strategies ensures its relevance, making it a formidable opponent against a wide array of decks in the current competitive scene.
How to beat Disciple of the Ring
Disciple of the Ring is a versatile powerhouse in the MTG universe, renowned for its ability to control the game with a suite of abilities fueled by instants and sorceries in your graveyard. Confronting this formidable card on the battlefield requires a strategic approach to inhibit its influence.
Targeted removal spells are your first line of defense. Effects that exile creatures dodge the potential counterspells that may protect Disciple of the Ring, rendering it powerless. Another tactic is to limit the fuel for its abilities by employing graveyard hate strategies. Cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can effectively neutralize the Disciple’s power source – the spells in the graveyard. Additionally, employing counterspells of your own to prevent the Disciple from hitting the board is a preemptive way to maintain the advantage.
Your deck should also be equipped to handle the tempo shift that Disciple of the Ring can cause. Swift aggression can overwhelm a player relying on the Disciple, pushing them into a defensive position. Fast-paced decks can subvert the Disciple’s control before it has the chance to establish a presence. By understanding its strengths and preparing your deck accordingly, you can devise a plan to overcome the challenges posed by Disciple of the Ring.
Cards like Disciple of the Ring
Disciple of the Ring is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, with versatility that allows it to stand out. It shares its control-oriented nature with cards like Glen Elendra Archmage. While the Archmage is famed for its negation ability, Disciple of the Ring offers broader control over the game by manipulating spells and the battlefield. Unlike the Archmage, the Disciple allows the player to harness the power of instants and sorceries in their graveyard, turning them into various effects.
Another card that echoes this ingenuity is Venser, Shaper Savant. Both cards can disrupt opponents’ strategies, but Venser offers a more direct approach by returning spells or creatures to their owner’s hand. Disciple of the Ring requires a buildup of mana and graveyard resources to leverage its abilities fully. Then there’s Baral, Chief of Compliance – a card that reduces the cost of instants and sorceries and also sifts through the deck when those spells are countered, optimizing the control archetype strategy that Disciple of the Ring thrives on.
Determining the strategic edge of these cards is crucial. While Venser provides immediate impact and Baral enhances deck efficiency, Disciple of the Ring’s flexibility can adapt to a multitude of situations, making it a formidable choice for control-oriented MTG decks.
Cards similar to Disciple of the Ring by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Disciple of the Ring MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Double Masters 2022, 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 Disciple of the Ring and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Disciple of the Ring Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Clint Cearley.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 53 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Clint Cearley | |
| 2 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Clint Cearley | |
| 3 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 428 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Clint Cearley |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Disciple of the Ring has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
