Retriever Phoenix MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 313
2021-04-23 - Number 113
2021-04-24 - Number 113s
2021-04-24 - Number 113p
2002-06-24 - Number 90094
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Phoenix |
| Abilities | Flying,Haste,Learn |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying, haste When Retriever Phoenix enters the battlefield, if you cast it, learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.) As long as Retriever Phoenix is in your graveyard, if you would learn, you may instead return Retriever Phoenix to the battlefield.
Cards like Retriever Phoenix
Retriever Phoenix holds its own niche within the pantheon of creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other creatures, such as the famed Rekindling Phoenix, which similarly rises from the ashes with a token that brings it back to life. Yet, Retriever Phoenix offers a unique twist; it can retrieve a card with a mana value of four or greater from your graveyard when it enters the battlefield or attacks, granting additional value.
Another card that players might draw parallels with is the Eternal Phoenix. While both birds embody the iconic phoenix ability to return from the graveyard, Eternal Phoenix requires a mana payment to take flight again, whereas Retriever Phoenix depends on a specific card interaction. Additionally, Arclight Phoenix is a known competitor, returning from the graveyard with haste after casting three or more instant or sorcery spells in a turn, but it doesn’t offer the same recurring card advantage.
Retriever Phoenix carves out a strategic spot amongst its fiery kin by combining resilience with utility. It might not have the immediate impact of Arclight Phoenix or the standalone robustness of Rekindling Phoenix, but its graveyard synergy and potential for repeated value plays position it as a distinct and viable option for players crafting a MTG deck with a longer game plan.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Retriever Phoenix offers a recurring presence by returning to your hand from the graveyard when you cast a spell with Learn. This ensures you maintain card advantage by effectively using the same card multiple times throughout the game.
Resource Acceleration: When Retriever Phoenix is returned to your hand, it provides the opportunity to consistently use its ability to cast spells with Learn, accelerating your resource management while also benefiting from the card’s effects repeatedly.
Instant Speed: Its relevance becomes prominent during later game stages where you can cast Learn spells at instant speed, allowing Retriever Phoenix to be returned to hand during your opponent’s turn. This strategic flexibility keeps your adversaries guessing and your plays versatile.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Retriever Phoenix demands that players discard a card, which could be a strategic setback, particularly when hand size is pivotal to maintaining a competitive edge on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Retriever Phoenix is strictly fixed, requiring both red and other mana to summon. This precise color demand can challenge deck flexibility, sometimes making the phoenix a less than ideal fit for multi-color strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to bring Retriever Phoenix to play is significant when weighed against other cards with similar effects. Players might find more economical alternatives to achieving similar in-game objectives without depleting as much of their mana reserves.
Reasons to Include Retriever Phoenix in Your Collection
Versatility: Retriever Phoenix stands out for its flexible role within various archetypes. This fiery bird can be a resilient threat in aggressive decks or a recurring source of value in midrange builds, quickly adapting to your tactical needs on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This phoenix isn’t just another creature; it has innate synergy with ‘Learn’ mechanics, allowing you to return it from the graveyard to the battlefield. This opens up numerous combo possibilities with ‘Learn’ cards, magnifying the potential impact of every spell you cast.
Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape constantly evolves, Retriever Phoenix has proven its worth by fitting nicely within the current gaming environment. Its ability to continually re-emerge presents a challenge for opponents, cementing its relevance in a meta that values persistence and resilience.
How to beat
Retriever Phoenix is a versatile card that offers resilience and recurring value, making it a persistent threat in the game. However, there are effective strategies to counter it. Engaging with removal spells that exile or have the ability to place cards in the bottom of their owner’s library can prevent Retriever Phoenix from triggering its Learn ability upon dying. Examples include cards like Path to Exile or Spell Crumple.
Furthermore, utilizing graveyard hate effects can significantly reduce its impact. Cards such as Tormod’s Crypt and Leyline of the Void ensure that once Retriever Phoenix hits the graveyard, it stays there. It’s also key to strategically time your instant spells. This can be crucial especially if Retriever Phoenix is being used for its flying capability to block or leverage Learn during combat.
Aggressive decks could also overshadow Retriever Phoenix’s contribution by applying pressure and reducing the opponent’s life total before they can gain significant advantage from its abilities. By understanding and adapting to the dynamics Retriever Phoenix introduces, players can develop successful strategies to neutralize it and maintain the upper hand in the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Retriever Phoenix MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Retriever Phoenix 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 Retriever Phoenix Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-24. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 90094 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | ||
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 313 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 3 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 113 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 4 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 113s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 5 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 113p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Retriever Phoenix has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| 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 Retriever Phoenix card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | If Retriever Phoenix somehow dies with its triggered ability on the stack, you may return it to the battlefield with that triggered ability. |
| 2021-04-16 | If a card is brought into the game from outside the game, it will stay in the game until it ends or until its owner leaves the game, whichever comes first. |
| 2021-04-16 | If instructed to learn, you may do nothing. Discarding a card and putting a Lesson card into your hand are both optional. |
| 2021-04-16 | If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Constructed tournament (or a Constructed game played under tournament conditions), you may select only a card from your sideboard. In casual Constructed games, the card comes from your collection. |
| 2021-04-16 | If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Sealed Deck or Booster Draft event, you may select only a card that is in the card pool that you built your deck from. |
| 2021-04-16 | Retriever Phoenix must be in your graveyard at the moment you’re instructed to learn if you want to use the last ability to return it to the battlefield. |