Relic Seeker MTG Card


Enhances strategy by allowing swift searches for powerful Equipment cards after becoming renowned. Accelerates resource utilization, vital for quickly equipping creatures and tipping the game balance. Requires careful hand management due to discard demands and has specific color mana costs.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Renown
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.) When Relic Seeker becomes renowned, you may search your library for an Equipment card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.


Cards like Relic Seeker

Relic Seeker has earned its place among the intriguing creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, bearing resemblance to sought-after cards like Stoneforge Mystic. Just like Relic Seeker, the Stoneforge Mystic has a renown for fetching equipment cards. However, Relic Seeker distinguishes itself with the quest for victory in combat to trigger its equipment-tutoring ability, encouraging a more aggressive playstyle.

In the same conversation, we could consider cards like Open the Armory, though not a creature itself, this sorcery fetches an equipment or aura with no additional requirements. It’s straightforward and cost-efficient. However, it doesn’t offer the same board presence that a creature like Relic Seeker can provide over time. Then there’s Taj-Nar Swordsmith, which scales its equipment search based on the mana spent, posing a flexible option for players who might have ample resources at their disposal.

Comparing the adaptability and board impact of these cards, Relic Seeker holds its ground, especially for players who favor combat-centric strategies that reward them with powerful equipment options. As we explore these alternatives, we realize the unique role each card plays in the grand tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, tailored to specific deck-building philosophies and playstyles.

Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Open the Armory - MTG Card versions
Taj-Nar Swordsmith - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Open the Armory - MTG Card versions
Taj-Nar Swordsmith - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Relic Seeker by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Relic Seeker. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White AggroMono-White Aggro PioneerMono-White HumansPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Relic Seeker card boosts your strategy by allowing you to search for Equipment cards once renowned, thus contributing positively to your card advantage by ensuring that you have access to utility cards when needed.

Resource Acceleration: By facilitating the acquisition of critical Equipment cards, the Relic Seeker can indirectly accelerate your resource utilization. This allows you to equip creatures faster and swing the game in your favor with enhanced gameplay dynamics.

Instant Speed: While Relic Seeker itself isn’t an instant, it can rapidly alter the state of the game once it becomes renowned. The instant you connect with an opponent, you can immediately reap the benefits, enhancing the speed at which you access your resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Relic Seeker demands that you have another artifact card in hand to discard, reducing your hand size and potentially putting you at a disadvantage if you’re already running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for casting Relic Seeker includes strict color requirements of white mana. This can limit its inclusion in multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana fixing or prioritizing white mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be deemed steep for its stats and tutoring ability, players may find the initial investment into Relic Seeker a bit too taxing in faster-paced games where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Relic Seeker in Your Collection

Versatility: Relic Seeker, being a two-mana creature with the renowned mechanic, slots into a variety of decks, especially those that focus on combat and equipment synergies. Once renowned, this creature helps you search for an Equipment card, ensuring consistent value in both aggressive and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: The ability to search for any Equipment card upon dealing combat damage to a player means Relic Seeker can seamlessly integrate into combos or enable key synergies with other cards in your deck. This makes it a useful tool for setting up powerful interactions and enhancing your overall strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prominent, Relic Seeker holds its ground as a formidable early-game play with late-game scaling. The capacity to fetch Equipment that can be pivotal against various match-ups makes it a relevant and adaptable choice for many players.


How to beat Relic Seeker

Relic Seeker is a card that, upon successful combat, transforms into a relentless quest for powerful equipment. Facing off against this creature demands strategic redirects. Players need to consider removal spells like Doom Blade or Murder, which can efficiently negate the creature before its renown ability activates. Alternatively, enchantments like Pacifism can neutralize Relic Seeker without outright destroying it, curtailing the quest before it truly begins.

For strategic depth, bouncing the Relic Seeker back to your opponent’s hand with a spell like Unsummon not only resets its progress but also depletes their resources if they opt to recast it. Another tactic is to ensure blockers with sufficient power are available to prevent the Relic Seeker from dealing combat damage, thereby denying its ability to become renowned. Engaging in combat when the opponent is tapped out, leaving them without the mana for protective spells, can also be crucial.

As a two-drop creature, Relic Seeker has potential, but it’s the control over the board and the timing of your counter-actions that will keep this treasure hunter from overwhelming the game. Well-timed disruptions can derail any plans your opponent has to harness the power of relic-wielding warriors.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves knowing not just the strengths of your cards, but their synergies and potential drawbacks too. Relic Seeker, with its reliance on combat for equipment tutoring, fits nicely into decks centered around aggressive strategies. However, it’s vital to weigh the card’s specific mana requirements and the necessity of artifact discard against your deck’s design. For those looking to refine their collections or advance their play, understanding the interaction between Relic Seeker and other cards like Stoneforge Mystic or Taj-Nar Swordsmith can be invaluable. Join us to unlock deeper insights and uncover the full potential of Relic Seeker in your MTG arsenal.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Relic Seeker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Origins, 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 Relic Seeker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Relic Seeker Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 575742015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
22015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 292015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32015-07-17Magic Origins PromosPORI 29s2015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
42015-07-17Magic Origins PromosPORI 292015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
52020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3822015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Relic Seeker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-06-22 If a creature with renown deals combat damage to its controller because that damage was redirected, renown will trigger.
2015-06-22 If a renown ability triggers, but the creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the creature doesn't become renowned. Any ability that triggers "whenever a creature becomes renowned" won't trigger.
2015-06-22 Renown won't trigger when a creature deals combat damage to a planeswalker or another creature. It also won't trigger when a creature deals noncombat damage to a player.