Pseudodragon Familiar MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 88
2022-07-07 - Number 128
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying : Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
Pseudodragons are favored companions of wizards, prized for their cunning and curiosity.
Cards like Pseudodragon Familiar
Pseudodragon Familiar is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that offers players a distinct advantage in spellcasting. This card can be likened to other creature cards such as Goblin Electromancer, which also reduces the cost of spells. However, Pseudodragon Familiar specifically targets the first instant or sorcery spell you cast each turn, offering a cost reduction on that spell. In contrast, Goblin Electromancer provides a general cost reduction for all of your instant and sorcery spells, but only by one mana.
Delving deeper into the realm of spell-slinging creatures, we have Baral, Chief of Compliance. Like Pseudodragon Familiar, Baral rewards players for casting instant and sorcery spells, but in a different manner by allowing for card filtering through his ability to loot upon countering a spell. Although Baral reduces the casting cost of spells across the board, it doesn’t offer the type of conditional cost reduction Pseudodragon Familiar grants for one specific spell each turn.
When comparing these creatures, while each has its unique strengths and synergies, Pseudodragon Familiar stands out for its specificity and potential to serve as a tactical asset in decks that aim to maximize the value of key spells each turn.
Cards similar to Pseudodragon Familiar by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pseudodragon Familiar thrives in card interaction by offering seamless card draw mechanics. It ensures you have a steady stream of options at disposal, crucial for outmaneuvering opponents and maintaining momentum throughout your game.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Pseudodragon Familiar’s low casting cost aids in early deployment. This allows faster setup for your strategic plays, paving the way for a smoother resource curve and enabling more potent spells earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: The innate agility of Pseudodragon Familiar’s abilities at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react on the fly. This edge can significantly alter the course of the match, allowing you to cleverly navigate through tight situations or capitalize on enemy missteps at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Pseudodragon Familiar demands you to discard a card to activate one of its abilities, which could be a setback, particularly when your hand is already running thin on cards. This can disrupt your strategy, especially if the discarded card is a key component of your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Pseudodragon Familiar into play requires a precise combination of mana types, which may not always align with your deck’s mana base. This could potentially make it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that might not consistently yield the mana needed to cast it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you weigh its abilities against its mana cost, you might find that Pseudodragon Familiar is on the pricier side. Considering other cards with similar or even lower mana costs could deliver greater impact or versatility, it may not always secure its spot as the optimal choice during deck building.
Reasons to Include Pseudodragon Familiar in Your Collection
Versatility: Pseudodragon Familiar is a flexible card that can adapt to a broad spectrum of strategies. Whether your goal is to enhance creature-based synergies or to capitalize on spell casting, this card proves to be an asset in both aggressive and control-oriented decks.
Combo Potential: This creature can synergize with cards that benefit from non-human creatures or those that rely on creatures with flying. It’s a low-cost way to enable or beef up intricate combos, paving the way for major gameplay swings with its unique abilities.
Meta-Relevance: Given that many decks are filled with utility creatures and powerful planeswalkers, Pseudodragon Familiar gains importance for its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies while offering aerial defense and assistance in casting your significant spells sooner.
How to beat
The Pseudodragon Familiar has charmed its way into the hands of many players with its unique ability to enhance a key aspect of Magic: the Gathering gameplay – hand size. As a card that potentially grows your hand each turn, it can be a thorn in an opponent’s side. Tackling this card effectively requires understanding its mechanic and honing strategies to disrupt its advantages.
To counteract the Pseudodragon Familiar’s effect, consider using removal spells that can target creatures regardless of size. These might include cards like Shock or Fatal Push that can dispatch the Pseudodragon Familiar before it accumulates any card advantage for your opponent. Additionally, employing instant-speed removal enables you to wait until your opponent has committed to using the Familiar’s ability, costing them the card they were planning to draw.
Another avenue is utilizing discard effects to force the Pseudodragon Familiar’s controller to make tough decisions about which cards to keep. Moreover, cards with the flash mechanic can help you keep mana open to respond to threats while also pressuring your opponent. In essence, the key to defanging the Pseudodragon Familiar lies in a combination of proactive removal and strategic play.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pseudodragon Familiar MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Alchemy Horizons: 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 Pseudodragon Familiar 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 Pseudodragon Familiar Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by Campbell White.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 88 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White | |
| 2 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 128 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pseudodragon Familiar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |