Clan Guildmage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Shaman
Released	2019-01-25
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica Allegiance
Set code	RNA
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	162
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tomasz Jedruszek

Key Takeaways

Clan Guildmage offers both creature tapping and power boosting, enhancing control and ending games swiftly.
Instant speed activation means flexibility, impacting the battlefield on both your turn and your opponent’s.
A strategic addition to any MTG collection, Clan Guildmage excels in decks focused on creature-based interactions.

Text of card

, : Target creature can't block this turn. , : Target land you control becomes a 4/4 Elemental creature with haste until end of turn. It's still a land.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Clan Guildmage’s ability to tap creatures can effectively turn off one of your opponent’s creatures each turn, keeping your hand filled with options while hindering your opponent’s plans.

Resource Acceleration: With its second ability, Clan Guildmage can provide a significant boost by giving all your creatures a power increase until end of turn, making it easier to close out games or overpower opponents when you need it most.

Instant Speed: Both abilities of the Clan Guildmage can be activated at instant speed, giving you flexible options to react during your opponent’s turn or right before your own turn ends, keeping your strategy adaptable and responsive.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the abilities of Clan Guildmage involves discarding a card, which can deplete your hand and decrease your options for future turns. This especially hinders decks that do not have robust draw engines or those that rely on holding onto key cards for combo execution.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost for Clan Guildmage’s abilities is tied to specific mana types—red and green—which may restrict its flexibility. For players running multicolor decks, the necessity for both colors can present a stumbling block if their mana base is not properly tuned.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The abilities of Clan Guildmage, while potentially game-altering, come at a relatively high cost in terms of mana investment. This can slow down your game plan as utilizing the Guildmage’s full potential requires diverting resources that could otherwise be used for developing the board or countering opponents’ moves.

Reasons to Include Clan Guildmage in Your Collection

Versatility: Clan Guildmage, as a card, boasts the ability to seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, primarily those capitalizing on creature control and repeatable mana sinks. Its dual abilities make it a flexible choice during multiple game phases.

Combo Potential: With its ability to tap down opponent’s creatures, it opens the door for combos by clearing the path for unhampered attacks or coupling with cards that capitalize on tapped-out adversaries. The second ability to pump mana into creature power boosts can also be the key to tipping close matches in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that prizes creature interactions and combat dynamics, Clan Guildmage can become an indispensable tool. It influences the board state each turn, proving its worth against a variety of deck styles that one might encounter in the current MTG landscape.

How to beat

Clan Guildmage is a card that poses a unique challenge on the battlefield due to its two very distinct abilities. To get around this versatile threat, it’s essential to understand both its modes. The first ability can tap down your crucial creatures, stalling your offense. The key here is to eliminate or render the Guildmage ineffective before it locks down your biggest threat. Removal spells that can target creatures at instant speed are your best bet, as you can react to the Guildmage’s activation and remove it before the ability resolves.

On the flip side, the Guildmage’s second ability can turn lands into potent attackers. This can be disruptive, especially when your defenses are down. One of the most efficient methods to counter this strategy is to use board wipes that clear out multiple creatures at once. Instant speed interaction, such as Shock or Lightning Bolt, can also be used in response to the ability activation to destroy the affected land creature before it can deal damage.

Optimally, defeating Clan Guildmage calls for swift removal or disruption, keeping the opponent’s Guildmage from using its abilities to the fullest. Closely monitoring your removal resources and not letting the Guildmage take over the board is your path to victory against this tricky card.

Cards like Clan Guildmage

Clan Guildmage stands as a multi-faceted option in the realm of creature cards within Magic the Gathering. As a member of the Gruul guild, it shares space with similarly cost-efficient creatures such as Zhur-Taa Druid. While the Druid taps for mana and potentially damages opponents, Clan Guildmage offers greater versatility with two distinct abilities: It can either hamper an opponent’s creature or turn a land into a powerful attacker for a turn.

Comparably, Goblin Electromancer comes to mind as another guild-affiliated creature, offering cost reductions for spells. However, Clan Guildmage’s abilities are more focused on immediate board impact rather than long-term spell economy. Another peer in mana cost and utility is Zameck Guildmage from the Simic combine, which provides the advantage of card draw or counter distribution, though it lacks the Guildmage’s potential for direct board interference and creature conversion.

Ultimately, Clan Guildmage holds its own within MTG’s rich tapestry of two-drop creatures, offering a strategic blend of control and aggression that can be critical to the tactics of Gruul decks aiming to dominate the field.

Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Clan Guildmage MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Clan Guildmage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Clan Guildmage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-01-25	Activating Clan Guildmage’s first ability after a creature has blocked won’t remove the blocking creature from combat or cause the creature it blocked to become unblocked.
2019-01-25	Clan Guildmage’s second ability doesn’t untap the land that becomes a creature.