Maro MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 228
1999-04-21 - Number 241
2001-04-11 - Number 256
2001-04-11 - Number 256★
2003-07-28 - Number 264★
2003-07-28 - Number 264
2005-07-29 - Number 254★
2005-07-29 - Number 254
2020-03-08 - Number 73
2019-12-02 - Number 718
2019-12-02 - Number 719
2020-09-26 - Number 8ED-264
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Power | * |
| Toughness | * |
Text of card
Maro has power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
No two see the same Maro.
Cards like Maro
The introduction of Maro to the MTG card library presents a unique dynamic in the creature card category. Much like Multani, Maro-Sorcerer, Maro’s power and toughness are determined by the number of cards in a player’s hand, reflecting the finesse of hand size management. However, while Multani also gains power and toughness from the hands of opponents, leading to potentially bigger numbers, Maro strictly relies on the user’s hand, empowering focused deck building and strategic play around card retention.
Comparing Maro to Psychosis Crawler reveals another angle of the hand-size reliance mechanic. The Crawler inflicts damage to opponents whenever you draw a card, unlike Maro, which offers a direct combat benefit. Nonetheless, it creates a persistent threat over the course of the game. Then we have Masumaro, First to Live, another creature that grows with your hand size. Although it doesn’t have the notoriety of Maro, it still offers robust scaling potential.
Overall, each card has its niche, but Maro’s simplicity and the possibility it presents for various playstyles secure its enduring appeal within the MTG community, harmonizing well with strategies that value hand size as a resource.
Cards similar to Maro by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Maro cards historically offer players the ability to benefit from having a larger hand size, directly translating into more options and strategies at your disposal. With the right deck setup, a Maro card’s power and toughness can grow significantly, ensuring you have a formidable presence on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: In the realm of MTG, efficiently managing your pool of resources is key, and Maro cards are known for their synergy with strategies that swell a player’s hand size. This resource uptick allows players to cast more spells in a shorter amount of time, propelling them ahead of the opposition.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting at instant speed means Maro cards can surprise opponents by capitalizing on the maximum hand size at the end of an opponent’s turn. This allows players to keep their options open and react to the evolving game state, making strategic moves that can shift the tides in their favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Maro card stipulates that a player must discard their hand at the beginning of their upkeep, a significant drawback for those who rely on a variety of options to remain flexible during gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: Maro’s mana cost is locked into green, which may not blend seamlessly with all deck types, potentially restricting its inclusion to mono-green or specific multicolor combinations that can support the green mana requirement efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Maro’s power and toughness can be formidable, its initial investment demands a mana cost on the steeper end. In some scenarios, players could employ cards with lower mana costs that deliver immediate board impact or provide other forms of utility over the potential growth of Maro’s stats.
Reasons to Include Maro in Your Collection
Versatility: Maro’s strength lies in its ability to scale in power with the number of cards in your hand, making it a flexible addition to decks that prioritize large hand sizes.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in setups where drawing cards is key, seamlessly complementing strategies that revolve around hand size manipulation for winning conditions.
Meta-Relevance: Given that Maro can become a sizable threat on the board, it adapts well in environments where players are holding cards for responses or building up their hands, ensuring it remains a relevant choice across various metas.
How to beat
Maro is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, tying its power and toughness to the number of cards in your hand. Facing Maro on the battlefield can be tricky, but there are effective strategies to slice through its leafy defenses. First and foremost, disrupting your opponent’s hand size is key—cards that force your opponent to discard reduce Maro’s strength. Look towards cards like Thoughtseize or Liliana’s Caress to whittle down their hand, rendering Maro more manageable.
Moreover, direct removal spells bypass Maro’s variable size entirely. Hit it hard with unconditional removal like Path to Exile or Go for the Throat. In game play where countering creature spells is pivotal, make sure to have countering spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak ready—preventing Maro from entering the fray saves you the trouble of dealing with it later on.
Lastly, since Maro’s might fluctuates with hand size, ending your turns with fewer cards minimizes its potential threat. Utilize your instants or flash abilities during your opponent’s turn, essentially weakening Maro when it’s not your turn. Remember, with a well-timed strategy and the right spells, Maro’s bark is definitely worse than its bite.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Maro MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Maro 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Maro Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 228 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Stuart Griffin | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 241 | 1997 | Normal | White | Stuart Griffin | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 256 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 256★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 5 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 264★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Stuart Griffin | |
| 6 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 264 | 2003 | Normal | White | Stuart Griffin | |
| 7 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 254★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Stuart Griffin | |
| 8 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 254 | 2003 | Normal | White | Stuart Griffin | |
| 9 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 718 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | ||
| 10 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 719 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Rosewater | ||
| 11 | 2020-03-08 | Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils | FMB1 | 73 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Stuart Griffin | |
| 12 | The List | PLST | 8ED-264 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Stuart Griffin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Maro has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Maro card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Creatures are only put into a graveyard for having 0 toughness when state-based actions are checked. If Maro’s toughness goes to 0 during the announcement or resolution of a spell or ability and then goes back up above 0 before the end of that announcement or resolution, it won’t be put into your graveyard when state-based actions are checked. |