Marauder's Axe MTG Card

Turns every creature into a greater threat, enhancing overall board presence and combat strength. Equipping at instant speed grants flexibility, allowing for dynamic responses to the evolving battlefield. Equipping demands careful mana management, possibly affecting tempo and overall game strategy.

Core Set 2019 (M19)
2018-07-13 - Number 240

Core Set 2020 (M20)
2019-07-12 - Number 231

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 473

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+0. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

A sharp axe solves most problems.

Cards like Marauder's Axe

Marauder’s Axe is a simple yet potent equipment card that enhances a creature’s power. This card closely relates to Short Sword in its function to boost attack power. The difference lies in the numbers – Short Sword offers a more modest +1/+0 increase while Marauder’s Axe provides a bigger punch with +2/+0 to the equipped creature.

Another comparable equipment, Bonesplitter, might come to mind for many players. Both Marauder’s Axe and Bonesplitter increase the creature’s power, but Bonesplitter edges out with a lower cost and powerful stats increment of +2/+0, making it a favorite for aggressive strategies.

Regarding utility and mana efficiency, Trusty Machete is worth mentioning alongside Marauder’s Axe. It provides a balanced bonus of +2/+1 to the creature carrying it. Even though it costs the same to equip as Marauder’s Axe, its initial casting cost is an additional mana. This balance between costs and benefits is what players often evaluate when selecting their equipment cards.

Understanding Marauder’s Axe’s place in Magic: The Gathering, it’s clear why it’s a go-to for those looking to add a straightforward power boost to their creatures on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Marauder's Axe by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Marauder’s Axe doesn’t draw cards, it embodies card advantage by turning any creature into a more formidable threat without additional card investment. This means every creature you draw becomes more impactful, enhancing your board presence and applying pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Marauder’s Axe does not accelerate mana directly, but it can be seen as a resource acceleration tool by effectively upgrading the power of your creatures. This makes each creature cast potentially more dangerous and can accelerate the pace at which you reduce your opponent’s life total.

Instant Speed: Marauder’s Axe is an artifact, not an instant, but it can be equipped at instant speed, offering flexibility. Strategically, you can attach the Axe to a creature during your opponent’s end step or in response to actions that would make a creature unblocked, ensuring you’re always ready to adapt to the battlefield’s evolving dynamics.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Marauder’s Axe can beef up a creature, equipping it requires not only mana but also potentially valuable turns. Players might have to decide between deploying more threats or investing in an equipment setup, which could lead to drawbacks if the equipped creature is removed from the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Marauder’s Axe demands a payment of two generic mana to cast and another two to equip. This specific structure can be tricky for decks that aim to curve out efficiently, as utilizing four mana over two phases could interfere with other pivotal plays in a game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing two mana for casting and another two for each equip often hinders tempo, especially when compared to other equipment options. In a game that often hinges on efficient mana usage, Marauder’s Axe falls behind lower cost alternatives that offer immediate and sometimes more impactful board presence or effects.

Reasons to Include Marauder’s Axe in Your Collection

Versatility: Marauder’s Axe is a straightforward and flexible equipment card that can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of deck builds. Any creature deck can benefit from the power boost it provides, making it a handy addition to improving combat capabilities.

Combo Potential: This card works well within decks that capitalize on equipped creature synergies. It can be paired with cards that trigger effects when a creature becomes more powerful or when equipment is attached, leading to strategic advantages and potential combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: Within the changing tides of the MTG meta, having a reliable means of increasing creature threat levels can shift game outcomes significantly. Marauder’s Axe maintains a steady presence in decks that contend with various meta scenarios, offering a consistent power increase to creatures that might need it to overcome adversaries.

How to beat

Marauder’s Axe is a simple yet effective equipment card that can enhance creatures with a consistent power boost in Magic: The Gathering. When faced with an opponent wielding this artifact, it’s vital to employ removal strategies efficiently. Targeted removal spells that can directly dismantle their setup are key; consider using Naturalize or Release to the Wind to swiftly dispatch of Marauder’s Axe before it can turn their creatures into significant threats.

Another tactic is to focus on controlling the board state. Utilize creature removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile to keep the wielding creature count low. This reduces the impact of the axe’s power boost. In the case that the axe is already equipped, prioritize which creatures to remove. Creatures with evasive abilities might maximize the axe’s effectiveness and should be dealt with promptly. Lastly, keep pressure on your opponent to prevent them from establishing a stable board where Marauder’s Axe can shine.

Finally, in terms of equipment management, countering the act of equipping using instant-speed removal or bounce spells disrupts your opponent’s mana allocation, creating tempo advantage. Understanding and anticipating when to disrupt the opponent’s flow and equipment strategy is a critical part of transforming Marauder’s Axe from a potential game changer into a non-issue.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marauder's Axe MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2020, 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 Marauder's Axe and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Marauder's Axe Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Mitchell Malloy.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2018-07-13	Core Set 2019	M19	240	2015	Normal	Black	Mitchell Malloy
2	2019-07-12	Core Set 2020	M20	231	2015	Normal	Black	Mitchell Malloy
3	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP	473	2015	Normal	Black	Mitchell Malloy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marauder's Axe 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