Mardu Runemark MTG Card

Enhances creature power, reducing the time needed to secure victory. Requires red mana, limiting adaptability in non-red decks. Strong within warrior-centric strategies and aggressive decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2015-01-23
Set symbol
Set name	Fate Reforged
Set code	FRF
Number	107
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Viktor Titov

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2. Enchanted creature has first strike as long as you control a white or black permanent.

Cards like Mardu Runemark

Mardu Runemark, while not the most renowned aura in Magic: The Gathering, bears resemblance to a subset of cards designed to empower creatures. Its kinship to Knightly Valor is palpable, as both auras bestow a robust power increase to your creatures. Mardu Runemark, with its conditional +2/+2 boost, shines in decks that synergize around the Warrior tribe. Knightly Valor provides a static +2/+2 buff and also conjures a 2/2 Knight creature with vigilance, offering more immediate board presence.Another comparable card is Madcap Skills, which delivers a considerable power upgrade with a bonus of making the creature harder to block. The Runemark, in comparison, doesn’t offer evasion, but it fills a specific niche within the Mardu color identity and warrior archetype. Fencing Ace, while not an aura, parallels the Runemark’s theme of empowerment by offering double strike, a potent ability that can make a creature a formidable threat.

Ultimately, Mardu Runemark finds its place among these enhancers by catering to a specific strategy rather than versatility. For commanders who can harness a battlefield populated with warriors, Mardu Runemark is a specialized tool that fortifies their ranks and tips the combat scale in their favor.

Cards similar to Mardu Runemark by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mardu Runemark doesn’t directly provide card draw but strengthens your creatures to maintain board presence, which can be pivotal in outlasting opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While Mardu Runemark doesn’t produce mana or tokens, it can be considered a form of resource acceleration by enhancing a creature’s power, potentially reducing the number of turns needed to win the game.

Instant Speed: As an aura that must be cast at sorcery speed, Mardu Runemark encourages strategic planning for bolstering your creatures at the right moment to swing matches in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in the strategic complexities of Magic the Gathering sometimes means balancing the pros and cons of your cards. One downside of the Mardu Runemark card is its discard requirement. To harness its power, you’ll need to part with another card in your hand, a trade-off that can be challenging when your hand size is already running low. This can leave you at a disadvantage, struggling to maintain your resources in the heat of battle.

Specific Mana Cost: The Mardu Runemark comes with a specific mana cost that necessitates red mana. This cost structure means that it cannot just be slotted into any deck. It requires a deck built with red mana sources, which could limit the card’s adaptability and the variety of decks in which it can be effectively used. Managers of multicolored decks especially need to consider if the inclusion of such a card harmonizes with their mana base and strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the realm of Magic the Gathering, mana efficiency can be the key to victory. With a mana cost that some may find high for the effects provided, Mardu Runemark might not always be the most efficient choice for powering up your creatures. Players often seek out cards that offer a strong power boost for a lower mana investment, to ensure each play maximizes potential value and impact on the game. Balancing mana expenditure with in-game benefits is essential when crafting your ultimate deck.

Reasons to Include Mardu Runemark in Your Collection

Versatility: Mardu Runemark can be a flexible addition to decks that leverage aggression and power. With its ability to boost a creature’s strength significantly, it fits well in strategies that require unexpectedly powerful attacks to overwhelm opponents.

Combo Potential: This enchantment aligns well with decks that enjoy synergies between auras and creatures. Whether it’s enabling prowess triggers or enhancing creatures that benefit from being enchanted, Mardu Runemark provides intriguing combo possibilities for inventive deck builders.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based tactics dominate, Mardu Runemark could offer the extra power needed to outpace opposing creature decks. Its relevance can surge, particularly if auras play a significant role in the prevailing competitive landscape, making it a prudent pick for your collection.

How to beat Mardu Runemark

Mardu Runemark is a unique aura in Magic: The Gathering that requires a bit of finesse to counter effectively. Found in the Khans of Tarkir set, it grants a creature +2/+2, provided you control a black or red permanent. This can turn a seemingly innocuous creature into a significant threat on the battlefield.

One strategy is to remove potential black or red permanents that your opponent controls to negate the Runemark’s bonus. This can be done through targeted removal spells or abilities that don’t necessarily have to aim directly at the enchanted creature. Board wipes that clear multiple creatures also serve to disrupt your opponent’s synergy, especially if they rely heavily on the Runemark for their game plan.

Enchantment removal is paramount when facing Mardu Runemark. Efficient spells include Disenchant or Nature’s Claim, which are staples in various formats and can deal with problematic auras without dedicating too many resources. Bounce effects can also temporarily neutralize the threat, forcing your opponent to spend more mana to reestablish their advantageous board state. The key lies in anticipating and responding to both the aura and the creatures it might enhance, thereby maintaining control of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mardu Runemark MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged, 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 Mardu Runemark and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mardu Runemark has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-11-24	If the enchanted creature assigns combat damage during the first combat damage step, and then it loses first strike before the second combat damage step, it won’t assign combat damage again in the second combat damage step.