Path of the Animist MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 38
2023-04-21 - Number 125
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Search your library for up to two basic land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. Will of the Planeswalkers — Starting with you, each player votes for planeswalk or chaos. If planeswalk gets more votes, planeswalk. If chaos gets more votes or the vote is tied, chaos ensues.
Cards like Path of the Animist
Path of the Animist stands out in Magic the Gathering as a tool for ramping up mana production and enhancing landfall strategies. Cards such as Sword of the Animist similarly empower creatures to secure additional lands when they attack, though Sword of the Animist provides an immediate benefit as it doesn’t require the land to come into play tapped. This can accelerate gameplay for decks that thrive on swift mana acceleration.
Exploration, another analog, bestows players the advantage of playing an additional land each turn, creating opportunities for a quick expansion of the board. While it doesn’t directly search the library for lands, the immediate increase of land drops elevates the pace of mana availability. In comparison, we can also talk about Walking Atlas, a creature that can tap to put a land from a player’s hand onto the battlefield. Both of these cards bypass the combat requirement needed with Path of the Animist and offer different avenues for ramping up land play.
Ultimately, when analyzing card effectiveness and synergy within deck structures, Path of the Animist offers unique benefits to creature-oriented aggressive decks, which can repeatedly make use of its land tutoring capability and strengthen their presence on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Path of the Animist by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Path of the Animist comes with card advantage potential through consistent deck-thinning. Every attack that triggers this card’s ability offers you the opportunity to seek out a basic land and put it onto the battlefield tapped, effectively cycling through your deck for more valuable draws later on.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling land ramp with each attack, Path of the Animist significantly boosts your resource acceleration. This land tutoring mechanism increases your available mana each turn, opening the door for bigger and more impactful spells earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: While not instant speed itself, the triggered ability of Path of the Animist harnesses your creatures’ attack phases to ramp, allowing you to keep mana available for instant speed spells until you’re sure you won’t need them before your next turn. This strategy can give you a critical edge in managing threats and responses fluidly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Though Path of the Animist doesn’t ask for a discard directly, it does require sacrificing a permanent. This could lead to a net loss of resources, potentially setting you back when you’re aiming for a board presence or holding up defense.
Specific Mana Cost: Path of the Animist’s mana cost is colored, necessitating both red and green. This can restrict its inclusion strictly to decks that can produce both types of mana, often limiting its playability to specific archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined mana value that is on the higher end of the spectrum, Path of the Animist may compete for a slot with other impactful cards in your deck. Its cost may hinder your tempo, especially in formats where speed is crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Path of the Animist is a noteworthy addition for any deck that aims to ramp up its mana. As an equipment card that’s easy to attach, it can transform any creature into a land-tutoring machine, making it a match for a wide array of strategies, especially in Commander where land drops are crucial.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with creatures that can attack multiple times in a turn or ones that can easily be untapped. Activate the ability repeatedly to consistently thin your deck and ensure your resources keep flowing.
Meta-Relevance: Given that it adapts to various play styles and strategies, Path of the Animist holds its ground in different meta environments. In an age where mana acceleration is key, having an equipment that bolsters your land count can give you a definitive edge over opponents.
How to beat
Path of the Animist is a unique equipment card that allows players to ramp up their mana resources with each attack from the equipped creature. It stands out in its ability to consistently transform combat steps into opportunities for land acceleration. The implications of such a strategy suggest that opponents will want to focus on disabling the equipped creature or the enchantment itself to prevent their opponent from snowballing their mana base.
One strategy against Path of the Animist is the use of targeted removal spells on the equipped creature before it can attack. Instant-speed spells that can kill or exile creatures are key tools in dismantling this tactic. Additionally, artifact removal is an effective method to counter the card directly. Cards like Nature’s Claim or Abrade offer quick and efficient ways to remove Path of the Animist from the battlefield. It’s also wise to keep land disruption or denial strategies handy, as they can mitigate the long-term advantage granted by the card’s land tutoring ability.
Ultimately, dealing with Path of the Animist requires prompt answers and disruption to prevent your opponent from leveraging additional mana for a game-winning edge. Recognizing and prioritizing threats is crucial, and swift action is often the best course when countering this powerful equipment card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Path of the Animist MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Commander and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Path of the Animist 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
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Printings
The Path of the Animist Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Liiga Smilshkalne.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Liiga Smilshkalne | |
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 125 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Liiga Smilshkalne |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Path of the Animist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |