Merry, Warden of Isengard MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 143
2023-06-23 - Number 468
2023-06-23 - Number 61
2023-06-23 - Number 65
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Halfling Advisor |
| Abilities | Partner,Partner with |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Partner with Pippin, Warden of Isengard Whenever one or more artifacts enter the battlefield under your control, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with lifelink. This ability triggers only once each turn.
Cards like Merry, Warden of Isengard
Merry, Warden of Isengard is a unique figure in the realm of utility creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When considering other cards that perform similar functions, Sylvan Ranger is a notable comparison. Both creatures help refine the mana base by allowing a land card to be brought to hand, thus ensuring smoother gameplay. However, Merry, Warden of Isengard steps up the game with the ability to put the land card into play, significantly ramping up your mana resources.
Borderland Ranger echoes this effect, fetching a basic land card to your hand. Yet again, Merry’s advantage is in the direct playability of the land, bypassing the need for an additional land drop. Then there is Wood Elves, which goes a step further by directly bringing the land into play but is restricted to fetching forests. Merry not only brings in any land type but also offers card draw if you control an artifact, enhancing its utility.
Overall, Merry, Warden of Isengard demonstrates its potency by blending land acceleration with the potential to draw cards. This dual capability marks it as a versatile and powerful option for decks looking to leverage both resource acceleration and card advantage.
Cards similar to Merry, Warden of Isengard by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Merry, Warden of Isengard enables you to unveil the top cards of your library, potentially putting powerful cards into your hand. This ability helps you stay ahead by generating a surplus of options for your ongoing strategy.
Resource Acceleration: With the ability to produce additional mana, Merry, Warden of Isengard boosts your resources, allowing you to cast more spells or deploy costlier ones ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: This versatile card can be played at instant speed, providing tactical advantages by responding to your opponent’s moves or by end-of-turn plays to optimize your board state without sacrificing the initiative.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Merry, Warden of Isengard requires players to discard a card, which could set you back when managing your available hand, particularly in tight matches where each card’s value is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: Playing Merry, Warden of Isengard necessitates a precise mana setup, which might not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t finely tuned to support this card’s color identity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying Merry onto the battlefield comes with a notably high mana cost. This might slow down your gameplay, as investing a considerable amount of mana could hinder you from executing other strategies or playing additional spells during critical turns.
Reasons to Include Merry, Warden of Isengard in Your Collection
Versatility: Merry, Warden of Isengard brings flexibility to various deck builds, fitting well within strategies that value creatures with multiple abilities. This card can be a cornerstone in decks that aim to take advantage of its unique skill set.
Combo Potential: With his innate abilities, Merry can create powerful synergies with other cards that benefit from his presence on the battlefield. His abilities may complement a wide array of strategies that pivot around resource acceleration and deck manipulation.
Meta-Relevance: Given the current competitive landscape, a card like Merry can hold its own, particularly in formats where diverse strategies are employed. In environments where adaptability and solid utility creatures are key, Merry, Warden of Isengard stands out as a competent addition to any deck looking to stay ahead of the curve.
How to Beat Merry, Warden of Isengard
In the realm of MTG, facing off against Merry, Warden of Isengard can certainly be a rigorous ordeal for any player. Merry stands out as a formidable commander, wielding potent abilities that can significantly sway the game. Fortunately, there are strategies to curb Merry’s influence on the battlefield while reinforcing your own position.
One approach is to use removal spells that can bypass Merry’s protections, like untargeted board wipes or those that force a sacrifice, ensuring that he won’t have the chance to utilize his abilities to your detriment. Another tactic is to neutralize Merry’s card advantage. Hand disruption and counter spells play a vital role in suppressing Merry’s capacity to gain momentum and control the match.
Moreover, staying ahead in resources can be key. Ramp up your mana base to outpace the Warden and maintain pressure, while also deploying threats that demand immediate answers. In essence, consistently applying strategic pressure and precise removal can lead to successfully outmaneuvering Merry, ensuring that your deck prevails in the face of his strategic skills.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Merry, Warden of Isengard MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Art Series, 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 Merry, Warden of Isengard and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Merry, Warden of Isengard Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Viko Menezes.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 143 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes | |
| 2 | Tales of Middle-earth Art Series | ALTR | 65 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Viko Menezes | ||
| 3 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 468 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes | |
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 61 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Merry, Warden of Isengard has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Merry, Warden of Isengard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | "Partner with -ame]" represents two abilities. The first is a triggered ability: "When this permanent enters the battlefield, target player may search their library for a card named -ame], reveal it, put it into their hand, then shuffle their library." |
| 2023-06-16 | An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders. |
| 2023-06-16 | Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards of your deck are shuffled to become your library. |
| 2023-06-16 | If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit and Sam, Loyal Attendant are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with white, black, and/or green in their color identity, but not blue or red. |
| 2023-06-16 | Note that the target player searches their library (which may be affected by effects such as that of Stranglehold) and that the card they find is revealed, even though these words aren't included in the ability's reminder text. |
| 2023-06-16 | 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 damage from one of them, not from both of them combined. Command Beacon's effect puts one into your hand from the command zone, not both. |
| 2023-06-16 | The second ability represented by the "partner with -ame]" keyword modifies the rules for deck construction in the Commander variant and has no function outside of that variant. If a legendary creature card with "partner with -ame]" is designated as your commander, the named legendary creature card can also be designated as your commander. For more information on the Commander variant, please visit Wizards.com/Commander. |
| 2023-06-16 | The triggered ability of the "partner with" keyword still triggers in a Commander game. If your other commander has somehow ended up in your library, you can find it. You can also target another player, whether or not they have that card in their library. |
| 2023-06-16 | To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability or corresponding "partner with" abilities as the game begins. A creature with a "partner with" ability can't partner with any creature other than its designated partner. Losing a partner ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander. |