Master Chef MTG Card


Master Chef offers card advantage and resource acceleration, enhancing your game with each play. It demands specific mana and discards, which could be challenging for deck consistency. Its versatility and meta relevance make it a valuable and adaptable asset in various decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Background

Text of card

Commander creatures you own have "This creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it" and "Other creatures you control enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on them."

You never thought "rations" was an appropriate term for the feasts you prepare for your party.


Cards like Master Chef

In the world of culinary-themed spells in Magic: The Gathering, Master Chef offers a unique flavor to the table. Players can draw parallels to other quirky card draw mechanics such as Glimpse the Future, which allows you to look at the top three cards of your library, letting you put one into your hand. Unlike Master Chef, Glimpse the Future does not give you a continuous card advantage over time, but rather a one-off peek into what’s coming.

A closer comparison might be found in Tamiyo’s Journal. It shares the aspect of delayed gratification, accumulating clues over time that later translate into card draw. Still, Master Chef brings a different zest by directly interacting with your creatures, turning them into sources of card draw, whereas Tamiyo’s Journal is purely a noncreature artifact that doesn’t engage with other cards on the battlefield quite the same way.

Peering into MTG’s vast array of spells and abilities, Master Chef can be seen as an innovator of sorts, blending creature interaction with a steady advantage that could provide a feast of options in long game strategies, solidifying its position in a deckbuilder’s menu of card draw choices.

Glimpse the Future - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo's Journal - MTG Card versions
Glimpse the Future - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo's Journal - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Master Chef by color, type and mana cost

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Wanderlust - MTG Card versions
Thelon's Chant - MTG Card versions
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The Dragon-Kami Reborn // Dragon-Kami's Egg - MTG Card versions
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Alpha Status - MTG Card versions
Lifegift - MTG Card versions
Kudzu - MTG Card versions
Wanderlust - MTG Card versions
Thelon's Chant - MTG Card versions
Maddening Wind - MTG Card versions
Cycle of Life - MTG Card versions
Dense Foliage - MTG Card versions
Hall of Gemstone - MTG Card versions
Fecundity - MTG Card versions
Familiar Ground - MTG Card versions
Momentum - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Mask - MTG Card versions
Broken Fall - MTG Card versions
Verdant Field - MTG Card versions
Lure - MTG Card versions
Food Chain - MTG Card versions
Howling Moon - MTG Card versions
The Dragon-Kami Reborn // Dragon-Kami's Egg - MTG Card versions
Squirrel Nest - MTG Card versions
Alpha Status - MTG Card versions
Lifegift - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Master Chef shines by providing consistent card advantage. Every time you satisfy its unique cooking condition, you get to dig further into your deck, giving you more options and a larger arsenal at your disposal. This subtle benefit keeps your hand filled, ensuring that you’re always geared up for the next play.

Resource Acceleration: This enchanting culinary connoisseur doesn’t just spice up the game with flavorful card draws; it also adds a sprinkle of resource acceleration. By concocting delicious in-game treats, you earn extra resources that can be used to cast more spells or activate abilities sooner than your opponent, effectively advancing your game state with each course served.

Instant Speed: Not to be underestimated, the ability to whip up something at instant speed means Master Chef can be called upon at the most opportune moments. Waiting until the end of your opponent’s turn to deploy its effects allows for strategic flexibility, keeping your adversaries on their toes while you effectively manage your mana and potential responses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks to using Master Chef is the necessity to discard another card from your hand. This can put you at a significant disadvantage, especially in tight situations where every card counts or when you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Master Chef demands a mix of mana that can sometimes be difficult to produce, particularly for those decks attempting to run multiple colors. This requisite can potentially complicate your mana base, causing delays or hindering your ability to play other cards on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that is on the higher end for its abilities, Master Chef competes with other substantial plays at the same mana value. Players must consider whether the payoff of utilizing Master Chef is worth the initial investment, given that there may be more cost-effective options available within the same mana range.


Reasons to Include Master Chef in Your Collection

Versatility: Master Chef is a superb addition to any collection due to its ability to seamlessly integrate into a broad array of deck types. Its core mechanic of creating food tokens can serve both offensive and defensive strategies, making it a multi-purpose tool in game situations.

Combo Potential: The food tokens generated can be the missing piece in intricate combos, acting as a resource to power up spells or synergize with cards that capitalize on artifact presence to magnify your command over the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its adaptability, Master Chef holds its ground in various meta environments. As the game ebbs and flows with different trends, this card can be an excellent response to the shifting landscape, providing continual value to your gameplay strategies.


How to beat

Master Chef, a flavorful entrant in creature spells, brings a unique twist to creature-based strategies. In essence, this card allows players to concoct a recipe for success by creating food tokens under certain conditions. To effectively counter this culinary connoisseur, it’s essential to disrupt its ability to generate value over time. Strategies that incorporate removal spells like Murder or Heartless Act can be instrumental, eliminating the Master Chef before its benefits are fully realized.

It’s also productive to consider the use of counter spells such as Cancel or Negate. These can prevent the Master Chef from setting foot on the battlefield in the first place, ensuring your opponent’s kitchen stays closed. Enchantment removal like Disenchant can come in handy to manage any persistent effects that could suddenly turn the tide. Additionally, taxing effects or permission-based plays, represented by cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or Dovin’s Veto, can restrict your adversary’s ability to cast and capitalize on synergies.

Timing plays a decisive role; by keeping mana open for responses and maintaining a hand capable of reacting to threats, you can effectively starve the Master Chef of opportunities, securing your position in the game and setting the stage for a victory that’s as sweet as a well-deserved dessert.


BurnMana Recommendations

Master Chef is quite the card to spice up any MTG deck, offering versatility, combo potential, and holding its value across various meta changes. Delve into our vast knowledge base where we discuss strategies, deck building, and ways to utilize cards like Master Chef effectively. Learn how to enhance your gameplay and explore alternative cards to create the ultimate deck that caters to your playstyle. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a novice looking to refine your game, we’re here with insights and guides tailored for you. Steeped in tips and tactics, our platform is the perfect place for players hungry for MTG success.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Master Chef MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Master Chef and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Master Chef Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Forrest Imel.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 5192015NormalBlackForrest Imel
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 2412015NormalBlackForrest Imel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Master Chef has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
2022-06-10 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2022-06-10 Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability.
2022-06-10 If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate.
2022-06-10 If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.
2022-06-10 If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability.
2022-06-10 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities.
2022-06-10 If your commander is entering the battlefield at the same time as other creatures, it will enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter, but the other creatures will not. This is because a replacement effect that is created by an object entering the battlefield can only apply to itself.
2022-06-10 If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander.
2022-06-10 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway).
2022-06-10 You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors.