Maralen of the Mornsong MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Legendary Creature — Elf Wizard |
Released | 2008-02-01 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Morningtide |
Set code | MOR |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 3 |
Number | 65 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Mark Zug |
Text of card
Players can't draw cards. At the beginning of each player's draw step, that player loses 3 life, searches his or her library for a card, puts it into his or her hand, then shuffles his or her library.
Maralen sent Veesa, Endry, and Iliona—the Vendilion clique—on the gravest of tasks.
Cards like Maralen of the Mornsong
Maralen of the Mornsong is a unique card that stands out among other MTG cards for its ability to affect both players equally. Likened to cards such as Oppression, which forces players to discard a card whenever they play a spell, Maralen instead ensures both players miss their draw step, but are allowed to search their libraries for a card. While this ability is symmetrical, it creates a strategic advantage for the player who can better exploit this consistent library access.
Another comparison is drawn to Dark Confidant, a card that allows players to draw an extra card at the cost of losing life equal to that card’s mana value. While Dark Confidant provides a repeating advantage at potential life cost, Maralen offers a broader selection at a guaranteed rate, with neither player gaining a card advantage in hand.
Additionally, Scheming Symmetry has a similar effect by letting players tutor for a card, but it applies one time only and to both players. The consistent tutoring Maralen provides each turn, however, can build up to a decisive edge, showcasing that her unique deck searching mechanic brings a distinctive play experience within Magic: The Gathering.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Maralen of the Mornsong alters the draw phase by allowing players to search their library for a card and add it to their hand each turn, bypassing the traditional draw. This grants a consistent means of obtaining key pieces from your deck, ensuring that crucial spells or creatures can be accessed when needed.
Resource Acceleration: Although Maralen doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, the ability to fetch any land from your deck accelerates your mana base and helps avoid potential land drops misses. This ensures a smooth and steady development of your board presence throughout the match.
Instant Speed: While Maralen herself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the strategic implications of her ability can force opponents to use instant speed removal or tutors in unanticipated ways. Access to the entire deck each turn means you can adapt swiftly to the board state, countering threats as they appear with the most appropriate response from your deck.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Maralen of the Mornsong commands each player to search their library for a card on every upkeep, which could inadvertently fuel the strategies of opponents by allowing them to obtain their key pieces more readily.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost demands one black and two other mana, which may not be as easily accommodated into multi-colored decks not focused on black mana or lacking sufficient mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite her intriguing ability, the three total mana cost for a 2/3 creature might be seen as steep considering that it can potentially benefit your opponent equally, if not more, depending on the situation on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Maralen of the Mornsong in Your Collection
Versatility: Maralen of the Mornsong offers a unique deck construction challenge due to her ability to control players’ draws. Her presence on the board equates to a new game dynamic where each player gets exactly what they need at the cost of revealing their strategies.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in setups geared towards combo wins. With Maralen, you can consistently fetch critical pieces of your combo, drawing you closer to victory with every turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with search-dependent strategies, Maralen levels the playing field, making it harder for opponents to find key sideboard cards. Her skill set is especially pertinent in games where information is as powerful as the spells being cast.
How to Beat Maralen of the Mornsong
Confronting Maralen of the Mornsong on the battlefield invites a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering. As a Legendary Creature, Maralen’s ability to prevent players from drawing cards while allowing them to search their libraries for a card each turn disrupts typical gameplay. Strategically, countering its effect involves a few approaches. Utilizing spells to shuffle your opponent’s library, such as Cosi’s Trickster or Psychogenic Probe, can undercut the advantage Maralen provides. Moreover, enforcing card draw restrictions with cards like Ob Nixilis, Unshackled punishes opponents for searching their libraries, turning Maralen’s ability into a liability.
Simultaneously, you could also exploit Maralen’s symmetric effect by fetching removal or combo pieces from your own library. Cards like Sudden Death or Toxic Deluge can swiftly deal with Maralen, allowing you to resume standard card draws. Mindlock Orb is also a potent artifact that directly counters Maralen by prohibiting all players from searching libraries, effectively nullifying Maralen’s disruptive power. It is vital to have these strategies in place, as the opponent is likely trying to leverage Maralen’s ability to orchestrate a quick victory. With thoughtful planning and prompt action, you can turn this unique challenge to your advantage and maintain control of the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
As you dissect the strategic nuances of Maralen of the Mornsong, it becomes clear that she can redefine the way you approach your deck and the game. Embrace the challenge and use her to orchestrate powerful combos, accelerate your mana base, or level the playing field in metas dependent on searching. Understanding her abilities and potential drawbacks is just the beginning. Dive deeper into the possibilities, explore creative ways to maximize her unique effects, and uncover strategies to mitigate her risks. For more insights and advanced techniques that can harness the full potential of Maralen of the Mornsong for your deck, join us and expand your MTG prowess.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Maralen of the Mornsong MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Maralen of the Mornsong 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Maralen of the Mornsong has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Maralen of the Mornsong card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2008-04-01 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, Maralen’s triggered ability will trigger twice per draw step (once for each player on the active team). Maralen’s controller chooses the order to put the abilities on the stack. |
2008-04-01 | Maralen prevents players from drawing cards for any reason, including as a cost, as an effect, and as a result of the “draw a card” turn-based action during the draw step. |
2008-04-01 | The effect of the triggered ability is mandatory. The life loss isn’t a payment; you’ll lose 3 life even if you have 3 or less life left. Unless your library is empty, you must put a card from your library into your hand. |
2008-04-01 | While Maralen is on the battlefield, a player can’t choose to draw cards (or choose to have another player draw cards) as a spell or ability resolves. For example, if you cast the Development side of Research // Development (“Put a 3/1 red Elemental creature token onto the battlefield unless any opponent lets you draw a card. Repeat this process two more times.”), you’ll put three Elemental tokens onto the battlefield because your opponents can’t “let you draw a card.” |
2008-04-01 | While Maralen is on the battlefield, no player can lose the game due to being instructed to draw a card with an empty library. |
2008-04-01 | While Maralen is on the battlefield, replacement effects that instruct a player to do something instead of drawing a card won’t work. |